Tag: Gao

May 22 Morning Edition

ABC7
— Why the COVID-19 pandemic is deepening a racial divide in Chicago area communities – Chuck Goudie, Barb Markoff, Christine Tressel, Ross Weidner, Jonathan Fagg and Adriana Aguilar
https://abc7chicago.com/health/why-the-pandemic-is-deepening-a-racial-divide-in-chicago-area-communities/6203131/
— Chicago issues thousands of citations to businesses operating in violation of stay-at-home order – Jason Knowles and Ann Pistone
https://abc7chicago.com/coronavirus-chicago-illinois-stay-at-home-order-non-essential-businesses/6201791/

NBC5
— Pritzker ‘Very Concerned’ About Surge of Coronavirus Cases in Fall A surge is likely, Gov. Pritzker said, if a vaccine or very effective treatment isn’t available
https://www.nbcchicago.com/news/local/pritzker-very-concerned-about-surge-of-coronavirus-cases-in-fall/2276187/

WGN TV
— Chicago area governments laying off workers as revenues fall amid coronavirus – Ben Bradley, Andrew Schroedter (DIERSEN: During the 1980s and 1990s, the Democrats who ran GAO used Republican-led budget cuts to get rid of their employees who were Republican, White, male, and/or non-veteran who they had not promoted to 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://wgntv.com/news/wgn-investigates/chicago-area-governments-laying-off-workers-as-revenues-fall-amid-coronavirus/

CHICAGO SUN-TIMES
— Donning masks and rolling up sleeves, lawmakers tackle vote-by-mail, pot tweaks — with budget, COVID-19 relief looming No mask faceoffs added any drama to Day Two of the special legislative session. State Rep. Darren Bailey, R-Xenia, entered the Bank of Springfield Center wearing a face covering. State Sen. Jim Oberweis, R-Sugar Grove, went a little further, donning a complete face shield. – Tina Sfondeles and Neal Earley
https://chicago.suntimes.com/politics/2020/5/21/21266946/lawmakers-masks-vote-mail-legal-pot-budget-covid-19-relief-bailey-oberweis-coronavirus
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: A Trump-hater uses Phyllis Schlafly to demonize, denigrate, and condemn the 53% of White women who voted for Trump.
https://chicago.suntimes.com/columnists/2020/5/21/21266599/phyllis-schlafly-feminism-equal-rights-amendment-mrs-america-era-culture-wars

CHICAGO TRIBUNE
— Illinois unemployment rate hit 16.4% in April, a 44-year high, as coronavirus-related job losses multiplied – Abdel Jimenez (DIERSEN: What were you doing in 1976? I turned 28 years old. I worked for IRS in its Loop office as a GS-12 Step 3 (currently $90,758/year) Revenue Officer assigned to its Special Procedures Staff. I traded in to the building’s developer my studio condo for a one bedroom condo in the Outer Drive East building in downtown Chicago. I completed the requirements for an MBA from Loyola and started taking graduate accounting classes at DePaul. I rented out my town home in University Park. I drove a 1962 Chevy BelAir and garaged my 1972 Corvette at my mother’s home in Crete.)
https://www.chicagotribune.com/coronavirus/ct-coronavirus-illinois-april-unemployment-rate-20200521-gfg675giqbcqtaahirsrmyaaga-story.html
— Judgment just as contagious in our culture war of wearing masks in public – JERRY DAVICH (DIERSEN: If you demonize, denigrate, and condemn people for not wearing a mask, you should be wearing one yourself.)
https://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/post-tribune/opinion/ct-ptb-davich-wearing-masks-in-public-culture-war-controversy-st-0517-20200515-liwsboclbrdljhsuprp2hivo24-story.html

DAILY HERALD
— In close vote, Cook County Board agrees to release COVID-19 patient addresses – Christopher Placek
https://www.dailyherald.com/news/20200521/in-close-vote-cook-county-board-agrees-to-release-covid-19-patient-addresses-
— Masks are for protection of others, not political symbols – Editorial (DIERSEN: If you demonize, denigrate, and condemn people for not wearing a mask, you should be wearing one yourself.)
https://www.dailyherald.com/discuss/20200522/editorial-masks-are-for-protection-of-others-not-political-symbols

WBEZ
— Coronavirus In Illinois: Unemployment Rate Is Now The Highest It’s Been Since 1976
https://www.wbez.org/stories/coronavirus-in-illinois-unemployment-rate-is-now-the-highest-its-been-since-1976/b9d4bbde-4bde-48e1-810b-5cc7df506ca0
— Illinois Lawmakers Push Vote-By-Mail Expansion – But Not Much Else – During Emergency Session – Tony Arnold, Dave McKinney
https://www.wbez.org/stories/illinois-lawmakers-push-vote-by-mail-expansion-but-not-much-else-during-emergency-session/7c1e0966-07b0-43ea-818f-9bf3aa28f358

ROCKFORD REGISTER STAR
— Thousands still await COVID-19 test results in Winnebago County – Isaac Guerrero
https://www.rrstar.com/news/20200521/thousands-still-await-covid-19-test-results-in-winnebago-county

WJOL
— Many Illinois Residents Still Struggling With Unemployment Claims
https://www.wjol.com/many-illinois-residents-still-struggling-with-unemployment-claims/

WCIA
— Righter rebukes Bailey’s mask antics: ‘Half the game is showing up’ – Mark Maxwell (DIERSEN: According to your critics, what should you have NOT done?” According to my critics, I should NOT have been a Republican, been conservative, avoided the draft, opposed political affiliation discrimination, opposed reverse discrimination, opposed age discrimination, opposed the traffic signal at Harrison and President in Wheaton, filed lawsuits, became an active member in a class action lawsuit that charged my superiors with reverse discrimination, age discrimination, and retaliation, opposed promoting booze, pot, and other vices, opposed promoting LGBTQ activity, opposed promoting abortion, opposed promoting mass/illegal immigration, opposed promoting abolition of the First and Second Amendments, failed/refused to become one of their operatives/dupes, failed/refused to pander to them, failed/refused to give them money, etc. )
https://www.wcia.com/news/capitol-news/righter-rebukes-baileys-mask-antics-half-the-game-is-showing-up/
(FROM THE ARTICLE: The veteran downstate legislator who is preparing to pass the legislative baton of his rural State Senate district over to House Representative Darren Bailey (R-Louisville) next January was not entertained by Bailey’s public act of defiance when he refused to wear a face mask on the floor of the Illinois House on Wednesday. “I would not have done that,” Senator Dale Righter (R-Mattoon) said in an interview Thursday morning, arguing that in orchestrating his own ejection from the House floor, Bailey also effectively abandoned his duties as an elected official in the legislature. Bailey won the March primary election to replace Righter, who is retiring from the statehouse after 23 years in office. Bailey is running unopposed for the Senate seat in November.)

FOX ILLINOIS
— Coronavirus-triggered layoffs in US hit nearly 39 million – AP
https://foxillinois.com/news/nation-world/millions-more-people-likely-sought-us-unemployment-benefits

KENDALL COUNTY NOW
— GOP lawmakers to offer free masks, milk and food at Kendall County Food Pantry Saturday
https://www.kendallcountynow.com/2020/05/20/gop-lawmakers-to-offer-free-masks-milk-and-food-at-kendall-county-food-pantry-saturday/aixpb1y/

WIRE POINTS
— Big raises for Chicago Teachers Union, state’s AFSCME shows where federal aid to Illinois will end up – Ted Dabrowski and John Klingner
https://wirepoints.org/big-raises-for-chicago-teachers-union-states-afscme-shows-where-federal-aid-to-illinois-will-end-up-wirepoints/

ILLINOIS POLICY INSTITUTE
— ILLINOIS BILL WOULD MAKE ELECTION DAY A HOLIDAY, BUT ONLY FOR GOVERNMENT WORKERS – Joe Barnas
https://www.illinoispolicy.org/illinois-bill-would-make-election-day-a-holiday-but-only-for-government-workers/

FOX NEWS
— Sanders delegates push back at agreements prohibiting convention dissent: ‘It’s ridiculous’ – Paul Steinhauser (DIERSEN: I should write a book about those who have painted themselves as being attack dogs for activists, candidates, elected officials, party leaders, major donors, political consultants, campaign managers, those who I have sued, etc. I would focus on those who have lots of religious, government, political, and/or financial clout in Wheaton’s West District, Wheaton, Milton Township, DuPage County, and Illinois. I would focus on those who blame me and my GOPUSA ILLINOIS emails for their problems, for your problems, for my problems, for everyone’s problems, and for all the problems that the following have had: Milton Township Republican Organization, DuPage County Republican Central Committee, Illinois Republican Party, TAPROOT Republicans of Illinois, Wheaton Chamber of Commerce, Illinois Center Right Coalition, American Association of Political Consultants Midwest Chapter, etc. I might title the book “The Scapegoaters.”)
https://www.foxnews.com/politics/sanders-convention-delegates-push-back
(FROM THE ARTICLE: The agreements – first reported by the Washington Post and confirmed by Fox News – call on Sanders delegates to “Refrain from making negative statements about other candidates, party leaders, Campaigns, Campaign staffers, supporters, news organizations or journalists. This Campaign is about the issues and finding solutions to America’s problems. Our job is to differentiate the senator from his opponents on the issues — not through personal attacks.” Another of the 10 rules listed in the document states: “Do your best to avoid online arguments or confrontations. … If engaging in an adversarial conversation, be respectful when addressing opposing viewpoints or commenting on the opposition.” And the agreement states that “If a member of the media contacts you about a posting of any kind: do not respond.” Instead, it directs them to contact the Sanders press team. The document states that “failure to comply with these expectations may result in disciplinary action, including but not limited to your removal from the delegation.” The agreements were sent to some Sanders delegates across the country last week.)

BREITBART
— Pew Research: Less Than 3-in-8 Americans Support Coronavirus Relief for Illegal Aliens – John Binder
https://www.breitbart.com/politics/2020/05/21/pew-research-less-than-3-in-8-americans-support-coronavirus-relief-for-illegal-aliens/

TOWNHALL
— Trump Administration Extends Border Restrictions Amid Coronavirus Pandemic – Bronson Stocking
https://townhall.com/tipsheet/bronsonstocking/2020/05/21/cdc-extends-title-42-following-major-success-slowing-illegal-immigration-at-the-border-n2569259

FEDERALIST
— California Democrats Try To Legalize Racial Discrimination During Pandemic – Kenny Xu
https://thefederalist.com/2020/05/21/californa-democrats-try-to-legalize-racial-discrimination-during-pandemic/

HERITAGE FOUNDATION
— “Hate Speech” and the New Tyranny over the Mind – Arthur Milikh
https://www.heritage.org/civil-society/report/hate-speech-and-the-new-tyranny-over-the-mind

CNN
— The pandemic could cause long-term damage to how we get our food – Bob Ortega
https://www.cnn.com/interactive/2020/05/business/coronavirus-food-supply-invs-cnnphotos/
— Coronavirus ‘immunity passports’ are a terrible idea that could backfire, experts warn – Faith Karimi and Maggie Fox (DIERSEN: Of course, according to Democrats, Libertarians, Greens, and RINOs, if you have immunity, it is because you unfairly benefitted from your parents’, grandparents’, great grandparents’, and the rest of your ancestors’ discrimination against minorities, against females, against poor people, against Democrats, against Libertarians, against Greens, against RINOs, against non-Protestants, against non-German Americans, against those whose ancestors have not been in America for a long time, against etc.)
https://www.cnn.com/2020/05/22/health/immunity-passport-coronavirus/index.html

