Tag: cannabis

ABC7
— Naperville mask mandate fails; Mayor Steve Chirico defends Florida trip for daughter’s wedding Mayor changes stance, voices opposition to mask mandate he previously backed – Michelle Gallardo
https://abc7chicago.com/politics/naperville-mask-mandate-fails-after-mayor-changes-stance/8427788/
— 6 stabbed at Carol Stream apartment complex, fire official says – Jessica D’Onofrio
https://abc7chicago.com/carol-stream-stabbing-leaves-6-hurt-fire-official/8436619/
— ‘Someone’s going to get killed’: GOP official lashes out at Trump’s rhetoric surrounding election in Georgia – AP
https://abc7chicago.com/politics/georgia-elections-official-urges-trump-to-rein-in-supporters/8436717/

WGN TV
— Violence surges in Chicago amid COVID-19 pandemic – Glenn Marshall
https://wgntv.com/news/chicago-news/violence-surges-in-chicago-amid-covid-19-pandemic/

CHICAGO TRIBUNE
— FRONT PAGE TOP OF FOLD IN NAPERVILLE SUN: DISGUSTING, TRAGIC: Naperville council weighing expansion of cannabis ordinance to include production-related companies – SUZANNE BAKER (DIERSEN: To push pot on an individual, municipality, township, county, state, or country is to destroy that individual, municipality, township, county, state, or country.)
https://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/naperville-sun/ct-nvs-naperville-cannabis-industry-st-1202-20201201-r54q2rrkhrgohixg5daz3j5kui-story.html
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: Ever-increasingly, Democrats hint/imply/argue/shout that if you have a health problem, financial problem, or any other kind of problem, it is because Republicans discriminate against you.
https://www.chicagotribune.com/opinion/commentary/ct-opinion-hiv-world-aids-day-pandemic-20201130-kioq5kg55fcctklmjzx7q5zrke-story.html
— The right way to have a more diverse workforce – Editorial (DIERSEN: Democrats use Affirmative Action, Diversity, and Inclusion to not hire and to get rid their employees who are Republican and especially those who are White, male, older, heterosexual, married, conservative, patriotic, non-poor, non-veteran, gun owners, Christian, Protestant, Italian American, German American, and/or those whose ancestors have been in America for a long time.)
https://www.chicagotribune.com/opinion/editorials/ct-edit-diversity-nasdaq-hiring-california-20201201-fibfcemoa5gq5ebxtqrpr3wwgi-story.html

CHICAGO SUN-TIMES
— Lightfoot — not the top cop — is calling the shots at CPD, police union charges The mayor “should stay the hell out of running the police department and let Supt. Brown run it,” said John Catanzara, president of the Fraternal Order of Police. The mayor’s office called the comments “racist.” – Fran Spielman, Frank Main, and Sam Charles (DIERSEN: I should write a book about those who call/called the shots a) at Illinois, DuPage County, Milton Township, Wheaton, Illinois Republican Party, DuPage County Republican Central Committee, Milton Township Republican Organization, Wheaton Chamber of Commerce; b) for Republican candidates on ballots in my precinct; and c) etc.)
https://chicago.suntimes.com/city-hall/2020/12/2/21766953/chicago-police-lightfoot-david-brown-john-catanzara-fraternal-order-fop-department-control
— U.S. House could vote to lift nationwide pot prohibition this week — but McConnell could block effort even with weed-friendly Biden presidency looming. “There are the votes to outright end marijuana prohibition in the Senate. The problem is that Mitch McConnell controls the floor,” one cannabis advocate said of a decriminalization bill under consideration in Washington. – Tom Schuba (DIERSEN: To push pot on an individual, municipality, township, county, state, or country is to destroy that individual, municipality, township, county, state, or country.)
https://chicago.suntimes.com/cannabis/2020/12/1/21869893/marijuana-legalization-washington-house-senate-more-safe-act-mitch-mcconnell-joe-biden
— AIDS activism sharpened state and local response to coronavirus pandemic, Lightfoot says Chicago’s first openly gay mayor said there was a “straight line” between the two pandemics during a “virtual conversation” with other mayors to commemorate World AIDS Day 2020. – Fran Spielman
https://chicago.suntimes.com/2020/12/1/21842625/world-aids-day-2020-lori-lightfoot-bill-deblasio-hiv-coronavirus-covid-19

