April 9 Evening Edition - GOPUSA Illinois

ABC7
— Fewer Illinois coronavirus cases, deaths reported for 1st time in week; state may be ‘bending the curve’, Gov. JB Pritzker says – Craig Wall, Eric Horng and Jessica D’Onofrio
https://abc7chicago.com/health/illinois-may-be-bending-the-curve-in-covid-19-fight-pritzker-says/6089281/

NBC5
— ‘Seriously Consider’ Canceling All Large Summer Events in Illinois, Governor Says Thursday marked one calendar month since the start of Illinois’ stay-at-home order
https://www.nbcchicago.com/news/local/all-large-summer-events-in-illinois-should-be-canceled-governor-says/2253252/
— Illinois Coronavirus: Total Number of Cases Tops 16,000 With 528 Deaths Cases have been reported in more than 80 of Illinois’ 102 counties
https://www.nbcchicago.com/news/local/illinois-coronavirus-total-number-of-cases-tops-16000-with-528-deaths/2253148/
— US Coronavirus Updates: New Hotspots Emerge; More Men Than Women Are Testing Positive
https://www.nbcchicago.com/news/coronavirus/us-coronavirus-updates-mercy-crew-member-tests-positive-federal-stockpile-nearly-depleted/2252884/

CBS2
— Coronavirus In Chicago: City, CTA, CPS To Get More Than $1.5 Billion Combined In Federal COVID-19 Relief Funds – Todd Feurer
https://chicago.cbslocal.com/2020/04/09/coronavirus-in-chicago-city-cta-cps-to-get-more-than-1-5-billion-combined-in-federal-covid-19-relief-funds/

FOX NEWS CHICAGO
— Pritzker: Data indicates Illinois is bending the curve in fight against COVID-19 – Nic Flosi
https://www.fox32chicago.com/news/pritzker-data-indicates-illinois-is-bending-the-curve-in-fight-against-covid-19

CHICAGO SUN-TIMES
— US economy unlikely to recover as rapidly as it collapsed There are emerging signs that any recovery will fail to match the speed and severity of the economic collapse that occurred in just a few weeks. – AP
https://chicago.suntimes.com/coronavirus/2020/4/9/21214887/us-economy-unlikely-to-recover-rapidly-collapsed-donald-trump-coronavirus-covid-19
— No halt to culture wars during coronavirus outbreak The virus outbreak has put much of American life on hold, but the nation’s culture wars seem immune from the pandemic. – AP
https://chicago.suntimes.com/2020/4/9/21215168/no-halt-to-culture-wars-during-coronavirus-outbreak-covid-19-washington-politics
— Democrats renew vote-by-mail push as virus upends elections Nancy Pelosi’s proposals, which are still evolving, drew immediate condemnation from House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, echoing President Donald Trump’s opposition to federal attempts to prod states to relax their voting rules. – AP
https://chicago.suntimes.com/coronavirus/2020/4/9/21215558/democrats-renew-vote-by-mail-push-as-virus-upends-elections-2020-election-coronavirus-covid-19
— OUTSTANDING: Wife of clout-heavy builder pushes to ban all pot businesses from her Gold Coast neighborhood Patricia Walsh, whose husband heads The Walsh Group, is seeking to create a “Restricted Cannabis Zone” that would stop legal marijuana sales from an affluent swath of the 2nd ward. – Tom Schuba
https://chicago.suntimes.com/cannabis/2020/4/9/21214068/chicago-dispensaries-patricia-walsh-gold-coast-pot-cannabis
— Parents, advocates urge Pritzker to release inmates as prison coronavirus cases skyrocket
https://chicago.suntimes.com/2020/4/9/21214742/latest-coronavirus-news-live-updates-chicago-illinois-2020
— Lightfoot will be ‘extremely cautious’ before lifting stay-at-home order in Chicago A lot will depend on the extent of testing available, the mayor said, since people must “have a level of confidence about whether or not they’re infected.” – Fran Spielman
https://chicago.suntimes.com/coronavirus/2020/4/9/21215527/coronavirus-chicago-lightfoot-stay-home-order-testing
— Community leaders demand end to ‘racist’ police tactics, want other protections for those ‘most vulnerable’ during pandemic Their list also includes: end state ban on rent control; fill 2,000 CHA vacant units; increase paid sick leave; open a South Side coronavirus testing site; waive water fees for six months; end “racist” police tactics, such as checkpoints. – Fran Spielman
https://chicago.suntimes.com/coronavirus/2020/4/9/21215154/coronavirus-police-african-american-racist-tactics-cha-water-fees-testing
— Nearly one in 10 U.S. workers have lost their jobs in past 3 weeks: Unemployment report The latest report from the Labor Department shows an equally widening impact of coronavirus-related layoffs in Illinois. – AP
https://chicago.suntimes.com/2020/4/9/21214765/illinois-unemployment-numbers-april-4
— Suspend the Freedom of Information Act? Even during a pandemic, that’s a horrible idea No reporter wants saving lives to take a back seat to handing over public documents. But Gov. Pritzker was right to nix the idea of a blanket suspension of FOIA. – Editorial
https://chicago.suntimes.com/2020/4/9/21214891/suspend-illinois-freedom-information-act-wrong-move-coronavirus-pandemic

