December 31 Morning Edition

CHICAGO SUN-TIMES
— 8 New Year’s wishes for Chicago and Illinois – Editorial
https://chicago.suntimes.com/opinion/8-new-year-wishes-chicago-illinois-2018-editorial/
— Here’s what we fought for in 2017 – Editorial (DIERSEN: What did you fight for in 2017? With my GOPUSA ILLINOIS emails, I fought for the Republican Party platform, the Illinois Republican Party platform, and the Milton Township resolution against video gambling. I especially fought for the traditional family, right to life, immigration, Second Amendment, equal opportunity (no race or gender based preference giving) planks. I especially fought against the promotion of LGBTQ activity, abortion, mass/illegal immigration, further erosion of the First and Second Amendments, reverse discrimination, age discrimination, political affiliation discrimination, patronage, booze, gambling, pot, and other vices.)
https://chicago.suntimes.com/opinion/2017-trump-rauner-schools-chicago-police-golf-course-park-district-republican-tax-bill/

 

CHICAGO TRIBUNE
— After dispute over epitaph, tombstone at Catholic cemetery reads: ‘She supported priest sexual abuse victims’ – Angie Leventis Lourgos
http://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/ct-met-catholic-grave-marker-20171221-story.html
— Senators’ Russia trip scuttled because of ‘black list’ – AP (DIERSEN: Who has you on their black list? I should write a book about those who have me on their black lists. They do not want me a) to know about their events or their other activities, b) to promote their events or their other activities, c) attend their events, or d) report on their events or other activities. They blame me for their problems, for your problems, for my problems, and for everyone’s problems. They blame me for all the defeats that Republicans have suffered in Illinois since 2000. They pander to Rich Miller and to the rest of the Democrat news media in Illinois.)
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/sns-bc-us–senate-russia-20171230-story.html
— More adults are living together than ever, analysis shows. Here’s why. – Darcel Rockett (DIERSEN: I had saved enough and I was earning enough a) in 1972 when I was 24 years old to buy a new town home in University Park, b) in 1974 to buy a studio condo in the Outer Drive East building in downtown Chicago, and c) in 1976 to buy a one bedroom condo in that building. My father died suddenly in 1969. I lived with my mother and brother in Crete 1970-1972 to help support them.)
http://www.chicagotribune.com/classified/realestate/ct-re-roommates-rental-prices-20171219-story.html
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: Ever-increasingly, anti-Republicans promote booze, gambling, pot, and other vices.
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/opinion/chapman/ct-perspec-chapman-sports-betting-new-jersey-supreme-court-nfl-1231-20171229-story.html

 

DAILY HERALD
— Couple leaves words ‘priest rapist’ off Wheaton cemetery tombstone – Chacour Koop
http://www.dailyherald.com/news/20171230/couple-leaves-words-priest-rapist-off-wheaton-cemetery-tombstone
— Nurture skepticism, not cynicism, to combat ‘fake news’ – Editorial (DIERSEN: Ever-increasingly, virtually everything that the mainstream media puts out is designed to promote the Democrat Party platform, the Libertarian Party platform, and/or the Green Party platform.)
http://www.dailyherald.com/discuss/20171231/editorial-nurture-skepticism-not-cynicism-to-combate-fake-news
— ‘I hope I can quit working in a few years’: A preview of the US without pensions – Peter Whoriskey (DIERSEN: Ever-increasingly, those who are not getting a pension or are not in line to get a pension promote hatred against those who are getting a pension or are in line to get a pension. Soon, if not already, those who are getting a pension or are in line to get a pension will join/form organizations to protect what they have earned. One such organization is the National Active and Retired Federal Employees Association at http://www.narfe.org. Those who promote hatred against me should acknowledge that if my Democrat GAO superiors had been stopped from forcing me to take their early retirement “offer in 1997 when I was 49 years old, and if I was still working for GAO, in today’s dollars, I would have paid into the Civil Service Retirement System (CSRS) $174,340 ($717 X 243 months) instead of CSRS paying me $1,029,834 ($4,238 X 243 months).)
http://www.dailyherald.com/business/20171231/i-hope-i-can-quit-working-in-a-few-years-a-preview-of-the-us-without-pensions

 

FOX NEWS
— Trump defends frequent Twitter use as way to ‘fight a very dishonest and unfair press’ – Alex Pappas
http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2017/12/30/trump-defends-frequent-twitter-use-as-way-to-fight-very-dishonest-and-unfair-press.html

 

NBC5
— Efforts Grow to Help Students Evaluate What They See Online – Ryan J. Foley (DIERSEN: What helps you evaluate what you see online? I have been putting GOPUSA ILLINOIS emails together and sending them out since 2000. I have served as an arbitrator for the Financial Services Regulatory Authority since 1998. I worked for GAO for almost 18 years 1980-1997, the last 11 years of which at the GS-13 Step 1-10 levels, currently $94,610-$122,991. I worked for IRS 1971-1980, the last 5 1/2 years of which at the GS-12 Step 1-5 levels, currently $79,563-$90,173. I became a Forensic Accountant in 1997, Certified Financial Services Auditor in 1996, Certified Government Financial Manager in 1994, Certified Fraud Examiner in 1990, Licensed CPA in 1981, Certified Internal Auditor in 1981, and CPA in 1979. I earned a master’s degree in financial markets and trading from IIT in 1997, a master’s degree in accounting from DePaul in 1980, an MBA from Loyola in 1976, and a bachelor’s degree in management from NIU in 1970. According to my critics/opponents, a) they and only they determine what is fact or fiction and b) what they put out is fact and everything else is fiction.)
https://www.nbcchicago.com/news/national-international/Spread-of-Fake-News-Prompts-Media-Literacy-Efforts-in-Schools-467328253.html

 

BREITBART
— Rep. Dave Brat: 2018 DACA Amnesty Fight ‘Will Determine the Nature of Our Country’ — ‘If We Fail on This, Just Picture Europe’ – ROBERT KRAYCHIK (DIERSEN: Anti-Trumps want America to look like foreign countries because anti-Trumps are anti-Protestant, anti-conservative, anti-patriotic, anti-Republican, anti-American, anti-White, anti-male, anti-older people, anti-rich people, anti-gun owners, anti-German Americans, and/or anti-those whose ancestors have been in America longer than their ancestors.)
http://www.breitbart.com/radio/2017/12/30/rep-dave-brat-2018-daca-amnesty-fight-will-determine-the-nature-of-our-country-if-we-fail-on-this-just-picture-europe/
(FROM THE ARTICLE: Congress must prioritize four repairs for the immigration system before contemplating any DACA-style amnesty negotiation, said Brat: 1. Ending chain migration and the visa lottery; 2. Mandating employer use of E-Verify; 3. Construction of a southern border wall; and 4. Interior enforcement of immigration law. The four aforementioned “permanent fixes” must precede any DACA negotiation regarding amnesty for illegal immigrants, said Brat: “It shouldn’t be about trusting or hoping, the permanent part has to come first, you see in that place and then you negotiate later.”)

 

POLITICO
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: Anti-Trumps are furious that candidates who are anti-Trump, anti-Protestant, anti-conservative, anti-patriotic, anti-Republican, anti-American, anti-White, anti-male, anti-older people, anti-rich people, anti-gun owners, anti-German Americans, and/or anti-those whose ancestors have been in America longer than their ancestors do not get more votes.
https://www.politico.com/magazine/story/2017/12/31/trump-white-working-class-history-216200

 

NBC NEWS
— Forget resolutions: 3 more productive ways to look back at 2017 Looking back at the past year with a different lens may set you up for more success in the new year. – Brianna Steinhilber (DIERSEN: Of course, my resolutions for 2018 include sending out GOPUSA ILLINOIS emails each and every morning and each and every evening.)
https://www.nbcnews.com/better/health/forget-resolutions-3-more-productive-ways-look-back-2017-ncna833651

 

NEW YORK TIMES
— The Year the News Accelerated to Trump Speed – Matt Flegenheimer (DIERSEN: We are in a 12-hour news cycle. To deal with that concerning government and political news and commentary of interest to Illinois Republicans, you can rely on GOPUSA ILLINOIS emails. They come out each and every morning and each and every evening.)
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/12/29/us/politics/trump-news-overload.html
— The Patriarchs Are Falling. The Patriarchy Is Stronger Than Ever. – Susan Faludi (DIERSEN: Ever-increasing, anti-Republicans shout at women that Republicans are the cause of all the problems that women have had, are having, and will have, and especially Republicans who are Trump supporters, Protestant, conservative, patriotic, White, male, older, rich, gun owners, German Americans, and/or those whose ancestors have been in America for a long time.)
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/12/28/opinion/sunday/patriarchy-feminism-metoo.html
— Want to Be Happy? Think Like an Old Person – JOHN LELAND (DIERSEN: I do not think like an old person.)
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/12/29/nyregion/want-to-be-happy-think-like-an-old-person.html

 

LOS ANGELES TIMES
— The GOP tax plan creates one of the largest new loopholes in decades – Editorial (DIERSEN: What deductions do your critics/opponents hint/imply/argue/shout are loopholes? My critics/opponents hint/imply/argue/shout that the following deductions are loopholes: mortgage interest, real estate tax, state income tax, medical and dental expenses, 501(c)(3) contributions, and job-related education. I should write a book about my critics/opponents a) who have never owned real estate, b) who pay little or no state income tax, c) who have had little or no medical or dental expenses, d) who give little or no money to 501(c)(3) organizations, and/or e) who have never spent any money for job-related education.)
http://www.latimes.com/opinion/op-ed/la-oe-batchelder-kamin-tax-deduction-pass-through-income-20171231-story.html

 

WASHINGTON POST
— A New Year’s resolution for the media: Do not let Republicans get away with saying ‘reforms’ when they mean ‘cuts’ – Jared Bernstein (DIERSEN: During the 1980s and 1990s, to justify cutting GAO’s budget, Democrats and RINOs shouted that the agency needed “reforms.” “Reforms” is code for getting rid of employees who are Republican, White, male, older, and/or non-veteran.)
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/posteverything/wp/2017/12/29/a-new-years-resolution-for-the-media-do-not-let-republicans-get-away-with-saying-reforms-when-they-mean-cuts/
— Scandal has overwhelmed the IRS – Editorial (DIERSEN: What do you base your knowledge of IRS on? I worked for IRS for almost 9 years, the last 5 1/2 years of which at the GS-12 Step 1-5 levels, currently $79,563-$90,173. I worked for GAO on audits of IRS for 3 years at the GS-13 Step-1-3 levels, currently, $94,610-$100,917. I have filed federal income tax returns since 1964 and itemized returns since 1972. I took IRS to Tax Court and won a split decision on my education deductions. Nevertheless my critics/opponents, their operatives, and their dupes continue to viciously demonize, viciously denigrate, and viciously condemn my knowledge of IRS.)
https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/scandal-has-overwhelmed-the-irs/2017/12/29/9b80e022-e431-11e7-ab50-621fe0588340_story.html
— In search of a word that won’t offend ‘old’ people – Laura L. Carstensen (DIERSEN: My critics/opponents, their operatives, and their dupes have always a) promoted age discrimination and b) hinted/implied/argued/shouted that if you are a non-veteran White male federal employee, you are stupid, lazy, and even worse things if you do not make GS-13 (currently $94,610) by age 25, GS-14 (currently $111,801) by age 30, GS-15 (currently $131,508) by age 35, and Senior Executive Service (currently $161,900) by age 40.)
https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/in-search-of-a-word-that-wont-offend-old-people/2017/12/29/76640346-b808-11e7-a908-a3470754bbb9_story.html?utm_term=.344fb1d4f788
— I grow pot in California for a living. I’m worried about legalization. – Chiah Rodriques
https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/will-small-marijuana-farmers-like-me-be-wiped-out-when-pot-goes-legal-in-california/2017/12/29/b54cd99c-ec25-11e7-b698-91d4e35920a3_story.html

 

WALL STREET JOURNAL
— The Divide Between America’s Prosperous Cities and Struggling Small Towns—in 20 Charts – Paul Overberg
https://www.wsj.com/articles/the-divide-between-americas-prosperous-cities-and-struggling-small-townsin-20-charts-1514543401

 

BALTIMORE SUN
— Toying with the idea of trading up? 3 steps homebuyers should take before doing anything else – Ellen James Martin (DIERSEN: What discouraged you from trading up? For my wife and I, it was my Democrat GAO superiors forcing me to retire in 1997 when I was 49 years old, their always ranking me in the bottom half of my coworkers for pay-for-performance purposes, their not promoting me beyond GS-13, their getting rid of my mentor in 1987, and their keeping me off audits of IRS for all but 3 of the almost 18 years that I worked for GAO.)
http://digitaledition.baltimoresun.com/tribune/article_popover.aspx?guid=a61a6d95-05f6-4a95-b106-77df9b30b08e

 

PALM BEACH POST
— CHICAGO TRIBUNE HARDCOPY ARTICLE TITLE: Extra house on your hands? – Ellen James Martin (DIERSEN: Because I could not sell it for a fair price, I rented out 774-5 Sunset Court in University Park 1976-1984.)
http://www.palmbeachpost.com/classifieds/real-estate/what-should-remarried-couples-with-extra-house/U9qKLFjsIvE7CQkQW74jrJ/

 

MESSENGER INQUIRER
— How do my finances compare with my peers’? – Brianna McGurran
http://www.messenger-inquirer.com/features/business/how-do-my-finances-compare-with-my-peers/article_4da1b7a5-1d2b-5e41-b68d-ddfe2a556f96.html
(FROM THE ARTICLE: If you’re under 35, here’s how your peers are really doing, according to the Federal Reserve Board’s Survey of Consumer Finances: The median income for families with a head of household under 35 was $40,500 in 2016. Nearly half of families under 35 had credit card balances, with median debt of $1,400 per family. About 42 percent of families under 35 had retirement accounts, and their median value was $12,300. Lastly, about 45 percent of families with a head of household under 35 had education debt. The median amount was $18,500 per family, but the amount varies widely by income level and highest degree attained. . .Do you have an emergency fund of at least $500? It should eventually include three to six months of basic expenses. Are you paying down high-interest debt, like credit cards and personal loans? That should come before attacking lower-interest debt like student loans. Do you spend less than you earn? A budget based on the 50/30/20 rule can help: You’ll spend no more than 50 percent of after-tax income on necessities, no more than 30 percent on wants and at least 20 percent on savings and debt repayment. Do you follow the 28/36 rule? Lenders use this to qualify you for a mortgage, but Amis suggests it’s also a helpful way to assess cash flow even if you’re years from buying a home. Housing costs should be less than 28 percent of your pretax income. With other debt payments, like credit card, car or student loan bills, the total should come under 36 percent of pretax income. Do you save for retirement? Socking away 10 to 15 percent of your pretax income is the goal. These guidelines are aspirational. But your progress toward them is a better measure of whether your money is working for you than surveys or Instagram. In the end, your financial well-being boils down to whether you can meet your basic needs today, plan for a better tomorrow and enjoy life as you go.)

 

MOTLEY FOOL
— 4 Reasons Your Social Security Benefit May Be Worth Less Than You Think – Christy Bieber
https://www.fool.com/retirement/2017/12/30/4-reasons-your-social-security-benefit-may-be-wort.aspx
(FROM THE ARTICLE: 2. Social Security benefits aren’t keeping pace with rising costs of living Retirees receiving Social Security benefits get periodic cost of living adjustments (COLAs). COLAs are tied to the Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W). Unfortunately, many believe this is the wrong index to tie benefit increases to because it does not accurately reflect seniors’ spending patterns. Seniors often devote more of their income to medical costs than the general population. Unfortunately, in 33 out of the past 35 years, healthcare costs have risen at faster rates than Social Security COLA increases. Food and housing cost increases are also outpacing COLA for retirees on Social Security. If Social Security benefits don’t rise as much as the costs of products and services used by seniors, the latter have less purchasing power. Even if income appears to go up because you receive a small raise, benefits will actually be worth less in real terms. And, unfortunately, there’s not even a guarantee you’ll get a raise — even on paper. Since 2010, COLAs have averaged just 1.35% per year. In three of the past 10 years, seniors didn’t get a raise at all, and in 2016, the COLA was just 0.3%.)