NEW YORK TIMES
— Fed Chair Warns This Is a ‘Downturn Without Modern Precedent’ – Jeanna Smialek and Alan Rappeport
https://www.nytimes.com/2020/05/21/business/economy/fed-chair-warns-this-is-a-downturn-without-modern-precedent.html
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: Democrats stimulus dollars to go to those 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, anti-draft avoiders, and/or anti-those whose ancestors have been in America for a long time.
https://www.nytimes.com/2020/05/21/opinion/coronavirus-stimulus-women.html
— University of California Will End Use of SAT and ACT in Admissions The change is expected to accelerate the momentum of American colleges away from the tests, amid concern that they are unfair to poor, black and Hispanic students. – Shawn Hubler (DIERSEN: What tests have you passed? I passed a) the CPA examination on my first attempt in 1979 when I was 30 years old, b) the Certified Internal Auditor examination on my first attempt in 1981, c) all the tests necessary to earn a master’s degree in financial markets and trading from IIT in 1997, d) all the tests necessary to earn a master’s degree in accounting from DePaul in 1980, e) all the tests necessary to earn an MBA from Loyola in 1976, f) all the tests necessary to earn a bachelor’s degree in management from NIU in 1970, g) the Federal Service Entrance Examination in 1970, and h) the Post Office employment examination in 1966.)
https://www.nytimes.com/2020/05/21/us/university-california-sat-act.html
— A Wave of Small Business Closures Is on the Way. Can Washington Stop It? Bipartisan proposals address weaknesses of a hastily passed aid program. – Neil Irwin
https://www.nytimes.com/2020/05/21/upshot/virus-small-business-closures.html
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: A Trump-hater asks “How Many Will Die for the Dow?”
https://www.nytimes.com/2020/05/21/opinion/trump-coronavirus-dow.html
— The First Invasion of America And the cultural earthquake it’s unleashing. – David Brooks (DIERSEN: The first invasion of America was by citizens of Mexico.)
https://www.nytimes.com/2020/05/21/opinion/us-coronavirus-history.html
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: FRONT PAGE: Trump-haters say “Host of Virus Alarms Ignored By a Single-Minded President.”
https://www.nytimes.com/2020/05/21/us/politics/presidents-daily-brief-trump.html
— Many Jobs May Vanish Forever as Layoffs Mount With over 38 million U.S. unemployment claims in nine weeks, one economist says the situation is “grimmer than we thought.” – Patricia Cohen
https://www.nytimes.com/2020/05/21/business/economy/coronavirus-unemployment-claims.html

WASHINGTON POST
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: Democrats use coronavirus to promote hatred against Republicans.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2020/05/21/us-them-pandemic-shows-america-is-still-impervious-black-pain/
— Shrinking newsrooms could affect how we view the coronavirus pandemic Journalists of color are particularly susceptible to layoffs, and that can distort coverage of the crisis – Marian Liu (DIERSEN: Virtually all federal employees are Democrats. They are protected, and especially those who are minority, female, younger, and/or veteran, because the federal government gets rid of its employees who are Republican, White, male, and/or non-veteran who do 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. Extremely few federal employees make the aforesaid promotion deadlines.)
https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2020/05/21/diversity-coronavirus-coverage/
— Trump’s purge of inspectors general is alarming. His replacements may be worse. – David C. Williams (DIERSEN: I should write a book about all my coworkers in the federal government who my Democrat superiors a) promoted over me and/or b) retained instead of me. They all were Democrats, minorities, females, younger than me, non-Protestant, non-German American, veterans, their ancestors had been in America for less time than mine, they had less work experience than I had, they had less education than I had, and/or they had fewer professional certifications and/or licenses than I had.)
https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2020/05/21/trumps-widespread-removal-inspectors-general-is-alarming-so-are-his-appointments/
— Antimalarial drug touted by President Trump is linked to increased risk of death in coronavirus patients, study says – Ariana Eunjung Cha and Laurie McGinley
https://www.washingtonpost.com/health/2020/05/22/hydroxychloroquine-coronavirus-study/

NEW YORK POST
— Joe Biden asks Amy Klobuchar to undergo VP vetting process, report says – Ebony Bowden (DIERSEN: Needless-to-say, if you have skeletons in your closets, you should not seek or hold any kind of government or political office, and especially if you paint yourself as being religious, conservative, and/or Republican.)
https://nypost.com/2020/05/21/joe-biden-asks-amy-klobuchar-to-undergo-vp-vetting-process-report/

USA TODAY
— Food prices soar to highest one-month increase since 1974; price of eggs up 16% in April – Susan Selasky
https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/2020/05/20/food-prices-soar-coronavirus-covid-19/5226969002/
— How Joe Biden is working to win over progressive voters – Rebecca Morin (DIERSEN: To win over progressive voters, Biden will promise to use the federal government to get rid of the following once and for all: individuals, organizations, companies, governments, and countries that are Trump supporters, Protestant, conservative, patriotic, Republican, American, White, male, older, non-poor, gun owners, German American, draft avoiders, and those whose ancestors have been in America for a long time.)
https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/elections/2020/05/21/joe-biden-bernie-sanders-work-together-bring-progressives-board/5155900002/

WALL STREET JOURNAL
— How to Keep Workers Off the Job More evidence that the enhanced $600 unemployment benefit will slow the recovery and keep the jobless rate high. – Editorial
https://www.wsj.com/articles/how-to-keep-workers-off-the-job-11590103444
— The Covid Surcharge: Companies Confront the Unforgiving Economics of Coronavirus Rising costs, weak demand and customer limits challenge efforts to reopen for business – Matt Grossman
https://www.wsj.com/articles/the-covid-surcharge-companies-confront-unforgiving-economics-of-coronavirus-11590139802
— Behind Trump’s Removal of Inspectors General: Support for His Agenda He views himself ‘a victim of overly aggressive actions,’ according to one senior administration official – Catherine Lucey and Gordon Lubold
https://www.wsj.com/articles/trump-moves-to-make-own-picks-for-oversight-posts-11590064279

BLOOMBERG
— Lockdowns Haven’t Proved They’re Worth the Havoc – Joe Nocera
https://www.yahoo.com/news/lockdowns-haven-t-proved-worth-100003823.html

WCNC
— Minorities carrying the biggest financial burden of COVID-19 crisis In April, the unemployment rate soared to 14.7%, minority groups were hit the hardest with 19% of Hispanic workers and almost 17% of black workers unemployed. – Billie Jean Shaw
https://www.wcnc.com/article/money/minorities-carrying-the-biggest-financial-burden-of-covid-19-crisis/275-062fbd49-70ae-41b9-bb05-0560b3ff3add

NEWSWEEK
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: Ever-increasingly, Trump-haters side with Communist China against America.
https://www.newsweek.com/trumps-blame-china-re-election-strategy-might-seriously-backfire-opinion-1505813

NEW YORK MAGAZINE
— Just Give People Handouts – Sarah Jones (DIERSEN: How soon, because of efforts to fight coronavirus, will everyone in the world be getting welfare and/or handing out welfare?)
https://nymag.com/intelligencer/2020/05/people-need-money-not-skills-retraining.html

GOVERNMENT EXECUTIVE
— These Federal Agencies Have Seen the Most COVID-19 Deaths Nearly 130 federal workers have died from the coronavirus pandemic. – ERIC KATZ
https://www.govexec.com/workforce/2020/05/these-federal-agencies-have-seen-most-covid-19-deaths/165578/

FORD AUTHORITY
— Ford Will ‘Likely’ Conduct Daily Employee COVID-19 Tests When It’s Possible – Brett Foote
https://fordauthority.com/2020/05/ford-will-likely-conduct-daily-employee-covid-19-tests-when-its-possible/

SUN
— Michigan Attorney General says Trump is NOT welcome in the state after flouting mask rules ‘like a petulant child’ – Mollie Mansfield
https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/11681799/donald-trump-michigan-attorney-general-not-welcome/

NATIONAL HERALD INDIA
— Amid reports that Google has reduced diversity and inclusion training programmes fearing conservative backlash, CEO Sundar Pichai denied any digression from company’s commitment to promoting diversity (DIERSEN: Democrats use Affirmative Action, Diversity, Inclusion, up-or-out, budget cuts, etc. to not hire Republicans and to get rid of their employees who are Republican, and especially those who are Trump supporters, Protestant, conservative, patriotic, White, male, older, non-poor, gun owners, German American, draft avoiders, and those whose ancestors have been in America for a long time.)
https://www.nationalheraldindia.com/international/have-more-resources-invested-in-diversity-than-ever-google-ceo

ZILLOW
— FOR SALE: 921 James Court, Wheaton – $650,000
https://www.zillow.com/wheaton-il/X1-SS1apc9gppw622z_3o1g1_sse/4448311_zpid/

May 21 Morning Edition

CHICAGO TRIBUNE
— Illinois and other states should get a lot of federal money – Steve Chapman
https://www.chicagotribune.com/columns/steve-chapman/ct-column-coronavirus-federal-aid-states-chapman-20200520-d62q7wd26bg6rktj4udsjrbcna-story.html
— Court hearing Friday is latest round in battle over legality of Illinois stay-at-home order – ROBERT MCCOPPIN
https://www.chicagotribune.com/coronavirus/ct-coronavirus-illinois-stay-at-home-legal-fight-20200521-fqrhqhrygnbtzograqlrm62kye-story.html
— Comparing Pritzker to Hitler always wrong – Richard Porter, Chicago, Illinois Committeeman to the Republican National Committee
https://www.chicagotribune.com/opinion/letters/ct-letter-vp-052120-20200520-scgcqrcqf5d65ab7jku2noxesi-story.html
— ‘Sad day’ when citizens can’t question government – Mark Glennon, Wilmette
https://www.chicagotribune.com/opinion/letters/ct-letter-vp-052120-20200520-scgcqrcqf5d65ab7jku2noxesi-story.html
— Is Pritzker’s coronavirus levee about to break? – John Kass
https://www.chicagotribune.com/columns/john-kass/ct-coronavirus-illinois-churches-kass-20200521-o2pk6tvcprhwvblo5mvfntuwoa-story.html
— Nearly 39 million US layoffs during coronavirus pandemic; more than 1 million Illinois jobless claims since mid-March – AP
https://www.chicagotribune.com/coronavirus/ct-biz-coronavirus-unemployment-pandemic-20200521-2jygua5a5bcotcmyo46ku37n6i-story.html

CHICAGO SUN-TIMES
— HARDCOPY ARTICLE TITLE: As impersonal as 2019 was, it could become good old days to millennials – Jennifer Rosen (DIERSEN: When were your good old days? Mine include 1970 when I earned a bachelor’s degree in management from NIU and Firestone Stores hired me; 1971 when IRS hired me and I bought a new 1972 Corvette; 1972, 1973, and 1974 when IRS promoted me; 1976 when I earned an MBA from Loyola; 1978 when I got married; 1979 when I passed the CPA examination on my first attempt; 1980 when GAO hired me and I earned a master’s degree in accounting from DePaul; 1981 when I passed the Certified Internal Auditor examination on my first attempt and became a licensed CPA; 1986 when GAO promoted me; 1986, 1987, and 1988 when I worked for GAO on audits of IRS; and 1997 when I earned a master’s degree in financial markets and trading from IIT.)
https://chicago.suntimes.com/2020/5/19/21262701/millennial-dating-pandemic-lockdown-remote-work-from-home-zoom-jennifer-rosner

WBBM
— DuPage County Lays Out What Is Needed To Get Through COVID-19 Pandemic – JENNIFER KEIPER
https://wbbm780.radio.com/articles/dupage-county-lays-out-needs-for-covid-19-pandemic

SPRINGFIELD STATE JOURNAL REGISTER
— GOP wants vote on reopening plan – Doug Finke
https://www.sj-r.com/news/20200520/GOP-wants-vote-on-reopening-plan

FOX ILLINOIS
— Legislation introduced to help safely reopen Illinois
https://foxillinois.com/news/local/legislation-introduced-to-help-safely-reopen-illinois
— Pandemic exposes need to bring some manufacturing back to U.S. – AHTRA ELNASHAR
https://foxillinois.com/news/nation-world/pandemic-exposes-need-to-bring-some-manufacturing-back-to-us

NEWS CHANNEL 20
— Downtown Springfield protest of Pritzker’s stay at home order draws hundreds – Matt Roy
https://newschannel20.com/news/local/protesters-crowd-downtown-springfield-calling-for-freedom

