Citizen Suburban Times Weekly 11-04-2020

Y O U R S O U R C E F O R C O R O N AV I R U S N E W S

Citizen The Citizen: Serving The Black Community For 55 Years Week of Nov. 4, 2020

| Vol. 4 | No. 13 | www.citizennewspapergroup.com

SUBURBAN TIMES WEEKLY

When striving to have a better work week, Dr. Deitrick L. Gorman advises from the very beginning, adjust your attitude. Let go of last week’s drama, it’s not going to serve you any purpose. It’s not going to help you. It’s not going to help your co-workers, she says. Just let go of last week’s mishaps.

7 WAYS TO HAVE A BETTER WORK WEEK Work can be fun, but not always. Some of us work in a place that may not fit our personality and sometimes we have so many tasks to complete that we feel overwhelmed. PAGE 3

POLITISCOPE: Health insurers are starting to roll back coverage for telehealth – even though demand is way up due to COVID-19

National Urban League Launches Black Restaurant Accelerator Program

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Schools, Parents And COVID-19 Page 5

2 | CITIZEN | Suburban Times Weekly | Week of Nov. 4, 2020

POLITISCOPE

Health insurers are starting to roll back coverage for telehealth – even though demand is way up due to COVID-19

BY JENNIFER A. MALLOW AND STEVE DAVIS

In less than a year, telehealth has gone from a niche rarity to a common practice. Its ability to ensure physical distance, preserve personal protective equipment and prevent the spread of infection among health care workers and patients has been invaluable during the COVID-19 pandemic.

As health care specialists and researchers, we have long seen the potential of telehealth, providing health care remotely with technology, which has been around for several decades. Despite evidence it could safely treat and manage a range of health conditions in a cost-effective manner, widespread adoption of the practice had been limited by issues including insurance coverage, restrictions on prescribing and technology access.

On March 27, 2020, The Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act, or CARES Act, removed many of the barriers to widespread telehealth use. Soon after, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid released a toolkit encouraging state Medicaid agencies to adopt CARES policy changes to promote the expansion of telehealth. Many private insurers followed suit. Collectively, these policy changes facilitated the explosion of telehealth. Now, due to the financial strain on health care systems and insurers, the increase

in telehealth use may be forced to shrink even though the public health crisis remains.

Sudden changes At the very beginning of the pandemic, the use of telehealth went from 13,000 to 1.7 million visits per week among Medicare recipients.

Between mid-March and midJune 2020, during the height of the national lockdown, over 9 million telehealth visits were conducted for Medicare recipients. Private insurers, who mimicked the CARES Act policy changes, also reported exponential increases – with telehealth claims increasing over 4,000% from the previous year.

Telehealth is typically used for new health concerns like a sore throat, psychotherapy and in-home monitoring with mobile devices for chronic conditions like diabetes, high blood pressure or heart failure. Telehealth is convenient because it can be done from anywhere and more frequently than in-person visits.

The changes triggered by the CARES Act were intended to last only until the public health emergency was considered over. Making telehealth coverage expansions permanent could lead people to use their insurance coverage more often by making care more convenient, thus costing private insurance companies more money.

Provider compensation is traditionally based on the amount of

time spent with the patient and how complicated and risky the exam and procedures are to perform. Historically, telehealth was reimbursed at a lower rate than in-person care.

The CARES Act had addressed this payment disparity by mandating the same rate for telehealth visits as in-person visits for those insured by Medicare, with more than 80 new telehealth services being reimbursed at the same rate as in-person services.

Many private insurers followed suit and paid providers who conducted telehealth visits at the same rate as office visits. Now, that’s all changing due to financial loss by insurance companies. As of Oct. 1, telehealth visits are not always paid at the same rate as in-person visits by these private insures.

Several big private insurers are pulling back some of their coverage of telehealth for non-COVID issues.

Companies including UnitedHealthcare have already rolled back policies that waived co-pays and other fees for non-COVID-related appointments. Other plans such as Anthem BlueCross BlueShield have extended their coverage through the end of the year, but only the first two sessions are free for the consumer.

Further complicating matters is that every private insurance plan and many state-funded Medicaid plans have different sets of rules and dates for what telehealth treatments they cover. This means some

patients are paying more. Costs are getting confusing. Patients may end up with a surprise bill – or they may delay care due to cost.

A system under pressure Health care providers and hospital systems are also in limbo. They don’t know whether they’ll lose telehealth payments when the federal public health emergency for the pandemic lapses or what to expect from private health insurance companies.