 

CNBC
— 4 lifestyle changes to make you more productive in 2018 – Marguerite Ward
https://www.cnbc.com/2017/12/29/4-lifestyle-changes-to-make-you-more-productive-in-2018.html

 

SALON
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: Anti-Trumps use Moore to demonize, to denigrate, and to condemn Trump and his supporters.
https://www.salon.com/2017/12/30/evangelical-christianity-is-facing-a-political-crisis_partner/

December 30 Evening Edition

FOX NEWS CHICAGO
— Armed robbers target passengers as they get off trains across Chicago
http://www.fox32chicago.com/news/crime/armed-robbers-target-passengers-as-they-get-off-trains-across-chicago

 

CHICAGO SUN-TIMES
— Ex-mayor Henry Vicenik says Rep. Jim Durkin got involved in Broadview brouhaha – Dan Mihalopoulos
https://chicago.suntimes.com/news/mihalopoulos-ex-mayor-says-rep-jim-durkin-broadview-strip-club/
— Governor’s veto of senior care program jeopardizes services – Rachel Hinton
https://chicago.suntimes.com/news/governors-veto-of-senior-care-program-jeopardizes-services/

 

CHICAGO TRIBUNE
— Man’s Country, Chicago’s oldest gay bathhouse, closing after 44 years – Bill Daley
http://www.chicagotribune.com/lifestyles/ct-life-mans-country-bathhouse-closing-1230-story.html
— Mike Pence’s Colorado neighbors greet him with ‘Make America Gay Again’ banner – Kristine Phillips (DIERSEN: How soon, if not already, will those who promote LGBTQ activity brag that they can viciously destroy any individual, any organization, any company, any government, and any country that does not promote LGBTQ activity.)
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/ct-mike-pence-neighbors-20171230-story.html

 

DAILY HERALD
— Spread of fake news prompts literacy efforts in schools – AP (DIERSEN: According to my critics/opponents, a) they and only they determine what is fact or fiction and b) what they put out is fact and everything else is fiction. What helps you determine fact from fiction? I have been putting GOPUSA ILLINOIS emails together and sending them out since 2000. I have served as an arbitrator for the Financial Services Regulatory Authority since 1998. I worked for GAO for almost 18 years 1980-1997, the last 11 years of which at the GS-13 Step 1-10 levels, currently $94,610-$122,991. I worked for IRS 1971-1980, the last 5 1/2 years of which at the GS-12 Step 1-5 levels, currently $79,563-$90,173. I became a Forensic Accountant in 1997, Certified Financial Services Auditor in 1996, Certified Government Financial Manager in 1994, Certified Fraud Examiner in 1990, Licensed CPA in 1981, Certified Internal Auditor in 1981, and CPA in 1979. I earned a master’s degree in financial markets and trading from IIT in 1997, a master’s degree in accounting from DePaul in 1980, an MBA from Loyola in 1976, and a bachelor’s degree in management from NIU in 1970.)
http://www.dailyherald.com/article/20171230/news/312309905/
(FROM THE ARTICLE: Alarmed by the proliferation of false content online, state lawmakers around the country are pushing schools to put more emphasis on teaching students how to tell fact from fiction. Lawmakers in several states have introduced or passed bills calling on public school systems to do more to teach media literacy skills that they say are critical to democracy. The effort has been bipartisan but has received little attention despite successful legislation in Washington state, Connecticut, Rhode Island and New Mexico.)
— Why your New Year’s resolution should be to spend more money – Suzanne Woolley (DIERSEN: What discourages you from spending more? For me, it is knowing that my Civil Service Retirement System pension is only 41% of what my ending salary was today’s dollars.)
http://www.dailyherald.com/business/20171230/why-your-new-years-resolution-should-be-to-spend-more-money
(FROM THE ARTICLE: “When we speak about spending resolutions, we usually speak about how to encourage people to spend less,” said Meir Statman, a behavioral finance professor at Santa Clara University. “This is right for most young people. But with many older people, the problem is too little spending because of a reluctance to dip into capital.”)

 

PEORIA JOURNAL STAR
— Better Government Association: Demand government we deserve, use FOIA law – Jose Sanchez
http://www.pjstar.com/opinion/20171230/better-government-association-demand-government-we-deserve-use-foia-law
— Resolve to be an engaged citizen in 2018 – Editorial (DIERSEN: Who does not want you to be an engaged citizen? Those who do not want me to be an engaged citizen a) reject planks in the Republican Party platform and/or the Illinois Republican Party platform and work against those like me who support those planks, b) reject the Milton Township Republican Central Committee resolution against video gambling and work against those like me who support that resolution, c) focus on destroying those like me who they cannot manipulate/dominate, d) were defendants in lawsuits that I have filed, and/or e) are operatives or dupes for the aforesaid and/or are anti-Trump, anti-Protestant, anti-conservative, anti-patriotic, anti-Republican, anti-American, anti-White, anti-male, anti-older people, anti-rich people, anti-gun owners, anti-German Americans, and/or anti-those whose ancestors have been in America longer than their ancestors.)
http://www.pjstar.com/opinion/20171230/editorial-resolve-to-be-engaged-citizen-in-2018

 

TIMES
— Republican congressional candidate Jaye DeBates, whose petitions to get on the ballot were challenged by an opponent, withdrew his candidacy Friday. – David Giuliani
http://www.mywebtimes.com/news/local/congress-hopeful-leaves-race/article_d59a9308-4626-5935-9d66-9c8ae79cb939.html

 

LASALLE NEWS TRIBUNE
— Congressional candidate Jaye DeBates has withdrawn his candidacy from the March primary ballot. – Brett Herrmann
http://www.newstrib.com/free/pc-republican-coming-off-of-ballot/article_65cadc30-ecab-11e7-b48c-f3687e0741d9.html

 

  1. LOUIS TODAY
    — DIERSEN HEADLINE: Ever-increasingly, anti-Trumps make it clear that they are also anti-Protestant, anti-conservative, anti-patriotic, anti-Republican, anti-American, anti-White, anti-male, anti-older people, anti-rich people, anti-gun owners, anti-German Americans, and/or anti-those whose ancestors have been in America longer than their ancestors.
    http://www.stltoday.com/opinion/columnists/national/ruben-navarrette-it-s-no-surprise-when-racists-claim-the/article_7c44b735-bf8c-50c9-bc7f-6c504284e013.html

 

ILLINOIS FAMILY ACTION
— How the Left Became So Intolerant – Kim Holmes
https://illinoisfamilyaction.org/2017/12/how-the-left-became-so-intolerant/

 

GOPUSA
— AS Democrats say black female voters key to victory in South (DIERSEN: Democrats focus on turning everyone against Republicans, but Democrats especially focus on turning Black females against Republicans.)
http://www.gopusa.com/?p=36079

 

BREITBART
— Anchor Baby Population in U.S. Exceeds One Year of American Births – JOHN BINDER
http://www.breitbart.com/big-government/2017/12/28/anchor-baby-population-in-u-s-exceeds-one-year-of-american-births/

 

BLAZE
— Media critics say BuzzFeed list of things ‘white people’ ruin is racist, bigoted – Teri Webster
http://www.theblaze.com/news/2017/12/30/media-critics-say-buzzfeed-list-of-things-white-people-ruin-is-racist-bigoted

 

THE HILL
— Republicans face an uphill climb in 2018 if they fail on immigration and ObamaCare – RACHEL BOVARD
http://thehill.com/opinion/campaign/366854-republicans-face-an-uphill-climb-in-2018-if-they-fail-on-immigration-and

 

WASHINGTON POST
— Polls show Americans distrust the media. But talk to them, and it’s a very different story. – Margaret Sullivan (DIERSEN: You can trust the mainstream media a) to promote the Democrat Party platform, the Libertarian Party platform, and the Green Party platform and b) to demonize, denigrate, and condemn the Republican Party platform.)
https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/magazine/polls-show-americans-distrust-the-media-but-talk-to-them-and-its-a-very-different-story/2017/12/27/ed9bbabe-ce3b-11e7-81bc-c55a220c8cbe_story.html
— How the Trump era is changing the federal bureaucracy – Lisa Rein and Andrew Ba Tran (DIERSEN: All during the almost 18 years that I worked for GAO, the agency shrank. It was almost always under hiring and/or promotion freezes. Further, it was always under tremendous pressure from Democrat politicians a) to hire, retain, and promote young Democrat minorities and young Democrat females and b) to make way for them by wasting the careers of and by getting rid of the agency’s employees who were Republican, White, male, and/or non-veteran who had not made GS-13 (currently $94,610) by age 25, GS-14 (currently $111,801) by age 30, GS-15 (currently $131,508) by age 35, and Senior Executive Service (currently $161,900) by age 40.)
https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/how-the-trump-era-is-changing-the-federal-bureaucracy/2017/12/30/8d5149c6-daa7-11e7-b859-fb0995360725_story.html

 

DAILY COMMERCIAL
— Affordability driving the 2018 housing projection – Don Magruder (DIERSEN: Limiting the deductibility of real estate taxes harms affordability.)
http://www.dailycommercial.com/news/20171230/around-house-affordability-driving-2018-housing-projection

 

CHRONICLE OF HIGHER EDUCATION
— Why Education Matters to Your Health – Karin Fischer
https://www.chronicle.com/article/Why-Education-Matters-to-Your/242123

 

NEW YORK MAGAZINE
— Trump Is Still Happily Mixing Government Affairs With His Private Businesses – Benjamin Hart
http://nymag.com/daily/intelligencer/2017/12/trump-still-mixing-government-affairs-with-private-business.html

 

ALTERNET
— How the GOP Tax Cut Will Also Shrink Your Paycheck When Republicans cut taxes, wages go down or stay flat for working people. – Thom Hartmann
https://www.alternet.org/news-amp-politics/how-gop-tax-cut-will-also-shrink-your-paycheck

December 30 Morning Edition

NBC5
— Silverstein Has Petition Troubles, May Not Make it to Primary Ballot – Mary Ann Ahern
https://www.nbcchicago.com/blogs/ward-room/Silverstein-Has-Petition-Troubles-May-Not-Make-It-To-Primary-Ballot-467220783.html

 

ABC7
— New Illinois Laws 2018: Laws that take effect January 1
http://abc7chicago.com/politics/new-illinois-laws-2018-laws-that-take-effect-january-1/2785524/

 

CHICAGO TRIBUNE
— Time at Mar-a-Lago is a respite for Trump — and a headache for his staff – Ashley Parker and Josh Dawsey
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/politics/ct-trump-staff-mar-a-lago-20171229-story.html
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: An anti-Trump says “In a 30-minute interview, President Trump made 24 false or misleading claims.”
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/politics/factcheck/ct-trump-interview-fact-check-20171229-story.html
— Trump administration fires all members of HIV/AIDS advisory council – Ben Guarino
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/ct-trump-hiv-aids-council-20171229-story.html
— Cheap Amazon shipping leaves the Postal Service ‘dumber and poorer,’ Trump tweets – AP
http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/ct-biz-trump-postal-service-rates-amazon-20171229-story.html
— How 2018 will transport Americans back to 1968 – Editorial (DIERSEN: What did you do in 1968? I worked as a part-time mailman for the Democrats who ran the Park Forest Post Office. I was a full-time student at UIC. I lived with my parents and brother in Crete. I sold my 1968 Oldsmobile 442 and bought a 1969 Dodge Charger SE. I saved money for college expenses.)
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/opinion/editorials/ct-edit-nineteen68-0101-story.html
— Bernie Sanders to Republicans: Stop saying I support your tax bill – David Weigel
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/politics/ct-bernie-sanders-republican-tax-bill-20171229-story.html

 

DAILY HERALD
— FRONT PAGE TOP OF FOLD WITH BIG COLOR PICTURES: Suburban homeowners flock to prepay property tax bills to beat looming deadline – Katlyn Smith
http://www.dailyherald.com/news/20171229/suburban-homeowners-flock-to-prepay-property-tax-bills-to-beat-looming-deadline#autoplay
— FRONT PAGE: New consolidation twist surfaces about Naperville township roads – Marie Wilson
http://www.dailyherald.com/news/20171229/new-consolidation-twist-surfaces-about-naperville-township-roads

 

WBEZ
— Chicago Murder Rate Drops, But Not In All Neighborhoods – Patrick Smith, Natalie Moore
https://www.wbez.org/shows/wbez-news/chicago-murder-rate-drops-but-not-in-all-neighborhoods/3658ab1f-3cbd-4c50-b60b-73cf87dad6e3

 

SPRINGFIELD STATE JOURNAL REGISTER
— Gov. Rauner announces staff changes
http://www.sj-r.com/news/20171229/gov-rauner-announces-staff-changes
— Springfield’s Winter Warming Center seeing big crowds during first month – Crystal Thomas
http://www.sj-r.com/news/20171228/springfields-winter-warming-center-seeing-big-crowds-during-first-month

 

NORTHWEST HERALD
— Abortion on decline in McHenry County Declines seen among most age groups, especially teens since start of decade – ERIC R. OLSON
http://www.nwherald.com/2017/12/30/abortion-on-decline-in-mchenry-county/af4haa/

 

TIMES
— In 2018, Illinois needs to stop the decline – Editorial (DIERSEN: Members of Group A run Illinois and they focus on driving out of Illinois those individuals, organizations, and companies that are members of Group B. Members of Group A are anti-Trump, anti-Protestant, anti-conservative, anti-patriotic, anti-Republican, anti-American, anti-White, anti-male, anti-older people, anti-rich people, anti-gun owners, anti-German Americans, and/or anti-those whose ancestors have been in America longer than their ancestors and members of Group B are Trump supporters, Protestant, conservative, patriotic, Republican, American, White, male, older, rich, gun owners, German Americans, and/or those whose ancestors have been in America for a long time.)
http://www.mywebtimes.com/news/editorial/our-view-in-illinois-needs-to-stop-the-decline/article_d752af8e-f266-5fc6-89e0-52dc6f4933ea.html

 

JOURNAL COURIER
— Governor rejects elderly home care plan – AP
http://www.myjournalcourier.com/news/117604/governor-rejects-elderly-home-care-plan

 

ALTON DAILY NEWS
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: Alton Daily News badmouths those who prepaid their real estate taxes; says they want to “skirt the new law.”
http://altondailynews.com/news/details.cfm?clientid=17&id=257637#.Wkd2Dt-nGM8

 

NPR ILLINOIS
— Transgender Rights Lead NPR’s Top LGBTQ Stories of 2017 – DANNY NETT (DIERSEN: Soon, if not already, if you do not promote LGBTQ activity, you will be barred from getting an education, barred from getting a job, etc.)
http://nprillinois.org/post/transgender-rights-lead-nprs-top-lgbtq-stories-2017#stream/0

 

CHICAGO PATCH
— Year In Review: Trump’s 5 Biggest Clashes With Chicago In 2017 The president and the city were constant sparring partners throughout the year. But who won in the end? – Joe Vince
https://patch.com/illinois/chicago/year-review-trumps-5-biggest-clashes-chicago-2017

 

PRAIRIE STATE WIRE
— Ives points finger at Rauner following report on Legionnaires’ outbreak at veterans home – Glenn Minnis
https://prairiestatewire.com/stories/511306058-ives-points-finger-at-rauner-following-report-on-legionnaires-outbreak-at-veterans-home

 

WILL COUNTY GAZETTE
— Will County Clerk candidate McPhillips: Taxes causing residents to flee Illinois – Glenn Minnis
https://willcountygazette.com/stories/511304245-will-county-clerk-candidate-mcphillips-taxes-causing-residents-to-flee-illinois

 

FOX NEWS
— Capitol Hill’s sexual harassment scandal reignites debate about thrifty lawmakers sleeping in their office – Chad Pergram
http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2017/12/30/capitol-hill-s-sexual-harassment-scandal-reignites-debate-about-thrifty-lawmakers-sleeping-in-their-office.html
— Facebook rolling back controversial initiative to fight fake news
http://www.foxnews.com/tech/2017/12/28/facebook-rolling-back-controversial-initiative-to-fight-fake-news.html

 

BREITBART
— Judge Upholds Controversial Bill Requiring Taxpayers to Fund Abortions in Illinois – THOMAS D. WILLIAMS, PH.D.
http://www.breitbart.com/big-government/2017/12/29/judge-upholds-controversial-bill-requiring-taxpayers-to-fund-abortions-in-illinois/

 

DAILY CALLER
— REPORT: Obama’s DOJ Suffered From ‘Systemic’ Sexual Misconduct – Joe Simonson
http://dailycaller.com/2017/12/28/obamas-doj-suffered-from-systemic-sexual-misconduct/

 

AMERICAN THINKER
— Is amnesty for DREAMers worth it if we get a border wall? – Ed Straker
http://www.americanthinker.com/blog/2017/12/is_amnesty_for_dreamers_worth_it_if_we_get_a_border_wall.html
— White Privilege: An Article of Left-Wing Faith – Eileen F. Toplansky (DIERSEN: To be accepted by Democrats, you have agree with them that the more of the following that you are, the more that you have benefited from discrimination against minorities and against females and the more that you should pay the price of Affirmative Action, Diversity, and Inclusion: Trump supporter, Protestant, conservative, patriotic, Republican, American, White, male, older, rich, gun owner, German American, and/or if your ancestors have been in America for a long time.)
http://www.americanthinker.com/articles/2017/12/white_privilege_an_article_of_leftwing_faith.html

 

TOWNHALL
— Mr. President: No DACA, Build The Wall, or No Deal at All! – Arthur Schaper
https://townhall.com/columnists/arthurschaper/2017/12/30/mr-president-no-daca-build-the-wall-or-no-deal-at-all-n2428356

 

THE HILL
— Nonprofits are the unintended victims of the new tax bill – CHRIS GATES
http://thehill.com/opinion/finance/366773-nonprofits-are-the-unintended-victims-of-new-tax-bill

 