CHEROKEE TRIBUNE LEDGER NEWS
— Will Illinois switch to all vote-by-mail in November? It could cost counties millions – Kelsey Landis
https://www.tribuneledgernews.com/extra/news/will-illinois-switch-to-all-vote-by-mail-in-november-it-could-cost-counties-millions/article_96d4ea0e-6da4-5ed0-a7b3-92dc113807c6.html

WASHINGTON TIMES
— Reopened states revive economy as doomsday predictions don’t materialize – Dave Boyer
https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2020/may/20/reopened-states-revive-economy-doomsday-prediction/

WASHINGTON EXAMINER
— Democrats’ ‘whose side?’ rhetoric takes on dark connotation as they heighten the culture wars – Timothy P. Carney (DIERSEN: I should write a book about RINO activists, candidates, elected officials, party leaders, major donors, political consultants, etc. who ever-increasingly talk and/or act like they are going over to the other side.)
https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/opinion/democrats-whose-side-rhetoric-takes-on-dark-connotation-as-they-heighten-the-culture-wars

BREITBART
— Illinoisans Revolting Against Lockdowns as Chicago Mayor Orders Parking Bans Around Churches to Thwart Services – WARNER TODD HUSTON
https://www.breitbart.com/politics/2020/05/21/illinoisans-revolting-against-lockdowns-as-chicago-mayor-orders-parking-bans-around-churches-to-thwart-services/
— Colorado State Offers $1,500 Coronavirus Aid Checks to Illegal Alien Students – TOM CICCOTTA
https://www.breitbart.com/tech/2020/05/20/colorado-state-offers-1500-coronavirus-aid-checks-to-illegal-alien-students/
— Trump Cuts Illegal Immigration Strain on American Hospitals by 94 Percent – John Binder
https://www.breitbart.com/politics/2020/05/20/trump-cuts-illegal-immigration-strain-on-american-hospitals-by-94-percent/

LIFE SITE NEWS
— Pro-lifers plan protest Friday against new Chicago-area Planned Parenthood Pro-Life Action League president Eric Scheidler noted that Planned Parenthood has a history of using deception to sneak into Illinois communities.
https://www.lifesitenews.com/news/pro-lifers-plan-protest-friday-against-new-chicago-area-planned-parenthood

POLITICO
— Facebook grows, unfazed by Washington – ALEXANDRA S. LEVINE (DIERSEN: Ever-increasingly, members of the following groups promote Facebook: anti-Trump, anti-Protestant, anti-conservative, anti-patriotic, anti-Republican, anti-American, anti-White, anti-male, anti-older people, anti-heterosexuals, anti-rich people, anti-gun owners, anti-German Americans, anti-draft avoiders, and/or anti-those whose ancestors have been in America for a long time.)
https://www.politico.com/newsletters/morning-tech/2020/05/20/facebook-grows-unfazed-by-washington-787758

ASSOCIATED PRESS
— Pelosi: ‘Morbidly obese’ was taste of Trump’s ‘own medicine’ – LAURIE KELLMAN
https://apnews.com/6f658ee91cc411eb2ed54b535d35314f

NEW YORK TIMES
— FRONT PAGE TOP OF FOLD: DIERSEN HEADLINE: Trump-haters say “Lockdown Delays Cost at Least 36,000 Lives.”
https://www.nytimes.com/2020/05/20/us/coronavirus-distancing-deaths.html
— Fed Is Wary That Economic Pain Could Last, April Minutes Show – Jeanna Smialek
https://www.nytimes.com/2020/05/20/business/economy/fed-virus-economy-april-minutes.html
— As Reopening Starts, Americans Expect Recovery to Take Years Even those financially unaffected by the coronavirus shutdown don’t foresee a rapid rebound for the economy, a Times survey finds. – Ben Casselman and Jim Tankersley
https://www.nytimes.com/2020/05/20/business/economy/coronavirus-economy-survey.html
— Coronavirus Shut Down the ‘Experience Economy.’ Can It Come Back? Large-scale gatherings are on hold for the foreseeable future. That is taking a toll on the live events industry and society at large. – David Gelles
https://www.nytimes.com/2020/05/20/business/public-gathering-events-coronavirus.html
— After Coronavirus, Office Workers Might Face Unexpected Health Threats Stagnant plumbing systems in emptied commercial buildings could put returning employees at risk of Legionnaires’ and other illnesses. – Max Horberry
https://www.nytimes.com/2020/05/20/health/coronavirus-legionnaires-offices.html

WASHINGTON POST
— ‘A callous disregard for life’: GOP lawmaker kicked out of Illinois legislative session over refusal to wear mask – Meagan Flynn
https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2020/05/21/illinois-gop-lawmaker-removed-mask/
— 2.4 million Americans filed jobless claims last week, bringing nine-week total to 38.6 million Americans continue clamoring for aid as a fight has broken out in Washington about whether to renew expanded benefits past July. – Tony Romm and Jeff Stein
https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2020/05/21/unemployment-claims-coronavirus/

USA TODAY
— Millions more expected to file jobless claims, as coronavirus layoffs wind on – Charisse Jones
https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/2020/05/20/millions-more-expected-file-unemployment-amid-coronavirus/5227975002/

WALL STREET JOURNAL
— Will Bernie Take Over the Biden Campaign? Radicals handpicked by Sen. Sanders will help his old opponent decide what to believe. – Karl Rove (DIERSEN: I should write a book about “Republican” candidates, elected officials, and party leaders who talk and/or act like they are taking advice from “Republican” political consultants and campaign managers to dump voters who are Trump supporters, Protestant, conservative, patriotic, White, male, older, non-poor, gun owners, German American, draft avoiders, and those whose ancestors have been in America for a long time.)
https://www.wsj.com/articles/will-bernie-take-over-the-biden-campaign-11590016248
— Google’s Diversity Inquisition – Editorial (DIERSEN: Democrats use Affirmative Action, Diversity, Inclusion, up-or-out, budget cuts, etc. to not hire and to get rid of employees who are Republican, and especially those who are Trump supporters, Protestant, conservative, patriotic, White, male, older, non-poor, gun owners, German American, draft avoiders, and/or those whose ancestors have been in America for a long time.)

https://www.wsj.com/articles/googles-diversity-inquisition-11590016961
— Nearly Half of Adults Live in U.S. Households That Lost Income Since Lockdowns Started Census Bureau report also shows more than a third expect to lose income over next four weeks in fallout from coronavirus pandemic, despite reopening efforts – David Harrison and Paul Overberg
https://www.wsj.com/articles/nearly-half-of-u-s-households-have-lost-income-since-lockdowns-started-11589997049
— U.K. Government Sells Bonds at Negative Yield for First Time – Caitlin Ostroff
https://www.wsj.com/articles/u-k-government-sells-bonds-at-negative-yield-for-first-time-11589984194

FORBES
— OK Boomer, OK Millennial: Why We’re Not OK At Work Together – Mark C. Perna (DIERSEN: To get rid of their employees a) who were Republican, White, male, and/or non-veteran and/or b) who they had not promoted to 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, my Democrat GAO superiors encouraged their employees who were Democrat, minority, female, younger, and/or veteran to help them.)
https://www.forbes.com/sites/markcperna/2020/05/21/ok-boomer-ok-millennial-why-were-not-ok-at-work-together/#2678164426ff

PBS
— PBS documentary series takes an in-depth look at ‘how Asians shape America’ – THEODORA YU (DIERSEN: How did those who shared your national origin and your religion shape America, Illinois, your county, your township, your municipality, your municipal district, your precinct, and your neighborhood?)
https://www.sacbee.com/news/nation-world/article242856316.html

NEW YORK MAGAZINE
— Trump Threatens to Cut Off Funds for States That Expand Voting by Mail – Ed Kilgore
https://nymag.com/intelligencer/2020/05/trump-threatens-funds-for-states-expanding-by-mail-voting.html

FED SMITH
— 26.71% Federal Employee Pay Disparity Says Federal Salary Council – Ralph R. Smith (DIERSEN: How much is someone working in the private sector who has the following qualifications being paid today: a) passed the CPA and the Certified Internal Auditor examinations on their first attempt, b) has master’s degrees in business, accounting, and finance, c) became a licensed CPA, Certified Fraud Examiner, Certified Government Financial Manager, Certified Financial Services Auditor, and Forensic Accountant, and d) has 27 years of work experience. I had the aforesaid qualifications in 1997 when I was 49 years old and GAO paid me $131,532/year (GS-13, Step 10) in today’s dollars.)
https://www.fedsmith.com/2020/05/19/26-71-federal-employee-pay-disparity-says-fsc/
— Group Calls for 20% Pay Cut for All Federal Employees – Ian Smith (DIERSEN: I should write a book about those who demonize, denigrate, and condemn federal employees and federal retirees. I was a federal employee for almost 30 years and I have been a federal retiree for almost 23 years. 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.fedsmith.com/2020/05/20/group-calls-20-pay-cut-all-federal-employees/

GOVERNMENT EXECUTIVE
— Federal Advisory Group Finds Feds Are Paid 26.71% Less than Private Sector Counterparts – Erich Wagner
https://www.govexec.com/pay-benefits/2020/05/federal-advisory-group-finds-feds-are-paid-2671-less-private-sector-counterparts/165544/

BBC
— Nancy Pelosi accused of fat-shaming ‘obese’ Trump (DIERSEN: How soon, if not already, will employers and organizations officially get rid of their employees and members who have a BMI over 30, who are old, and/or who have health problems including diabetes?)
https://www.bbc.com/news/52733199

INDEPENDENT
— Economically the young are suffering most in this crisis – and they need special support coming out of it – Ben Chu (DIERSEN: But young healthy employees will benefit as employers ever-increasingly get rid of their employees who are old, who have a BMI over 30, and/or who have health problems including diabetes.)
https://www.independent.co.uk/voices/young-people-coronavirus-uk-economy-jobs-housing-generations-equity-a9521766.html

May 20 Morning Edition

ABC7
— GOP lawmakers set to challenge Gov. Pritzker’s stay-at-home order – Jessica D’Onofrio
https://abc7chicago.com/politics/il-gop-lawmakers-set-to-challenge-pritzkers-stay-at-home-order/6198318/
— Oprah donates $5M to support Chicago coronavirus fight in communities of color (DIERSEN: In your municipal district, in your municipality, in your township, and in your county, to what extent are minorities and poor people dying from coronavirus compared to Whites and rich people, and why is that?)
https://abc7chicago.com/society/oprah-donates-$5m-to-fight-covid-19-in-chicago-communities-of-color/6197541/?cmp=emc-wls-news-headlines-5/20/2020

WGN TV
— For those dealing with substance abuse, pandemic can cause more anxiety. – Dina Bair, Katharin Czink (DIERSEN: Ever-increasingly, Democrats, Libertarians, Greens, and RINOs promote substance abuse.)
https://wgntv.com/news/medical-watch/for-those-dealing-with-substance-abuse-pandemic-can-cause-more-anxiety-experts-say-reach-out-for-help/
— Temperature scanners may be the future of re-entry – Dina Bair, Katharin Czink
https://wgntv.com/news/medical-watch/temperature-scanners-may-be-the-future-of-re-entry/

CHICAGO TRIBUNE
— Illinois General Assembly returns to Springfield as pandemic drives partisan politics and rocks budget plans – RICK PEARSON, JAMIE MUNKS and DAN PETRELLA
https://www.chicagotribune.com/politics/ct-illinois-legislature-special-session-20200520-wgqpyzcv5nbzhmu2jdrjdjwyue-story.html
— Nominate your company as a Top Workplace (DIERSEN: One would expect that the more preference that employees get in a workplace, the more highly that they will rate that workplace. While I worked for the federal government for almost 30 years, my superiors were always under tremendous pressure from Democrat politicians to give preference to their employees who were Democrat, minority, female, younger, and/or veteran. Virtually all my superiors, supervisors, coworkers, and subordinates were members of one or more of the aforesaid groups.)
https://www.chicagotribune.com/business/careers/top-workplaces/ct-biz-top-workplaces-2020-nominations-20200501-bvjl4sbbjfakdp2rr5v7hj62em-story.html
— The key to restoring a robust economy: Protecting public health – Steve Chapman (DIERSEN: How strongly is/will getting rid of those who are older, who are obese, and/or who have health problems including diabetes be viewed as “protecting public health?”)
https://www.chicagotribune.com/columns/steve-chapman/ct-column-coronavirus-economy-reopen-chapman-20200515-k2gk2tbba5dutntxkf2yaurvsm-story.html
— City dwellers headed to the suburbs after pandemic? Only time will tell – DENISE CROSBY
https://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/aurora-beacon-news/opinion/ct-abn-crosby-suburban-advantage-st-0515-20200517-gigbzqwk7jgmfauau2vtsb2rv4-story.html