Hospitals and health systems have had to meet unprecedented challenges in 2020 – increasing testing, treating infected patients, expanding intensive care unit capacity, safeguarding staff and non-COVID-19 patients, procuring personal protective equipment and canceling nonemergency procedures. These challenges have created historic financial pressures for health care offices and hospitals.

The American Hospital Association estimates that the country’s health care systems are losing an average of US$50.7 billion per month.

This financial crisis puts telehealth in jeopardy. Providers and health systems still have to pay salaries and purchase expensive technological equipment, making it difficult to accept a reduced rate for telehealth visits. Without payment parity, in the current financial crisis, health care systems will not be able to continue to offer telehealth services.

What’s next A continued increase in COVID-19 cases is expected this fall, just as insurance providers are starting to diminish coverage for telehealth visits.

Our team – and teams across every state – will undertake rigorous evaluation of each of the CARES Act policy changes (and similar Medicaid and private insurer changes) and their impact. These evaluations will provide information on how telehealth affects cost and cost effectiveness in the future.

Clearly, telehealth is in jeopardy now as patients are paying more, health care practices are receiving less and the risk of infections increases. While the diminished risk of infection through the use of telehealth seems positive, it is clear to us that insurers are trying to drive patients back to the in-person care model. How will vulnerable populations and the fragile health care system respond? Will patients and providers still have a choice in how they receive and provide care, or will we lose the innovation gained during this period?

Jennifer A. Mallow is an Associate Professor of Nursing at West Virginia University and Steve Davis is an Associate Professor of Health Policy, Management and Leadership at West Virginia University.

NEWS

Black Yoga and Meditation Expert Launches New Meditation Certification Program Althea Lawton-Thompson, owner of Aerobics, Yoga & More™ and founder of Living Life Limitlessly™ University, has launched the online version of the Meditation Instructor Certification to equip professionals with realistic tools for supporting mental health for BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, People of Color) communities. After noticing the lack of Black instructors leading classes and teacher training, Lawton-Thompson designed the Meditation Instructor Certification to highlight a person of color conducting this type of training and to increase awareness of the diverse audiences benefitting from the healing of meditation. “As a Black woman, I’m excited to create an opportunity for improved mental health and holistic wellness through supporting BIPOC instructors who represent the diversity of the commu-

nities in which we live,” said Lawton-Thompson, who is also personally sponsoring more than $16,000 of 30 full and partial scholarships for individuals who desire the training, but are in need of financial assistance.

The Meditation Instructor Certification is a selfpaced program of 8 online modules designed for study, practice, and completion anywhere, anytime. The training breaks down how to lead guided sessions, virtually or in-person, using the foundations of 15 traditional meditation practices. After completion, each participant will have a variety of holistic wellness tools to support mental health in all populations, regardless of age, ability, ethnicity, or environment. To learn more about the certification partnerships and apply for one of the scholarships, visit http://bit.ly/micscholarship. www.citizennewspapergroup.com

National Institute of Justice Examines Using Forensic Intelligence To Solve Violent and Serial Crimes The Office of Justice Programs’ National Institute of Justice recently published an article detailing how forensic intelligence works in practice, with a particular focus on its role in analyzing serial and violent crimes such as those involving gun violence, sexual assault, illicit drugs, and human trafficking.

“Integrating forensic evidence into the intelligence process is an evolutionary next step in reducing, disrupting, and preventing serial and organized violent crimes,” said NIJ Director David Muhlhausen.

“NIJ is committed to examining and communicating the potential of fo-

rensic intelligence tools and models for law enforcement agencies across the United States.”

Forensic intelligence refers to the ways that forensic data can be gathered and analyzed to help identify links, patterns, and trends pertinent to criminal activity with a potential to advance investigation and prosecution of violent and serial offenders. Analysis of these data can also produce actionable information for disrupting and preventing crime.

For more information, go to https:// nij.ojp.gov/topics/articles/using-forensic-intelligence-combat-serial-and-organized-violent-crimes

CITIZEN | Suburban Times Weekly | Week of Nov. 4, 2020

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NEWS

7 Ways To Have A Better Work Week Continued from page 1

BY DR. DEITRICK L. GORMAN

Work can be fun, but not always. Some of us work in a place that may not fit our personality and sometimes we have so many tasks to complete that we feel overwhelmed.

Maybe you’re that person who doesn’t like their job at all and you’re there just to be able to pay your bills and take care of your family.