DAILY HERALD
— FRONT PAGE: Recount after 75-vote difference doesn’t stop DuPage auditor’s office from changing hands – Katlyn Smith (DIERSEN: What voids do you fill? I fill the tremendous Illinois Republican Party (IRP), DuPage County Republican Central Committee (DCRCC), and Milton Township Republican Organization (MTRO) communication voids. It is beyond outrageous that Republicans in Illinois first learn of Republican news from the Democrat Facebook, Democrat Google, other Democrat websites, Democrat television stations, Democrat newspapers, Democrat etc. IRP, DCRCC, and MTRO should a) issue press releases and press advisories, b) keep diersen@aol.com on their press release and press advisory lists, and c) send out emails.)
https://www.dailyherald.com/news/20201201/recount-after-75-vote-difference-doesnt-stop-dupage-auditors-office-from-changing-hands
(FROM THE ARTICLE: A new DuPage County auditor took office Tuesday for the first time in 12 years, but his election opponent says the historically close race isn’t over yet. Downers Grove Democrat William “Bill” White assumed the role as the county’s top financial watchdog even as his predecessor, Bob Grogan, prepares for “double overtime” in one of the tightest contests in the suburbs. Grogan has asked for a partial recount of the election results after coming up just 75 votes shy of victory out of more than 466,000 ballots cast. Grogan, a Downers Grove Republican who held the position for three terms, filed for a discovery recount in up to 25% of the precincts countywide. Wheaton Republican Tim Whelan also has requested a partial recount after falling short in his reelection bid for a seat on the forest preserve district board. Official results from last month’s election show Democratic challenger Jeff Gahris defeating Whelan by 718 votes. The recount proceedings are set to begin at 9 a.m. Monday, Dec. 7, in the county administration building in Wheaton. Both Grogan and Whelan are represented by attorney Phillip Luetkehans. The exploratory process leaves some uncertainty over races that add to historic gains for Democrats in DuPage. In a partial recount, the county clerk’s office will make election materials available for scrutiny to help candidates determine if there are enough voter discrepancies to seek a court order for a complete recount. Pat Bond, the attorney for the county clerk’s office, said county election officials have had roughly 30 discovery recounts over the past 20 years, but none resulted in a full recount. Election authorities anticipate the partial recounts could be done by Wednesday, Dec. 9, at the earliest, Bond said. Grogan already has put out an appeal for donations if he should decide to forge ahead with a legal challenge. “I have confidence that assuming that we find a critical mass of differences that we’ll be able to fund the full recount if we can get there past the judge,” Grogan said. He’s cautiously hopeful as he prepares for an examination of ballots next week. “Auditors know what to look for, but they don’t know what the results are of what they look for until they’ve done it,” Grogan said Tuesday. “So I’m objective. I have an open mind. I am hopeful, but honestly, mistakes go both directions.”)
— Remote learning widens school achievement gap – Debra J. Saunders
https://www.dailyherald.com/discuss/20201202/saunders-remote-learning-widens-school-achievement-gap

CHAMPAIGN/URBANA NEWS GAZETTE
— University of Illinois fares poorly in student survey of free-speech issues – Jim Dey
https://www.news-gazette.com/opinion/jim-dey-ui-fares-poorly-in-student-survey-of-free-speech-issues/article_be6d9dc3-ca86-5827-be87-693a301f27d6.html

ALTON TELEGRAPH
— Weight shaming latest weapon in politics – Scott Reeder (DIERSEN: I am happy that I am no longer obese, but I am still overweight.)
https://www.thetelegraph.com/insider/article/Weight-shaming-latest-weapon-in-politics-15765788.php

SUBURBAN LIFE
— DuPage County reports single-day record 1,561 COVID-19 cases Tuesday, 2 deaths – JOSHUA WELGE
https://www.mysuburbanlife.com/2020/12/02/dupage-county-reports-single-day-record-1-561-covid-19-cases-tuesday-2-deaths/al0fkkf/

NPR ILLINOIS
— Enrollment By International Students In U.S. Colleges Plummets – KAVITHA CARDOZA
https://www.nprillinois.org/post/enrollment-international-students-us-colleges-plummets#stream/0

