Month: March 2021

CBS2
— Illinois Will Receive $275 Million For Vaccine Distribution, $1.5 Billion For COVID Testing Under Federal Relief Plan
https://chicago.cbslocal.com/2021/03/07/durbin-illinois-federal-coronavirus-relief-bill/

NBC5
— Chicago Public Libraries to Pull 6 Dr. Seuss Books From Shelves After Company Opts to No Longer Publish Works
https://www.nbcchicago.com/news/local/chicago-public-libraries-to-pull-6-dr-seuss-books-from-shelves-after-company-opts-to-no-longer-publish-works/2455790/

CHICAGO TRIBUNE
— With methadone lawsuit concluded, DuPage County Jail looks to expand opioid addiction treatment – JOHN KEILMAN
https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/breaking/ct-dupage-jail-methadone-buprenorphine-heroin-treatment-20210308-ccnwjdy5l5f57iauckibqhuoty-story.html
— Is it time for the US to pay reparations for the legacy of slavery? – ANNE C. BAILEY (DIERSEN: Every candidate on April 6 municipal ballots in Illinois should be asked on the record if they support or oppose reparations, and if they support reparations, a) who in their municipality should pay reparations, how much, and why and b) who in their municipality should get reparations, how much, and why.)
https://www.chicagotribune.com/opinion/commentary/ct-opinion-slavery-reparations-african-americans-20210305-sitg77ynmfedriq2kiqctlsv4m-story.html
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: What do you say to those who illegally encourage citizens of foreign countries to illegally come to America illegally and to illegally stay in America illegally?
https://www.pressreader.com/usa/chicago-tribune/20210130/281505048892834

CHICAGO SUN-TIMES
— Biden’s COVID relief bill will send billions of dollars to local Illinois governments, health centers, transit agencies. Local governments in Illinois will share $13.2 billion in federal aid after President Biden signs the $1.9 trillion COVID-relief legislation. – Lynn Sweet
https://chicago.suntimes.com/columnists/2021/3/7/22318819/bidens-covid-relief-bill-to-send-billions-to-local-illinois-governments-health-centers-cta-chicago
— When immigrants exploit their own. The U.S. Labor Department has nailed Tank Noodle, a Vietnamese restaurant on the North Side, for wage theft. Tank Noodle is not alone in this. – Laura Washington
https://chicago.suntimes.com/columnists/2021/3/6/22315997/immigrant-work-abuse-evil-tank-noodle-laura-washington-column

CRAIN’S CHICAGO BUSINESS
— Who gets what from $1.9 trillion COVID relief bill Big winners here include transit, low-income people, parents and the unemployed. – GREG HINZ
https://www.chicagobusiness.com/greg-hinz-politics/who-gets-what-19-trillion-covid-relief-bill