Whatever your situation, work can mean stress.

It’s how you deal with that stress that determines whether you’re surviving or thriving at work and in life.

Here are our 7 tips to have a better work week!

1. Make An Attitude Adjustment From the very beginning, adjust your attitude. Let go of last week’s drama, it’s not going to serve you any purpose. It’s not going to help you. It’s not going to help your co-workers. Just let go of last week’s mishaps.

Walk in the door with a fresh and positive attitude.

There’s nothing worse than walking through the doors of work and exuding a poor

attitude. Whether you realize it or not, your attitude affects your colleagues just as much as it affects you. Set yourself up for success, go in with a fresh attitude.

2. Plan And Prepare The second thing is to plan and prepare your meals, especially breakfast. Many of us have families and a great deal of our time goes toward getting them together. Mornings can get hectic and it becomes easy to skip breakfast.

It’s very important to start the day by nourishing our bodies. You don’t want to have that mid-morning crash. You don’t want to go hungry and cranky. So just prepare the evening before so you have something to grab and go.

3. Breathe If your day starts to get hectic and stressful, just take the time, take 30 seconds, take one minute just to calm things down and just do some deep breathing. That will help activate your parasympathetic nervous system, which is your rest nervous system, and it can calm it down. I’m telling you, just breathing can help a lot.

4. Make Your Bed Yes, make your bed. What do I mean by that? You want to start your day off with a great intention. You want to be able to say, “I’ve accomplished one good thing today.” By making your bed, you accomplish something that’s beneficial to you.

When you look at a clean bed, you feel refreshed, you feel good, and you’re sure to have a pep in your step. Even if you’re day wasn’t the best, when you finally make it back home at least your bedroom is nice and neat! That’s an indescribable feeling.

onto grudges. It doesn’t serve anyone in any situation, and after all, there are bigger fish to fry. There are other things that will come up.

So why add to it? Why add to the drama?

5. Get Restful Sleep We must be intentional about getting enough sleep. Making it through each day isn’t as easy without the right amount of rest.

Without it, we go into work feeling tired, fatigued, and grumpy. This leads to poor work performance. We aren’t as productive and are easily distracted.

About the Writer Dr. Deitrick L. Gorman is a Board-Certified Family Practice Physician. She is also known as America’s Relaxation Doctor. Dr. Deitrick is a #1 Best Selling author, speaker, consultant, and entrepreneur. It is her passion to help people in the work setting, who find themselves stressed out, frustrated, tired, and overwhelmed, to better manage those stressors; not only to survive but to thrive! She educates that the inevitable workplace stressors can be better managed, finding yourself happier, healthier and more productive.

6. Apologize, Forgive, Keep It Moving We’re all human. We make mistakes. If you make a mistake, apologize for it. If someone apologizes to you, forgive them. From there, just keep it moving. It doesn’t help to hold

7. Laugh!

The final thing is…and I’ll say it a million times…LAUGH! Laugh at yourself. Laugh at a funny situation that happened. Never at the expense of someone else, but find something to laugh about. Keep it light. Keep the mood happy. Tell a corny joke. I’m a big fan of corny jokes. Just laugh.

Major League Soccer Announces Steps to Combat Racism and Increase Black Representation Major League Soccer recently unveiled a series of initiatives to combat racism, advocate for social justice and increase representation in the sport.

The new programs, which include the formation of a Diversity Committee consisting of members of the MLS Board of Governors, MLS Commissioner Don Garber, representatives of the Black Players For Change (BPC), and other members of the soccer community, are the result of several months of discussions with key stakeholders across the league, including a recent meeting between the MLS Board and the BPC. “Major League Soccer is committed to utilizing our wide-ranging platforms to create meaningful programs to address racism and social injustice in society and in the sport of soccer,” said MLS Commissioner Don Garber. “Importantly, alongside key stakeholders, including MLS owners, Black Players For Change, former players, Black members of our technical staff and other employees, we have created a series of initiatives to close the representation gap across soccer in the U.S. and Canada.”