DAILY HERALD
— Historic legislative session amid COVID-19 crisis holds plenty of minefields – Marni Pyke
https://www.dailyherald.com/news/20200520/historic-legislative-session-amid-covid-19-crisis-holds-plenty-of-minefields
— Local governments showing public sector, too, must endure job, pay cuts – Editorial (DIERSEN: In response to Republican-led budget cuts during the 1980s and 1990s, GAO employees who were Republican, White, male, and/or non-veteran who had not made 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 were gotten rid of by the Democrats who ran GAO.)
https://www.dailyherald.com/discuss/20200520/editorial-local-governments-showing-public-sector-too-must-endure-job-pay-cuts
— McHenry County residents may choose moving to Wisconsin over paying increased property taxes – Kelli Duncan
https://www.dailyherald.com/news/20200519/mchenry-county-residents-may-choose-moving-to-wisconsin-over-paying-increased-property-taxes

CRAIN’S CHICAGO BUSINESS
— What’s on the agenda—and what’s not—as lawmakers head back to Springfield Look for a budget, a hospital assessment plan, a push for early voting and maybe a dust-up over wearing face masks. – GREG HINZ
https://www.chicagobusiness.com/greg-hinz-politics/whats-agenda-and-whats-not-lawmakers-head-back-springfield

DEKALB DAILY CHRONICLE
— Republicans hope to block rules making some business openings a crime Joint Committee on Administrative Rules to meet Wednesday – PETER HANCOCK
https://www.daily-chronicle.com/2020/05/20/republicans-hope-to-block-rules-making-some-business-openings-a-crime/av4yxiq/

WTTW & PBS
— VIDEO: Created Equal: Clarence Thomas in His Own Words
https://video.wttw.com/video/created-equal-clarence-thomas-in-his-own-words-rymp6z/
https://www.pbs.org/show/created-equal-clarence-thomas-his-own-words/

SUBURBAN LIFE
— IDPH Director Ezike says trend of new cases ‘may be going down’ for the first time Illinois now conducting more COVID-19 tests than New York, on a per capita basis – KELLI SUNCAN (DIERSEN: How soon, if not already, will employers and organizations require their employees and members who are older, who have a BMI over 30, and/or who have underlying conditions, including diabetes, to be tested before they can keep their job or membership?)
https://www.mysuburbanlife.com/2020/05/19/idph-director-ezike-says-trend-of-new-cases-may-be-going-down-for-the-first-time/a91wl56/
— AS THE DEMOCRAT PARTY’S STRANGLEHOLD ON ILLINOIS AND ON THE 6TH, 14TH, and 11TH CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICTS TIGHTENS: Casten, Underwood, Foster highlight structural inequalities in communities of color affected by COVID-19 – JOSHUA WELGE (DIERSEN: Ever-increasingly, Democrats blame Republicans for all the problems that the following have: individuals, organizations, companies, governments, and countries that 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, anti-draft avoiders, and/or anti-those whose ancestors have been in America for a long time.)
https://www.mysuburbanlife.com/2020/05/19/casten-underwood-foster-highlight-structural-inequalities-in-communities-of-color-affected-by-covid-19/aqtjnk6/

EVANSTON ROUNDTABLE
— City’s Reparations Subcommittee to Host Virtual Town Hall on May 21 (DIERSEN: If the leaders of your municipality imposed reparations, which residents would they require to pay the most reparations – those who are Trump supporters, Protestant, conservative, patriotic, Republican, American, White, male, older, heterosexual, non-poor, gun owners, German American, draft avoiders, and/or those whose ancestors have been in America for a long time?)
https://evanstonroundtable.com/Content/City-News/City-News/Article/City-s-Reparations-Subcommittee-to-Host-Virtual-Town-Hall-on-May-21/15/26/17973

COLUMBIA CHRONICLE
— Political pandemic: scope of local and national politics altered due to coronavirus – Lauren Leazenby (DIERSEN: Of course, Democrats shout at everyone that if you do not like how Trump is handling the pandemic or how he is handling anything else, vote for all the Democrats on the November 3, 2020 ballot in your precinct.)
https://columbiachronicle.com/political-pandemic-scope-of-local-and-national-politics-altered-due-to-coronavirus

CHICAGO NOW
— Illinois Rep. Darren Bailey ain’t through with Gov. Pritzker, not by a long shot – Dennis Byrne
http://www.chicagonow.com/dennis-byrnes-barbershop/2020/05/illinois-rep-darren-bailey-aint-through-with-gov-pritzker-not-by-a-long-shot/

POLITICO ILLINOIS
— Joint Statement in Opposition to Emergency Rules Filed by Pritzker Administration – Illinois Senate Republican Caucus and Illinois House Republican Caucus (DIERSEN: Anti-conservative Republican organizations, anti-conservative Republican candidates, and anti-conservative Republican elected officials in Illinois a) fail/refuse to keep diersen@aol.com on their press advisory and press release lists and b) pander to Rich Miller and the rest of the Democrat news media in Illinois. I should write a book about the aforesaid.)
https://www.politico.com/f/?id=00000172-31bb-dc3e-aff6-3dbf7eff0000&nname=illinois-playbook&nid=00000150-1596-d4ac-a1d4-179e288b0000&nrid=00000150-705d-d7de-afdb-7d7f3ea90001&nlid=639163

WIREPOINTS
— COVID-19 spreads to half of all Chicagoland retirement homes. How did this happen? – Ted Dabrowski and John Klingner
https://wirepoints.org/covid-19-spreads-to-half-of-all-chicagoland-retirement-homes-how-did-this-happen-wirepoints/
— “People are waking up. Overwhelmingly people are indignant about this emergency rule.” – Mark Glennon with Steve Cortes
https://wirepoints.org/people-are-waking-up-overwhelmingly-people-are-indignant-about-this-emergency-rule-mark-glennon-with-steve-cortes/

ILLINOIS LEAKS
— Legal Dubiousness of En Masse State Lock-Downs and “Shelter-in-Place” Orders as a Response to COVID-19 – JOHN KRAFT
https://edgarcountywatchdogs.com/2020/05/legal-dubiousness-of-en-masse-state-lock-downs-and-shelter-in-place-orders-as-a-response-to-covid-19/

ILLINOIS FAMILY ACTION
— Pritzker, Planned Parenthood, and the Pandemic – Laurie Higgins
https://illinoisfamilyaction.org/2020/05/pritzker-planned-parenthood-and-the-pandemic/

ILLINOIS FAMILY ACTION
— ILLINOIS HAS MOST CORONAVIRUS RESTRICTIONS IN COUNTRY: STUDY
https://www.illinoisreview.com/illinoisreview/2020/05/illinois-has-most-coronavirus-restrictions-in-country-study.html

WASHINGTON EXAMINER
— Pelosi bails out Post Office in name of coronavirus relief – Ryan Ellis
https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/opinion/pelosi-bails-out-post-office-in-name-of-coronavirus-relief

WASHINGTON FREE BEACON
— Minnesota Governor Stonewalls Conservative Journalist Democrat Tim Walz has refused to tell a conservative journalist why his office isn’t allowing him to participate in the state’s coronavirus briefings – Collin Anderson (DIERSEN: I should write a book about those who have treated me like I am not a journalist, that is, those who have accused me of falsely claiming to be a journalist. Better yet, I should sue them. I would focus on activists, candidates, elected officials, party leaders, major donors, political consultants, campaign managers, etc. who claim to be religious, conservative, and/or Republican. I would focus on those who pander to Rich Miller and to the rest of the Democrat news media in Illinois.)
https://freebeacon.com/coronavirus/minnesota-governor-stonewalls-conservative-journalist/
— Joe Biden Just Urged a Majority of Americans Not to Vote for Him A lot of voters think Tara Reade is telling the truth, polls show
https://freebeacon.com/satire/joe-biden-tara-reade-poll/

FOX NEWS
— Illinois governor’s family firm owns stake in companies involved in coronavirus testing – Andrew O’Reilly
https://www.foxnews.com/politics/illinois-governors-family-firm-owns-stake-in-companies-conducting-coronavirus-testing

GOPUSA
— Would Americans Submit To A Second Lockdown? – Patrick J. Buchanan
https://www.gopusa.com/?p=89050

FREEDOM’S JOURNAL
— THEY SHOOT OLD PEOPLE, DON’T THEY? – Patrick Hall (DIERSEN: Who works the hardest to promote age discrimination in your municipal district, in your municipality, in your township, in your county, and in Illinois? I should write a book about those in Wheaton’s West District, Wheaton, Milton Township, DuPage County, and Illinois who work the hardest to promote age discrimination. I would focus on those who are older, anti-Trump, anti-Protestant, anti-conservative, anti-patriotic, anti-Republican, anti-American, anti-White, anti-male, anti-rich people, anti-gun owners, anti-German Americans, anti-draft avoiders, and/or anti-those whose ancestors have been in America for a long time.
https://freedomsjournalinstitute.org/latest-news/opinion/they-shoot-old-people-dont-they/

DAILY CALLER
— Trump Tells Governors He’ll ‘Step In’ If They Fumble Reopening Plans – WILLIAM DAVIS
https://dailycaller.com/2020/05/19/trump-governors-step-in-reopening-coronavirus/

TOWNHALL
— Contact Tracing? No Thanks. – John and Andy Schlafly
https://townhall.com/columnists/johnandandyschlafly/2020/05/20/contact-tracing-no-thanks-n2569115

PJ MEDIA
— California Governor to Feds: Give Us the Money or the First Responders ‘Get It’ – VICTORIA TAFT (DIERSEN: During the 1980s and 1990s, the Democrats who ran GAO made it very clear that if Republicans cut GAO’s budget, they would use those cuts to get rid of GAO employees who were Republican, White, male, and/or non-veteran who they had not promoted to 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://pjmedia.com/news-and-politics/victoria-taft/2020/05/19/california-governor-to-feds-give-us-the-money-or-the-first-responders-get-it-n408022

LIFE SITE NEWS
— Chinese government scheming to spread influence inside America, Pompeo warns The Chinese Communist Party is striving to embed itself in U.S. institutions, Trump’s secretary of state declared, and ‘we’re doing everything we can to push back against that.’ – Calvin Freiburger
https://www.lifesitenews.com/news/chinese-government-scheming-to-spread-influence-inside-america-pompeo-warns

NATIONAL REVIEW
— COVID-19 Makes the Reinvigoration of American Manufacturing a National-Security Concern – VARSHA KODUVAYUR & GREG EVERETT
https://www.nationalreview.com/2020/05/coronavirus-reinvigorating-american-manufacturing-national-security-concern/

THE HILL
— Chicago blocks church parking lots to enforce stay-at-home order – JUSTINE COLEMAN
https://thehill.com/homenews/state-watch/498475-chicago-blocks-church-parking-lots-to-enforce-stay-at-home-order

POLITICO
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: A Trump-hater says “Trump’s push to reopen schools and day care gets chilly reception from voters.”
https://www.politico.com/news/2020/05/19/trumps-push-to-reopen-schools-and-day-care-gets-chilly-reception-from-voters-269430

CNN
— Nancy Pelosi called President Trump ‘morbidly obese.’ Is he? – Chris Cillizza (DIERSEN: How soon, if not already, will employers and organizations officially get rid of their employees and members who have a BMI over 30, who are old, and/or who have health problems including diabetes?)
https://www.cnn.com/2020/05/19/politics/nancy-pelosi-donald-trump-fat-hydroxychloroquine/index.html
(FROM THE ARTICLE: Generally speaking, it defines obesity as having a Body Mass Index (BMI) of 30 or higher. (BMI is calculated by taking “a person’s weight in kilograms divided by the square of height in meters,” according to the CDC website.) Within “obese,” the CDC has three distinctions: 1) Those with a BMI between 30 and 35 2) those with a BMI between 35 and 40 and 3) those with a BMI over 40, which the CDC categorizes as having “extreme” or “severe” obesity. While the CDC doesn’t describe that third category as “morbid obesity,” it is referred to that way by other sites including Web MD (aka the scourge of every hypochondriac’s life). How large would you need to be to qualify as having “severe” or “morbid” obesity? According to this BMI calculator, a 6 foot tall man weighing 300 pounds would have a BMI of 41 — and would be considered in a state of “morbid” obesity. Which is not Donald Trump, at least according to the White House physician. In his February 2019 annual physical, Trump, who is 6’3″, tipped the scales at 243 pounds. That gave him a BMI of 30.4 — just over the edge of obesity but far from the technical definition of “severe” or “extreme” (or “morbid”) obesity.)