WBEZ
— ‘Where Do We Go From Here?’ Illinois Counties Prep For Massive Changes To Courts And Jails – Patrick Smith
https://www.wbez.org/stories/where-do-we-go-from-here-illinois-counties-prep-for-massive-changes-to-courts-and-jails/db074b5b-9622-4386-b5df-9211d9981e8a
(FROM THE ARTICLE: James Zay had been listening for an-hour-and-half, an exasperated smile flashing intermittently across his face, before he raised his hand to speak. Zay, a DuPage County board member, was participating in a special board meeting where, one-by-one, county officials laid out the millions of extra costs they were anticipating in the coming years because of sweeping criminal justice reforms recently signed into law by Gov. JB Pritzker. “I am just sitting here astounded,” Zay said after he was called on. “I mean, this is going to have a major effect on county government and guess what, other aspects of county government are going to suffer because of this, because we don’t have the money.” The new law requires more training for officers, gives arrestees three free phone calls and makes it easier for police departments to fire bad cops. But the changes that will have the biggest impact on county budgets and court systems are the mandate that all law enforcement officers be equipped with body cameras, and the unprecedented abolition of cash bail for defendants awaiting trial starting in 2023. Zay’s fellow board member Donald Puchalski was equally worried. “Where do we go from here?” Puchalski asked. . .In DuPage, the state’s largest county outside of Cook, leaders’ early estimates are that they’re going to need dozens more prosecutors and public defenders, they’ll need to open up new courtrooms to handle pre-trial detention hearings and will need more probation officers to support the expected crush of defendants released from jail while awaiting trial. Meanwhile at the DuPage county jail, Sheriff James Mendrick estimates the number of detainees held pre-trial will drop by about a third once bail is abolished. However, he is not predicting any cost savings. That’s because the same number of people will come through and have to be processed, they just won’t be staying as long. All told, DuPage officials are predicting an additional $65 million in costs over the next five years because of the new criminal justice law. Other counties have not yet started estimating costs and savings, but many officials are expecting a big impact on their budgets. That has some county leaders worried, at a time when budgets have already been hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic. “This is an unfunded mandate on every county in the state,” said DuPage State’s Attorney Bob Berlin. . .In DuPage, court leaders believe the impact will go well beyond budgeting. Bond funds are meant to ensure people show up for their court dates, but the money ends up being funneled into a number of different pots. Much of it goes into a county’s general fund, it’s also used to pay victim restitution and private attorneys. County leaders said the end of cash bail will result in a higher demand for public defenders, because pre-trial detention hearings will be more robust, and there may be fewer private attorneys willing to take on clients without the assurance that they can get first crack at the bond money defendants were forced to pay to win their freedom. DuPage Public Defender Jeff York said the new law will have a “profound” effect on his office, and said historically it will be the most important change since the public defender was created. ‘Does that result in a more fair system?’ State’s Attorney Bob Berlin said he is looking at changes to their training and protocols for prosecutors on how to ask a judge to deny release to defendants. He’s expecting a big increase in the number of people locked up without the possibility of release pre-trial, and an increase in the use of electronic monitoring. Berlin said he and other officials are pressing state lawmakers to pass so-called “trailer bills” to modify the language of the bail legislation and make it easier for judges to keep pre-trial defendants in jail. “We’ve accepted that we’re not going to have cash bail. But our goal, many of us are seeking just to give judges more discretion,” Berlin said. Lawmakers have said they are open to modifying language, but not willing to make any substantial changes to the legislation. With the end of cash bail, Berlin is expecting a lot more cases to go to trial because fewer defendants will feel pressured to plead guilty to get out of jail. “That means there’s a burden on victims, witnesses, police and prosecutors,” Berlin said. “Does that result in a more fair system? You know, I’m not convinced that that’s the case … I believe that most people who plead guilty plead guilty because they are guilty. I know that some believe that in certain cases, people will plead guilty just to get out of jail. I think that’s a very small percentage of people.” Berlin is asking county leaders to budget for 27 additional prosecutors because of the new law. That’s partially because of more intense pre-trial detention hearings, and the anticipation of more trials. But the biggest factor, according to Berlin, is the new requirement that all police officers be outfitted with body cameras. That means every arrest could have hours of video evidence that prosecutors will be obligated to review. Defense attorneys, including the public defender’s offices will have the same obligations. “The amount of material that we’re going to have to go through and analyze and talk about with our clients. It’s just, it’s significant,” York said. In DuPage, Berlin and Mendrick believe the elimination of cash bail will mean more missed court dates and more repeat offenders committing crimes while awaiting trial.)

CHAMPAIGN/URBANA NEWS GAZETTE
— Pension numbers just keep getting worse – Editorial
https://www.news-gazette.com/opinion/editorials/editorial-pension-numbers-just-keep-getting-worse/article_b612c7a0-7eed-5cb0-88d8-85739c3fda83.html

BELLVILLE NEWS DEMOCRAT
— Illinois struggles to pay its pensions, but these lawmakers signed up for them anyway – KELSEY LANDIS (DIERSEN: Are you on track to have at least $1 million saved for your retirement? Everyone should be on track to have at least $1 million saved for their retirement.)
https://www.bnd.com/news/politics-government/article249662603.html

SUBURBAN LIFE
— DuPage County reports 52 COVID-19 cases Sunday, fewest single-day reported since December – Joshua Welge
https://www.shawlocal.com/my-suburban-life/coronavirus/2021/03/07/dupage-county-reports-52-covid-19-cases-sunday-fewest-single-day-reported-since-december/