NEW YORK TIMES
— Don’t Cheer as the I.R.S. Grows Weaker – Editorial (DIERSEN: What do you base your knowledge of IRS on? I worked for IRS for almost 9 years, the last 5 1/2 years of which at the GS-12 Step 1-5 levels, currently $79,563-$90,173. I worked for GAO on audits of IRS for 3 years at the GS-13 Step-1-3 levels, currently, $94,610-$100,917. I have filed federal income tax returns since 1964 and itemized returns since 1972. I took IRS to Tax Court and won a split decision on my education deductions. Nevertheless my critics/opponents, their operatives, and their dupes continue to viciously demonize, viciously denigrate, and viciously condemn my knowledge of IRS.)
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/12/29/opinion/dont-cheer-as-the-irs-grows-weaker.html
(FROM THE EDITORIAL: No federal agency generates as much rancor as the Internal Revenue Service, part of that duo of inevitability, taxes and death. Despite its reputation for toughness, the I.R.S. relies on voluntary compliance, as in Americans’ sense of duty, to collect the money that powers our government. That’s more true than ever, because as it prepares to implement the most sweeping tax overhaul in 30 years, the I.R.S. is perhaps weaker than it has ever been. In 1986, the last time Congress passed major changes in the tax code, it included a budget increase for the agency, allowing it to hire 2,100 more employees to carry out the changes. Earlier this year, as the agency struggled to do its job with a decimated staff, a shrinking budget and decrepit computers, its commissioner pleaded with Congress to at least give it time to prepare for the big tax overhaul Republicans wanted. That didn’t happen. Instead, Republicans rushed hastily written legislation larded with amendments through both chambers. Even before this hash hit their desks, I.R.S. officials were warning about the potential for a catastrophic breakdown that could imperil our tax system. Then, at its busiest time of year, the agency was given a week before the tax law goes into effect to translate hundreds of pages of conflicting provisions, potential loopholes and unintended consequences into coherent guidance for taxpayers.)
— America, Can We Talk About Your Drinking? More people are consuming alcohol in risky ways. That’s not a good trend. – GABRIELLE GLASER
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/12/29/opinion/sunday/alcohol-binge-drinking.html
— Germans Will Ring in New Year With Extra Security, Especially for Women – Melissa Eddy
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/12/29/world/europe/germans-will-ring-in-new-year-with-extra-security-especially-for-women.html

 

NEW YORK MAGAZINE
— The GOP Tax Bill Has Affluent Homeowners Enraged and Confused – Eric Levitz (DIERSEN: Those who itemize their deductions have always been demonized, denigrated, and condemned as being affluent. I itemized my deductions 1972-1977 and my wife and I have itemized our deductions since we got married in 1978.)
http://nymag.com/daily/intelligencer/2017/12/the-gop-tax-bill-has-wealthy-homeowners-enraged-and-confused.html

 

BLOOMBERG
— Ken Griffin Kicks in $3 Million for Soccer – Amanda L Gordon
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2017-12-29/ken-griffin-kicks-in-3-million-for-soccer-philanthropy-tracker

 

INEWS
–UK: Millennials will get an ‘inheritance boom’ – but too late to help housing struggles – Karl McDonald
https://inews.co.uk/news/uk/millennials-will-get-inheritance-boom-late-help-housing-struggles/

 

COMMUNITIES DIGITAL NEWS
— Why 20% of American households will not benefit from tax cut – Michael Busler (DIERSEN: One could argue that the tax bill is designed to reward renters and to punish homeowners.)
https://www.commdiginews.com/business-2/economic-politics/why-20-percent-households-will-not-benefit-tax-cut-97552/

 

SLATE
— Homeowners Lining Up to Pay Early Taxes Is a Sign of Blue-State Pain to Come – Henry Grabar (DIERSEN: Those who itemize their deductions have always been demonized, denigrated, and condemned as being wealthy. I itemized my deductions 1972-1977 and my wife and I have itemized our deductions since we got married in 1978. High real estate taxes depress home values.)
https://slate.com/business/2017/12/the-first-drops-of-rain-from-a-tax-bill-hurricane.html

(FROM THE ARTICLE: And now, in these frigid waning days of December, come the tax bill’s first visible losers: wealthy blue-state property owners (and the governments their taxes support). In the four days since Christmas, homeowners have lined up at city halls across the Northeast, doing something whose unnatural aspect reveals the scale of damage the tax bill will wreak in the Northeast: voluntarily handing over thousands of dollars in taxes months and months in advance. Hundreds of people waited on lines at city halls and county seats from Fairfax County, Virginia, to the suburbs of Baltimore, New York, and Boston, trying to pay their property taxes while they remain fully deductible on federal returns. Starting next year, the IRS will impose a limit of $10,000 on all state and local tax deductions. Of course, the bracket here is pretty limited to a certain privileged class: homeowners who not only have enormous property tax bills but also the money and the wherewithal to pay them in advance. It is overwhelmingly a wealthy group, and one concentrated in a handful of Democratic states and counties. Real estate taxes make up only about a third of SALT deductions, but they are easy to pay in advance. And if filing now means taking $10,000 off your 2018 tax return, a little dead-week trip to the Finance Department could save you thousands on next year’s taxes. So it’s not surprising that early payers are dedicating a few hours to fixing cash-flow issues in cities, suburbs, and counties up and down the Northeast Corridor, and in Illinois, Texas, and California as well. On the one hand, it’s hard to drum up much sympathy for the winners of a home price run that has sent the collective value of real estate in the Los Angeles metropolitan area, to take one example, higher than the GDP of the United Kingdom.)

December 29 Evening Edition

FOX NEWS CHICAGO
— Trump says no protection for Dreamers without wall – AP
http://www.fox32chicago.com/news/dont-miss/trump-says-no-protection-for-dreamers-without-wall

 

ABC7
— Trump: East Coast could use some ‘good old Global Warming’ this weekend – AP
http://abc7chicago.com/politics/trump-east-could-use-some-global-warming-this-weekend/2837581/

 

CHICAGO SUN-TIMES
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: An anti-Trump says “At expense of other nations, Trump follows through to put America first.”
https://chicago.suntimes.com/opinion/america-first-trump-michael-barone/

 

CHICAGO TRIBUNE
— Reversing the Illinois exodus – Editorial (DIERSEN: The more that members of Group A are elected in Illinois, the faster that members of Group B will leave Illinois. Members of Group A are anti-Trump, anti-Protestant, anti-conservative, anti-patriotic, anti-Republican, anti-American, anti-White, anti-male, anti-older people, anti-rich people, anti-gun owners, anti-German Americans, and/or anti-those whose ancestors have been in America longer than their ancestors and members of Group B are Trump supporters, Protestant, conservative, patriotic, Republican, American, White, male, older, rich, gun owners, German Americans, and/or those whose ancestors have been in America for a long time.)
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/opinion/editorials/ct-edit-illinois-population-20171222-story.html
— Trump says no protection for ‘Dreamers’ without wall – AP
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/politics/ct-trump-daca-20171229-story.html
— Carjackings skyrocket in Chicago in 2017 — to highest level in at least 10 years – Jeremy Gorner
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/breaking/ct-met-chicago-carjackings-2017-story.html
— Not much to ‘like’ if Facebook job ads ignore older workers – Robert Reed (DIERSEN: How old are you? What is your position on age discrimination? My critics/opponents, their operatives, and their dupes promote age discrimination. They demonize, denigrate, and condemn as being lazy, stupid, and even worse things non-veteran White male federal employees who do not make GS-13 (currently $94,610) by age 25, GS-14 (currently $111,801) by age 30, GS-15 (currently $131,508) by age 35, and Senior Executive Service (currently $161,900) by age 40.)
http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/columnists/reed/ct-biz-age-discrimination-facebook-ads-robert-reed-1226-story.html
(FROM THE ARTICLE: Older job seekers, who often have a tough time finding employment, now face another painful reality: Social media isn’t their work buddy. Dozens of companies are recruiting workers with ads on Facebook that use “age-based” microtargeting — a system designed to connect clients to millennial job prospects. But this hyper-focused approach has a dark side: It can prevent older job hunters from getting equal access to career opportunities posted online, and that smacks of age discrimination. Facebook and their corporate clients should wise up and dump this ham-handed strategy before it spirals out of control. Aside from being potentially ageist, unfair and legally suspect, it reduces a company’s employment possibilities by ignoring qualified, older job candidates.)
— Emanuel’s average income is $365,000 per year, 6 years of mayor’s tax returns show – Bill Ruthhart
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/politics/ct-met-rahm-emanuel-tax-returns-20171229-story.html
— Lawmakers behaving badly? Let’s see the names. – Editorial
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/opinion/editorials/ct-edit-congress-sex-harassment-settlements-20171229-story.html
— Vernon Township supervisor to propose anti-nepotism policy, debate legal fees – Rick Kambic
http://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/vernon-hills/news/ct-vhr-vernon-township-legal-fees-tl-0104-story.html
— Lake County spent $4.9 million on uncompleted e-filing system, records show – Emily K. Coleman
http://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/lake-county-news-sun/news/ct-lns-lake-county-efiling-st-1230-20171215-story.html

 

DAILY HERALD
— The tax bill has turned America’s accountants into ‘rock stars’ – Ben Terris
http://www.dailyherald.com/business/20171229/the-tax-bill-has-turned-americas-accountants-into-rock-stars

 

QUINCY HERALD WHIG
— Illinois counties receive historic number of tax prepayments – Matt Dutton
http://www.whig.com/20171229/illinois-counties-receive-historic-number-of-tax-prepayments#

 

BOLINGBROOK PATCH
— Rachel Tuszynski Admits To Hate Crime Against Mayor Roger Claar The Bolingbrook mayor was a big campaign supporter of Donald Trump’s candidacy for president in 2016. – John Ferak
https://patch.com/illinois/bolingbrook/rachel-tuszynski-pleads-guilty-hate-crime-vs-mayor-claar

 

MCHENRY COUNTY BLOG
— Wilcox Summarizes First Day of Reinert Petition Challenge
http://mchenrycountyblog.com/2017/12/29/wilcox-summarizes-first-day-of-reinert-petition-challenge/

 

EAST CENTRAL REPORTER
— Brickman’s marijuana stance not shared by fellow Republicans
https://eastcentralreporter.com/stories/511306796-brickman-s-marijuana-stance-not-shared-by-fellow-republicans

 

ILLINOIS FAMILY ACTION
— WATCH: CNN Worries Tax Bill Will Help GOP, Hints At Conspiracy Theory – Ryan Saavedra
https://illinoisfamilyaction.org/2017/12/watch-cnn-worries-tax-bill-will-help-gop-hints-at-conspiracy-theory/

 

ILLINOIS FAMILY REVIEW
— REP. BREEN REACTS TO CIRCUIT COURT RULING ON TAXPAYER FUNDED ABORTIONS
http://illinoisreview.typepad.com/illinoisreview/2017/12/rep-breen-reacts-to-circuit-court-ruling-on-taxpayer-funded-abortions.html
— ILLINOIS’ ANDRZEJEWSKI MAPS THE SWAMP
http://illinoisreview.typepad.com/illinoisreview/2017/12/illinois-andrzejewski-maps-the-swamp.html
— NATIONAL NEWS FOCUSES ON NATION’S “WORST REPUBLICAN GOVERNOR” IN ILLINOIS
http://illinoisreview.typepad.com/illinoisreview/2017/12/national-news-focuses-on-nations-worst-republican-governor-in-illinois.html
— GLENNON: BEST CHICAGO NEWS IN 2017? HISTORIC LOW TEEN BIRTHS
http://illinoisreview.typepad.com/illinoisreview/2017/12/glennon-best-chicago-news-in-2017-historic-low-teen-births.html

 

FOX NEWS
— Chicago’s Emanuel reaps benefits of opposing Trump — as city problems fester – Lukas Mikelionis (DIERSEN: What benefits have the anti-Trumps reaped in your precinct, in your municipality, in your township/ward, in your county, and in Illinois?)
http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2017/12/29/chicagos-emanuel-reaps-benefits-opposing-trump-as-city-problems-fester.html
— Things college professors called ‘racist’ in 2017 – Caleb Parke
http://www.foxnews.com/us/2017/12/29/things-college-professors-called-racist-in-2017.html

 

THE HILL
— A secure retirement may be in jeopardy for millions of Americans – CHARLES JESZECK AND FRANK TODISCO
http://thehill.com/opinion/finance/366783-a-secure-retirement-may-be-in-jeopardy-for-millions-of-americans

 

ASSOCIATED PRESS
— Illinois governor announces staff changes
http://www.sfgate.com/news/education/article/Illinois-governor-announces-staff-changes-12462676.php

 

NEW YORK MAGAZINE
— Trump: Give Me a Border Wall or I’ll Deport the Dreamers – Eric Levitz
http://nymag.com/daily/intelligencer/2017/12/trump-give-me-a-border-wall-or-ill-deport-the-dreamers.html

 

FORBES
— The Administrative State — Size, Scope And Resistance Of The Swamp – Adam Andrzejewski
https://www.forbes.com/sites/adamandrzejewski/2017/12/29/the-administrative-state-its-size-scope-and-resistance/#572a153933b5

December 29 Morning Edition

ABC7
— IRS warns only some can benefit from filing property taxes early – MEGHAN KENEALLY
http://abc7chicago.com/irs-warns-only-some-can-benefit-from-filing-property-taxes-early/2836065/

 

CBS2
— Effort To Delay Abortion-Funding Law Fails – Derrick Blakley
http://chicago.cbslocal.com/2017/12/28/effort-to-delay-abortion-funding-law-fails/
— Gambling Watchdog Hits Jackpot – Charlie De Mar
http://chicago.cbslocal.com/2017/12/28/gambling-watchdog-hits-jackpot/

 

CHICAGO SUN-TIMES
— Prepaying property taxes to cut federal tax bill a confusing mess for now – Lynn Sweet
https://chicago.suntimes.com/news/sweet-congress-or-courts-will-have-to-fix-property-tax-prepayment-confusion/
(FROM THE ARTICLE: Who is to blame for this confusion? Congress. In the conference report that accompanies the new tax law, Congress was explicit in stating that one could not prepay state income taxes — but was silent about property taxes. Lawmakers should have anticipated the IRS concerns and address property tax prepayment. Congress “could have given explicit guidance,” about property taxes Jaffe said. “.. . If they had put that in the bill, everybody would be a happy camper at this point.” Congress “could have given explicit guidance,” Jaffe said. “… If they had put that in the bill, everybody would be a happy camper at this point.” What happens to the extra tens of millions of dollars being collected by the counties? The money will be held in escrow, put in short-term investments with the interest likely apportioned among the local taxing districts.)
— Secret political donors to judges hurt the image of the bench – Editorial
https://chicago.suntimes.com/opinion/undisclosed-donors-hurt-image-judges-editorial/

 

CHICAGO TRIBUNE
— Thousands in Chicago area prepay property taxes, with payoff uncertain – Erin Hegarty and Nereida Moreno
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/breaking/ct-met-property-taxes-prepaid-20171228-story.html
— Lake County continues accepting property tax prepayments in wake of tax code overhaul – Emily K. Coleman
http://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/lake-county-news-sun/news/ct-lns-lake-county-property-taxes-st-1229-20171228-story.html
— Chicago’s homicide total drops by over 100, but violence still ‘intolerably high’ – Jeremy Gorner
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/breaking/ct-met-chicago-violence-2017-story.html
— FRONT PAGE: #MeToo in 2018: Will the movement create real change in the workplace? – Samantha Bomkamp
http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/ct-biz-metoo-sexual-harassment-future-20171214-story.html

 

DAILY HERALD
— Will property tax prepayments matter in all counties?
http://www.dailyherald.com/news/20171228/will-property-tax-prepayments-matter-in-all-counties
— California law enforcement readies for new marijuana laws – AP
http://www.dailyherald.com/article/20171229/news/312299976/
— How a fact becomes fabrication Hyped-up ‘spin’ can bury grain of truth under layers of innuendo and opinion – Editorial (DIERSEN: Virtually everything published by the mainstream media is anti-Trump and promotes the Democrat Party platform, the Libertarian Party platform, and/or the Green Party platform.)
http://www.dailyherald.com/discuss/20171229/editorial-how-a-fact-becomes-fabrication

 

NORTHWEST HERALD
— Rep. Steve Reick launches petition against bill that would give Jack Franks power of appointments – ED KOMENDA
http://www.nwherald.com/2017/12/28/rep-steve-reick-launches-petition-against-bill-that-would-give-jack-franks-power-of-appointments/ai4et43/

 

JOURNAL COURIER
— Anti-gambling crusader wins $25,000 in sweepstakes – Robert McCoppin
http://www.myjournalcourier.com/news/117574/anti-gambling-crusader-wins-25000-in-sweepstakes

 

JOURNAL STAR
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: Ever-increasingly, anti-Trumps make it clear that they are also anti-Protestant, anti-conservative, anti-patriotic, anti-Republican, anti-American, anti-White, anti-male, anti-older people, anti-rich people, anti-gun owners, anti-German Americans, and/or anti-those whose ancestors have been in America longer than their ancestors._
http://journalstar.com/opinion/columnists/ruben-navarrette-racists-claim-trump-s-name/article_4c112b89-0027-51eb-a7f5-62fd7b281e38.html

 

WSIL TV
— A busy year ahead in Illinois politics – Brandon Richard
http://www.wsiltv.com/story/37155001/a-busy-year-ahead-in-illinois-politics
— What’s on the agenda for Congress in 2018? – Brandon Richard
http://www.wsiltv.com/story/37155124/whats-on-the-agenda-for-congress-in-2018