REUTERS
— Crucial Latino voters seek more attention from Biden – Saundra Amrhein, Simon Lewis (DIERSEN: To promote preference giving is to reject equal opportunity. To give preference to one group is to discriminate against another group. To give preference to Latinos is to discriminate against Blacks, Asians, Whites, etc. To give preference to women, younger people, people who have less money, non-Protestants, non-German Americans, non-draft avoiders, and/or to those whose ancestors have not been in America for a long time is to discriminate against men, older people, people who have more money, Protestants, German Americans, draft avoiders, and/or those whose ancestors have been in America for a long time.)
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-election-latinos/crucial-latino-voters-seek-more-attention-from-biden-idUSKBN22V1B2?il=0

NEW YORK TIMES
— Emulating Democrats, G.O.P. Ties House Hopes to Diverse Recruits “We need candidates other than boring old white people”: House Republicans are betting on a group of diverse candidates with compelling biographies to help them reclaim lost seats. – Catie Edmondson (DIERSEN: How soon, if not already, will the Republican National Committee, Illinois Republican Party, DuPage County Republican Central Committee, Milton Township Republican Organization, etc. officially dump those who are Trump supporters, Protestant, conservative, patriotic, Republican, American, White, male, older, non-poor, gun owners, German American, draft avoiders, those whose ancestors have been in America for a long time, those who are obese, and those who have health problems including diabetes?)

https://www.nytimes.com/2020/05/19/us/politics/republicans-house-diversity-election.html
— Race and income are the key factors that decide who dies from Covid-19 and who survives – Michael Schwirtz and Lindsey Rogers Cook (DIERSEN: In your municipal district, in your municipality, in your township, and in your county, to what extent are minorities and poor people dying from Covid-19 compared to Whites and rich people, and why is that?)
https://www.nytimes.com/2020/05/18/nyregion/coronavirus-deaths-nyc.html

https://www.nytimes.com/2020/05/19/us/politics/republicans-house-diversity-election.html
— The Right of the People to Protest Lockdown Although some states have tried to ban them, anti-lockdown demonstrations are protected by the First Amendment. – Floyd Abrams and John Langford (DIERSEN: Ever-increasingly, if you protest lockdowns, members of the following groups call you a White supremacist, Nazi, KKK member, hater, racist, sexist, bigot, and even worse things: 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, ant-draft avoiders, and/or anti-those whose ancestors have been in America for a long time.)
https://www.nytimes.com/2020/05/19/opinion/coronavirus-first-amendment-protests.html

NEW YORK DAILY NEWS
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: A Trump-hater says “Trumpites dish out abuse, but they can’t take it: On the reaction to Pelosi’s morbidly obese crack.”‘
https://www.nydailynews.com/opinion/ny-oped-trumpites-dish-out-abuse-cant-take-it-20200519-ulfp2isuqzgl7fugza6uc2jhza-story.html

DETROIT NEWS
— Trump visit to Rawsonville Ford plant will proceed despite governor’s order – Keith Laing
https://www.detroitnews.com/story/business/autos/2020/05/19/trump-visit-rawsonville-ford-plant-proceed-despite-governors-order/5221559002/

MISSOULIAN
— Employment and stigma of those who are sick – BECKY FRANKS (DIERSEN: While I worked for the federal government for almost 30 years, I had better health than most, if not virtually all, of my Democrat superiors, supervisors, coworkers, and subordinates. Of course, they hinted/implied/argued/shouted that I did not earn or disserve my good health. Many hinted/implied/argued/shouted that if I had not avoided the draft, I would not have had good health.)
https://missoulian.com/opinion/columnists/employment-and-stigma-of-those-who-are-sick/article_d7dd82b2-1841-5978-a0ac-189195f16c45.html

WALL STREET JOURNAL
— U.S. Birthrates Fall to Record Low Last year’s data are another sign of how American childbearing, which began declining during the 2007-09 recession, never fully rebounded – Janet Adamy
https://www.wsj.com/articles/u-s-birthrates-fall-to-record-low-11589947260
— U.S. Economic Recovery Will Drag On Through Next Year, CBO Says Congressional Budget Office sees sharpest labor-market deterioration since 1930s amid coronavirus – Paul Kiernan
https://www.wsj.com/articles/u-s-economy-likely-to-shrink-5-6-this-year-amid-coronavirus-cbo-says-11589918370
— ‘One Mighty and Irresistible Tide’ Review: How They Became Us Deciding exactly whom we should welcome to our shores is a matter of ever-shifting public debate and ever-changing public sentiment. – Philip Terzian (DIERSEN: Ever-increasingly, under the Democrats, immigrants 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 for a long time.)
https://www.wsj.com/articles/one-mighty-and-irresistible-tide-review-how-they-became-us-11589927080

BLOOMBERG
— Ford Backs Off Mask-Wearing Requirement for Trump’s Factory Tour – Keith Naughton and Jordan Fabian
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-05-19/ford-says-trump-will-be-expected-to-wear-a-mask-on-plant-tour

FORBES
— The Pandemic Paradox For Older Workers – Richard Eisenberg (DIERSEN: How soon, if not already, will employers and organizations officially get rid of their employees and members who have a BMI over 30, who are old, and/or who have health problems including diabetes?)
https://www.forbes.com/sites/nextavenue/2020/05/19/the-pandemic-paradox-for-older-workers/#6b68de16dee7

NATIONAL LAW REVIEW
— COVID-19: Plan Now For Bringing Back Your Workforce (DIERSEN: How soon, if not already, will employers and organizations officially get rid of their employees and members who have a BMI over 30, who are old, and/or who have health problems including diabetes?)
https://www.natlawreview.com/article/covid-19-plan-now-bringing-back-your-workforce-part-iv
(FROM THE ARTICLE: Before we discuss the guidance itself, we offer this important context. Some epidemiologists and other experts note that the most important metric relating to resuming more full-scale economic activity is getting the rate of spread down to less than one new infection per existing infection. This is known as the R0 factor. The Massachusetts High Tech Council, for example, recommends that to get that metric to R<1, employers should segment their workforces by vulnerability to COVID-19, bringing back younger and healthier workers first, and workers over 60 or with certain medical conditions last. The goals are laudable: to continue driving down the infection rate and protect the health care system. But is the practice legal?)
— Risky Business: COVID-19 Employment Litigation Claims Will Be on the Rise (DIERSEN: How soon, if not already, will employers and organizations officially get rid of their employees and members who have a BMI over 30, who are old, and/or who have health problems including diabetes?)
https://www.natlawreview.com/article/risky-business-covid-19-employment-litigation-claims-will-be-rise

INSURANCE JOURNAL
— U.S. Employers Shying Away From Using Coronavirus ‘Immunity’ Tests in Reopening – Caroline Humer and Timothy Aeppel (DIERSEN: How soon, if not already, will employers and organizations officially get rid of their employees and members who have a BMI over 30, who are old, and/or who have health problems including diabetes?)
https://www.insurancejournal.com/news/national/2020/05/19/568971.htm

POLITIFACT
— Donald Trump doesn’t meet the definition of morbidly obese – Emily Venezky (DIERSEN: How soon, if not already, will employers and organizations officially get rid of their employees and members who have a BMI over 30, who are old, and/or who have health problems including diabetes?)
https://www.politifact.com/factchecks/2020/may/19/nancy-pelosi/no-he-not-morbidly-obese/
(FROM THE ARTICLE: Officially, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention does not define the threshold needed for someone to be considered “morbidly obese.” Instead, the CDC says that “Class 3” obesity, sometimes categorized as “extreme” or “severe” obesity, is defined as having a body-mass index, or BMI, of 40 or higher. Other medical sources list a definition of “morbidly obese” as equivalent to a BMI of 40 or higher. Some available data about Trump comes from his most recent periodic physical exam. In a 2019 memo, Trump’s physician Dr. Sean Conley said Trump was 6 feet, 3 inches tall and 243 pounds. Trump, who was 72 at the time, had gained 4 pounds since his 2018 exam, when his previous doctor, Ronny Jackson, said Trump’s “overall health is excellent” but “he would benefit from a diet that is lower in fat and carbohydrates and from a routine exercise regimen.” Officially, Trump’s height and weight would correlate to a BMI of 30.1, just a bit over the 30.0 level to be considered obese — the lowest of three levels. That is not high enough to count as Class 3 obesity.)

JD SUPRA
— Avoiding Potential Workplace Claims Arising from Reopening of Businesses (DIERSEN: How soon, if not already, will employers and organizations officially get rid of their employees and members who have a BMI over 30, who are old, and/or who have health problems including diabetes?)
https://www.jdsupra.com/legalnews/avoiding-potential-workplace-claims-54653/

LAWYERS
— Protecting Your Business From Employment Discrimination Claims – Gregory G. Brown (DIERSEN: Political affiliation discrimination, reverse discrimination, and age discrimination were the real reasons why my Democrat superiors in the federal government got rid their employees who were Republican, White, male, and/or non-veteran who they had not promoted to 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://blogs.lawyers.com/attorney/business-law/protecting-your-business-from-employment-discrimination-claims-62441/

MASSACHUSETTS LAWYERS WEEKLY
— Employment – Age discrimination – Pretext (DIERSEN: Political affiliation discrimination, reverse discrimination, and age discrimination were the real reasons why my Democrat superiors in the federal government got rid their employees who were Republican, White, male, and/or non-veteran who they had not promoted to 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://masslawyersweekly.com/2020/05/19/employment-age-discrimination-pretext-13/

May19 Evening Edition

ABC7
— Coronavirus Illinois Live: COVID-19 cases top 98K with over 4K deaths as Republicans criticize Pritzker’s order allowing businesses to be penalized – Jessica D’Onofrio
https://abc7chicago.com/society/illinois-covid-19-cases-top-96k-with-over-4k-deaths-/6195552/?cmp=emc-wls-news-headlines-5/19/2020
— Reopening Illinois: Rockford mayor calls for restaurants, childcare facilities to reopen on June 1 – Diane Pathieu
https://abc7chicago.com/business/rockford-mayor-calls-for-restaurants-childcare-facilities-to-reopen-on-june-1/6196016/

NBC5
— Lawmakers Can Be Kicked Out of House for Not Wearing a Mask Under Madigan’s Proposed Rules At least three Republicans in the House had previously indicated that they would not be wearing face coverings when legislators return to Springfield on Wednesday
https://www.nbcchicago.com/news/local/chicago-politics/lawmakers-can-be-kicked-out-of-house-for-not-wearing-a-mask-under-madigans-proposed-rules/2274775/
— Illinois Hits Significant Coronavirus Testing Milestone
https://www.nbcchicago.com/news/coronavirus/illinois-hits-significant-coronavirus-testing-milestone/2274786/
— Illinois GOP Says Graduated Tax ‘Cash Grab’ Will Stifle Pandemic Recovery – John O’Connor
https://www.nbcchicago.com/news/local/chicago-politics/illinois-gop-says-graduated-tax-cash-grab-will-stifle-pandemic-recovery/2274493/
— Illinois Bar Sent Cease and Desist After Opening in Defiance of Stay-at-Home Order JB’s Hideout in Blue Mound, located just outside of Decatur and near Springfield, opened up on Friday for what owner Jason Bliesner called an “anti-corona party”
https://www.nbcchicago.com/news/local/illinois-bar-sent-cease-and-desist-after-opening-in-defiance-of-stay-at-home-order/2274563/
— States Accused of Fudging or Bungling COVID-19 Testing Data The result is Americans who are making decisions about reopening and other day-to-day risks are being left with a false impression – Michelle R. Smith, Colleen Long and Jeff Amy
https://www.nbcchicago.com/news/coronavirus/states-accused-of-fudging-or-bungling-covid-19-testing-data/2274807/