The MLS league office, along with the MLS Board of Governors and member clubs, have committed to the following initiatives: l MLS Diversity Committee – The creation of this group, which will be part of the formal MLS committee structure, will include MLS owners, BPC leadership, club executives, head coaches, academy coaches, former MLS players and members of Pitch Black, a resource group of Black employees from MLS’ league office. Among the committee’s goals will be to work with the league

Major League Soccer recently unveiled a series of initiatives to combat racism, advocate for social justice and increase representation in the sport.

to develop a strategy toward diversity, inclusion, opportunity and social justice, including supporting and championing the proposed initiatives. l Civic Engagement Initiative – MLS will use league resources to address issues of public concern among marginalized communities. Areas of focus will include the recently created MLS Unites to Vote initiative, along with turnkey programs that encourage community participation in civic activities. l Soccer Upward Mobility Initiative – MLS will provide access, exposure, and clearly defined career paths that develop talent from underrepresented groups. This initiative will include developing pathways of entrance and advancement for emerging and current talent, in addition to creating policies and an educational ecosystem

to increase Black representation in executive and sporting positions at the league office, the member clubs and other North American soccer organizations. l Youth and Grassroots Community Initiative – MLS will use league resources to close the representation gap across the broad spectrum of the sport in North America with the goal of increasing participation and opportunity for members of underserved communities. This initiative will include collaborating with MLS NEXT to increase representation among players, coaches and referees. l Supplier Diversity Program – MLS is building a Supplier Diversity Program to provide meaningful opportunities and economic inclusion to minority-owned businesses. This will include spending around MLS major events, hiring of agencies, and the selection of vendors, among many areas of league and club business. l Partnerships with the National Coalition of 100 Black Women and 100 Black Men of America – MLS has formed partnerships with 100 Black Men of America and the National Coalition of 100 Black Women. In addition to a financial commitment, MLS will collaborate with both organizations to develop long-term programming centered around mentorship, workplace development, social justice, health and wellness, and financial literacy.

In addition to these initiatives, MLS owners have contributed $1 million to Black Players For Change to aid in the growth of the organization in the coming years.

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4 | CITIZEN | Suburban Times Weekly | Week of Nov. 4, 2020

NEWS

National Urban League Launches Black Restaurant Accelerator Program The National Urban League and PepsiCo have joined forces to create the Black Restaurant Accelerator, which will boost approximately 500 Black-owned businesses over the next five years.

The PepsiCo Foundation is providing a $10 million grant to fund the program, which will provide current and aspiring Black restaurateurs with access to capital, training, mentorship and other support services that are necessary for business success.

Black entrepreneurs have long faced systemic barriers to growth, including access to loans and capital, biased community perceptions and gentrification challenges. These hurdles have been compounded by the COVID-19 pandemic, as demonstrated by the 41% of Black-owned businesses that have shuttered since February 2020 compared to just 17% of white-owned businesses, according to the University of California,

PRNewsfoto/PepsiCo

Santa Cruz.

Through National Urban League Entrepreneurship Centers in 12 cities across the U.S., the Black

Restaurant Accelerator will not only help address these barriers, but also take a long-term view by pairing participants with entrepreneurship

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advisors and PepsiCo employee volunteers to build an actionable plan for growth.

“This is a game changing program that will provide Black restaurateurs with access to business-building resources tailored to meet their specific needs,” said Marc H. Morial, president and CEO, National Urban League.

“Our understanding of the local business environment and community paired with subject matter expertise from PepsiCo team members will give business owners a leg up as they look to grow.”

National Urban League will begin accepting applications for the program in the first quarter of 2021. Restaurateurs interested in receiving updates can go to https:// nationalurbanleague.salsalabs.org/ black-restaurant-accelerator-program/index.html Learn more about Urban League Entrepreneurship Centers and other workforce development programs by visiting NUL.org.

“This is a key component of the broader investments we’re making to bolster Black-owned restaurants and small businesses, which has never been more critical,” said Jon Banner, executive vice president, PepsiCo Global Communications and president, PepsiCo Foundation. “We’re honored to build on the important work the National Urban League is doing to diminish the barriers that limit possibilities for Black-owned foodservice businesses and create economic mobility that propels individuals and communities.”

The Black Restaurant Accelera-

tor program comes on the heels of recent PepsiCo efforts to advance Black-owned restaurants — enabled by strategic partnerships with industry, non-profit and grassroots organizations and advocates who share a passion for creating a more equitable industry — including: l Pathways to Black Franchise Ownership: PepsiCo is a founding sponsor of this long-term initiative to increase the number of Black-owned restaurant franchises in the U.S. in partnership with the Multicultural Foodservice and Hospitality Alliance (MFHA).

Through curated training and mentoring administered through 4thMVMT, the program aims to create 100 Black-owned businesses by 2022. l Black Restaurant Week: Pepsi recently signed on as the first-ever national title sponsor of the Black culinary celebration.