DAILY NORTHWESTERN
— Ahead of Council vote, community group holds demonstration to voice criticisms of reparations program – Alex Harrison (DIERSEN: Every candidate on April 6 municipal ballots in Illinois should be asked on the record if they support or oppose reparations, and if they support reparations, a) who in their municipality should pay reparations, how much, and why and b) who in their municipality should get reparations, how much, and why.)
https://dailynorthwestern.com/2021/03/07/city/ahead-of-council-vote-community-group-holds-demonstration-to-voice-criticisms-of-reparations-program/

NPR ILLINOIS
— House Poised To Pass Biden’s $1.9 Trillion COVID-19 Relief Bill On Tuesday – BARBARA SPRUNT
https://www.nprillinois.org/post/house-poised-pass-bidens-19-trillion-covid-19-relief-bill-tuesday#stream/0

POLITICO ILLINOIS
— Republican Catalina Lauf has hired GOP political consultant Alex Bruesewitz to help run her congressional campaign challenging Rep. Adam Kinzinger in IL-16. Bruesewitz, who heads the conservative X Strategies consulting group in Washington, D.C. (and Palm Beach, Fla.), spoke at a Stop the Steal rally the day before the attack on the Capitol. He has criticized the violence, saying it allows Donald Trump’s critics to paint him as a threat. Bruesewitz is now supporting Trump’s efforts to target Republicans who have opposed him, and it’s no surprise that one of the first to be identified in that vein is Kinzinger. The congressman was one of 10 House Republicans who voted with Democrats to impeach Trump after the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol. Kinzinger has formed a “Country First” political action committee and movement focused on steering the Republican Party away from Trumpism. Lauf is all in for Trump. She ran unsuccessfully for Congress in the 14th District in 2020 and spoke at the GOP national convention last summer. – SHIA KAPOS
https://www.politico.com/newsletters/illinois-playbook/2021/03/08/making-the-most-of-135b-laufs-pro-trump-hire-for-il-16-still-no-fans-for-baseball-492030

CENTER SQUARE ILLINOIS
— Journalists shouldn’t have to pay to cover government. – Chris Krug
https://www.thecentersquare.com/opinion/the-sunday-read-journalists-shouldn-t-have-to-pay-to-cover-government/article_203ef20c-7d1f-11eb-9283-b7ecce2aad9b.html

ILLINOIS FAMILY INSTITUTE
— Foxes in Sheep’s Clothing in the Rainbow-Ish GOP Henhouse – Laurie Higgins (DIERSEN: Since 2000, those who have worked the hardest against me have been LGBTQers, their operatives, and their dupes. I should write a book about them.)
https://illinoisfamily.org/homosexuality/foxes-in-sheeps-clothing-in-the-rainbow-ish-gop-henhouse/

ILLINOIS REVIEW
— THE EQUALITY ACT MAKES WOMEN UNEQUAL
https://www.illinoisreview.com/illinoisreview/2021/03/the-equality-act-makes-women-unequal.html

FOX NEWS
— Fighting cancel culture – Drew Holden (DIERSEN: Who cancels you and why? I should write a book about those who cancel me a) because I support planks in the Republican Party platform that they reject, b) because they cannot manipulate me or dominate me, c) because I refuse to glorify and praise them, d) because I refuse to pander to them, e) because I refuse to serve as one of their operatives or dupes, e) because I refuse to give them money, f) because they despise/hate one or more of my demographics, and/or g) because I sued them.)
https://www.foxnews.com/opinion/fighting-cancel-culture-drew-holden
(FROM THE ARTICLE: We’ve heard a lot about “cancel culture” of late. From debates about what it is and if it really exists to a Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) dedicated to it, politicos of all stripes have weighed in. Just last week, Rep. Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, called for congressional hearings about its threat. The definition of cancel culture is tough to nail down but, fundamentally, it’s about punishing someone for something they’ve said or done in the past that is deemed unacceptable. This judgement is often a result of changing cultural norms and mores by a subgroup of people who are often unaccountable to the broader public. The punishments vary but usually involve a loss of money or status – ensuring someone is fired or de-platformed, blackballing a company or product, invalidating awards or honors.)