WGLT
— Ex-Spokesperson Sues McLean County, Alleging Race Discrimination – RYAN DENHAM (DIERSEN: Like McNeal, I went public. When I turned 40 in 1988, I became an active member in a class action lawsuit that charged my GAO superiors with reverse discrimination, age discrimination, and retaliation. Rather than help the lawsuit succeed, virtually all the members of the class in GAO’s Chicago office “cut deals” with my GAO superiors. Those deals included helping my GAO superiors a) get rid of my mentor, b) keep me off audits of IRS, c) give me unfair performance expectations and appraisals, d) always rank me in the bottom half of my coworkers for pay-for-performance purposes, e) not promote me beyond GS-13, and f) force me to retire in 1997 when I was 49 years old.)
https://www.wglt.org/post/ex-spokesperson-sues-mclean-county-alleging-race-discrimination#stream/0
(FROM THE ARTICLE: Dion McNeal was the county’s communications specialist and one of the most public voices in its initial COVID-19 response last spring. McNeal, who is Black, was involved in a dispute over a county press release and social media post in June—just after the killing of George Floyd—that linked the trauma of racism and police brutality with public health. McNeal says that put him at odds with some county officials. He then went to the media with his concerns, in which he pointed to a lack of Black leadership in the county’s health department. He says he was fired a few days later. . .So on June 10, McNeal sent out the original version of the press release. The next day, McNeal was told he would have multiple job duties removed, according to the lawsuit. McNeal says he faced “severe adverse employment actions,” in contrast with a white co-worker who also sent a letter to the media June 19 raising concerns about the lack of diversity in the health department. That white co-worker was treated more favorably, the lawsuit claims. McNeal also claims sex discrimination. McNeal has identified himself as a “proud healthy Black queer HIV positive man.” “Similarly situated female employees … did not suffer the same adverse employment action McNeal did and, therefore, were treated more favorably,” his lawsuit reads. McNeal’s accusation of unlawful retaliation is based on how the county and health department reacted to him going public in his June 19 statement. McNeal claims he was “speaking as a public citizen on a matter of public concern and was engaged in activity protected by First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution.” “McNeal suffered several adverse actions and deprivations likely to deter his protected activity, including without limitation, increased job scrutiny, placement on administrative leave, placement on a performance improvement plan, and termination of employment,” the lawsuit reads. “McNeal’s legally protected activity was at least a motivating factor in the defendants’ decision to impose the deprivations.”)

ILLINOIS PATCH
— Did Pritzker’s Pandemic Science Preaching Erode Public Trust? KONKOL COLUMN: Politicians who downplay scientific uncertainty of pandemic science that guides policy risk losing public trust, study found. – Mark Konkol
https://patch.com/illinois/chicago/did-pritzkers-pandemic-science-preaching-erode-public-trust

ILLINOIS FAMILY ACTION
— LaBarbera on the Biden-Harris Administration Threat – David E. Smith
https://illinoisfamilyaction.org/2020/12/spotlight-labarbera-on-the-biden-harris-administration-threat/
— The Disastrous Co-Belligerence of Never-Trumpers and Leftists – Laurie Higgins (DIERSEN: Ever-increasingly, RINOs make it clear that they are anti-Trump, anti-conservative, anti-patriotic, anti-Republican, anti-American, anti-White, anti-male, anti-older people, anti-heterosexuals, anti-married people, anti-non-poor people, anti-gun owners, anti-Christian, anti-Protestant, anti-Italian American, anti-German American, anti-draft avoiders (except Joe Biden and Bill Clinton), and/or anti-those whose ancestors have been in America for a long time. I should write a book about RINOs. I would focus on those who have lots of religious, government, political, and/or financial clout in Illinois, DuPage County, Milton Township, and Wheaton.)
https://illinoisfamilyaction.org/2020/12/the-disastrous-co-belligerence-of-never-trumpers-and-leftists/