Together, Black Restaurant Week and Pepsi are celebrating Black culinary tastemakers through events in cities across the country designed to promote Blackowned restaurants to the broader community while stimulating the local economy. l Advisory Council: PepsiCo assembled a body of industry visionaries to provide perspective, serve as a sounding board and advise on solutions for the Black foodservice community. Council members include: *Restaurant owner and entrepreneur Marcus Davis *Award-winning writer and author Osayi Endolyn *Founder + Curator, The Iconoclast Dinner Experience (IDE) Dr. Lezli Levene Harvell *Celebrity chef, author, CEO & President of DWT Culinary Associates LLC Daniel Thomas *CEO of The Black upStart Kezia Williams These efforts are part of the $400 million commitment PepsiCo made over the next five years to advance racial equality within the company, industry and the communities it serves. More information is available at PepsiCo.com/racial-equality-journey.

These efforts are part of the $400 million commitment PepsiCo made over the next five years to advance racial equality within the company, industry and the communities it serves. More information is available at PepsiCo.com/racial-equality-journey.

CITIZEN | Suburban Times Weekly | Week of Nov. 4, 2020

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NEWS

Schools, Parents And COVID-19 NAPSI—K–12 education has gone through a seismic shift in the wake of COVID-19. Parents are finding themselves thrust into homeschooling, and educators, into virtual schooling. EdChoice, a national nonprofit, nonpartisan organization, teamed up with Morning Consult to release results of a recent poll to find out how it has affected families and teachers.

They found that parents are clearly anxious about sending their kids back to school; 66 percent said they were concerned their children will be exposed to the virus in school. The majority (68%) are also concerned their child is missing important instruction time.

The silver lining to so many states having closed down brick and mortar schools: A solid majority of parents said they felt at least somewhat prepared for the transition to e-learning and distance learning. Parents are slightly more likely to say they felt very or somewhat prepared (70%) than were teachers (67 percent).

There is only one type of school choice program that allows families to receive funds

into a flexible spending account to customize an education for their child. They are called education savings accounts, or ESAs. And according to EdChoice’s Public Opinion Tracker, 67 percent of Americans support them.

These results are part of a new, larger polling project, the EdChoice Public Opinion Tracker. The new dashboard updates every month with results of public survey questions not only on COVID-19, but also

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on K–12 education topics such as schooling, testing, spending and school choice.

Learn More For more findings from EdChoice’s Public Opinion Tracker visit www.edchoice.org.

6 | CITIZEN | Suburban Times Weekly | Week of Nov. 4, 2020

ART SCENE

Gift creates clinical appointment in the field of Art of the Spanish Americas at UIC’s CADA The Carl & Marilynn Thoma Art Foundation has made a generous gift to the University of Illinois Chicago’s College of Architecture, Design, and the Arts (CADA). This gift will create a clinical appointment in the field of Art of the Spanish Americas at CADA’s School of Art and Art History and distinguishes UIC as the only Ph.D.-granting department of art history in Chicago with a specialist in this area.

Professor Emmanuel Ortega has been identified as CADA’s first Marilynn Thoma Scholar in Art of the Spanish Americas. Upon his arrival at UIC, Ortega initiated a sustained collaboration with the Thoma Foundation that engaged UIC art history students with the foundation’s staff and renowned collection of Art of the Spanish Americas.

“To be named Thoma Scholar in Art of the Spanish Americas at UIC is a great honor; not only does it inspire me to expand my research into the viceroyalty of Peru, but also allows me to continue developing art historical methodologies based on the history of Native resistance throughout the Americas,” Ortega said. “From New Mexico to Chile, the history of Native insurrection

and resistance forever shaped the cultural production of the Spanish colonies. UIC’s CADA and the Thoma Foundation’s commitment to diversify faculty positions to include non-traditional scholars of color reflects a drive to expand the parameters of what the study of art and art history represents during these uncertain yet hopeful times.”

“The Marilynn Thoma Scholar in Art of the Spanish Americas represents the Department of Art History’s commitment to the field of colonial Latin America as well as to the next generation of Latinx art historians,” said Catherine Becker, CADA’s chair of art history. “Building on the department’s longstanding leadership in the art and architectural history of the Americas, the Thoma Scholar’s research on the Spanish Americas as a unique site of cross-cultural artistic production will transform the larger discipline along with our understanding of the history of this region.”