FOX NEWS CHICAGO
— Illinois overtakes NY in COVID-19 testing per capita; state on track for Phase 3 by May 31
https://www.fox32chicago.com/news/illinois-overtakes-ny-in-covid-19-testing-per-capita-state-on-track-for-phase-3-by-may-31

CHICAGO TRIBUNE
— Pritzker says state now leads nation in per capita daily COVID-19 tests as officials report 1,545 new known cases and 146 more deaths
https://www.chicagotribune.com/coronavirus/ct-coronavirus-pandemic-chicago-illinois-news-20200519-tclvoywcnre3tb5cpvwedj2hkm-story.html
— The glaring hole in Springfield’s to-do list: A corruption cleanup bill – Editorial
https://www.chicagotribune.com/opinion/editorials/ct-edit-illinois-corruption-ethics-reform-20200519-u4dqm7b435fepa6plbhqzev2wy-story.html
— Will masks be a magnet for racial profiling? Some African Americans put in a tough spot – NAOMI ISHISAKA
https://www.chicagotribune.com/opinion/commentary/ct-opinion-coronavirus-masks-racism-20200519-bactfujmgvfhdazfvpn337lhmi-story.html

CHICAGO SUN-TIMES
— 146 more Illinois coronavirus deaths, but state still on track for next stage of reopening
https://chicago.suntimes.com/2020/5/19/21263435/latest-coronavirus-news-live-updates-chicago-illinois-2020
— Madigan to make masks a must? Speaker wants bare-faced members booted from session “Staff and members of the public not observing the rules will be asked to leave the premises immediately,” Madigan said “I look forward to focusing on the critical work needed to ensure our state can continue to respond to the COVID-19 health crisis and provide relief to people struggling around the state and not on needless distractions.” – Mitchell Armentrou
https://chicago.suntimes.com/politics/2020/5/19/21264048/madigan-springfield-house-masks-face-speaker-session-bailey-covid-19-coronavirus
— A pandemic does not suspend the rule of law Courts are beginning to recognize that a government’s public health powers, while broad, are not a blank check. – Jacob Sullum
https://chicago.suntimes.com/columnists/2020/5/19/21264001/pandemic-rule-law-personal-liberties-constitution

DAILY HERALD
— 146 more dead from COVID-19, another 1,545 infections reported – Jake Griffin
https://www.dailyherald.com/news/20200519/146-more-dead-from-covid-19-another-1545-infections-reported
— Bipartisan group seeks to reduce size of DuPage County Board – Robert Sanchez
https://www.dailyherald.com/news/20200519/bipartisan-group-seeks-to-reduce-size-of-dupage-county-board
— Elmhurst mayor to governor: Let us reopen sooner – Bob Smith
https://www.dailyherald.com/news/20200519/elmhurst-mayor-to-governor-let-us-reopen-sooner

NORTHWEST HERALD
— Franks fined after refusing to disclose details about Illinois Integrity Fund ‘Friendly contempt’ order allows county board chairman to seek additional appeal – KATIE SMITH
https://www.nwherald.com/2020/05/19/franks-fined-after-refusing-to-disclose-details-about-illinois-integrity-fund/avvknv6/

SOUTHERN
— Illinois Republicans hope to block rules that making some business openings a crime – PETER HANCOCK
https://thesouthern.com/news/local/govt-and-politics/illinois-republicans-hope-to-block-rules-that-making-some-business-openings-a-crime/article_e9a238a3-42fb-59d7-8848-45126f32814c.html

ALTON DAILY NEWS
— Illinois GOP Take on Governor – Cole Lauterbach
http://altondailynews.com/news/details.cfm?clientid=17&id=304228#.XsRAfSN_OM8

NAPERVILLE COMMUNITY TELEVISION
— DuPage County Sheriff’s Office Won’t Enforce Stay-At-Home Order
https://www.nctv17.com/news/dupage-county-sheriffs-department-wont-enforce-stay-at-home-order/
— Chamber of Commerce hosts Virtual Town Hall with Lawmakers
https://www.nctv17.com/news/chamber-of-commerce-hosts-virtual-town-hall-with-lawmakers/

WTMJ-TV MILWAUKEE
— Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker has been spending time in Wisconsin during quarantine – Tess Klein
https://www.tmj4.com/news/coronavirus/illinois-governor-has-been-spending-time-in-wisconsin-during-quarantine

WREX
— Pritzker expresses concerns after Reopen Illinois rallies – Mike Miletich
https://wrex.com/2020/05/19/pritzker-expresses-concerns-after-reopen-illinois-rallies/

WSIL TV
— President Trump calls out Pritzker for coronavirus response efforts
https://wsiltv.com/2020/05/19/president-trump-calls-out-pritzker-for-coronavirus-response-efforts/

ILLINOIS PATCH
— Illinois Has Most Coronavirus Restrictions In Country: Study Here’s how strict Illinois has been with its stay-at-home order compared to other U.S. states, according to WalletHub. – Rebecca Bream
https://patch.com/illinois/across-il/illinois-has-most-coronavirus-restrictions-country-study

ELMHURST PATCH
— Elmhurst Mayor Keeps Emergency Powers The City Council extends the emergency powers for Mayor Steve Morley, who is calling for the governor to end his stay-at-home order. – David Giuliani
https://patch.com/illinois/elmhurst/elmhurst-mayor-keeps-emergency-powers

UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO NEWS
— Will coronavirus-related job losses eventually return? Chicago Booth scholar estimates 42% of pandemic-related layoffs could be permanent
https://news.uchicago.edu/story/will-coronavirus-related-job-losses-eventually-return

MCHENRY COUNTY BLOG
— Jack Franks Held in Indirect Contempt of Court & Fined $100 a Day for Refusing to Answer Questions in Illinois Integrity Fund Suit by County Clerk Joe Tirio
http://mchenrycountyblog.com/2020/05/19/jack-fr-anks-held-in-indirect-contempt-of-court-fined-100-a-day-for-refusing-to-answer-questions-in-illinois-integrity-fund-suit-by-county-clerk-joe-tirio/
— Millionaire Jack Franks Wants to Cut Salaries of Lower Income Elected Officials
http://mchenrycountyblog.com/2020/05/19/millionaire-jack-franks-wants-to-cut-salaries-of-lower-income-elected-officials/
— Photos from Woodstock’s Friday Rally Against Pritzker’s Coronavirus Order
http://mchenrycountyblog.com/2020/05/18/photos-from-woodstocks-friday-rally-against-pritzkers-coronavirus-order/

ILLINOIS LEAKS
— Governor Pritzker’s financial disclosure raises questions – you may not like the answer – KIRK ALLEN
https://edgarcountywatchdogs.com/2020/05/governor-pritzkers-financial-disclosure-raises-questions-you-may-not-like-the-answer/
— Pritzker’s nightmare hit the court docket in Clay County today – Legal Brief in Support of Darren Bailey Motion for Summary Judgment – KIRK ALLEN
https://edgarcountywatchdogs.com/2020/05/pritzkers-nightmare-hit-the-court-docket-in-clay-county-today-legal-brief-in-support-of-darren-bailey-motion-for-summary-judgment/

CAPITOL FAX
— JB’s Hideout gets hit with a cease and desist order
https://capitolfax.com/2020/05/19/jb-cannot-hide-out-at-jbs-hideout/
— 1,545 new cases, 146 additional deaths
https://capitolfax.com/2020/05/19/1545-new-cases-146-additional-deaths/
— Dr. Ezike upbeat about latest numbers – Pritzker says no to lump-sum budget – Dr. Ezike talks data challenges, death counts – With $240 million spent on purchases, Pritzker says state watching for fraud – Pritzker says new emergency rule will be re-tooled in 10 days – Refuses to bend to mayors – Dr. Ezike talks excess deaths – “Disgusted by the failure of so many people” to call out extremism at rallies – Will be in Springfield Wednesday – “Optimistic that we are falling from a peak” – Dr. Ezike says it will take some time to see if peak has passed – “The very definition of a blind trust is that it’s blind” – Again commits to making full pension payment – Defends decision not to cut staff – Addresses mask scam – Can’t do widespread testing without more tests – Dr. Ezike says feds urge go-slow on nursing home visits
https://capitolfax.com/2020/05/19/dr-ezike-upbeat-about-latest-numbers-pritzker-says-no-to-lump-sum-budget/
— COVID-19 roundup
https://capitolfax.com/2020/05/19/covid-19-roundup-41/
— Madigan proposes changes to House rules requiring masks, temperature checks – Violators could be removed by vote of the chamber
https://capitolfax.com/2020/05/19/madigan-proposes-changes-to-house-rules-requiring-masks-temperature-checks-violators-could-be-removed-by-vote-of-the-chamber/
— Some of what you can expect this week
https://capitolfax.com/2020/05/19/some-of-what-you-can-expect-this-week/
— A poorly drafted rule is causing unnecessary panic and may even be unneeded
https://capitolfax.com/2020/05/19/a-poorly-drafted-rule-is-causing-unnecessary-panic-and-may-even-be-unneeded/

BLAZE
— House Democrats just informed the Supreme Court that they may impeach President Trump again by the end of this year – Phil Shiver
https://www.theblaze.com/news/house-democrats-may-impeach-trump-again
— California governor says first responders will be ‘first ones laid off’ without federal government bailout Economic shutdowns taking their toll – Aaron Colen (DIERSEN: GAO employees who were Republican, White, male, and/or non-veteran who had not made 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 were gotten rid of first by the Democrats who ran GAO in response to Republican-led budget cuts during the 1980s and 1990s.)
https://www.theblaze.com/news/california-governor-first-responders-laid-off-bailout

NEWSMAX
— Rep. Rodney Davis to Newsmax TV: Dems Want to Weaponize Election Process With Ballot Harvesting – Solange Reyner
https://www.newsmax.com/newsmax-tv/democrats-davis-trump-election/2020/05/18/id/967934/

JP MEDIA
— IL Governor Pritzker Announces What Will Happen to Business People Who Defy Restrictions – RICK MORAN
https://pjmedia.com/news-and-politics/rick-moran/2020/05/19/il-governor-pritzer-will-jail-business-people-who-defy-restrictions-n404232

NATIONAL REVIEW
— How Long Should We Keep Bribing People Not to Work? – ROBERT VERBRUGGEN
https://www.nationalreview.com/2020/05/how-long-should-we-keep-bribing-people-not-to-work/

ATLANTIC
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: A Trump-hater says “We Can Prevent a Great Depression. It’ll Take $10 Trillion. Don’t think of that number as “big” or “bold.” Just think of it as the appropriate dosage for a once-in-a-century economic affliction.”
https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2020/05/we-can-prevent-a-great-depression-itll-take-10-trillion/611749/

May 19 Morning Edition

ABC7
— Illinois gun sales surge amid coronavirus pandemic, shop owners say; upswing echoed nationwide – Chuck Goudie and Barb Markoff, Christine Tressel, and Ross Weidner
https://abc7chicago.com/covid-19-fuels-gun-sales-surge-in-illinois-and-nationwide-shop-owners-say/6194802/