BREITBART
— DISGUSTING, TRAGIC, TREASONOUS: Six Republicans to Explore ‘Immigration Reform’ with Amnesty Advocates – John Binder (DIERSEN: Democrats have declared war against Republicans. Democrats see citizens of foreign countries as being soldiers in their army to get rid of Republicans once and for all.)
https://www.breitbart.com/politics/2020/12/01/six-republicans-to-explore-immigration-reform-with-amnesty-advocates/
(FROM THE ARTICLE: There are an estimated 11 to 22 million illegal aliens currently living in the U.S. This illegal population is in addition to the more than 1.2 million foreign nationals who are given green cards annually and the 1.4 million foreign nationals who are given temporary visas every year. Today, the foreign-born population of the U.S. has boomed to at least 44.5 million. By 2060, the Census Bureau projects the foreign-born population will tick up to an unprecedented 69 million should current legal immigration levels continue.)
— Joe Biden: U.S. Constitution ‘Clearly Requires’ Illegal Aliens Be Included in Congressional Apportionment – JOHN BINDER (DIERSEN: Democrats have declared war against Republicans. Democrats see citizens of foreign countries as being soldiers in their army to get rid of Republicans once and for all.)
https://www.breitbart.com/immigration/2020/12/01/biden-illegal-aliens-census/

DAILY CALLER
— Will Trump’s ‘Rigged Election’ Claims Hurt The GOP’s Chances In Georgia’s Senate Runoffs? – CHRISTIAN DATOC AND HENRY RODGERS
https://dailycaller.com/2020/12/01/trump-rigged-election-claims-hurt-loeffler-perdue-chances-georgia-senate-runoff-elections/
— ‘I’ll See You In 4 Years’: Trump Hints He’ll Run In 2024 During White House Christmas Party – ANDERS HAGSTROM
https://dailycaller.com/2020/12/01/trump-2024-christmas-party-white-house-run/

CNS NEWS
— White House Press Secretary: Democrats Have Been Trying to Make Election System Less Secure for Years – Melanie Arter
https://www.cnsnews.com/article/washington/melanie-arter/wh-press-secretary-dems-have-been-trying-make-election-system-less
— The Democrats Praise Their ‘Big Tent’ – Tim Graham (DIERSEN: Political Parties exist to help elect candidates who can and will defend and advance their platform. Beyond outrageously, beyond tragically, the Republican Party lets, if not encourages, its elected/appointed party leaders and government officials get rid Republicans like me who support the traditional family, right to life, immigration, illegal drugs, Second Amendment, and/or equal opportunity (no race or gender based preference giving) planks in its platform.)
https://www.cnsnews.com/commentary/tim-graham/democrats-praise-their-big-tent

CHRISTIAN POST
— DISGUSTING, TRAGIC: Biden’s LGBT proposals aim to ban therapy for unwanted same-sex attraction, allow trans-athletes in girls’ sports Add ‘X’ gender marker for all gov’t documents – Ryan Foley
https://www.christianpost.com/news/biden-makes-sweeping-promises-lgbt-activists-ban-soce-therapy-trans-athletes-girls-sports.html

ONE NEWS NOW
— The digital election heist. While President Trump’s attorneys continue to challenge the validity of bizarre tallying, anyone interested in free and fair elections should consider the role of Big Tech. – Robert Knight
https://onenewsnow.com/perspectives/robert-knight/2020/12/01/the-digital-election-heist
— Coming to the classroom: White people and their ‘unearned privilege’ – Bob Kellogg (DIERSEN: How privileged are you? According to my critics/opponents, the more of the following that you are, the more undeservedly privileged that you are: conservative, patriotic, Republican, citizen of American, White, male, older, heterosexual, married, healthy, non-poor, gun owner, non-veteran, Christian, Protestant, Italian American, German American, and/or if your ancestors have been in America for a long time.)
https://onenewsnow.com/education/2020/11/30/coming-to-the-classroom-white-people-and-their-unearned-privilege

CBS NEWS
— Why some Americans are trading in mainstream social networks for ones that tout “freedom of speech” – LI COHEN (DIERSEN: My critics/opponents, their operatives, and their dupes a) want to stop me from sending out GOPUSA ILLINOIS emails, b) want to stop everyone from reading those emails, and c) want to get everyone to spend all their time on the anti-conservative Democrat Facebook.)
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/americans-trade-in-their-mainstream-social-networks-for-ones-that-tout-freedom-of-speech/