GOPUSA
— GOP Groups Use Trump’s Name To Raise Money For RINOs And It Doesn’t Go Well
https://www.gopusa.com/?p=107256
— CRISIS At The Border! Biden’s Immigration Policy Disaster Is More Than ‘Kids In Cages’ – Bobby Eberle
https://www.gopusa.com/?p=107250
— Democrats’ COVID Relief By-The-Numbers Breakdown Is Jaw-Dropping
https://www.gopusa.com/?p=107266
— NYC School: Go On, Parents, Choose Your Level Of Racism
https://www.gopusa.com/?p=107144
— Swiss Voters Back Ban On Full Face Coverings
https://www.gopusa.com/?p=107272
— Reparations: Who Pays? Who Collects?
https://www.gopusa.com/reparations-who-pays-who-collects/

AMERICAN THINKER
— Stop the Balkanization of America (DIERSEN: I should write a book about the leading balkanizers in the following: Illinois, DuPage County, Milton Township, Wheaton, Wheaton Chamber of Commerce, Illinois Republican Party, DuPage County Republican Central Committee, and Milton Township Republican Organization. I would focus on those who balkanize everyone against those like me who support the traditional marriage/family, right to life, immigration, illegal drugs, Second Amendment, and/or equal opportunity (no race or gender based preference giving) planks in the Republican Party platform. I would focus on those who balkanize everyone against those like me who oppose the promotion of dependency on government, dependency on charity, LGBTQ, abortion, mass/illegal immigration, booze, gambling, pot, and other vices, abolition of the First and Second Amendments, patronage, political affiliation discrimination, reverse discrimination, and age discrimination. I would focus on those who have lots of religious, political, government, and/or financial clout and who falsely paint themselves as being religious, conservative, and or Republican.)
https://www.americanthinker.com/articles/2021/03/stop_the_balkanization_of_america.html
— Cancel culture run amok – Eric Utter (DIERSEN: Who cancels you and why? I should write a book about those who cancel me a) because I support planks in the Republican Party platform that they reject, b) because they cannot manipulate me or dominate me, c) because I refuse to glorify and praise them, d) because I refuse to pander to them, e) because I refuse to serve as one of their operatives or dupes, e) because I refuse to give them money, f) because they despise/hate one or more of my demographics, and/or g) because I sued them.)
https://www.americanthinker.com/blog/2021/03/cancel_culture_run_amok.html
— The 21st Century Ugly Americans – Steve McCann
https://www.americanthinker.com/articles/2021/03/the_21st_century_ugly_americans.html
(FROM THE ARTICLE: Today, the rest of the world is viewing, with alarm, an American elite class that has lost its mind and self-control, as it is the American ruling elites that are solely responsible for unleashing out-of-control-leftism and cancel culture upon the nation and the world. The current American ruling class is the laughingstock of the planet. This coterie includes among its number the Democrat party, the media/entertainment complex, Wall Street, tech oligarchs, corporatists and the professoriate. This gaggle of buffoons are perhaps the most inept, egocentric and oblivious among all ruling classes in democratic and free nations around the globe. This descent into absurdity began many decades ago but accelerated precipitously over the past five years. The primary catalyst: the campaign and election of Donald Trump as the 45th President of the United States.)

AMERICAN GREATNESS
— Hitting Woke Herd Immunity? We have become an absurd society obsessed with race but without any mechanism to develop a logical category of victimization and reparation. – Victor Davis Hanson
https://amgreatness.com/2021/03/07/hitting-woke-herd-immunity/

TOWNHALL
— Race-Based Admissions Are Wrong, and It’s Time the Supreme Court Said So – Jeff Jacoby (DIERSEN: From what I see in hindsight, in retrospect, UIC, NIU, Loyola, DePaul, and IIT admitted me in 1966, 1969, 1972, 1976, and 1992 respectively because they could not find qualified minorities or females to admit.)
https://townhall.com/columnists/jeffjacoby/2021/03/08/racebased-admissions-are-wrong-and-its-time-the-supreme-court-said-so-n2585852

NEWSMAX
— Lindsey Graham: ‘Out Of Control’ Democrats Are ‘Reshaping America’
https://www.newsmax.com/politics/lindseygraham-democrats-congress/2021/03/07/id/1012854/