CHICAGO TRIBUNE
— Talk of the County: Government assistance allows people to ‘spend all of the extra money on marijuana, alcohol, cigarettes and gambling’
https://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/lake-county-news-sun/opinion/ct-lns-talk-of-county-st-0520-20200518-qwdw56almzdejdqboy4dnjysue-story.html
— DISGUSTING, TRAGIC: Southland colleges offer courses for cannabis industry job seekers and aspiring entrepreneurs – FRANCINE KNOWLES
https://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/daily-southtown/opinion/ct-sta-knowles-column-st-0519-20200518-lnpxugzjnngefbn47l44lk2s6a-story.html
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: A Trump-hater says “Rushing to reopen the economy won’t help American workers — it will kill them.”
https://www.chicagotribune.com/opinion/ct-nyt-opinion-coronavirus-reopen-economy-workers-20200518-va75vbwvx5gkddihk5tfqv7zou-story.html

CHICAGO SUN-TIMES
— Rep. Garcia urges Gov. J.B. Pritzker to ensure Illinois Hispanics are hired as contact tracers Garcia said, “Keep in mind, Governor, there is a body of these folks who are experienced, who people trust and they know how to knock on doors when it is safe to do so.”- Lynn Sweet (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.)
https://chicago.suntimes.com/coronavirus/2020/5/18/21263129/rep-jesus-chuy-garcia-urges-gov-j-b-pritzker-to-hire-illinois-hispanic-contact-tracers
— Mike Ditka’s restaurant in Gold Coast is closing COVID-19 and a short-term lease are blamed for “the extremely difficult decision.” – Darel Jevens
https://chicago.suntimes.com/2020/5/18/21263210/ditkas-closes-restaurant-chicago-gold-coast-chestnut-mike

CRAIN’S CHICAGO BUSINESS
— It’s time for Illinois to start rethinking ‘normal’ We cannot afford to hide from this virus forever. Living with it is our best hope, most likely for many months to come. And so, it is time for a new approach and, in some cases, to recalibrate our thinking. – Editorial
https://www.chicagobusiness.com/opinion/its-time-illinois-start-rethinking-normal

WBBM
— Top Mayoral Aide Says COVID-19 Pandemic To Cost Chicago ‘Probably In Excess Of $500 Million’ – KEITH JOHNSON
https://wbbm780.radio.com/articles/top-mayoral-aid-covid-19-to-cost-chicago-in-excess-of-500m

SPRINGFIELD STATE JOURNAL REGISTER
— What to expect when legislature returns Wednesday – Kade Heather
https://www.sj-r.com/news/20200518/what-to-expect-when-legislature-returns-wednesday

BELLEVILLE NEWS DEMOCRAT
— Plummer accuses Pritzker of creating ‘autocracy’ – MIKE KOZIATEK AND HANA MUSLIC
https://www.bnd.com/news/coronavirus/article242803566.html

KANKAKEE DAILY JOURNAL
— Census outreach ‘incredibly stymied’ by COVID-19 pandemic – Jerry Nowicki
https://www.daily-journal.com/news/local/census-outreach-incredibly-stymied-by-covid-19-pandemic/article_05f91d08-98ed-11ea-86c6-13c6256917ec.html

SUBURBAN LIFE
— Pritzker to critics of emergency rule: Defying IDPH rules was already a misdemeanor IDPH: 59 more COVID-19 deaths, 2,294 new confirmed cases – SEAN HAMMOND
https://www.mysuburbanlife.com/2020/05/18/pritzker-to-critics-of-emergency-rule-defying-idph-rules-was-already-a-misdemeanor/am46rmh/

FOX ILLINOIS
— Businesses violating stay-at-home order could be cited, fined
https://foxillinois.com/news/local/businesses-violating-stay-at-home-order-could-be-cited-fined

NEWS CHANNEL 20
— Illinois Republicans upset with Gov. Pritzker’s power – Matt Roy (DIERSEN: If Rauner had done what Pritzker has done, the Democrats would have removed him from office by now.)
https://newschannel20.com/news/local/illinois-republicans-upset-with-gov-pritzkers-power

WSPY
— Illinois GOP Again Push to Remove Graduated Income Tax Amendment From November Ballot; Legislators Send Letter on Mental Health
http://www.wspynews.com/news/local/illinois-gop-again-push-to-remove-graduated-income-tax-amendment-from-november-ballot-legislators-send/article_fa1ae5c2-99d0-11ea-bb9f-23c3e0bae433.html

WEEK
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: Ever-increasingly, Trump-haters promote hatred against those who do not hate Trump.
https://week.com/2020/05/19/theres-no-place-for-hatred-in-our-state-addressing-the-trend-at-reopen-illinois-rallies/

NORTHEASTERN ILLINOIS INDEPENDENT
— Four Illinois counties to vote on secession from Chicago. What if they succeed? – Matthew Rago (DIERSEN: Do the leaders of your county want secession from Chicago or do they want to get rid of the county’s residents, organizations, companies, and governments that are Trump supporters, Protestant, conservative, patriotic, Republican, American, White, male, older, non- poor, gun owners, German American, and/or those whose ancestors have been in America for a long time?)
https://neiuindependent.org/16823/opinions/four-illinois-counties-to-vote-on-secession-from-chicago-what-if-they-succeed/

WISCONSIN EXAMINER
— Trump’s defamation suits pose a chilling prospect for the press The eyes of the nation turn to Rhinelander, WI — population 7,632 – Bob Lewis (DIERSEN: In your municipal district, in your municipality, in your township, and in your county, who takes the lead in defaming people? I should write a book about those in Wheaton’s West District, Wheaton, Milton Township, and DuPage County who take the lead in defaming people. I would focus on those who have lots of religious, government, political, and/or financial clout. I would focus on those who paint themselves as being religious, conservative, and/or Republican to give themselves standing to defame those who are religious, conservatives, and/or Republican. Of course, they have their operatives and their dupes do their dirty work, so I would focus on them too.)
https://wisconsinexaminer.com/2020/04/27/trumps-defamation-suits-pose-a-chilling-prospect-for-the-press/

CHICAGO LAW BULLETIN
— FROM THE ARTICLE: 38 out of 177 lawmakers in the 101st Illinois General Assembly as attorneys.
https://www.chicagolawbulletin.com/getdoc/58ee96b1-7f43-4a61-afa5-e8b007b1f0d0/introducing-lawyers-in-the-legislature-20200515

ROBERT FEDER
— WIND’s Amy Jacobson barred from governor’s media briefings (DIERSEN: I do not claim to be impartial. I am conservative and I state that I am conservative. I am Republican and I state that I am Republican. It is called full disclosure. According to Democrats and to according RINOs, only those who claim to be impartial can be journalists or reporters. I should write a book about mainstream journalists and mainstream reporters who falsely claim to be impartial. They talk, act, and/or write like they are not only liberal and/or Democrat, but like they are anti-conservative and/or anti-Republican. Further, I should write a book about pot pushers who have lots of religious, government, political, and/or financial clout in DuPage County who sided with other pot pushers against me when I spoke out against pot at a DuPage County Board meeting last year. They said that lobbyists cannot be journalists or reporters. They said that I was a lobbyist, and that therefore, I was not a journalist or a reporter, that is, they charged me with failing to register as a lobbyist with the State of Illinois. They know that by definition, lobbyists are paid to lobby and that I have never been paid to lobby. I should have sued them.)
https://www.robertfeder.com/2020/05/19/winds-amy-jacobson-barred-governors-media-briefings/
(FROM THE ARTICLE: Jacobson’s participation prompted others in the media to question whether she had forfeited her standing as a journalist by becoming an advocate and activist. Capitol Fax editor Rich Miller wrote: “Give a speech at a rally and then expect to be treated like a reporter? Nope.” Chicago Tribune chief political reporter Rick Pearson tweeted: “And we are the ones accused of being ‘fake news.’” On Monday Pritzker’s press secretary, Jordan Abudayyeh, notified Jacobson that she was persona non grata. “This weekend you attended and spoke at a political rally to fire up the crowd opposing the Governor’s policies to combat COVID-19,” Abudayyeh wrote in an email Jacobson made public. “That rally was attended by people holding hateful Nazi imagery. An impartial journalist would not have attended that rally in that capacity and therefore you will no longer be invited to participate as an impartial journalist.” Jeff Reisman, regional vice president and general manager of AM 560 The Answer, questioned the decision and said he hoped Jacobson would be readmitted. “I am disappointed that the governor has decided to limit the scope of questions he receives from the media,” Reisman said. “Amy Jacobson has had a long career as a journalist in Chicago, and she has routinely been asking questions that AM 560’s listeners want to have answered. “In this time of uncertainty, I would hope that Gov. Pritzker and his staff would be more transparent and accountable to the people of Illinois. Picking and choosing which media outlets are allowed to ask questions creates the impression that Gov. Pritzker isn’t willing to answer difficult questions. I hope this decision would be reversed immediately and that Amy would be given access once again.” Muller also defended Jacobson, saying: “Why is it we have to agree with Governor Pritzker to ask him questions? . . . Regular people are hurting. That is who Amy and I speak with on our different radio shows. Pritzker allows no followup questions and no real questions from anyone but sycophants.” Jacobson has harshly criticized Pritzker’s handling of the shutdown and challenged the governor on why his family recently traveled from a home in Florida to one in Wisconsin in apparent violation of his statewide order. She said she plans to talk about the ban on Tuesday’s show. Before she joined the news/talk station in 2010, Jacobson worked for more than 10 years as a general assignment reporter at NBC-owned WMAQ-Channel 5.)

PRAIRIE STATE WIRE
— Pritzker bans AM 560’s Jacobson from daily press conferences, claims she isn’t “impartial” (DIERSEN: I do not claim to be impartial. I am conservative and I state that I am conservative. I am Republican and I state that I am Republican. It is called full disclosure. According to Democrats and to according RINOs, only those who claim to be impartial can be journalists or reporters. I should write a book about mainstream journalists and mainstream reporters who falsely claim to be impartial. They talk, act, and/or write like they are not only liberal and/or Democrat, but like they are anti-conservative and/or anti-Republican. Further, I should write a book about pot pushers who have lots of religious, government, political, and/or financial clout in DuPage County who sided with other pot pushers against me when I spoke out against pot at a DuPage County Board meeting last year. They said that lobbyists cannot be journalists or reporters. They said that I was a lobbyist and that therefore, I was not a journalist or a reporter, that is, they charged me with failing to register as a lobbyist with the State of Illinois. They know that by definition, lobbyists are paid to lobby and that I have never been paid to lobby. I should have sued them.)
https://prairiestatewire.com/stories/537599785-pritzker-bans-am-560-s-jacobson-from-daily-press-conferences-claims-she-isn-t-impartial
(FROM THE ARTICLE: Abudayyeh criticized Jacobson for her attendance at a downtown Chicago rally of Pritzker critics on Saturday. “This weekend you attended and spoke at a political rally to fire up the crowd in opposing the Governor’s policies to combat COVID-19,” Abudayyeh said. “An impartial journalist would not have attended that rally in that capacity and therefore you will no longer be invited to participate as an impartial journalist.”)