NEW YORK TIMES
— Trump has raised $170 million since Election Day. – Shane Goldmacher and Maggie Haberman
https://www.nytimes.com/2020/12/01/us/politics/trump-has-raised-170-million-since-election-day.html
— Some jobs may never return. Moving those workers into new careers is an enormous challenge. (DIERSEN: What would it take for my GAO job to return? GAO would have to stop getting rid of its employees who are Republican, White, male, and/or non-veteran who did not make GS-13 (currently $101,176) by age 25, GS-14 (currently $119,559) by age 30, GS-15 (currently $140,634) by age 35, and Senior Executive Service (currently $170,800) by age 40.)
https://www.nytimes.com/2020/12/01/business/some-jobs-may-never-return-moving-those-workers-into-new-careers-is-an-enormous-challenge.html
— Reinventing Workers for the Post-Covid Economy. Especially in service industries, old jobs may not be coming back. Training programs are aiming to provide skills for more resilient occupations. – Eduardo Porter
https://www.nytimes.com/2020/12/01/business/economy/workers-jobs-training.html
— New ‘BTS Law’ Is Passed in South Korea. An Army of Fans Rejoices. The oldest member of BTS was saved at the last minute from having to join the military under the country’s conscription system. – Choe Sang-Hun (DIERSEN: I got student draft deferments 1966-1970 and a financial hardship draft deferment 1970-1971. Since 1966, my critics/opponents, their operatives, and their dupes have used that against me big time.)
https://www.nytimes.com/2020/12/01/world/asia/korea-bts-law-military-deferment.html

WASHINGTON POST
— Trump threatens to veto major defense bill unless Congress repeals Section 230, a legal shield for tech giants – Tony Romm (DIERSEN: Since 2000, my critics/opponents have wanted to sue me for a) my including links in GOPUSA ILLINOIS emails to articles that they do not like and b) my posting copies of those emails on my www.gopillinois.com website. I should write a book about a) my critics/opponents, b) the articles that they do not like, and c) their failure to sue those who wrote those articles.)
https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2020/12/01/trump-repeal-section-230-ndaa/
(FROM THE ARTICLE: Section 230 is a broad, decades-old federal law that spares a wide array of sites and services from being held liable for the content posted by their users — and, in the process, the decisions about the posts, photos and videos that tech companies take down or leave online. It is considered one of the Web’s foundational laws, crafted in large part to facilitate free expression digitally. Many lawmakers — Democrats and Republicans — increasingly have come to question whether the protections are outdated, conferring legal immunity on tech giants at a time when they have failed to crack down on hate speech, election disinformation and other harmful content online. But Trump and his Republican allies have seized on the debate to advance their arguments that Facebook, Google, Twitter and others should be penalized for exhibiting systemic political bias against conservatives — a charge for which they have provided scant evidence, and one that tech giants long have denied.)

USA TODAY
— Facebook and Instagram oversight board tackles first cases: hate speech, misinformation, nudity – Mike Snider
https://www.usatoday.com/story/tech/2020/12/01/facebook-and-instagram-oversight-board-tackles-first-cases/6474744002/
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: Hate-filled America-hating America haters say “Donald Trump’s border wall is a monument to racism.”
https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2020/11/16/donald-trump-border-wall-joe-biden-presidency/6319597002/
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: A hate-filled Trump-hating Trump-hater says “Trump election lawsuits targeted areas with large Black, Latino populations” and “Damaging to our democracy.” Democrats have declared war on Republicans. Democrats see Blacks and Latinos as being their soldiers in their army to get rid of Republicans once and for all.
https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2020/12/01/trump-voter-fraud-claims-target-counties-more-black-latino-votes/6391908002/