 

WJPF
— Newsradio WJPF interview with Jeanne Ives
http://www.wjpf.com/episode/newsradio-wjpf-interview-with-jeanne-ives-3/

 

NPR ILLINOIS
— Trump Scorns Mainstream News, But Not The Christian Broadcasting Network – SARAH MCCAMMON
http://nprillinois.org/post/trump-scorns-mainstream-news-not-christian-broadcasting-network#stream/0

 

NORTH COOK NEWS
— Illinois GOP criticizes Pritzker for silence on Barrios ‘corruption’ allegations – Robert Hadley
https://northcooknews.com/stories/511306049-illinois-gop-criticizes-pritzker-for-silence-on-barrios-corruption-allegations

 

WILL COUNTY GAZETTE
— Straub: Term limits are needed in Springfield – Glenn Minnis
https://willcountygazette.com/stories/511304318-straub-term-limits-are-needed-in-springfield

 

ROCK ISLAND TODAY
— Businessman Kleine hopes to ride anti-incumbent tide to unseat Bustos
https://rockislandtoday.com/stories/511306132-businessman-kleine-hopes-to-ride-anti-incumbent-tide-to-unseat-bustos

 

WHEATON PATCH
— All Eyes On Illinois’ 6th District In 2018 Political experts have pegged the race for Rep. Pete Roskam’s seat as one of the most important contests in 2018. – Lisa Marie Farver
https://patch.com/illinois/wheaton/all-eyes-illinois-6th-district-2018

 

ILLINOIS FAMILY INSTITUTE
— Crazy College Courses and the Religion of Sex – Dr. Frank Turek
https://illinoisfamily.org/education/crazy-college-courses-religion-sex/

 

WASHINGTON TIMES
— ‘Fake News’: Half of all Americans believe the media make up anti-Trump stories – Bradford Richardson
https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2017/dec/28/fake-news-half-all-americans-believe-media-make-an/

 

BREITBART
— ‘A Presidency-Defining Moment’ Looms: All Eyes on Donald Trump as DACA Amnesty Deal Lurks in January Spending Fight – MATTHEW BOYLE
http://www.breitbart.com/big-government/2017/12/28/a-presidency-defining-moment-looms-all-eyes-on-donald-trump-as-daca-amnesty-deal-lurks-in-january-spending-fight/

 

CNN
— Trump tweets that ‘cold’ East Coast ‘could use a little bit of’ global warming – Dan Merica
http://www.cnn.com/2017/12/28/politics/trump-global-warming-tweet/index.html

 

NEW YORK TIMES
— Last-Minute Rush to Prepay Taxes Gives Way to Confusion and Anger – Ben Casselman and Jeffery C. Mays
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/12/28/business/economy/irs-prepay-property-tax.html

 

LOS ANGELES TIMES
— The economic riddle for 2018: Will the middle and working classes see any gains from the big tax cut? – Michael Hiltzik
http://www.latimes.com/business/hiltzik/la-fi-hiltzik-2017-yearend-20171228-story.html

 

WALL STREET JOURNAL
— FRONT PAGE WITH COLOR GRAPHIC: Looking to Prepay Property Taxes? Check Local Timetables First IRS says only property taxes that have been assessed prior to 2018 are deductible on 2017 returns – David Harrison, Joseph De Avila, and Jennifer Levitz
https://www.wsj.com/articles/looking-to-prepay-property-taxes-check-local-timetables-first-1514479088
— Five Things to Know If You Want to Prepay Your Property Taxes Speaking with your mortgage provider is just one important step to make sure you aren’t creating a headache for yourself – David Harrison
https://www.wsj.com/articles/five-things-to-know-if-you-want-to-prepay-your-property-taxes-1514486522
— Who’s the Center of Attention at Holiday Parties? Your Tax Accountant Accountants face long hours, anxious clients, but ‘it’s never been a better time to be a CPA’ – Michael Rapoport
https://www.wsj.com/articles/the-tax-law-makes-cpas-interesting-for-now-1514457000
— A Big, Beautiful Trump 2018 Issue Civil-service reform could get bipartisan support, even in a rough election year. – Kimberley A. Strassel (DIERSEN: Because I have always been a Republican, were it not for federal civil service protections, a) the Post Office would NOT have hired me in 1966 or let me work there for almost 3 years, b) IRS would NOT have hired me in 1971 or let me work there for almost 9 years, c) IRS would NOT have promoted me in 1972, 1973, or 1974, d) GAO would NOT have hired me in 1980 or let me work there for almost 18 years, and e) GAO would NOT have promoted me in 1986.)
https://www.wsj.com/articles/a-big-beautiful-trump-2018-issue-1514499989
— Baby Boomers Looking for Reinvention Try College—Again – Douglas Belkin (DIERSEN: To get rid of me, in 1988, my Democrat GAO superiors made it clear that they would never again assign me to audits of IRS. But in 1990, they implied that they would assign me to audits of federal financial industry regulators at least until I would be eligible to retire in 2003. That was a major reason I spent lots of my personal time and money earning a master’s degree in financial markets and trading from IIT in 1997.)
https://www.wsj.com/articles/baby-boomers-looking-for-reinvention-try-collegeagain-1514466001

 

USA TODAY
— FRONT PAGE: HARDCOPY ARTICLE TITLE: TRAGIC: California sees plenty of green in legal pot – Trevor Hughes
https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/2017/12/28/legal-marijuana-arriving-california-after-decades-underground-dealing/975323001/
— HARDCOPY ARTICLE TITLE: Plan to partake in pot? Read This. California permits marijuana for recreation, but there are still rules to follow. Trevor Hughes
https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/2017/12/28/what-californias-legalization-marijuana-means-you/975348001/

December 28 Evening Edition

ABC7
— Judge rejects anti-abortion groups’ lawsuit against Illinois abortion law HB40
http://abc7chicago.com/politics/judge-rejects-anti-abortion-groups-lawsuit-against-illinois-abortion-law/2834826/
— California doctor develops breathalyzer measuring THC on breath – Corin Hoggard
http://abc7chicago.com/politics/california-doctor-develops-breathalyzer-measuring-thc-on-breath/2834590/
— Fees, fares and taxes: What’s going up in Chicago in 2018 – Sarah Schulte
http://abc7chicago.com/finance/fees-fares-and-taxes-whats-going-up-in-2018/2835304/

 

WLS AM
— Judge rules against group trying to stop expansion of publicly funded abortions – Bill Cameron
http://www.wlsam.com/2017/12/28/judge-rules-against-group-trying-to-stop-expansion-of-publicly-funded-abortions/

 

CHICAGO TRIBUNE
— Hundreds lining up daily in DuPage, Will counties to prepay taxes before year’s end – Erin Hegarty
http://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/naperville-sun/news/ct-nvs-prepay-property-tax-dupage-will-st-1229-20171228-story.html
— Judge tosses conservative challenge to new Illinois abortion law, which takes effect Monday – AP
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/politics/ct-illinois-abortion-law-20171228-story.html
— Due to unprecedented interest, Lake County opens up online property tax prepayments – Emily K. Coleman
http://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/lake-county-news-sun/news/ct-lns-lake-county-property-taxes-prepayment-1227-20171227-story.html
— Conservative activists, legislators seek to stop Illinois abortion law from taking effect Monday – AP
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/politics/ct-illinois-abortion-law-20171228-story.html
— School district consolidation proposal has benefits — and messy details – Pat Lenhoff
http://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/mundelein/news/ct-lmv-lenhoff-tl-0104-20171228-story.html
— 2018’s challenge: Too many jobs, not enough workers – Danielle Paquette
http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/ct-biz-not-enough-workers-20171228-story.html

 

CHICAGO SUN-TIMES
— As Cook County residents rush to prepay property taxes, IRS sows confusion – Nader Issa
https://chicago.suntimes.com/chicago-politics/as-cook-county-residents-rush-to-prepay-property-taxes-irs-sows-confusion/
(FROM THE ARTICLE: In Illinois and elsewhere, local officials had told residents that property taxes due next year could be pre-paid through the end of this year; that way, the full amount paid this year could still be deducted on returns 2017 returns filed next year. But an IRS advisory issued Wednesday appeared to throw a monkey wrench into the works. The directive, which some found confusing, drew a distinction between paying an estimated amount and paying exact amounts on assessments made prior to 2018.)
— Cook County extends office hours for end-of-year rush to pre-pay property taxes – Nader Issa
https://chicago.suntimes.com/chicago-politics/as-cook-county-residents-rush-to-prepay-property-taxes-irs-sows-confusion/
— Some Chicago voters will see rent control on March ballot – Rachel Hinton
https://chicago.suntimes.com/chicago-politics/some-chicago-voters-will-see-rent-control-on-march-ballot/
— ‘Call it a good day’ and go away, Joe Biden – Jamie Stiehm
https://chicago.suntimes.com/opinion/joe-biden-president-jamie-stiehm/

 

DAILY HERALD
— Cook County property taxes can be paid at treasurer’s office Sunday
http://www.dailyherald.com/news/20171228/cook-county-property-taxes-can-be-paid-at-treasurers-office-sunday

 

CRAIN’S CHICAGO BUSINESS
— Despite IRS warning, property tax stampede rolls on – STEVEN R. STRAHLER
http://www.chicagobusiness.com/article/20171228/NEWS02/171229923/despite-irs-warning-property-tax-stampede-rolls-on
— The new tax law maybe isn’t playing the way the GOP planned – GREG HINZ
http://www.chicagobusiness.com/article/20171228/BLOGS02/171229924/the-new-tax-law-maybe-isnt-playing-the-way-the-gop-planned
(FROM THE ARTICLE: More: The rush is on—to pay taxes before cap kicks in I’m not yet in that group, although I’ve been tempted. But I think I can speak for a vast majority of them in saying that this was not how I was expecting to be spending this holiday season. I think I can say something else, too. If the Internal Revenue Service turns thumbs down on this panicky effort to game a system that’s been stacked against average taxpayer here—so far, the IRS has been less than precise—that panic is going to turn to total outrage. All of this was predictable. While there are good things in the tax bill and some changes were needed, it didn’t need to be stacked against relatively high-tax blue states like Illinois just because most Republicans now come from relatively low-tax red states. Yet, every GOP congressman from Illinois voted for this travesty. Randy Hultgren of Plano, Adam Kinzinger of Joliet, Mike Bost of Murphysboro, Rodney Davis of Taylorville, Darin LaHood of Peoria, John Shimkus of Collinsville and, of course, Peter Roskam of Wheaton. Every one of them voted to tax money that already had been paid as taxes, something Republicans used to stand against. In case you don’t know, Roskam was one of the prime authors of the tax plan. He keeps saying it will turn out to be an overall plus. Maybe yes, maybe no. Trump promised everyday Americans a “giant tax cut for Christmas.” But for many, many of Roskam’s constituents here in Illinois, this yuletide season has become time to scramble in hopes minimizing the damage from the GOP’s big tax “cut.” Roskam was in a position to do something about that. He was on the conference committee that produced the final bill. But if he did something to help his state and his district to make sure it was treated the same as other states, he sure kept it quiet. What all those headlines and prepayments tell me is that people are prepared to vote their fears and not their hopes this fall. We’ll see if that’s right. Meanwhile, on behalf of Roskam & Co.: Merry Christmas, suckers! And a happy new year.)
— Rauner’s Medicaid revamp just became a little less secret – KRISTEN SCHORSCH
http://www.chicagobusiness.com/article/20171228/NEWS03/171229925/rauners-medicaid-revamp-just-became-a-little-less-secret

 

BLOOMINGTON PANTAGRAPH
— Practices, opinions vary for early tax payments – Edith Brady-Lunny
http://www.pantagraph.com/news/local/government-and-politics/practices-opinions-vary-for-early-tax-payments/article_23949912-1fbd-5331-94cf-b23ec4a0a0e3.html
— Illinois judge dismisses public abortion-funding challenge – AP
http://www.pantagraph.com/news/state-and-regional/illinois/government-and-politics/illinois-judge-dismisses-public-abortion-funding-challenge/article_e78b9a00-dc87-5b7b-966b-3482a4ba34cf.html

 

MADISON RECORD
— Reaction to tax bill is as partisan as votes taken to get through Congress – Ann Maher
https://madisonrecord.com/stories/511306119-reaction-to-tax-bill-is-as-partisan-as-votes-taken-to-get-through-congress

 

NPR ILLINOIS
— Abortion Opponents Lose In Court, But Say They’ll Appeal – BRIAN MACKEY
http://nprillinois.org/post/abortion-opponents-lose-court-say-theyll-appeal#stream/0
— DISGUSTING, TRAGIC: California Prepares For Recreational Marijuana Sales On Jan. 1.
http://nprillinois.org/post/california-prepares-recreational-marijuana-sales-jan-1#stream/0

 

NORTHERN PUBLIC RADIO
— Illinois Political Expert Predicts ‘Intense’ Election Year – MARK SCHULTZ
http://northernpublicradio.org/post/illinois-political-expert-predicts-intense-election-year

 

WRAL
— Judge dismisses public-pay abortion challenge, appeal next – AP
http://www.wral.com/activists-seek-injunction-against-illinois-abortion-law/17217026/

 

MCHENRY COUNTY BLOG
— Challenge of John Reinert’s State Senate Petition Signatures Being Judged by State Board of Elections
http://mchenrycountyblog.com/2017/12/28/challenge-of-john-reinerts-state-senate-petition-signatures-being-judged-by-state-board-of-elections/
— $11,000 More for John Reinert’s State Senate Campaign as He Faces Petition Challenge
http://mchenrycountyblog.com/2017/12/22/11000-more-for-john-reinerts-state-senate-campaign-as-he-faces-petition-challenge/

 

CHICAGO CITY WIRE
— Kessem sees reform as way to curb Illinois exodus – Glenn Minnis
https://chicagocitywire.com/stories/511304577-kessem-sees-reform-as-way-to-curb-illinois-exodus

 

EAST CENTRAL REPORTER
— LaHood waits on gubernatorial endorsement
https://eastcentralreporter.com/stories/511279581-lahood-waits-on-gubernatorial-endorsement

 

LAKE COUNTY GAZETTE
— Wilcox says halting mass exodus will be his No. 1 priority – Angela Underwood
https://lakecountygazette.com/stories/511301872-wilcox-says-halting-mass-exodus-will-be-his-no-1-priority

 

LIFE NEWS
— Judge Forces Illinois Taxpayers to Pay for Abortions – STEVEN ERTELT
http://www.lifenews.com/2017/12/28/judge-forces-illinois-taxpayers-to-pay-for-abortions/

 

FOX NEWS
— VIDEO: FNC Special Report: IL Governor’s Race 12 27 17
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s3mWMqKS50M&feature=youtu.be
https://ivesforillinois.com/stories/511306297-rauner-makes-fox-news-list-of-the-worst-of-201

 

BLAZE
— Poll: Fewer Americans say they donated to a religious charity this year – Kate Scanlon
http://www.theblaze.com/news/2017/12/28/poll-fewer-americans-say-they-donated-to-a-religious-charity-this-year

 

CHRISTIAN POST
— Amazon and Microsoft Employees Caught Buying Sex Workers Through Their Work E-Mails – Shannon Azares
https://www.christianpost.com/news/amazon-and-microsoft-employees-caught-buying-sex-workers-through-their-work-e-mails-211695/

 

WORLD NET DAILY
— U.S. WOMAN STABBED 14 TIMES BY SOMALI MIGRANT, MEDIA GO DARK 1 more for growing Big List of related crimes being swept under rug – LEO HOHMANN
http://www.wnd.com/2017/12/u-s-woman-stabbed-14-times-by-somali-migrant-media-go-dark/

 

WASHINGTON EXAMINER
— Pew: Trump media three times more negative than for Obama, just 5 percent positive – Paul Bedard
http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/pew-trump-media-three-times-more-negative-than-for-obama-just-5-percent-positive/article/2644448

 

THE HILL
— Confusion reigns as people try to figure out property tax rules – NAOMI JAGODA
http://thehill.com/policy/finance/366719-confusion-reigns-as-people-try-to-figure-out-property-tax-rules

 

REUTERS
— Illinois judge rejects lawsuit challenging abortion coverage expansion – Chris Kenning
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-illinois-abortion/illinois-judge-rejects-lawsuit-challenging-abortion-coverage-expansion-idUSKBN1EM1XW

 

GOVERNMENT EXECUTIVE
— To Transform Government, Start With the People – Michael J. Keegan (DIERSEN: GAO hired me in 1980 because it could not find a qualified Democrat, minority, female, younger person, or veteran who would take the job. IRS hired me in 1971 because it could not find a qualified Democrat, minority, female, or veteran who would take the job. The Post Office hired me in 1966 because it could not find a qualified Democrat, minority, female, or veteran who would take the job.)
http://www.govexec.com/excellence/promising-practices/2017/12/transform-government-start-people/144858/

 