CRAIN’S CHICAGO BUSINESS
— The pandemic-era outlook for Illinois’ budget is a horror show A task force of University of Illinois fiscal experts estimates the state’s four-year revenue hit from the COVID-induced recession could range from $10 billion to $28 billion. – STEVE DANIELS
https://www.chicagobusiness.com/government/pandemic-era-outlook-illinois-budget-horror-show
— Lightfoot reveals how COVID whacks city’s finances In her first detailed briefing, the mayor says Chicago expects $1.56 billion in emergency federal aid, but leaves key questions unanswered about what’s next. – GREG HINZ
https://www.chicagobusiness.com/greg-hinz-politics/lightfoot-reveals-how-covid-whacks-citys-finances
— The pandemic-era outlook for Illinois’ budget is a horror show A task force of University of Illinois fiscal experts estimates the state’s four-year revenue hit from the COVID-induced recession could range from $10 billion to $28 billion. – STEVE DANIELS
https://www.chicagobusiness.com/government/pandemic-era-outlook-illinois-budget-horror-show
— Pritzker turning optimistic in COVID fight
— After weeks of dire warnings, the governor and his health chief see signs of progress. – GREG HINZ
https://www.chicagobusiness.com/greg-hinz-politics/pritzker-turning-optimistic-covid-fight-0
— State Farm providing $2 billion in credits to auto policyholders The nation’s largest car insurer followed—and one-upped—archrival Allstate’s move as stay-at-home orders keep drivers off the roads. – STEVE DANIELS
https://www.chicagobusiness.com/insurance/state-farm-providing-2-billion-credits-auto-policyholders
— Tribune Publishing slashing salaries as ad market deteriorates The media industry is suffering from a sudden drop in advertising revenue, forcing widespread layoffs and salary cuts here. – DALTON BARKER
https://www.chicagobusiness.com/marketing-media/tribune-publishing-slashing-salaries-ad-market-deteriorates

DAILY HERALD
— April 9 breakdown of suburban COVID-19 cases by county, and search by ZIP code
https://www.dailyherald.com/news/20200409/april-9-breakdown-of-suburban-covid-19-cases-by-county-and-search-by-zip-code

FOX ILLINOIS
— White House tests journalists for COVID-19 – AP (DIERSEN: What has reduced your interaction with others? I am no longer a TAPROOT Republicans of Illinois chairman, Wheaton Chamber of Commerce Government Affairs Committee member, Milton Township Republican Organization webmaster, Illinois Center Right Coalition Steering Committee member, American Association of Political Consultants Midwest Chapter board member, GAO employee, etc.)
https://foxillinois.com/news/coronavirus/white-house-tests-journalists-for-covid-19

BLOCK CLUB CHICAGO
— Mayor Lori Lightfoot Drove Around Chicago, Telling People To Go Home Lightfoot said she’ll do it again if it helps the city enforce the stay at home order and stop the spread of coronavirus. – Kelly Bauer
https://blockclubchicago.org/2020/04/09/mayor-lori-lightfoot-drove-around-chicago-telling-people-to-go-home/

MCHENRY COUNTY BLOG
— CDC Report on Contact Tracing in Chicago after Funeral, Birthday Party
http://mchenrycountyblog.com/2020/04/09/cdc-report-on-contact-tracing-in-chicago-after-funeral-birthday-party/
— As World Celebrates Easter, Persecution of Christians in the United States
http://mchenrycountyblog.com/2020/04/09/as-world-celebrates-easter-persecution-of-christians-in-the-united-states/
— Skillicorn Quotes Constituents’ Unemployment Comp Payment Problems
http://mchenrycountyblog.com/2020/04/09/skillicorn-on-unemployment-comp-payment-problems/
— Echos of the Fight over Contact Tracing in the Fight against HIV/AIDS
http://mchenrycountyblog.com/2020/04/09/echos-of-the-hiv-aids-fight/