For Carl and Marilynn Thoma, the scholar position represents an unprecedented opportunity to inspire a new generation of scholars and to capitalize on the proximity of UIC and the Thoma collection: the campus is located less than 2 miles from the

foundation’s Orange Door exhibition space.

The foundation’s gift better positions Ortega and the department to offer new and much in demand courses to UIC’s diverse student body.

“CADA’s Department of Art History is honored by this support from the Thoma Foundation, a respected force in the field of the Art of the Spanish Americas,” Dean Rebecca Rugg said.

“Additionally, I’m thrilled to share that the Foundation was impressed by the voices of UIC students advocating for the importance of support for a scholar in this area. Because of this, I feel the Thoma gift also recognizes UIC’s wonderfully diverse student body as a place for investment.”

The Marilynn Thoma Scholar in the Art of the Spanish Americas also will be a bridge to the exceptional artistic and cultural resources throughout the city of Chicago, including the Art Institute of Chicago, the Newberry Li- brary, and, of course, the art collection of the Thoma Foundation. Rooted in public outreach and engagement, the scholar’s research, teaching, and community involvement embrace UIC’s core values as Chicago’s only public research university.

Emmanuel Ortega, CADA’s first Marilynn Thoma Scholar in Art of the Spanish Americas.

TRAVEL United Launches Online ‘Map Search’ Feature, a First Among U.S. Airlines Let’s say you live in Chicago, have $250 to spend on a flight and are looking to go somewhere warm for the holidays. Or you’re on the east coast and want to head west for a last-minute getaway to visit a national park.

Now, instead of doing multiple, time-consuming searches online, United Airlines has launched a quick and easy way to see all your travel options in one place.

United announced that it is the first U.S. airline to introduce an interactive map feature powered by Google Flight Search Enterprise Technology.

Customers can access Map Search on United.com to easily compare and shop for flights, based on departure city, budget and location type, including popular national park, skiing and cultural destinations.

This new digital tool displays fares in a map view, allowing customers to simultaneously compare travel to a variety of destinations in a single search.

“We’ve reinvented the way people

search for flights and introduced something new for our customers that is simpler, provides better results and is easy to use,” said Linda Jojo, executive vice president for technology and chief digital officer. “Leveraging the power of Google’s Flight Search technology, we are able to provide an all-in-one solution that streamlines the search process and allows our customers to more easily find the flights that work best for them.”

Customers can apply over a dozen filters to their map search, including viewing non-stop only flights, specific or flexible dates, and one-way or round-trip options.

Additionally, customers can set their preferred departure city and maximum price preference, and filter options based on the type of destination they’re looking to visit.

The feature currently offers filters to view destinations that are popular

for the following offerings: National Parks Beaches Beer & Breweries Culture Food & Drink Hiking Outdoors Romantic Skiing & Snowboarding Snorkeling and Scuba The ‘national park’ filter was a more recent addition to United’s map search feature given the increased interest they’ve received from customers over the past few months for flights to destinations where they can more easily recreate responsibly.

These Map Search filters were designed to highlight the destination types that are most popular with today’s traveler, including the top national park destinations served by United. The airline operates more flights to more national park destinations than any other U.S. carrier, according to a press release.

In addition to the filter options www.citizennewspapergroup.com

available on Map Search, MileagePlus members can also use the tool to view all of their past travels with United. With the “Where I’ve Been” feature, the map will highlight all the destinations a customer has traveled to with United.

This tool was developed in direct response to customer feedback and United and Google are continuing to collaborate on enhancing the map search capability.

Map Search follows a number of recent innovations introduced by United to streamline the travel process. Earlier this month, United debuted its Destination Travel Guide, which allows customers to filter and view destinations’ COVID-19 related travel restrictions.

Additionally, as part of its United CleanPlusSM program, the airline recently introduced touchless check-in, text alerts for passengers on standby and upgrade lists to reduce person-to-person interaction, and a new chat function to give customers a contactless option

to receive immediate access to information about cleaning and safety procedures.

According to a press release, United was the first U.S. airline to mandate masks for flight attendants, quickly following with all customers and employees. United was also among the first U.S. carriers to announce it wouldn’t permit customers who refused to comply with the airline’s mandatory mask policy to fly with them while the face mask policy is in place.

In addition, United was the first U.S. airline to roll out touchless check-in for customers with bags, and the first to require passengers take an online health assessment before traveling.