BLACK ENTERPRISE
— DECLINE IN HIRING OF BLACK MANAGERS IN FINANCIAL INDUSTRY ‘UNACCEPTABLE,’ SAYS MAXINE WATERS – Jeffrey McKinney (DIERSEN: Of course, Waters wants financial firms to stop hiring Whites. In 1971, when I was 22 years old, Oldsmobile withdrew a job offer that I had accepted saying that it had just agreed to stop hiring Whites to settle an EEOC complaint.)
http://www.blackenterprise.com/decline-hiring-black-managers-financial-industry/

December 28 Morning Edition

WASHINGTON POST
— IRS says many who prepaid property taxes may still face cap on deductions – Peter Jamison, Jeff Stein and Patricia Sullivan (DIERSEN: Will the Republicans amend the tax bill so that real estate taxes due in 2018 that were not assessed in 2017 but were prepaid in 2017 can be deducted in 2017?)
https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/dc-politics/tax-bill-spawns-new-holiday-ritual-waiting-in-line-to-pay-taxes/2017/12/27/1e7ea59a-eb12-11e7-b698-91d4e35920a3_story.html
(FROM THE ARTICLE: However, the IRS said Wednesday that filers could only avoid the cap by paying property taxes that have been assessed in 2017. Many local governments, including most Washington-area jurisdictions, have not completed assessments for upcoming years. Critics said the last-minute confusion underscored the haste with which Republicans passed their tax bill, completed in record time for such a far-reaching piece of legislation. “This is not the way to do legislation that will massively impact the entire economy. It sets off a flurry of action from people trying to save money, and they act as rash as the legislators who pushed this thing through,” said Philip Hackney, a tax expert at Louisiana State University. That confusion was echoed among thousands of taxpayers in the Washington region and elsewhere — some following the advice of their accountants — who interrupted their holiday activities to line up in subfreezing temperatures at tax offices.)
— Can you save a lot of money by prepaying your property taxes? Key questions and answers. – Zachary A. Goldfarb
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/wonk/wp/2017/12/27/essential-questions-and-answers-about-prepaying-your-property-taxes/
— Most Americans do not support making cuts to programs for people with low incomes – Eugene Scott (DIERSEN: Ever-increasingly, under the Democrats, more and more and more people have low incomes. What did you do to qualify yourself for better paying jobs? I earned a) a job-related bachelor’s degree when I was 21 in 1970 and job-related master’s degrees when I was 27, 31, and 48, b) job-related professional certifications when I was 30, 32, 41, 45, 47, and 48, and c) a job-related professional license when I was 32.)
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-fix/wp/2017/12/27/most-americans-do-not-support-making-cuts-to-programs-for-people-with-low-incomes/

 

NEW YORK TIMES
— Prepaying Your Property Tax? I.R.S. Cautions It Might Not Pay Off – Ben Casselman
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/12/27/business/prepaying-your-property-taxes-irs-cautions-it-might-not-pay-off.html
— FRONT PAGE TOP OF FOLD: In a Complex Tax Bill, Let the Hunt for Loopholes Begin – Natalie Kitroeff (DIERSEN: What deductions do your critics/opponents hint/imply/argue/shout are loopholes? My critics/opponents hint/imply/argue/shout that the following deductions are loopholes: mortgage interest, real estate tax, state income tax, medical and dental expenses, 501(c)(3) contributions, and job-related education.)
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/12/27/business/economy/tax-loopholes.html

 

WALL STREET JOURNAL
— IRS Says 2018 Property Taxes Have to Be Assessed to Qualify for Deduction Agency says taxes on real estate that haven’t been assessed before 2018 won’t be deductible on 2017 returns – Joseph De Avila
https://www.wsj.com/articles/irs-2018-property-taxes-have-to-be-assessed-to-qualify-for-prepayment-1514417581

 

FORBES
— When You Shouldn’t Prepay Your 2018 Property Taxes – Kate Ashford
https://www.forbes.com/sites/kateashford/2017/12/28/property-taxes/#5e95fa6d5513
(FROM THE ARTICLE: If you don’t have a bill yet for 2018, it’s not officially deductible. “The IRS ruled that you cannot pay and deduct in 2017 unless assessed,” says Scott Bishop, a financial planner with STA Wealth Management in Houston. If, for instance, your locality assessed property taxes earlier in the year and you generally pay in installments, you can pay the full balance in 2017 and deduct it. But if property taxes haven’t been assessed yet, you’re out of luck. “That seems to be the bigger issue now,” says Howard Hook, a financial planner and CPA in Princeton, NJ. “If you’re not assessed for 2018, you can’t make the payments.”)

 

NBC5
— How to Prepay Property Taxes in Chicago Suburbs
https://www.nbcchicago.com/blogs/ward-room/How-to-Prepay-Property-Taxes-in-Chicago-Suburbs-466954723.html

 

ABC7
— Homeowners rush to pre-pay property taxes after GOP tax bill – Eric Horng
http://abc7chicago.com/finance/homeowners-rush-to-pre-pay-property-taxes-after-gop-tax-bill/2832246/

 

DAILY HERALD
— IRS: Many who prepay taxes may still face caps – Peter Jamison, Jeff Stein and Patricia Sullivan
http://www.dailyherald.com/news/20171227/irs-many-who-prepay-taxes-may-still-face-caps
— 6 essential questions and answers about prepaying your property taxes – Zachary A. Goldfarb
http://www.dailyherald.com/business/20171228/6-essential-questions-and-answers-about-prepaying-your-property-taxes
— Charity gets a jolt from tax law _ but due to drop next year – AP
http://www.dailyherald.com/article/20171228/business/312289970/
— How 6th District Democrats would change Republican tax law – Marie Wilson
http://www.dailyherald.com/news/20171228/how-6th-district-democrats-would-change-republican-tax-law
— Activists seek injunction against Illinois abortion law – AP
http://www.dailyherald.com/article/20171228/news/312289983/
— Group wants photos of every service member killed in Vietnam War – Katlyn Smith
http://www.dailyherald.com/news/20171228/group-wants-photos-of-every-service-member-killed-in-vietnam-war
— Trump’s unjust insults to undermine Washington Post – Editorial (DIERSEN: Ever-increasingly, the MSM (main stream media) makes it clear that it exists a) to defend and advance the Democrat, Libertarian, and Green party platforms and b) to get rid of individuals, organizations, companies, governments, and countries that are Trump supporters, Protestant, conservative, patriotic, Republican, American, White, male, older, rich, gun owners, German American, and/or those whose ancestors have been in America for a long time.)
http://www.dailyherald.com/discuss/20171228/editorial-trumps-unjust-insults-to-undermine-washington-post
— FRONT PAGE TOP OF FOLD: State requires new sexual harassment policies for all local governments – Eric Peterson
http://www.dailyherald.com/news/20171228/state-requires-new-sexual-harassment-policies-for-all-local-governments

 

ILLINOIS PATCH
— Illinois Homeowners Rush To Pay Taxes Before GOP Plan Kicks In Friday is your last day to prepay taxes ahead of the new GOP plan, which caps tax deductions at $10,000. – Shannon Antinori
https://patch.com/illinois/across-il/illinois-homeowners-rush-pay-taxes-gop-plan-kicks

 

CHICAGO TRIBUNE
— Roy Moore files lawsuit to block Alabama Senate result – AP
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/politics/ct-roy-moore-lawsuit-alabama-senate-20171227-story.html
— Husband blames owner of two dogs who killed wife on Christmas Eve in Kentucky – Kristine Phillips
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/ct-kentucky-dog-attack-20171227-story.html
— Will #metoo movement speed up the number of women in leadership — or slow it down? – Jena McGregor (DIERSEN: Ever-increasingly, under the anti-Trumps, if a woman accuses a man of something, that man is presumed to be guilty, and especially if that man is a Trump supporter, Protestant, conservative, patriotic, Republican, American, White, older, rich, gun owner, German American, and/or if his ancestors have been in America for a long time.)
http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/ct-biz-metoo-movement-female-leadership-20171227-story.html
— FRONT PAGE: Anti-gambling crusader Kathy Gilroy who shut down raffles wins $25,000 in gaming parlor sweepstakes – Robert McCoppin
http://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/ct-met-anti-gambling-crusader-wins-sweepstakes-20171227-story.html
(FROM THE ARTICLE: Kathy Gilroy has crusaded against gambling in Illinois for decades, speaking out against casinos, illegal raffles and the recent wave of video poker cafes. As one of the most visible gaming opponents in the state, she has warned that the vice erodes society’s values and work ethic, takes money from poor people and can lead to addiction, bankruptcy, crime and suicide. Just this year, she blew the whistle on a $1.6 million Queen of Hearts raffle put on by the Veterans of Foreign Wars post in rural Morris, forcing it to shut down hours before the planned drawing, until the raffle was properly licensed. So even she concedes it may seem ironic that she recently won $25,000 by playing a sweepstakes game at a gambling cafe in her hometown of Villa Park. “I called a pastor friend, and said, ‘Oh my God, should I send it back? What do I do? Do I donate it?’” she said. “He said, ‘Don’t feel guilty. You just got paid for all your volunteer work against gambling.’ It’s God showing his grace on me.” Despite her longtime anti-gambling activism, it turns out Gilroy has a history of playing and winning sweepstakes. She said she’s landed prizes including electronics and trips to the Bahamas and California. She once won a big-screen TV from a mechanic, but asked instead for $1,000 in service. A week later, her transmission went out, and she quickly got her money’s worth. She’ll even play the video poker machines at gambling cafes if she is given a free promo card. The distinction Gilroy makes is that she was not spending her own money to gamble. She enters sweepstakes because, by state law, they must be made available free of charge. And — unlike the VFW game that was not licensed, as required by law — she says the sweepstakes she plays are perfectly legal. Still, Morris VFW Commander Jerry Zeborowski was perplexed to hear that Gilroy had won a sweepstakes. “It’s ironic that someone who’s anti-gambling would enter something like that,” he said. “That’s a little hypocrisy there, don’t you think?” Gilroy, 68, who works selling supplemental health insurance for people on Medicare, shrugs off the negative comments she’s gotten over the years, such as when she succeeded in halting a raffle to raise money for needy college students because it was unlicensed and not put on by a nonprofit, as required by law. But she admitted she did have to think twice about this situation. She worried that her winnings were proceeds from money that people lost gambling, but decided that it comes out of the profits of the parent company, Laredo Hospitality Ventures. Gilroy said she was raised on a farm near Lost Nation, Iowa, in a family that never had much money. She worked her way through school, and traveled to fairs and trade shows around the country, selling everything from books to blenders. Decades ago, she used to gamble at racetracks, she said. But her attitude towards gambling started to change when she won $700, only to lose it back swiftly to the track. She took part in an anti-gambling seminar by the Rev. Tom Grey, leader of the National Coalition Against Legalized Gambling, formed in 1994. She began speaking out against any effort to expand gambling, including most recently with video poker cafes, which have grown to offer more than 24,000 machines statewide. Last year, as one example, she asked the Lincolnwood Village Board to reject a request to lift its ban on video gambling. At issue was a proposal by Laredo Hospitality to open a Stella’s Cafe — the same Des Plaines company and gambling parlor chain through which Gilroy ended up winning her drawing. As Gilroy tells it, she heard about the sweepstakes after signing up for the gambling cafes’ emails. After every fifth visit to a cafe, she got a scratch-off card, which occasionally won her a $5 card to play the machines or entries for the grand prize, a new Ford Mustang convertible. Finalists were drawn from each of Laredo’s 52 locations in Illinois, and Gilroy was one of them. Winners had to be present, so she attended the grand prize drawing at a restaurant in Rosemont on Dec. 16. She drew No. 7, and when her number was pulled from a fishbowl, she was amazed to hear that she had won. She opted for $25,000 in cash instead of a car, and has already bought some stocks with the money. To get the winnings, Gilroy had to sign an agreement to let Laredo take her photo and use it as they wish — so she might end up promoting the very industry she fights. Laredo officials didn’t return calls for comment, and didn’t allow the Tribune to take Gilroy’s picture inside the Stella’s in Villa Park, so they may not be eager to use her as their poster child. Years ago, just before she quit betting on the ponies, Gilroy said, she looked around and was struck by the smoke and the broken-down players at the track. “I said, ‘What am I doing?’ This is so stupid,’” she recalled. “It dawned on me, this is not the lifestyle I want. I don’t want to even associate with these people.” Still, after all these years, after shutting down numerous illegal raffles and raising awareness statewide that raffles need to be locally licensed, Gilroy said she takes advantage of sweepstakes whenever she can. “It’s the gambling I oppose,” she said, “not the sweepstakes.”)

 

SPRINGFIELD STATE JOURNAL REGISTER
— WMAY using stories of network linked to Illinois Policy Institute – Bernard Schoenburg (DIERSEN: Virtually every story in the MSM (main stream media) is linked to the Democrat Party, to the Libertarian Party, and/or to the Green Party.)
http://www.sj-r.com/opinion/20171227/bernard-schoenburg-wmay-using-stories-of-network-linked-to-illinois-policy-institute

 

TIMES
— More pay for public defenders? – David Giuliani
http://www.mywebtimes.com/news/local/more-pay-for-public-defenders/article_c53f4fb4-9c10-537d-a0d5-193545880ec7.html

 

BELLEVILLE NEWS DEMOCRAT
— You owe $52K for state employee pensions, and the bill is overdue
http://www.bnd.com/opinion/editorials/article190917849.html

 

CENTRAL ILLINOIS PROUD
— Democrat: GOP rep. calling for ‘purge’ needs a history lesson Call reminiscent of McCarthyism during Cold War – JASON SQUITIERI (DIERSEN: While I worked for the federal government for almost 30 years, my superiors always acted like Democrat politicians had called for a purge of all federal employees who were Republican, White, male, and/or non-veteran who had not made GS-13 (currently $94,610) by age 25, GS-14 (currently $111,801) by age 30, GS-15 (currently $131,508) by age 35, and Senior Executive Service (currently $161,900) by age 40. Democrats use Affirmative Action, Diversity, and Inclusion to purge the aforesaid employees. While I worked for GAO in its Chicago office 1980-1997, every time a new manager took over the office, they were given a list of the office’s employees who they were supposed to purge. Of course, I was always on those lists.)
http://www.centralillinoisproud.com/news/politics/democrat-gop-rep-calling-for-purge-needs-a-history-lesson/889700747

 

LCBC RADIO
— TRAGIC: Gamblers in Biggest Illinois Valley Cities Lost Nearly $20 Million in Last 12 Months
http://www.lcbcradio.com/wlpo/gamblers-in-biggest-illinois-valley-cities-lost-nearly-million-in/article_f971ea5c-ebd2-11e7-abf8-1f467db27161.html

 

WIREPOINTS
— Illinois Comptroller: Moving Debt From One Credit Card To Another Is ‘A Win Win Win’ – Mark Glennon
http://www.wirepoints.com/illinois-comptroller-moving-debt-from-one-credit-card-to-another-is-a-win-win-win-wirepoints-original/

 

DUPAGE POLICY JOURNAL
— Kinzler blames Illinois’ exodus on ‘dysfunctional system’ – Glenn Minnis
https://dupagepolicyjournal.com/stories/511303230-kinzler-blames-illinois-exodus-on-dysfunctional-system

 

METRO EAST SUN
— Top-down change needed to reverse Illinois exodus, Don Moore says – Glenn Minnis
https://metroeastsun.com/stories/511305596-top-down-change-needed-to-reverse-illinois-exodus-moore-says

 

ILLINOIS FAMILY INSTITUTE
— Coalition Letter Urges Trump Administration to Resist Courts on “Transgenders” in Military – John Biver
https://illinoisfamily.org/religious/coalition-letter-urges-trump-administration-resist-courts-transgenders-military/

 

GOPUSA
— Food, showers, tents: Are the homeless helped or enabled?
http://www.gopusa.com/food-showers-tents-are-the-homeless-helped-or-enabled/

 

REDSTATE
— Americans Fled Blue States In The Hundreds Of Thousands Due To High Taxes, Leaving Fewer To Pay The Democrats’ Tab – Brandon Morse
https://www.redstate.com/brandon_morse/2017/12/27/americans-fled-blue-states-hundreds-thousands-due-high-taxes-high-crime-rates/

 

NEWSMAX
— A Guide to the 2018 Midterm Elections – Scott Rasmussen
https://www.newsmax.com/scottrasmussen/democrats-races-gop-seats/2017/12/27/id/834000/
(FROM THE ARTICLE: There are, however, a few races to give a sense of how good a night the Democrats are likely to have. The first is Illinois-6, currently held by Republican Peter Roskam. This suburban district was carried by Hillary Clinton. Not only that, special elections this year have shown that the GOP is struggling to hang on to suburban voters. If Roskam is still competitive come November, the GOP might hold their losses to a dozen seats or so.)