CAPITOL FAX
— Pritzker thanks Abbott Labs – “Our rate of rise is looking less and less exponential” – Praises local groups for pitching in – Shoutout to #SpritzersWithPritzker – Dr. Ezike: “If you think you don’t have a case in your zip code that’s probably not actually the case” – Pritzker defends pending minimum wage hike – Still no date for IDES fix – Could come back in the fall – More testing in African-American areas – Curve not bending down yet – Will be posting PPE contracts online – Following Gov. Baker’s lead on contact tracing – Dr. Ezike outlines DHS DD center readiness – Addresses federal halt to funding drive-through testing – “I think everybody needs to think seriously about canceling large summer events” – Plans to pursue workshare program
https://capitolfax.com/2020/04/09/pritzker-thanks-abbott-labs-our-rate-of-rise-is-looking-less-and-less-exponential/
— 1,344 new cases, 66 additional deaths
https://capitolfax.com/2020/04/09/1344-new-cases-66-additional-deaths/
— COVID-19 roundup
https://capitolfax.com/2020/04/09/covid-19-roundup-15/
— Worst case scenario: “Illinois could lose more than $28 billion between calendar years 2020 and 2023″
https://capitolfax.com/2020/04/09/worst-case-scenario-illinois-could-lose-more-than-28-billion-between-calendar-years-2020-and-2023/
— The testing situation
https://capitolfax.com/2020/04/09/the-testing-situation/

RUSH LIMBAUGH
— Reopen the Economy, Mr. President — No Matter What Attacks Come
https://www.rushlimbaugh.com/daily/2020/04/09/how-trump-can-reopen-the-economy-and-combat-democrat-attacks/

WASHINGTON TIMES
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: Biden panders to minorities.
https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2020/apr/9/joe-biden-demands-coronavirus-racial-data/

WASHINGTON EXAMINER
— Republicans repulse Democrats’ effort to change voting laws under cover of pandemic – David M. Drucker
https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/campaigns/republicans-repulse-democrats-effort-to-change-voting-laws-under-cover-of-pandemic
— White House has no plans to change Trump’s coronavirus briefings as criticism mounts – Rob Crilly
https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/white-house-has-no-plans-to-change-trumps-coronavirus-briefings-as-criticism-mounts

GOPUSA
— The Grand Farce Of American Social Distancing – Michelle Malkin
https://www.gopusa.com/?p=87301
— Democrats Demand A Halt To Border Wall Construction Amid Pandemic
https://www.gopusa.com/?p=87345

BRIETBART
— Pope Francis Says Pandemic Is ‘Nature’s Response’ to Human Inaction over Climate Change – THOMAS D. WILLIAMS, PH.D. (DIERSEN: According to Trump-haters, the pandemic is GOD’s punishment for people not doing enough to promote dependency on government, dependency on charity, LGBTQ activity, abortion, mass/illegal immigration, booze, gambling, pot and other vices, patronage, political affiliation discrimination, reverse discrimination, and age discrimination.)
https://www.breitbart.com/health/2020/04/09/pope-francis-says-pandemic-is-natures-response-to-human-inaction-over-climate-change/

BLAZE
— Joe Biden: Coronavirus crisis has ‘helped’ my presidential campaign ‘Based on the polling data, it’s helped me’ – DAVE URBANSKI
https://www.theblaze.com/news/joe-biden-coronavirus-crisis-has-helped-my-presidential-campaign

CNS NEWS
— Chicago Mayor’s Executive Order Calls for Giving Taxpayer Funds to Illegals – Melanie Arter
https://www.cnsnews.com/article/national/melanie-arter/chicago-mayors-executive-order-calls-giving-taxpayer-funds-illegals
— Federal Debt Tops $24 Trillion for First Time; GAO: ‘The Current Federal Fiscal Path is Unsustainable’ – Terence P. Jeffrey
https://cnsnews.com/article/washington/terence-p-jeffrey/federal-debt-tops-24-trillion-first-time-gao-current-federal
— House Dems Introduce Legislation That Would Allow Illegals to Get Stimulus Checks – Melanie Arter
https://www.cnsnews.com/index.php/article/national/melanie-arter/house-dems-introduce-legislation-would-allow-illegals-get-stimulus

DAILY CALLER
— Border Apprehensions Drop, Thousands Of Migrants Turned Back Amid Coronavirus Crisis – JASON HOPKINS
https://dailycaller.com/2020/04/09/border-apprehensions-coronavirus-cbp/

DAILY SIGNAL
— California Governor Working to Give More Coronavirus Aid to Illegal Aliens – Jason Hopkins
https://www.dailysignal.com/2020/04/09/california-governor-working-to-give-more-coronavirus-aid-to-illegal-aliens/

INSIDER
— Smoking marijuana could make the lungs more susceptible to COVID-19, experts say as cannabis sales spike – Julia Naftulin
https://www.insider.com/regular-cannabis-smoking-may-increase-covid-19-risk-lung-experts-2020-4