BIZ PAC REVIEW
— Twitter, Facebook misinformation policies appear to exempt Louis Farrakhan calling Covid vaccine ‘vial of death’ – Vivek Saxena
https://www.bizpacreview.com/2021/03/07/twitter-facebook-misinformation-policies-appear-to-exempt-louis-farrakhan-calling-covid-vaccine-vial-of-death-1039120/

EPOCH TIMES
— Biden Signs Election Executive Order to Increase Voting by Criminals – IVAN PENTCHOUKOV
https://www.theepochtimes.com/biden-to-sign-election-executive-order-to-increase-voting-by-criminals_3723677.html

ROLL CALL
— Factions on the left and right are standing down for now – Shawn Zeller (DIERSEN: What faction are you in? I have always been in the platform faction of the Republican Party. My critics/opponents, their operatives, and their dupes reject planks in the Republican Party platform. Most commonly, they reject the traditional marriage/family, right to life, immigration, illegal drugs, Second Amendment, and/or equal opportunity (no race or gender based preference giving) planks.)
https://www.rollcall.com/2021/03/08/factions-on-the-left-and-right-are-standing-down-for-now/

NEW YORK POST
— US Dept. of Education curbs decision on race-based ‘affinity groups’ – Carl Campanile (DIERSEN: What if Affirmative Action, Diversity, and Inclusion were only for those who parents did not have a college degree? Neither of my outstanding parents attended college. My father was the first of his ancestors to earn a high school diploma. My mother never attended high school.)
https://nypost.com/2021/03/07/education-dept-curbs-decision-on-race-based-affinity-groups/
(FROM THE ARTICLE: The US Department of Education suspended a decision that found racial “affinity groups” discriminated against students and staff, The Post has learned. The goal of the programs — used by the New York City public school system and other school districts — is to separate students and staff by racial groups in order to help address discrimination and “white privilege.” But the practice of separating schools into racial groups is discriminatory, a determination obtained by the Post found. The findings — reached during the waning days of former President Trump’s time in office in early January — were in response to a complaint about a Chicago-area school district’s “racial equity” training programs and lesson plans.)

USA TODAY
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: Ever-increasingly, Democrats and RINOs give LGBTQers more power to destroy those who do not promote LGBTQ.
https://www.usatoday.com/story/opinion/2021/03/05/biden-restore-gay-lesbian-transgender-rights-trump-sabotage-column/6921195002/

WALL STREET JOURNAL
— The Covid Welfare State. The $1.9 trillion Democratic bill provides a guaranteed income unlinked to work. – Editorial
https://www.wsj.com/articles/the-covid-welfare-state-11615154022
— Dividing by Race Comes to Grade School. Students, ages 5 through 11, are urged to ‘check each other’s words and actions’ and become committed activists. – Bion Bartning
https://www.wsj.com/articles/dividing-by-race-comes-to-grade-school-11615144898
— Hiring Has Restarted. Here’s What You Need to Know to Land a New Job, Now. – Kathryn Dill (DIERSEN: From what I see, ever-increasingly, employers are under tremendous pressure from Democrats to hire those who are minority, female, younger, LGBTQ, moderate, liberal, Democrat, Trump-hater, citizen of a foreign country, non-Christian, non-Protestant, non-Italian American, non-German American, and those whose ancestors have been in America for a long time.)
https://www.wsj.com/articles/hiring-has-restarted-heres-what-you-need-to-know-to-land-a-new-job-now-11615122029
— Fence Around U.S. Capitol Should Come Down, Many Residents and Lawmakers Say. Four miles of security fencing was put up after Jan. 6 attack; police say a permanent barrier is needed. – Scott Calvert
https://www.wsj.com/articles/fence-around-u-s-capitol-should-come-down-many-residents-and-lawmakers-say-11615042800

MERCURY NEWS
— Imagine a world without email – Jill Schlesinger (DIERSEN: I should write a book about my critics/opponents who want everyone to stop reading emails and to only read what they post on Facebook or Tweet.)
https://www.mercurynews.com/2021/03/01/jill-on-money-a-world-without-email/