 

BLAZE
— Ron Paul: The economic boom under Trump is ‘an illusion’ that will come crashing down – Chris Enloe
http://www.theblaze.com/news/2017/12/27/ron-paul-the-economic-boom-under-trump-is-an-illusion-that-will-come-crashing-down

 

INVESTORS BUSINESS DAILY
— The ‘Swamp’ Trump Is Trying To Drain Isn’t Really A Swamp — It’s An Ocean (DIERSEN Democrats run the federal government. If Republicans cut a federal agency’s budget, those cuts will be used to get rid of the agency’s employees who are Republican, White, male, and/or non-veteran who did not make GS-13 (currently $94,610) by age 25, GS-14 (currently $111,801) by age 30, GS-15 (currently $131,508) by age 35, and Senior Executive Service (currently $161,900) by age 40.)
https://www.investors.com/politics/editorials/the-swamp-trump-is-trying-to-drain-isnt-really-a-swamp-its-an-ocean/

 

LIFEZETTE NEWS
— ‘Mapping The Swamp’ Report Shows It’s Even Bigger, Costlier Than You Think Paying federal workforce costs taxpayers $1.1M per minute, according to a pro-transparency group, Open The Books – Mark Tapscott (DIERSEN Democrats run the federal government. If Republicans cut a federal agency’s budget, those cuts will be used to get rid of the agency’s employees who are Republican, White, male, and/or non-veteran who did not make GS-13 (currently $94,610) by age 25, GS-14 (currently $111,801) by age 30, GS-15 (currently $131,508) by age 35, and Senior Executive Service (currently $161,900) by age 40.)
https://www.lifezette.com/polizette/mapping-the-swamp-report-shows-its-even-bigger-costlier-than-you-think/?preview_id=873085

 

WALL STREET JOURNAL
— Roy Moore Files Suit to Block Certification of Alabama Senate Election Result Defeated GOP candidate’s attorney said in complaint he believed there were irregularities during the election and a new one should be held – AP
https://www.wsj.com/articles/roy-moore-files-suit-to-block-certification-of-alabama-senate-election-result-1514453058
— The Tax Law Makes CPAs Interesting (for Now) Accountants face long hours, anxious clients, but ‘it’s never been a better time to be a CPA’ – Michael Rapoport (DIERSEN: In 1979, when I was 30 years old, I passed the CPA examination on my first attempt. In 1981, I became a licensed CPA.)
https://www.wsj.com/articles/the-tax-law-makes-cpas-interesting-for-now-1514457000
— Employee Mentorship Program Gets a Reboot – Rachel Feintzeig (DIERSEN: What happened to your mentors? My Democrat IRS superiors got rid of the IRS manager who promoted me in 1972, 1973, and 1974. My Democrat GAO superiors got rid of the GAO manager who hired me in 1980, who got me assigned to audits of IRS in 1986, and who promoted me in 1986.)
https://www.wsj.com/articles/employee-mentorship-program-gets-a-reboot-1514376000

 

USA TODAY
— HARDCOPY ARTICLE HEADLINE: Republicans accuse American Bar Association of bias – Richard Wolf (DIERSEN: What percent of ABA members are Democrats?)
https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2017/12/26/lawyers-group-fuels-republicans-ire-over-its-negative-reviews-trump-judicial-picks/974095001/
— Hot housing market could cool in 2018 – Paul Davidson
https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/2017/12/28/hot-housing-market-could-cool-2018/971539001/

 

FED SMITH
— Compensation for Federal Workforce Costs the Government $1 Million Per Minute
https://www.fedsmith.com/2017/12/28/compensation-federal-workforce-costs-government-1-million-per-minute/

 

ATLANTIC
— Employers Are Looking for Job Candidates in the Wrong Places – LOLADE FADULU (DIERSEN: Did you meet legal requirements when you were hired? I did. I had a job-related master’s degree (MBA Loyola 1976), a job-related professional certification (CPA 1979), almost 9 years of job-related work experience (the last 5 1/2 years of which at the GS-12 Step 1-5 levels (currently $79,563-$90,173), and I had almost completed the requirements for a master’s degree in accounting from DePaul when GAO hired me at the GS-9 Step 10 level (currently $71,326) in 1980. I had a job-related bachelor’s degree (management NIU 1970) and I had passed the Federal Service Entrance Examination when IRS hired me at the GS-7 Step 1 level (currently $54,864) in 1971. I had a high school diploma and I had passed an employment examination when the Post Office hired me at the GS-4 Step 1 level (currently $15.56/hour) level in 1966.)
https://www.theatlantic.com/education/archive/2017/12/employers-are-looking-for-job-candidates-in-the-wrong-places/549080/

December 27 Evening Edition

FOX BUSINESS
— IRS cautions U.S. taxpayers on prepaying property taxes – AP
http://www.foxbusiness.com/markets/2017/12/27/irs-cautions-u-s-taxpayers-on-prepaying-property-taxes.html
(FROM THE ARTICLE: In a notice on its website, the IRS said that, in general, a full deduction for the prepayment of state or local property taxes depends on whether the taxpayer makes the payment this year and whether the property taxes are assessed prior to 2018. “A prepayment of anticipated real property taxes that have not been assessed prior to 2018 are not deductible in 2017,” the IRS notice said. “State or local law determines whether and when a property tax is assessed, which is generally when the taxpayer becomes liable for the property tax imposed,” it said.)

 

WASHINGTON POST
— IRS says taxpayers trying to use deduction that will be scaled back can prepay 2018 property taxes only under limited circumstances
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/business/wp/2017/12/27/irs-says-taxpayers-trying-to-use-deduction-that-will-be-scaled-back-can-prepay-2018-property-taxes-only-under-limited-circumstances/
(FROM THE ARTICLE: Many Americans have rushed to prepay their 2018 property taxes and save on their federal taxes, hoping to take advantage of a tax deduction that will be scaled back in the new tax law passed by Republicans last week. The Internal Revenue Service confirmed Wednesday that taxpayers will be able to take advantage of the maneuver — but only under limited circumstances. The IRS said that taxpayers can claim an additional property tax deduction when paying their 2017 taxes if they pay the tax this year and if the local tax authority has notified homeowners prior to 2018 of how much they owe in property taxes, known as a tax assessment. State and local laws vary as to when this occurs. For individuals who rushed to prepay their property taxes based on estimates about how much they’d owe, the decision could prove a frustration as it may be difficult to cancel those payments. Local tax officials in affected localities will now be forced to interpret the decision for their residents. This is a developing story. It will be updated.)
— As California legalizes pot, laws collide at US checkpoints – AP
https://www.washingtonpost.com/national/as-california-legalizes-pot-laws-collide-at-us-checkpoints/2017/12/27/3704f4f4-eb24-11e7-956e-baea358f9725_story.html

 

MERCURY NEWS
— The Internal Revenue Service announced Wednesday that taxpayers could prepay their 2018 property taxes only if they have already received a tax assessment from their local government and they make payment by the end of the year. – Jeff Stein
https://www.mercurynews.com/2017/12/27/irs-setting-limits-for-prepaying-property-taxes/

 

TIME
— A last-minute announcement by the IRS could hurt many taxpayers rushing to prepay their 2018 property taxes before the end of the year. Late Wednesday, the IRS announced that filers could claim their 2018 property tax payments on their 2017 federal taxes only if the taxes had been assessed in 2017. – JOHN PATRICK PULLEN
http://time.com/5080756/irs-prepay-property-tax-deduction-2017-2018-limit/

 

  1. LOUIS TODAY
    — IRS cautions taxpayers on prepaying property taxes
    http://www.stltoday.com/news/national/irs-cautions-taxpayers-on-prepaying-property-taxes/article_69604762-174c-5f7d-9a1d-37693d9d1ce8.html
    (FROM THE ARTICLE: In a notice on its website, the IRS said that, in general, a full deduction for the prepayment of state or local property taxes depends on whether the taxpayer makes the payment this year and whether the property taxes are assessed prior to 2018. “A prepayment of anticipated real property taxes that have not been assessed prior to 2018 are not deductible in 2017,” the IRS notice said. “State or local law determines whether and when a property tax is assessed, which is generally when the taxpayer becomes liable for the property tax imposed,” it said.)

 

NAPERVILLE PATCH
— Here’s How To Prepay Your Taxes & Potentially Save Big Before the GOP law takes effect Monday, people are paying their property taxes early. – Caitlin Ketel
https://patch.com/illinois/naperville/heres-how-prepay-your-taxes-potentially-save-big

 

ILLINOIS REVIEW
— ILLINOISANS STAND IN LINE TO PAY 2018 PROPERTY TAXES EARLY
http://illinoisreview.typepad.com/illinoisreview/2017/12/illinoisans-stand-in-line-to-pay-2018-property-taxes-early.html
— RAUNER CHALLENGER SAYS SHE’S NOT HEARTLESS. SHE’S GOT A HEART FOR THE STATE’S TAXPAYERS
http://illinoisreview.typepad.com/illinoisreview/2017/12/rauner-challenger-says-shes-not-heartless-shes-got-a-heart-for-the-states-taxpayers.html
— EMERGENCY INJUNCTION SOUGHT TO STOP ILLINOIS TAXPAYER ABORTION FUNDING FROM STARTING JAN 1
http://illinoisreview.typepad.com/illinoisreview/2017/12/emergency-injunction-sought-to-stop-illinois-taxpayer-abortion-funding-from-starting-jan-1.html
— FEDERAL INCARCERATION REPORT SHOWS 20 PERCENT OF FEDERAL INMATES AS ILLEGAL ALIENS – AP
http://illinoisreview.typepad.com/illinoisreview/2017/12/federal-incarceration-report-20-percent-of-federal-inmates-are-illegal-aliens.html

 

CHICAGO TRIBUNE
— Property taxpayers in Chicago area scramble to pay 2018 bills before rules change – Bill Ruthhart
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/politics/ct-met-property-taxes-pay-ahead-20171227-story.html
— Residents jam Kane County treasurer’s office to pay taxes in 2017, avoid GOP law’s deduction cap – David Sharos
http://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/aurora-beacon-news/news/ct-abn-early-taxes-st-1228-20171227-story.html
— 2018 to be another rough year for Chicago taxpayers – Hal Dardick
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/politics/ct-met-2018-tax-increases-20171214-story.html
— As a fan of big government, I fear Trump disappointing his base – Ron Grossman (DIERSEN: How has “big government” impacted your career? In 1971 when I was 22 years old, “big government” got Oldsmobile to stop hiring Whites to settle an EEOC complaint. Because of that, Oldsmobile withdrew a job offer that I had accepted.)
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/columnists/ct-met-grossman-big-government-20171220-story.html
— Cook County sues pharmaceutical companies over opioid epidemic – Bill Ruthhart
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/politics/ct-met-cook-county-opioid-lawsuit-20171227-story.html
— The case for pessimism in the age of Trump – Steve Chapman
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-perspec-chapman-trump-pessimism-optimism-despair-1228-20171227-story.html
— Paul Ryan’s ‘pro-white’ primary foe denounced by Breitbart after his anti-Semitic tweets – David Weigel
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/politics/ct-paul-nehlen-wisconsin-gop-primary-20171227-story.html

 

CBS2
— Thousands In Cook County Pay Property Taxes Early To Beat Trump Tax Bill – Bernie Tafoya
http://chicago.cbslocal.com/2017/12/27/thousands-cook-county-pay-property-taxes-early/

 

ABC7
— Activist William Calloway says he has enough signatures to get on the ballot in the election for the representative for Illinois’ 25th District, and says those objecting to him don’t have the legal standing to do so.
http://abc7chicago.com/politics/activist-running-for-state-office-says-objectors-have-no-legal-standing/2827392/

 

CHICAGO SUN-TIMES
— Cook County’s lawsuit part of statewide effort to address opioid epidemic – Rachel Hinton
https://chicago.suntimes.com/news/cook-county-lawsuit-part-of-statewide-effort-to-address-opioid-epidemic/
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: Anti-Trumps badmouth Trump.
https://chicago.suntimes.com/columnists/trump-stands-against-everything-america-stands-for-robert-reich/
https://chicago.suntimes.com/columnists/trump-always-someone-else-fault-jacob-sullum/
— Response to opioid epidemic proves drug addiction isn’t color blind – Mary Mitchell
https://chicago.suntimes.com/chicago-politics/mitchell-whitewash-of-opioid-epidemic-deadly-for-urban-communities/

 

DAILY HERALD
— Naperville working to lower city portion of property tax bill – Marie Wilson
http://www.dailyherald.com/news/20171227/naperville-working-to-lower-city-portion-of-property-tax-bill

 

CRAIN’S CHICAGO BUSINESS
— Handicappers keeping close eye on Roskam’s re-election bid – GREG HINZ
http://www.chicagobusiness.com/article/20171227/BLOGS02/171229937/handicappers-keeping-close-eye-on-roskams-re-election-bid
— World’s wealthiest became $1 trillion richer in 2017 – Bloomberg
http://www.chicagobusiness.com/article/20171227/NEWS01/171229940/worlds-wealthiest-became-1-trillion-richer-in-2017

 

CHAMPAIGN/URBANA NEWS GAZETTE
— University of Illinois stands alone with enrollment rise – Tom Kacich
http://www.news-gazette.com/news/local/2017-12-27/kacich-ui-stands-alone-with-enrollment-rise.html

 

LASALLE NEWS TRIBUNE
— Congressional hopefuls have objections spelled out Will some candidates be knocked off ballot? – Brett Herrmann
http://www.newstrib.com/free/congressional-hopefuls-have-objections-spelled-out/article_c958e69a-eb14-11e7-be78-9f44370ed34f.html

 

QUINCY HERALD WHIG
— DISGUSTING, TRAGIC: Quincy City Council expands video gaming – Doug Wilson
http://www.whig.com/20171227/quincy-city-council-expands-video-gaming-agrees-to-buy-firetrucks-radio-system#

 

JOURNAL & TOPICS
— DISGUSTING, TRAGIC: Win Cafe Open For Video Gambling In Niles – Tom Robb
https://www.journal-topics.com/articles/win-cafe-open-for-video-gambling-in-niles/

 

ROCK ISLAND TODAY
— Rock Island GOP slams Halpin’s alleged quid pro quo
https://rockislandtoday.com/stories/511303148-rock-island-gop-slams-halpin-s-alleged-quid-pro-quo

 

SUBURBAN LIFE
— Wheaton-Warrenville District 200 approves extending superintendent’s contract – ERIC SCHELKOPF
http://www.mysuburbanlife.com/2017/12/22/wheaton-warrenville-district-200-approves-extending-superintendents-contract/amn9rvl/

 

CENTRAL ILLINOIS PROUD
— GOP congressman Francis Rooney explains his call for FBI ‘purge’ – ELI WATKINS (DIERSEN: What if my Illinois GOP U.S. Senators and Illinois GOP U.S. Representatives had called for a purge a) at GAO when my Democrat GAO superiors forced me to retire in 1997 when I was 49 years old, always ranked me in the bottom half of my coworkers for pay-for-performance purposes, did not promote me beyond GS-13, got rid of my mentor in 1987, kept me off audits of IRS for all but 3 of the almost 18 years that I worked for GAO, and forced me to take an $18,847 pay cut in today’s dollars to transfer from IRS to GAO in 1980; b) at IRS when my Democrat IRS superiors did not promote me beyond GS-12, disallowed my education deductions in 1978, got rid of my mentor in 1975, and disallowed my partial day per diem claims in 1974; and c) at the Post Office when my Democrat Post Office superiors forced me resign in 1969 and disallowed my sick leave requests in 1969 and 1968?)
http://www.centralillinoisproud.com/news/politics/gop-congressman-explains-his-call-for-fbi-purge/889387650

 

WGLT
— On Your Mark, Get Set, Grab Tax Credits – DUSTY RHODES
http://wglt.org/post/your-mark-get-set-grab-tax-credits-0#stream/0

 

RUSS STEWART
— FOR MALE POLITICIANS, 2018 WILL BE THE “YEAR OF LIVING DANGEROUSLY”
http://www.russstewart.com/articles/2017/12-27-2017.html
(FROM THE ARTICLE: Every male politician on the 2018 ballot, either in a primary or election, should be utterly, totally paranoid — especially if they are an alpha male. Just one allegation of a past sexual indiscretion will be fatal. Democrats are clearing out their miscreants, like Al Franken. Republicans caught a break when Roy Moore lost in Alabama. 2018 will be a non-tolerance year. But the Republicans’ 51-49 U.S. Senate majority is not necessarily in jeopardy. Democrats will try to make it a referendum on President Trump. It may not work.)