THE HILL
— Trump’s IG firings prompt questions of whether more are coming – OLIVIA BEAVERS
https://thehill.com/policy/national-security/492027-trumps-ig-firings-prompt-questions-of-whether-more-are-coming
— Trump officials lay groundwork for May reopening – BRETT SAMUELS AND MORGAN CHALFANT
https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/492065-trump-officials-lay-groundwork-for-may-reopening

CNN
— Barr calls coronavirus restrictions ‘draconian’ while health experts say they’re helping lower death projections – David Shortell and Veronica Stracqualursi
http://www.wicz.com/story/41991551/barr-calls-coronavirus-restrictions-draconian-while-health-experts-say-theyre-helping-lower-death-projections

NEW YORK TIMES
— With a Face Mask Photo, Melania Trump Highlights Her Husband’s Reluctance to Wear One The first lady’s encouragement of Americans to wear face masks was all the more striking because it contrasted with her husband’s mixed messages on the subject: “I don’t see it for myself,” President Trump has said. – Katie Rogers
https://www.nytimes.com/2020/04/09/us/politics/melania-trump-coronavirus.html

WASHINGTON POST
— The CDC recommends masks. In some cities and counties, they’ll be mandatory. – Rebecca Tan
https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/the-cdc-recommends-face-masks-in-some-cities-and-counties-theyll-be-mandatory/2020/04/08/60d67304-79d7-11ea-9bee-c5bf9d2e3288_story.html
— Trump’s resistance to independent oversight draws bipartisan scrutiny – Seung Min Kim, Josh Dawsey, Tom Hamburger and Mike DeBonis (DIERSEN: Anyone who reviews the filings in Diersen v. GAO would conclude that GAO is not independent and that GAO functions as an arm of the Democrat Party.)
https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/trumps-resistance-to-independent-oversight-draws-bipartisan-scrutiny/2020/04/08/d9776f48-79af-11ea-9bee-c5bf9d2e3288_story.html

NEW YORK DAILY NEWS
— Melania Trump stars in ‘wear a mask’ anti-coronavirus video — but doesn’t actually put one on – DAVE GOLDINER
https://www.nydailynews.com/coronavirus/ny-coronavirus-melania-trump-mask-video-20200409-bf6fpukn35cepkzooupwga4dpq-story.html

LOS ANGELES TIMES
— Affordable housing can cost $1 million per apartment in California. Coronavirus could make it worse – LIAM DILLON, BEN POSTON, JULIA BARAJAS
https://www.latimes.com/homeless-housing/story/2020-04-09/california-low-income-housing-expensive-apartment-coronavirus

PBS
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: Trump-haters use coronavirus and Asian-Americans to promote hated against Trump-supporters.
https://www.pbs.org/newshour/nation/the-long-history-of-racism-against-asian-americans-in-the-u-s

SPLC
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: SPLC uses coronavirus to promote hatred against Trump supporters.
https://www.splcenter.org/hatewatch/2020/04/09/nativist-hate-groups-want-keep-people-ice-detention-despite-covid-19-threat

Author: David Diersen

The opinions that I express in GOPUSA ILLINOIS emails are based on experience that I have gained doing many things since 1948. I base my opinions on what I learned a) working for the federal government for almost 30 years -- Post Office 1966-1969, IRS 1971-1980, and GAO 1980-1997, serving on the Executive Committee of the Association of Government Accountants Chicago Chapter 1983-1996, and being a union member while I worked for the Post Office and IRS; b) earning an MBA from Loyola in 1976, a masters degree in accounting from DePaul in 1980, and a masters degree in financial markets and trading from IIT in 1997; c) passing the CPA examination on my first attempt in 1979 and passing the Certified Internal Auditor examination on my first attempt in 1981; c) serving as a Republican Precinct Committeeman since 1999, the GOPUSA Illinois Editor since 2000, the TAPROOT Republicans of Illinois Chairman 2005-2012, a member of the 2008 Illinois Republican Party (IRP) Platform and Resolutions Committee, a Wheaton Chamber of Commerce Government Affairs Committee member 2003-2011, the Milton Township Republican Central Committee webmaster 2008-2010 and 2000-2004, an Illinois Center Right Coalition Steering Committee member 2003-2007, and an American Association of Political Consultants Midwest Chapter board member 2001-2004; d) attending the 2000, 2004, 2008, 2012, and 2016 IRP State Conventions as a delegate; e) being the subject of a nasty 4-page article in the February 1978 issue of Money Magazine; f) pursing litigation including Diersen v. GAO and Diersen v. Chicago Car Exchange; g) being married since 1978; h) living in Crete 1948-1972, in University Park 1972-1976, in Chicago 1976-1978, and in DuPage County, Milton Township, and Wheaton since 1978; and i) being baptized, raised, and confirmed as a Missouri Synod Lutheran. View all posts by David Diersen