WALL STREET JOURNAL
— FRONT PAGE TOP OF FOLD: Nasdaq Seeks Board-Diversity Rule That Most Listed Firms Don’t Meet Exchange operator seeks to require companies to have at least one female board member, plus one from an underrepresented minority group – Alexander Osipovich and Akane Otani (DIERSEN: Do the demographics of the leaders of your city, township, county, Illinois, and America reflect the demographics of the voters in your city, township, county, Illinois, and America? What percent of the leaders of your city, township, county, Illinois, and America share your race, gender, age range, sexual orientation, marital status, religion, national origin, veteran status, position on Trump, have dependents/not have dependents, have health problems/healthy, liberal/moderate/conservative, Democrat/Libertarian/Green/Independent/RINO/Republican, citizenship status, income range, net worth range, renter/homeowner, non-gun owner/gun owner, length of time your ancestors have been in America, etc.?)
https://www.wsj.com/articles/nasdaq-proposes-board-diversity-rule-for-listed-companies-11606829244
— FRONT PAGE TOP OF FOLD: A New Setback for Big Cities as Return to the Office Fades. The low level of employees back at their workplaces is intensifying pain for cities geared toward office life. – Peter Grant (DIERSEN: In 1978, my wife and I paid more for 1017 East Harrison in Wheaton because we worked in the Loop and the home was in walking distance of the College Avenue train station. In 1984, my wife and I paid more for 915 Cove Court in Wheaton because we worked in the Loop and the home was in walking distance of the Wheaton train station.)
https://www.wsj.com/articles/a-new-setback-for-big-cities-as-return-to-the-office-fades-11606818601
— South Korea Changes Law to Allow K-Pop’s BTS to Defer Military Service for Two Years. Seoul relaxed terms of military draft as group’s global popularity surges, but debates over conscription continue elsewhere in Asia. – James Hookway (DIERSEN: I got student draft deferments 1966-1970 and a financial hardship draft deferment 1970-1971. Since 1966, my critics/opponents, their operatives, and their dupes have used that against me big time.)
https://www.wsj.com/articles/k-pops-bts-superstars-can-defer-military-service-for-two-years-11606849065
— The Woke Nasdaq The exchange decides it is in the gender and racial quota business. – Editorial (DIERSEN: Democrats use Affirmative Action, Diversity, and Inclusion to not hire and to get rid their employees who are Republican and especially those who are White, male, older, heterosexual, married, conservative, patriotic, non-poor, non-veteran, gun owners, Christian, Protestant, Italian American, German American, and/or those whose ancestors have been in America for a long time.)
https://www.wsj.com/articles/the-woke-nasdaq-11606865986

NEW UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA
— Will Biden’s Cabinet Actually Be A Reflection Of America? – Moh Samhouri (DIERSEN: Do the demographics of the leaders of your city, township, county, Illinois, and America reflect the demographics of the voters in your city, township, county, Illinois, and America? What percent of the leaders of your city, township, county, Illinois, and America share your race, gender, age range, sexual orientation, marital status, religion, national origin, veteran status, position on Trump, have dependents/not have dependents, have health problems/healthy, liberal/moderate/conservative, Democrat/Libertarian/Green/Independent/RINO/Republican, citizenship status, income range, net worth range, renter/homeowner, non-gun owner/gun owner, length of time your ancestors have been in America, etc.?)
https://www.newuniversity.org/2020/12/01/will-bidens-cabinet-actually-be-a-reflection-of-america/

GOVERNMENT EXECUTIVE
— Political Leadership and Communication – ADAM BUTLER and ROSS GIANFORTUNE (DIERSEN: What voids do you fill? I fill the tremendous Illinois Republican Party (IRP), DuPage County Republican Central Committee (DCRCC), and Milton Township Republican Organization (MTRO) communication voids. It is beyond outrageous that Republicans in Illinois first learn of Republican news from the Democrat Facebook, Democrat Google, other Democrat websites, Democrat television stations, Democrat newspapers, Democrat etc. IRP, DCRCC, and MTRO should a) issue press releases and press advisories, b) keep diersen@aol.com on their press release and press advisory lists, and c) send out emails.)
https://www.govexec.com/management/2020/12/govexec-daily-political-leadership-and-communication-during-divisive-times/170405/

COMMITTEE TO PROTECT JOURNALISTS
— Cuban authorities harass journalists, block social media amid protests (DIERSEN: My critics/opponents want the following to harass me and to block my GOPUSA ILLINOIS emails: Google, Facebook, Illinois, DuPage County, Milton Township, Wheaton, Illinois Republican Party, DuPage County Republican Central Committee, Milton Township Republican Organization, Wheaton Chamber of Commerce, Republican candidates on ballots in my precinct, etc.)
https://cpj.org/2020/11/cuban-authorities-harass-journalists-block-social-media-amid-protests/