 

ILLINOIS WATCHDOG
— ‘Worst-ever’ 2017 can still get worse in 2018 – Dan McCaleb
https://www.watchdog.org/illinois/op-ed-worst-ever-can-still-get-worse-in/article_2dcf4413-4647-52a7-8fc7-edc40c15e941.html

 

ILLINOIS LEAKS
— Maine Township – Supervisor & Clerk violate Open Meetings Act & Township law. – KIRK ALLEN
http://edgarcountywatchdogs.com/2017/12/maine-township-supervisor-clerk-violate-open-meetings-act-township-law/
— Jasper Co. School Board violates their own policy, use targeted bullying – JOHN KRAFT
http://edgarcountywatchdogs.com/2017/12/jasper-co-school-board-violates-their-own-policy-use-targeted-bullying/

 

ILLINOIS FAMILY INSTITUTE
— Emergency Injunction Against Taxpayer-Funded Abortions Sought in Lawsuit Against Illinois Officials
https://illinoisfamily.org/life/emergency-injunction-taxpayer-funded-abortions-sought-lawsuit-illinois-officials/

 

BREITBART
— 200 Middle East Nationals with ‘Mental Health’ Issues to Arrive in U.S. as Refugees Next Year – JOHN BINDER
http://www.breitbart.com/big-government/2017/12/27/report-200-middle-east-nationals-with-mental-health-issues-to-arrive-in-u-s-as-refugees-next-year/

BLAZE
— ‘Problem of Whiteness’ course offered at college despite GOP lawmakers calling for it to be canceled – Sarah Taylor
http://www.theblaze.com/news/2017/12/27/problem-of-whiteness-course-offered-at-college-despite-gop-lawmakers-calling-for-it-to-be-canceled

 

DAILY SIGNAL
— 1 of Every 5 Federal Employees Has a 6-Figure Salary – Rachel del Guidice (DIERSEN: Many millions have not and will not seek a job with the federal government a) because the pay and benefits are terrible, b) because the advancement opportunities are terrible, c) because they lack required education, work experience, professional certifications, and/or professional licenses, d) because they cannot pass an employment examination, e) because they cannot pass a background investigation, f) because they cannot pass a physical examination, g) because they cannot take the demonization, denigration, and condemnation that comes with being a federal employee or federal retiree, and/or h) because they are Republican, White, male, older, and/or non-veteran and they know that the federal government discriminates against the aforesaid.)
http://dailysignal.com/2017/12/27/1-every-5-government-employees-6-figure-salary/

 

LIFE NEWS
— Pro-Life People in Illinois Seek Injunction to Not be Forced to Fund Abortions – TOM CIESIELKA
http://www.lifenews.com/2017/12/27/pro-life-people-in-illinois-seek-injunction-to-not-be-forced-to-fund-abortions/

 

NATIONAL LAW REVIEW
— Take a Number: States and Cities Line Up to Ban Salary History Questions (DIERSEN: What about government employees? Government salaries are public and those who despise if not hate government employees viciously demonize, viciously denigrate, and viciously condemn government employees as being grossly overpaid. I was a demonized, denigrated, and condemned government employee for almost 30 years. In my defense, I earned a) a job-related bachelor’s degree when I was 21 in 1970 and job-related master’s degrees when I was 27, 31, and 48, b) job-related professional certifications when I was 30, 32, 41, 45, 47, and 48, and c) a job-related professional license when I was 32.)
https://www.natlawreview.com/article/take-number-states-and-cities-line-to-ban-salary-history-questions

 

NEW YORK TIMES
— Who’s Winning the Culture War? Corporate America. – DAVID A. HOPKINSDE (DIERSEN: Ever-increasingly, corporate America paints itself as being anti-Trump, anti-Protestant, anti-conservative, anti-patriotic, anti-Republican, anti-American, anti-White, anti-male, anti-older people, anti-rich people, anti-gun owners, anti-German Americans, and/or anti-those whose ancestors have been in America for a long time.)
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/12/27/opinion/culture-war-corporate-america.html

 

LOS ANGELES TIMES
— Federal agents can still seize marijuana at California checkpoints despite legalization
http://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-fed-pot-california-20171227-story.html

 

FED WEEK
— EEOC rules on affirmative action for persons with disabilities that become enforceable January 3 require agencies to have written, easily available and understood reasonable accommodation procedures and a written explanation whenever a request for a reasonable accommodation is denied. (DIERSEN: While I worked for GAO in its Chicago office 1980-1997, my Democrat superiors assigned me to supervise all their employees who had disabilities.)
http://www.fedweek.com/federal-managers-daily-report/eeoc-affirmative-action-rules-address-obligations/

December 27 Morning Edition

CHICAGO TRIBUNE
— FRONT PAGE TOP OF FOLD IN NAPERVILLE SUN: Change in property tax deduction affects thousands in Naperville – Erin Hegarty (DIERSEN: From what I see, under “tax reform,” the less federal income tax that you have paid because you itemized your deductions, the more federal income tax that you will pay in the future. Those who promote envy and class warfare have always shouted at those who take the standard deduction (typically, those who are younger, who are not married, who rent, who do not pay much state income tax, who do not have high medical and dental expenses, who do not pay for job-related education, and/or who do not give much money to 501(c)(3) organizations) that those who itemize their deductions (typically, those who are older, who are married, who are homeowners, who pay more state income tax, who have high medical and dental expenses, who pay for job-related education, and/or who give more money to 501(c)(3) organizations) are undeservedly rich and should pay much more federal income tax.)
http://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/naperville-sun/news/ct-nvs-property-tax-overhaul-st-1227-20171226-story.html
(FROM THE ARTICLE: Thousands of Naperville homeowners pay more than $10,000 a year in property taxes and will be impacted by limits to deductions in a new federal income tax plan set to kick in after Jan. 1. In Lisle Township, 3,221 City of Naperville property owners — or about 21.5 percent of city residents in Lisle Township — paid at least $10,000 in property taxes based on last year’s assessed values. In Naperville Township, 2,447 property owners in the City of Naperville paid at least $10,000 in property taxes. The new tax plan includes a $10,000 cap on the amount taxpayers can deduct in property tax and local and state income tax while nearly doubling standard deductions of $12,000 for single filers and $24,000 for married couples who file jointly. This means many people who have historically itemized to deduct things like property taxes or mortgage interest will get more by claiming the standard deduction. But those who pay their property taxes ahead of time can use the uncapped deduction one more time, local financial experts said.)

 

DAILY HERALD
— HARDCOPY ARTICLE TITLE: False news is everywhere Sorting fake from fact is ‘new basic skill’ required in our era – Editorial (DIERSEN: Of course, according to my critics/opponents, all news is false/fake except for the news that they publish. My critics/opponents not only do not want me to include links to articles written by those on their blacklists, they “punish” me for including links to articles written by those on their blacklists. Should I write an article about those who “punish” me because I refuse to carry out their blacklist orders?)
http://www.dailyherald.com/discuss/20171227/editorial-without-diligent-readers-fake-news-spreads-like-wildfire
— O’Hare western access is road to opportunity – John Carpenter
http://www.dailyherald.com/discuss/20171227/ohare-western-access-is-road-to-opportunity
— FRONT PAGE TOP OF FOLD WITH BIG COLOR PICTURE: Why the legal age to buy tobacco isn’t going up to 21 everywhere – Russell Lissau (DIERSEN: Many if not most of my Democrat superiors and supervisors in the federal government who worked the hardest against me were big smokers and big drinkers. They vehemently disapproved of my conservatism.)
http://www.dailyherald.com/news/20171227/why-the-legal-age-to-buy-tobacco-isnt-going-up-to-21-everywhere

 

CRAIN’S CHICAGO BUSINESS
— When meetings are secret, reporters lose. So does the public. – KRISTEN SCHORSCH (DIERSEN: Of course, my critics/opponents do not want me to know about their events or their other activities, do not want me to promote their events or their other activities, do not want me to attend their events, and do not want me to report on their events or their other activities. They refuse to keep diersen@aol.com on their press advisory and press release lists. They pander to Rich Miller and to the rest of the Democrat news media in Illinois. They a) reject planks in the Republican Party platform and/or the Illinois Republican Party platform and work against those like me who support those planks, b) reject the Milton Township Republican Central Committee resolution against video gambling and work against those like me who support that resolution, c) focus on destroying those like me who they cannot manipulate/dominate, d) were defendants in lawsuits that I have filed, and/or e) are operatives or dupes for the aforesaid and/or they are anti-Trump, anti-Protestant, anti-conservative, anti-patriotic, anti-Republican, anti-American, anti-White, anti-male, anti-older people, anti-rich people, anti-gun owners, anti-German Americans, and/or anti-those whose ancestors have been in America longer than their ancestors.)
http://www.chicagobusiness.com/article/20171227/OPINION/171229969#utm_medium=email&utm_source=ccb-morning10&utm_campaign=ccb-morning10-20171227

 

TIMES
— Through supporters, candidate James Marter, of Oswego, has filed objections to the petitions of opponent Jaye DeBates, of Putnam County’s McNabb. – David Giuliani
http://www.mywebtimes.com/news/local/campaign-accused-of-petition-forgeries/article_8bbe2ca7-6eca-5092-a687-a6d64e207416.html
— A complaint over Democratic congressional candidate Neill Mohammad’s residency has been withdrawn. – David Giuliani
http://www.mywebtimes.com/news/local/voter-pulls-complaint-against-candidate/article_075d0a1a-0944-5603-99fc-e5c558ad2e5a.html

 

SPRINGFIELD STATE JOURNAL REGISTER
— What Illinois needs from lawmakers in 2018 – Orphe Divounguy
http://www.sj-r.com/opinion/20171226/orphe-divounguy-what-illinois-needs-from-lawmakers-in-2018

 

CENTRAL ILLINOIS PROUD
— Obama warns of divisive social media use Obama conducts BBC interview with Prince Harry – LAURA SMITH-SPARK (DIERSEN: QUESTION: What do divisive people do? ANSWER: They turn members of Group A against members of Group B. Members of Group A are anti-Trump, anti-Protestant, anti-conservative, anti-patriotic, anti-Republican, anti-American, anti-White, anti-male, anti-older people, anti-rich people, anti-gun owners, anti-German Americans, and/or anti-those whose ancestors have been in America longer than their ancestors and members of Group B are Trump supporters, Protestant, conservative, patriotic, Republican, American, White, male, older, rich, gun owners, German Americans, and/or those whose ancestors have been in America for a long time.)
http://www.centralillinoisproud.com/news/politics/obama-warns-of-divisive-social-media-use/889130378

 

PEORIA PUBLIC RADIO
— Political Analysts Foresee Aggressive Democratic Challengers in 2018 – MARK SCHULTZ
http://peoriapublicradio.org/post/political-analysts-foresee-aggressive-democratic-challengers-2018#stream/0

 

NPR ILLINOIS
— The Tax Law’s New Way Of Measuring Inflation Could Take A Toll On Taxpayers – JIM ZARROLI
http://nprillinois.org/post/tax-bills-new-way-measuring-inflation-could-take-toll-taxpayers#stream/0

 

WSIL TV
— How tax reform could impact Illinoisans – Andrew Feather (DIERSEN: From what I see, under “tax reform,” the less federal income tax that you have paid because you itemized your deductions, the more federal income tax that you will pay in the future. Those who promote envy and class warfare have always shouted at those who take the standard deduction (typically, those who are younger, who are not married, who rent, who do not pay much state income tax, who do not have high medical and dental expenses, who do not pay for job-related education, and/or who do not give much money to 501(c)(3) organizations) that those who itemize their deductions (typically, those who are older, who are married, who are homeowners, who pay more state income tax, who have high medical and dental expenses, who pay for job-related education, and/or who give more money to 501(c)(3) organizations) are undeservedly rich and should pay much more federal income tax.)
http://www.wsiltv.com/story/37143321/how-tax-reform-could-impact-illinoisans

 

ILLINOIS FAMILY ACTION
— “Things You Don’t Hear About Gender Dysphoria” – Laurie Higgins and David Smith
https://illinoisfamilyaction.org/podcast/things-you-dont-hear-about-gender-dysphoria-spotlight-074/

 

ILLINOIS FAMILY INSTITUTE
— Planned Parenthood Losing Some Big Donors – Charlie Butts
https://illinoisfamily.org/life/planned-parenthood-losing-big-donors/

 

ILLINOIS REVIEW
— TRUMP AND THE GOP’S MASSIVE TAX VICTORY
http://illinoisreview.typepad.com/illinoisreview/2017/12/trump-and-the-gops-massive-tax-victory.html
— ENDING NET NEUTRALITY WILL SAVE THE INTERNET, NOT DESTROY IT
http://illinoisreview.typepad.com/illinoisreview/2017/12/ending-net-neutrality-will-save-the-internet-not-destroy-it.html

 

GOPUSA
— Muslim refugees spur rife anti-Semitism in Europe
http://www.gopusa.com/?p=35966

 

FRONTPAGE MAGAZINE
— THE OBAMA YEARS: A LEGACY OF SCANDAL AND DECEPTION Joe Biden’s bizarre disconnect regarding his scandal-ridden former boss. – Ari Lieberman
https://www.frontpagemag.com/fpm/268842/obama-years-legacy-scandal-and-deception-ari-lieberman

 

FOX NEWS CHANNEL
— VIDEO: Massive Federal Spending on Government Salaries – Adam Andrzejewski (DIERSEN: Many millions have not and will not seek a job with the federal government a) because the pay and benefits are terrible, b) because the advancement opportunities are terrible, c) because they lack required education, work experience, professional certifications, and/or professional licenses, d) because they cannot pass an employment examination, e) because they cannot pass a background investigation, f) because they cannot pass a physical examination, g) because they cannot take the demonization, denigration, and condemnation that comes with being a federal employee or federal retiree, and/or h) because they are Republican, White, male, older, and/or non-veteran and they know that the federal government discriminates against the aforesaid.)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1GXlM3iRodc
— The movement to impeach Trump is just beginning – Michael Goodwin
http://www.foxnews.com/opinion/2017/12/26/michael-goodwin-movement-to-impeach-trump-is-just-beginning.html

 

LIFEZETTE NEWS
— Washington’s Wealthiest Bureaucrats Will Get Even Richer in 2018 Federal locality pay system rewards already-affluent government workers living in the nation’s capital region – Mark Tapscott (DIERSEN: Many millions have not and will not seek a job with the federal government a) because the pay and benefits are terrible, b) because the advancement opportunities are terrible, c) because they lack required education, work experience, professional certifications, and/or professional licenses, d) because they cannot pass an employment examination, e) because they cannot pass a background investigation, f) because they cannot pass a physical examination, g) because they cannot take the demonization, denigration, and condemnation that comes with being a federal employee or federal retiree, and/or h) because they are Republican, White, male, older, and/or non-veteran and they know that the federal government discriminates against the aforesaid.)
https://www.lifezette.com/polizette/washingtons-wealthiest-bureaucrats-will-get-even-richer-in-2018/

 

TOWNHALL
— Educational Rot – Walter E. Williams (DIERSEN: In 1979, my Democrat IRS superiors, supervisors, coworkers, and subordinates were furious when I passed the CPA examination on my first attempt. Very few of them had taken the examination and even fewer of them had passed it on their first attempt. In 1981, my Democrat GAO superiors, supervisors, coworkers, and subordinates were furious when I passed the Certified Internal Auditor examination on my first attempt. Very few of them had taken the examination and even fewer of them had passed it on their first attempt.)
https://townhall.com/columnists/walterewilliams/2017/12/27/educational-rot-n2426293
(FROM THE ARTICLE: There’s another educational issue that’s neither flattering nor comfortable to confront. That’s the low academic quality of so many teachers. It’s an issue that must be confronted and dealt with if we’re to improve the quality of education. Most states require prospective teachers to pass a certification test. How about a sample of some of the test questions.)
— Federal Employees Will Be Getting a Raise in 2018 – Leah Barkoukis (DIERSEN: Many millions have not and will not seek a job with the federal government a) because the pay and benefits are terrible, b) because the advancement opportunities are terrible, c) because they lack required education, work experience, professional certifications, and/or professional licenses, d) because they cannot pass an employment examination, e) because they cannot pass a background investigation, f) because they cannot pass a physical examination, g) because they cannot take the demonization, denigration, and condemnation that comes with being a federal employee or federal retiree, and/or h) because they are Republican, White, male, older, and/or non-veteran and they know that the federal government discriminates against the aforesaid.)
https://townhall.com/tipsheet/leahbarkoukis/2017/12/27/federal-workers-salaries-n2427348

 

OPEN THE BOOKS
— Mapping The Swamp, A Study of the Administrative State
https://www.openthebooks.com/openthebooks_oversight_report_-_mapping_the_swamp_a_study_of_the_administrative_state/
https://www.openthebooks.com/map/?Map=5874&MapType=Pin

 

WASHINGTON TIMES
— GOP lawmaker: Federal agencies need to be ‘purged’ of ‘deep state’ bias – Sally Persons
https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2017/dec/26/francis-rooney-says-some-federal-agencies-need-be-/
— Republicans care about voter fraud; Democrats want to come out ahead, says study – Stephen Dinan
https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2017/dec/26/republicans-care-about-voter-fraud-democrats-want-/

 

DAILY CALLER
— Nearly 450,000 People Fled These Three Deep Blue States (New York, Illinois, and California) In 2017 – Will Racke
http://dailycaller.com/2017/12/26/nearly-450000-people-fled-these-three-deep-blue-states-in-2017/

 

DAILY WIRE
— ONE-THIRD Of U.S. Homicide Spike Coming From 5 Chicago Neighborhoods Murders in the U.S. rose as a whole last year, thanks in large part to a Windy City crime wave. – JARED SICHEL
https://www.dailywire.com/news/25092/one-third-us-homicide-spike-coming-just-few-jared-sichel#

 

BREITBART
— Entire Palm Springs City Council Is Now Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and/or Queer (LGBTQ) – JOEL B. POLLAK
http://www.breitbart.com/big-government/2017/12/26/entire-palm-springs-city-council-now-lesbian-gay-bisexual-transgender-andor-queer-lgbtq/

 