Recently, the airline announced it will apply Zoono Microbe Shield, an EPA registered antimicrobial coating that forms a long-lasting bond with surfaces and inhibits the growth of microbes, to its entire mainline and express fleet before the end of the year.

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CITIZEN | Suburban Times Weekly | Week of Nov. 4, 2020

Classifieds REAL ESTATES AC 10-21-2020 IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF COOK COUNTY, ILLINOIS COUNTY DEPARTMENT - CHANCERY DIVISION PHH MORTGAGE CORPORATION Plaintiff, -v.- CATHERINE MOORE, UNKNOWN OWNERS AND NONRECORD CLAIMANTS Defendants 2019CH14803 536 W 15TH STREET CHICAGO HEIGHTS, IL 60411 NOTICE OF SALE PUBLIC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale entered in the above cause on October 9, 2020, an agent for The Judicial Sales Corporation, will at 10:30 AM on November 20, 2020, at The Judicial Sales Corporation, One South Wacker Drive, CHICAGO, IL, 60606, sell at a public sale to the highest bidder, as set forth below, the following described real estate: Commonly known as 536 W 15TH STREET, CHICAGO HEIGHTS, IL 60411 Property Index No. 32-19311-017-0000 The real estate is improved with a single family residence. Sale terms: 25% down of the highest bid by certified funds at the close of the sale payable to The Judicial Sales Corporation. No third party checks will be accepted. The balance, including the Judicial Sale fee for the Abandoned Residential Property Municipality Relief Fund, which is calculated on residential real estate at the rate of $1 for each $1,000 or fraction thereof of the amount paid by the purchaser not to exceed $300, in certified funds/or wire transfer, is due within twentyfour (24) hours. No fee shall be paid by the mortgagee acquiring the residential real estate pursuant to its credit bid at the sale or by any mortgagee, judgment creditor, or other lienor acquiring the residential real estate whose rights in and to the residential real estate arose prior to the sale. The subject property is subject to general real estate taxes, special assessments, or special taxes levied against said real estate and is offered for sale without any representation as to quality or quantity of title and without recourse to Plaintiff and in "AS IS" condition.

The sale is further subject to confirmation by the court. Upon payment in full of the amount bid, the purchaser will receive a Certificate of Sale that will entitle the purchaser to a deed to the real estate after confirmation of the sale. The property will NOT be open for inspection and plaintiff makes no representation as to the condition of the property. Prospective bidders are admonished to check the court file to verify all information. If this property is a condominium unit, the purchaser of the unit at the foreclosure sale, other than a mortgagee, shall pay the assessments and the legal fees required by The Condominium Property Act, 765 ILCS 605/9(g)(1) and (g)(4). If this property is a condominium unit which is part of a common interest community, the purchaser of the unit at the foreclosure sale other than a mortgagee shall pay the assessments required

by The Condominium Property Act, 765 ILCS 605/18.5(g-1). IF YOU ARE THE MORTGAGOR (HOMEOWNER), YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO REMAIN IN POSSESSION FOR 30 DAYS AFTER ENTRY OF AN ORDER OF POSSESSION, IN ACCORDANCE WITH SECTION 15-1701(C) OF THE ILLINOIS MORTGAGE FORECLOSURE LAW. You will need a photo identification issued by a government

agency (driver's license, passport, etc.) in order to gain entry into our building and the foreclosure sale room in Cook County and the same identification for sales held at other county venues where The Judicial Sales Corporation conducts foreclosure sales. For information, examine the court file, CODILIS & ASSOCIATES, P.C. Plaintiff's Attorneys, 15W030 NORTH FRONTAGE ROAD, SUITE 100, BURR RIDGE, IL, 60527 (630) 794-9876 THE JUDICIAL SALES CORPORATION One South Wacker Drive, 24th Floor, Chicago, IL 60606-4650 (312) 236-SALE You can also visit The Judicial Sales Corporation at www.tjsc.com for a 7 day status report of pending sales. CODILIS & ASSOCIATES, P.C. 15W030 NORTH FRONTAGE ROAD, SUITE 100 BURR RIDGE IL, 60527 630-794-5300 E-Mail: pleadings@il.cslegal.com Attorney File No. 14-19-11672 Attorney ARDC No. 00468002 Attorney Code. 21762 Case Number: 2019CH14803 TJSC#: 40-2290 NOTE: Pursuant to the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, you are advised that Plaintiff's attorney is deemed to be a debt collector attempting to collect a debt and any information obtained will be used for that purpose.