NEW YORK TIMES
— To the Chicago Police, Any Black Kid Is in a Gang – Tamar Manasseh
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/12/25/opinion/chicago-police-black-kids-gangs.html
— Incomes Grew After Past Tax Cuts, but Guess Whose – Eduardo Porter (DIERSEN: One could argue that if you do not qualify yourself for better paying jobs, you should not expect your income to grow. What did you do to qualify yourself for better paying jobs? I earned a) a job-related bachelor’s degree when I was 21 in 1970 and job-related master’s degrees when I was 27, 31, and 48, b) job-related professional certifications when I was 30, 32, 41, 45, 47, and 48, and c) a job-related professional license when I was 32.)
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/12/26/business/economy/tax-cuts-incomes.html

 

WASHINGTON POST
— White nationalists built a memorial for the white woman fatally shot by a Minneapolis policeman – Marwa Eltagouri
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/post-nation/wp/2017/12/26/white-nationalists-built-a-memorial-for-the-white-woman-fatally-shot-by-a-somali-cop/

 

WALL STREET JOURNAL
— FRONT PAGE TOP OF FOLD: Homeowners Rush to Prepay 2018 Property-Tax Bills Filers line up at municipal offices before the GOP law kicks in; ‘It’s been insane here’ – David Harrison and Jennifer Levitz
https://www.wsj.com/articles/homeowners-rush-to-prepay-2018-property-tax-bills-1514335989
— Both Parties Are Deft at Ignoring Deficit Each party pretends to care about rising federal deficits and accumulating national debt only when that suits its interests – Gerald F. Seib
https://www.wsj.com/articles/both-parties-are-deft-at-ignoring-deficit-1514212971
— Murder in America: What Makes Cities More Dangerous Neighborhoods where killings have gone up share deepening poverty, lots of vacant properties and police pullbacks following officers’ shootings of young black men – Max Rust, Scott Calvert in Baltimore and Shibani Mahtani in Chicago
https://www.wsj.com/articles/murder-in-america-what-makes-cities-more-dangerous-1514293200
— Anti-Trumps say “Haitians Should Stay” because “These longstanding residents are valuable assets to the U.S.” According to anti-Trumps, members of the following groups are deplorable and should be gotten rid of: Trump supporters, Protestant, conservative, patriotic, Republican, American, White, male, older, rich, gun owners, German Americans, and/or those whose ancestors have been in America for a long time.
https://www.wsj.com/articles/why-the-haitians-should-stay-1514331750

 

SAN FRANCISCO CHRONICLE
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: Not only those who are anti-White oppose Trump, but those who are anti-Protestant, anti-conservative, anti-patriotic, anti-Republican, anti-American, anti-male, anti-older people, anti-rich people, anti-gun owners, anti-German Americans, and/or anti-those whose ancestors have been in America longer than their ancestors also oppose Trump.
https://www.sfchronicle.com/opinion/navarrette/article/It-s-no-surprise-when-racists-claim-the-name-12456353.php

 

USA TODAY
— Self-control proves key to financial health, wealth – Peter Dunn (DIERSEN: What do your critics/opponents, their operatives, and their dupes attribute your “financial health, wealth” to? My critics/opponents, their operatives, and their dupes attribute my “financial health, wealth” to a) my being born with a silver spoon in my mouth, b) my having always been privileged, c) my being grossly overpaid by the federal government, d) my avoiding the draft, e) my getting married, f) my wife and I giving up trying to have children, our not adopting, and our not becoming foster parents, g) my federal pension and health, dental, and vision insurance subsidies being much too generous, and h) my not giving lots of money to churches like they do.)
https://www.pressreader.com/usa/usa-today-us-edition/20171227/281827169137916

 

FEDERAL TIMES
— Motivated by mission – Jessie Bur (DIERSEN: The importance of GAO’s mission was a major reason why I agreed to take an $18,847/year (21%) pay cut in today’s dollars to transfer from IRS to GAO in 1980 when I was 31 years old. The importance of GAO’s mission helped me endure my Democrat GAO superiors’ tremendous efforts to waste my career and to get rid of me. They always gave me unrealistic performance expectations and unfair performance appraisals. They assigned me to work for, to work with, or to supervise all the office’s disabled and problematic employees. They kept me off audits of IRS for all but 3 of the almost 18 years that I worked for GAO. In 1987, they got rid of the manager who had hired me, who had gotten me assigned to audits of IRS in 1986, and who had promoted me to GS-13 in 1986. They did not promote me beyond GS-13. They always ranked me in the bottom half of my coworkers for pay-for-performance purposes. They forced me to take their early retirement “offer” in 1997 when I was 49 years old.)
https://www.federaltimes.com/management/hr/2017/12/26/motivated-by-mission/
(FROM THE ARTICLE: According to Donald Kettl, professor of public policy at the University of Maryland, where baby boomers often sought out federal service for the stability it provided, millennials are more concerned with making a difference in the work that they do. “Most don’t imagine that they will work in the same job for five or 10 years, let alone for their entire careers,” said Kettl. “That means traditional benefit programs — like pensions — matter relatively little. Having jobs where they feel valued and can make an impact matters much more. That puts far more focus on employee engagement, development opportunities and networking than was the case in the past.” The federal government is one of few sectors that still offers pension benefits to its employees, and retirement benefits have recently been a sticking point in congressional budget negotiations. “From a personal perspective, a lot of federal jobs are pretty high scope, and they’re very, very responsible positions,” said Wynn. “And while it’s hard to have a public-sector equivalent, I think that one of the things that the government should do reasonably is make sure that when you’re giving up a portion of pay […] offering them security and some retirement benefits and health care will give them a better employee. We want the best and brightest, and if we can’t compete on salary then we ought to compete on giving them a more stable life.” However, according to Kettl, this focus on pensions and benefits may be a moot point for new employees entering federal service. He questioned how much risk the government was taking on if it assumed that millennials would adapt to current policy, rather than policy adapting to them. “And it’s a case where the emerging battle over changing employee pensions, something that the Republicans are pushing and Democrats are fiercely opposing, might be a case of fighting the last war,” said Kettl. “The big, important and often overlooked question is how best to get the next generation of government employees into the workforce — how the environment will have to change to do so — and the new contributions that the new generation of workers will make.”)

 

WINDY CITY TIMES
— 2017: Local LGBT news highlights – Matt Simonette (DIERSEN: Soon, if not already, everyone will be barred from getting an education, from getting a job, from etc. unless they promote LGBTQ activity.)
http://www.windycitymediagroup.com/lgbt/2017-Local-LGBT-news-highlights/61477.html

December 26 Evening Edition

ABC7
— New Laws 2018: Illinois laws that take effect January 1
http://abc7chicago.com/politics/new-laws-2018-illinois-laws-that-take-effect-january-1/2785524/
— CHILD ABUSE: More pregnant women are using pot – CNN
http://abc7chicago.com/health/more-pregnant-women-are-using-pot-study-finds/2826461/
— Woman killed by pit bulls while putting bird seed outside her home
http://abc7chicago.com/woman-killed-by-pit-bulls-while-putting-bird-seed-outside-her-home/2826226/

 

CBS2
— New Illinois Laws That Take Effect In 2018 – Derrick Blakley
http://chicago.cbslocal.com/2017/12/26/new-illinois-laws-2018/

 

CHICAGO SUN-TIMES
— Key factors point to higher Chicago voter turnout in March – Marisel A. Hernandez (DIERSEN: PREDICTION: Members of Group A will vote for those candidates who promise to do the most to get rid of those who are members of Group B. Members of Group A are anti-Trump, anti-Protestant, anti-conservative, anti-patriotic, anti-Republican, anti-American, anti-White, anti-male, anti-older people, anti-rich people, anti-gun owners, anti-German Americans, and/or anti-those whose ancestors have been in America longer than their ancestors. Members of Group B are Trump supporters, Protestant, conservative, patriotic, Republican, American, White, male, older, rich, gun owners, German American, and/or those whose ancestors have been in America for a long time.)
https://chicago.suntimes.com/opinion/opinion-key-factors-point-to-higher-chicago-voter-turnout-in-march/
— U.S. industries can start counting their benefits from tax law – AP
https://chicago.suntimes.com/news/tax-overhaul-industries-craft-beer-retailers-benefits/
— Tax overhaul seems mostly designed to confuse the masses – Phil Kadner
https://www.pressreader.com/usa/chicago-sun-times/textview
— Politicians care about school funding — only in election years – Phil Kadner
https://chicago.suntimes.com/columnists/school-funding-illinois-candidates-governor-promise-money-kadner/
— As Trump weakens EPA, citizens must lead fight to protect environment – Editorial
https://chicago.suntimes.com/opinion/scott-pruitt-donald-trump-cathy-stepp-weakens-epa-fight-to-protect-environment-great-lakes-air-quality-drinking-water-wisconsin/

 

CHICAGO TRIBUNE
— The aging Senate is a problem – Jonathan Bernstein (DIERSEN: What is your position on age discrimination? I have always opposed age discrimination. My critics/opponents, their operatives, and their dupes a) have always promoted age discrimination and b) have always hinted/implied/argued/shouted that if you are a non-veteran White male federal employee, you are a bad employee, a loser, lazy, stupid, and even worse things if you do not make GS-13 (currently $94,610) by age 25, GS-14 (currently $111,801) by age 30, GS-15 (currently $131,508) by age 35, and Senior Executive Service (currently $161,900) by age 40. In today’s dollars, what were you earning when you were 25, 30, 35, and 40?)
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/opinion/commentary/ct-perspec-senate-aging-old-octogenarians-20171226-story.html
— Chicago sees drop in Divvy income following expansion into South, West sides – Mary Wisniewski, Gregory Pratt
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/breaking/ct-met-divvy-income-drop-20171226-story.html
— Democrats build case against tax bill, but don’t call for repeal – David Weigel
http://www.chicagotribune.com/ct-democrats-tax-bill-20171226-story.html
— Federal court rejects challenge to Trump voting commission – Rachel Weiner
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/politics/ct-trump-voting-commission-challenge-20171226-story.html
— Trump slams FBI, Obamacare in post-Christmas tweets – Michelle Ye Hee Lee
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/politics/ct-trump-twitter-fbi-obamacare-20171226-story.html

 

DAILY HERALD
— Lake County residents can now prepay property taxes online – Kim Mikus
http://www.dailyherald.com/news/20171226/lake-county-residents-can-now-prepay-property-taxes-online

 

QUINCY HERALD WHIG
— More than 200 laws take effect Monday in Illinois – Matt Hopf
http://www.whig.com/20171226/more-than-200-laws-take-effect-monday-in-illinois

 

DANVILLE COMMERCIAL NEWS
— Effective leaders find ways to get job done – Southern Illinoisan
http://www.commercial-news.com/editorials/guest-editorial-effective-leaders-find-ways-to-get-job-done/article_22828f57-7110-5a15-b348-acafa4aa10ac.html

 

BUREAU COUNTY REPUBLICAN
— Ives only pol who wants to trim school district numbers Illinois has 852 vs. Florida’s 100 districts – Scott Reeder
http://www.bcrnews.com/2017/12/23/ives-only-pol-who-wants-to-trim-school-district-numbers/ad1t4dg/
— Old South sticks it to beleaguered Illinois Land of Lincoln is a loser in this new sectionalism – Jim Nowlan
http://www.bcrnews.com/2017/12/22/old-south-sticks-it-to-beleaguered-illinois/aj0grwl/

 

NPR ILLINOIS
— Trump Administration Touts A Smaller U.N. Budget (And Takes Credit For It) – LAUREL WAMSLEY
http://nprillinois.org/post/trump-administration-touts-smaller-un-budget-and-takes-credit-it#stream/0
— Pick The Biggest Political Story Of 2017 – DOMENICO MONTANARO (DIERSEN: My critics/opponents want only themselves to tell you what the biggest political stories are.)
http://nprillinois.org/post/pick-biggest-political-story-2017#stream/0

 

ILLINOIS LEAKS
— Cahokia School District #187 hired guard facing 34 felony charges – JOHN KRAFT
http://edgarcountywatchdogs.com/2017/12/cahokia-school-district-187-hired-guard-facing-34-felony-charges/
— Coles County Taxpayers file federal appeal in property tax assessment scandal – KIRK ALLEN
http://edgarcountywatchdogs.com/2017/12/coles-county-taxpayers-file-federal-appeal-in-property-tax-assessment-scandal/

 

NEWSMAX
— Rep. Rodney Davis: Rollbacks, Economic Growth Mark Good 2018 for GOP – Sandy Fitzgerald
https://www.newsmax.com/politics/rodney-davis-gop-primary-challenge-democrats/2017/12/26/id/833778/
— Democrats Split on Pursing Impeachment If They Win Back House – Brian Freeman
https://www.newsmax.com/politics/democrats-split-impeachment-trump/2017/12/26/id/833710/

 

DAILY CALLER
— GOP Lawmaker Calls For ‘Purge’ Of FBI And DOJ – Chuck Ross (DIERSEN: While I worked for the federal government for almost 30 years, my superiors always acted like Democrat politicians had called for a purge of all federal employees who were Republican, White, male, and/or non-veteran who had not made GS-13 (currently $94,610) by age 25, GS-14 (currently $111,801) by age 30, GS-15 (currently $131,508) by age 35, and Senior Executive Service (currently $161,900) by age 40. Democrats use Affirmative Action, Diversity, and Inclusion to purge the aforesaid employees. While I worked for GAO in its Chicago office 1980-1997, every time a new manager took over the office, they were given a list of the office’s employees who they were supposed to purge. Of course, I was always on those lists.)
http://dailycaller.com/2017/12/26/gop-lawmaker-calls-for-purge-of-fbi-and-doj-video/
— NBC Reportedly Tells Staff To Tattle On Misbehaving Colleagues – Amber Athey (DIERSEN: Democrats run the federal government. In the federal government, to “misbehave” is a) to oppose patronage, b) to oppose political affiliation discrimination, c) to oppose reverse discrimination, d) to oppose age discrimination, and/or e) to NOT promote dependency on government, dependency on charity, LGBTQ activity, abortion, mass/illegal immigration, booze, gambling, pot, and other vices, abolition of the First and Second Amendments, etc.)
http://dailycaller.com/2017/12/26/nbc-reportedly-tells-staff-to-tattle-on-misbehaving-colleagues/

 

THE HILL
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: Anti-Trumps say “Dems see 2018 as best chance in years to win back House.”
http://thehill.com/homenews/house/366249-dems-see-2018-as-best-chance-in-years-to-win-back-house

 

WALL STREET JOURNAL
— Illinois’s Tax Burden Is Keeping People Away The state loses one person every five minutes on net to other states. – Mailee Smith, Illinois Policy Institute (DIERSEN: Yes, but many other things also keep people away. Those who dominate Illinois, Cook County, and Chicago governments 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, age discrimination, abolition of the First and Second Amendments, and even worse things. Those who dominate Illinois, Cook County, and Chicago governments are anti-Trump, anti-Protestant, anti-conservative, anti-patriotic, anti-Republican, anti-American, anti-White, anti-male, anti-older people, anti-rich people, anti-gun owners, anti-German Americans, and/or anti-those whose ancestors have been in America longer than their ancestors.)
https://www.wsj.com/articles/illinoiss-tax-burden-is-keeping-people-away-1514316972

 

NEWSWEEK
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: Anti-Trumps use Moore to turn White college-educated women against Republicans.
http://www.newsweek.com/college-educated-women-will-have-their-revenge-republican-party-2018-poll-759513

 

FINANCIAL ADVISOR MAGAZINE
— Rising Number Of Older Americans Carrying Debt Into Retirement – JADAH RILEY (DIERSEN: My Democrat GAO superiors, supervisors, coworkers, and subordinates were furious when my wife and I paid off our mortgage in 1the 1990s.)
https://www.fa-mag.com/news/rising-number-of-older-americans-carrying-debt-into-retirement-36356.html

FEDERAL NEWS RADIO
— What constitutes sexual harassment in the federal workforce? What to do if you are a victim – Isabel Cottrell (DIERSEN: If you are a female federal employee, and especially if you are a Democrat, minority, and/or younger, you can expect to receive preferential treatment.)
https://federalnewsradio.com/commentary-analysis/2017/12/what-constitutes-sexual-harassment-in-the-federal-workforce-what-to-do-if-you-are-a-victim/

 

FED SMITH
— Congressmen Want Federal Employee Pay Cuts Taken Off the Table – Ian Smith (DIERSEN: Are/were you accused of being overpaid? My critics/opponents, their operatives, and their dupes have always accused me of being overpaid. In my defense, I earned a) a job-related bachelor’s degree when I was 21 in 1970 and job-related master’s degrees when I was 27, 31, and 48, b) job-related professional certifications when I was 30, 32, 41, 45, 47, and 48, and c) a job-related professional license when I was 32.)
https://www.fedsmith.com/2017/12/26/congressman-want-federal-employee-pay-cuts-taken-off-table/
— Biggest and Smallest 2018 Raises for Federal Employees – Ralph R. Smith
https://www.fedsmith.com/2017/12/26/biggest-smallest-2018-raises-federal-employees/

 

SALON
— Trump is mad at Jeff Sessions for taking the job Trump offered him – CHARLIE MAY (DIERSEN: My Democrat superiors, supervisors, coworkers, and subordinates in the federal government were always mad at me because I refused to become a Democrat.)
https://www.salon.com/2017/12/26/trump-is-mad-at-jeff-sessions-for-taking-the-job-trump-offered-him/