Case # 2019CH14803 I3158324 ____________________________ HUD/BANK FORECLOSURES CITY & SUBURBS Call: FRED D. CLINK (773) 294-5870 REALTY SERVICES CONSORTIUM ____________________________ 3+ Bedroom HOMES FOR SALE SELLER FINANCING Call: FRED D. CLINK (773) 294-5870 REALTY SERVICES CONSORTIUM ___________________________

LEGAL NOTICE Notice is hereby given, pursuant to “An Act in relation to the use of an Assumed Business Name in the conduct or transaction of Business in the State,” as amended, that a certification was registered by the undersigned with the County Clerk of Cook County.

Registration Number; Y20004582 on September 23, 2020 Under the Assumed Business Name of NDGO STUDIOS with the business located at: 7753 S. MERRILL AVE., CHICAGO, IL 60649. The true and real full name (s) and residence address of the owner (s) / Partner (s) is: Owner/Partner Full Name: NATE DAVIS, Complete Address: 7753 S. MERRILL AVE., CHICAGO, IL 60649, USA ____________________________ ___ Notice is hereby given, pursuant to “An Act in relation to the use of an Assumed Business Name in the conduct or transaction of Business in the State,” as amended, that a certification was registered by the undersigned with the County Clerk of Cook County. Registration Number: Y20004817 on October 8, 2020. Under the Assumed Business Name of FAST PACE MOVERS with the business located at: 6617 INGLESIDE, CHICAGO, ILLINOIS 60637. The true and real full name(s) and residence address of the owner (s) /partner (s) is: Owners/Partner Full Name MAURICE LOWRY, Complete Address, 6617 INGLESIDE, CHICAGO, ILLINOIS 60637, USA. ___________________________

PUBLIC NOTICE The annual return of The Love and Unity Prayer Circle church is available, at the address noted below, for inspection during normal business hours, by any citizen who so requests within 180 days after publication of this notice of its availability.The love and Unity prayer Circle 1153 E.82nd Street Chicago, Il 60619-4513537.The principal manager is Cynthia ACohen,Pastor Telephone (773) 993-9796. __________________________

EDUCATION How to Make Remote-Learning More Rewarding and Fun (StatePoint) In the remote-learning environment of the 2020-21 academic year, certain types of classes have been deprioritized and the school day has lost some of the structure and sociability that in-person learning affords.

In the face of these challenges, how can you make remote-learning more rewarding and fun for your child? Consider the following tips and ideas: • Encourage video study sessions: Socializing is an invaluable aspect of a traditional school day.

Unfortunately, remote-learning can be a lot more isolating. Have your child invite classmates to form a remote study group. Doing so will help reinforce lessons, make learning the material more interactive and provide a much-needed opportunity for students to socialize.

• Reincorporate music education: Have music classes been cancelled this year? Your child can still reap the benefits of a music education by playing an instrument like a Casiotone Keyboard.

The Casiotone series of keyboards are great for beginners. Not only do they have a built-in learning system, they have a 3/4 jack for headphones so the rest of the house doesn’t have to be distracted during practice sessions. Learning to play a keyboard is not only fun, it can help with science, math and cognitive learning. Studies have shown that children and adults with musical training have heightened skills in an area called executive functioning.

• Schedule midday movement: Physical education may no longer be part of your child’s curriculum, but you can still make time for movement. Schedule a screen-free block of time each day to replace gym class or recess. Encourage kids to move around and if possible, get some fresh air. They’ll return to their next class refreshed and focused.

• Master math at home: Math can be an especially tricky subject to master remotely. But new tools can help students grasp complex concepts. For example, ClassPad.net is a tool geared toward K-12 and beyond that exceeds the functionality of a calculator. Among its many features are a virtual protractor and compass, and a math-based text editor that provides a rich assortment of mathematical templates.

This web-based calculator also gives users the ability to create fold-

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ers, organize and share work.

These tools are free to educators and students and can eliminate the need for an expensive graphing calculator. To register or learn more, visit ClassPad.net.

• Create digital masterpieces: Art is still an important subject for kids, even if it isn’t being offered this year. However, you don’t need to install a full-fledged art studio in your home for kids to be able to create artwork in a range of mediums.

Digital apps mimic the act of drawing, painting, illustration, collage and more, helping to build a foundation of skills and lay the groundwork for further exploration.

While some of the challenges of remote-learning are inevitable, there are many ways families can make the experience more positive for students.

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