WIREPOINTS
— Trading at junk levels: Illinois borrowing costs 5 times higher than AAA-rated states – Ted Dabrowski and John Klingner
https://wirepoints.org/trading-at-junk-levels-illinois-borrowing-costs-5-times-higher-than-aaa-rated-states-wirepoints/

ILLINOIS LEAKS
— Pritzker bans AM 560’s Jacobson from daily press conferences, claims she isn’t “impartial” – JOHN KRAFT
https://edgarcountywatchdogs.com/2020/05/pritzker-bans-am-560s-jacobson-from-daily-press-conferences-claims-she-isnt-impartial/

CAPITOL FAX
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: Republican-haters side with Republican-haters.
https://capitolfax.com/2020/05/18/politicizing-grandstanding-and-twisting-the-facts/

WASHINGTON TIMES
— Nancy Pelosi: ‘Morbidly obese’ Trump shouldn’t be taking hydroxychloroquine – Victor Morton (DIERSEN: How soon, if not already, will laws be enacted that bar those who are older, those who are overweight, those who have health problems including diabetes, etc. from seeking or holding government or political offices?)
https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2020/may/18/nancy-pelosi-donald-trump-morbidly-obese-shouldnt-/

WASHINGTON EXAMINER
— Top White House staffers are working from home as West Wing coronavirus fears build – Katherine Doyle
https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/top-white-house-staffers-are-working-from-home-as-west-wing-coronavirus-fears-build
— Polls Show Trump Holds Enthusiasm Edge Over Biden – Kimberly Ross
https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/opinion/polls-show-one-huge-problem-for-the-biden-campaign

BREITBART
— Migration Advocates: Open the Borders to Asylum Seekers with Coronavirus – NEIL MUNRO
https://www.breitbart.com/politics/2020/05/18/migration-advocates-open-the-borders-to-asylum-seekers-with-coronavirus/

CNS NEWS
— HEROES Act Would Benefit Murderers and Illegal Aliens – Hans Bader
https://cnsnews.com/commentary/hans-bader/heroes-act-would-benefit-murderers-and-illegal-aliens

DAILY SIGNAL
— A Proposed ‘Health Defense Operations’ Slush Fund Won’t Protect US From Future Pandemics – Romina Boccia
https://www.dailysignal.com/2020/05/18/a-proposed-health-defense-operations-slush-fund-wont-protect-us-from-future-pandemics/

PHYLLIS SCHLAFLY
— Feminists Use COVID-19 To Abolish The Family – Ed Martin
https://www.phyllisschlafly.com/family/feminists-use-covid-19-to-abolish-the-family/
— Restart Sports Without Gambling – John & Andy Schlafly
https://www.phyllisschlafly.com/featured-top/restart-sports-without-gambling/

LIFE SITE NEWS
— Facebook announces progress in developing AI to silence ‘hate speech’ The social media platform says it now detects and removes 88.8 percent of what it considers ‘hate speech.’ (DIERSEN: According to Democrats, Libertarians, Greens, and RINOs, everything is hate speech except for what they say, write, or bless.)
https://www.lifesitenews.com/news/facebook-announces-progress-in-developing-ai-to-silence-hate-speech
— Chicago Catholic group: Cupich’s plan to re-open churches is ‘betrayal of Christ’ Cardinal Cupich’s plan has ‘yielded the authority of the Church and subjugated the primacy of her worship to laws of man,’ they say. – Stephen Kokx
https://www.lifesitenews.com/news/chicago-catholic-group-blasts-cupichs-plan-to-re-open-churches-monstrous-betrayal-of-christ

NEWSGUARD
— Major Republican and Democratic campaign organizations are using shady “news” sites to spread political propaganda (DIERSEN: As everyone knows, he who pays the piper calls the tunes. As everyone knows, 100% of the time and the money needed to put GOPUSA ILLINOIS emails together and to send them out comes from me. Not one penny comes from the Republican National Committee, Illinois Republican Party, DuPage County Republican Central Committee, Milton Township Republican Organization, or any Republican candidate. I should write a book about efforts by the aforesaid and others a) to stop me from putting GOPUSA ILLINOIS emails together and sending them out and b) to stop everyone from reading the emails.)
https://www.newsguardtech.com/misinformation-monitor-may-2020/

THE HILL
— Biden: Trump’s coronavirus response has been ‘nakedly xenophobic’ – JONATHAN EASLEY (DIERSEN: Ever-increasingly, Democrats use coronavirus to demonize, denigrate, and condemn Republicans.)
https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/498350-biden-trumps-coronavirus-response-has-been-nakedly-xenophobic

HUFFINGTON POST
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: Trump-haters promote hatred against Trump.
https://www.huffpost.com/entry/lincoln-project-ad-trump-lie-die-covid-19_n_5ec34bebc5b6e7a7cb8fcf3c

MCCLATCHY NEWS DC
— Underfunded pensions make GOP leaders reluctant to send federal aid to states like California – DAVID LIGHTMAN
https://www.mcclatchydc.com/news/politics-government/congress/article242761156.html

NEW YORK TIMES
— If Democrats Hold a Big Convention, Will Anybody Come? The Times interviewed 59 delegates who will help nominate Joe Biden. Most said they don’t want to risk their own health, or the health of others, by attending a full-scale convention in Milwaukee. – Reid J. Epstein (DIERSEN: What is the status of the Illinois Republican Party State Convention? How many delegates are there in total and from each county, township, and Chicago ward?)
https://www.nytimes.com/2020/05/18/us/politics/democratic-convention-virus.html
— Trump Threatens to Leave W.H.O. and Permanently End Funding The president said the organization had made missteps during the pandemic that “have been extremely costly for the world.” A claim he takes hydroxychloroquine was criticized by doctors.
https://www.nytimes.com/2020/05/18/us/coronavirus-updates.html
— Virus Forces Conference Planners to Go Back to Go “No one really had this in their playbook,” one planner said. At the moment, there are more questions than answers on what business meetings will look like. – Martha C. White
https://www.nytimes.com/2020/05/18/business/coronavirus-business-travel-conferences.html
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: Ever-increasingly, Trump-haters use coronavirus to demonize, denigrate, and condemn Trump supporters.
https://www.nytimes.com/2020/05/18/opinion/coronavirus-reopen-workers.html
— FRONT PAGE: Freed by Court Ruling, Republicans Step Up Effort to Patrol Voting Officials seek to recruit 50,000 poll watchers and spend millions to fight voter fraud. Democrats say the real goal is to stop them from voting. – Michael Wines
https://www.nytimes.com/2020/05/18/us/Voting-republicans-trump.html
— Germany’s Coronavirus Protests: Anti-Vaxxers, Anticapitalists, Neo-Nazis The pandemic marginalized the far right, as Germans rallied behind Angela Merkel. But the reopening has brought them back, and they are preparing to seize new opportunities. – Katrin Bennhold
https://www.nytimes.com/2020/05/18/world/europe/coronavirus-germany-far-right.html
— FRONT PAGE TOP OF FOLD: Facing Adulthood With an Economic Disaster’s Lasting Scars Those entering the job market in a downturn may never catch up in pay, opportunities or confidence. – Eduardo Porter and David Yaffe-Bellany (DIERSEN: Democrats run the federal government. Will the federal government extend its promotion deadlines? If you are a federal employee who is Republican, White, male, and/or non-veteran, the federal government gets rid of you if you do 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. Extremely few federal employees make the aforesaid promotion deadlines. It is called Affirmative Action, Diversity, Inclusion, patronage, political affiliation discrimination, reverse discrimination, age discrimination, and up-or-out.)
https://www.nytimes.com/2020/05/19/business/economy/coronavirus-young-old.html

WALL STREET JOURNAL
— Why Does Reopening Polarize Us? The divide over lockdowns reflects deeper differences in attitudes about risk, liberty and morality. – Dan Crenshaw
https://www.wsj.com/articles/why-does-reopening-polarize-us-11589842995
— Why Coronavirus Increasingly Exacerbates the Red-Blue Divide Democratic states feel they aren’t getting the help they need from GOP senators, while Republican ones think they bear an unfair economic burden – Gerald F. Seib
https://www.wsj.com/articles/why-coronavirus-increasingly-exacerbates-the-red-blue-divide-11589810871
— Will a Face Mask Protect You? Maybe a little, but washing your hands and social distancing are far more effective. – Marc Siegel
https://www.wsj.com/articles/will-a-face-mask-protect-you-11589842953

FORBES
— COVID-19 Recession Projected To Cost Jobs For 22% Middle Income Older Workers, 15% Higher Income – Ted Knutson (DIERSEN: From what I see, ever-increasingly, businesses and organizations will use coronavirus to get rid of their employees and members who are older, obese, and/or who have health problems including diabetes.)
https://www.forbes.com/sites/tedknutson/2020/05/18/covid-19-recession-projected-to-cost-jobs-for-22-middle-income-older-workers-15-higher-income/#404273316206
(FROM THE ARTICLE: Ghilarducci says this recession is likely to hit older workers harder than economic downturns of the past because the widely publicized larger vulnerability of the aged to COVID-19 is going to increase age discrimination in hiring. She adds older workers are usually the first to get laid off and the last to be re-hired.)

BLOOMBERG
— Pritzker Finds Running Most-Troubled U.S. State Only Gets Harder – Shruti Singh
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-05-18/billionaire-s-fight-to-keep-illinois-from-junk-just-got-harder
— Investors Don’t Share Trump’s Scorn for Blue States Republican-dominated states lag in growth and debt performance. – Matthew A. Winkler (DIERSEN: What percent of investor money in America is controlled by the following: Foreigners, Democrats, Libertarians, Greens, RINOs, and Republicans?)
https://www.bloomberg.com/opinion/articles/2020-05-18/coronavirus-economy-investors-don-t-share-trump-blue-state-scorn

GUARDIAN
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: Trump-haters say “U.S. lockdown protests may have spread virus widely.”
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2020/may/18/lockdown-protests-spread-coronavirus-cellphone-data

FEDERAL NEWS NETWORK
— Coronavirus and career – Mike Causey (DIERSEN: I should write a book about those who demonize, denigrate, and condemn federal employees and federal retires. I was a federal employee for almost 30 years and I have been a federal retiree for almost 23 years. 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://federalnewsnetwork.com/mike-causey-federal-report/2020/05/coronavirus-and-career-the-a-rod-j-lo-rule/
(FROM THE ARTICLE: They say that the coronavirus is a threat, a deadly threat, to all of us regardless of who we are and where we live. That regardless of who we are, where we live and what we do, we are all in the same boat. And that’s true — up to a point. Then it isn’t anymore. And while we can’t pick our parents, decide our birth date or where we grow up — Bangladesh or Brooklyn — the career path we followed is very important. Especially when times get tough — like now — when having more money, which is almost always a good thing, is better than having little or none. Which is also true when times are good — having a good job or steady income is a good thing, now more than ever! And even if you believe that all of us are created equal, life teaches us that that doesn’t last long. While they face many of the same challenges we all do, some people are in a slightly better place at times like now.)

FED SMITH
— DISGUSTING, OUTRAGEOUS: No COLA in 2021? – Ralph R. Smith (DIERSEN: Ever-increasingly, the purchasing power of the following is dramatically reduced: my Civil Service Retirement System pension, my Social Security, and my retirement savings.)
https://www.fedsmith.com/2020/05/18/no-cola-2021/
(FROM THE ARTICLE: COLA Does Not Match Retiree Expense Increases Since 2000, Social Security COLAs have increased benefits by 53% but the prices of what retirees typically buy have increased by about 99.3%. Medicare premiums and out-of-pocket costs, housing costs, and homeowner’s insurance costs—have been the most rapidly-rising costs in the past year. So far in 2020, there has been a decrease of 0.27% in the third quarter of 2019 over the relevant Consumer Price Index used to calculate any COLA increase. As discussed in previous FedSmith articles, the Social Security COLA is based on the consumer-price index (CPI) for urban workers. Another CPI, known as CPI-E, tracks the spending of older Americans. The difference in these CPI measurements is largely in the cost of health care and housing. Medicare premiums and homeowners’ insurance often grow rapidly from year over year. The COLA adjustments do not take into account the larger percentage spent by older Americans on these expenses.)

May 18 Morning Edition

ABC7
— 38 shot, 6 fatally, in Chicago weekend shootings
https://abc7chicago.com/38-shot-6-fatally-in-chicago-weekend-shootings/6192730/?cmp=emc-wls-news-headlines-5/18/2020
— 1st Ribfest to be held in Romeoville canceled amid COVID-19 health, safety concerns, Exchange Club of Naperville says
https://abc7chicago.com/ribfest-romeoville-naperville-moving/6191996/

NBC5
— Illinois Rep. Allen Skillicorn Threatens to File Recall Motion Against Pritzker for Unemployment Handling
https://www.nbcchicago.com/news/local/state-rep-threatens-to-file-recall-motion-against-pritzker-for-unemployment-handling/2273646/

CHICAGO TRIBUNE
— How the pandemic unmasks Illinois’ feeble finances – EDITORIAL
https://www.chicagotribune.com/opinion/editorials/ct-edit-illinois-states-pension-bailout-congress-20200518-fyt4lnbeh5a7je2celnvxrareu-story.html
— Americans need employment opportunities, not unemployment incentives – RACHEL GRESZLER
https://www.chicagotribune.com/opinion/commentary/ct-opinion-coronavirus-congress-employment-heritage-20200515-ffjyyovy7bggron2lvkyl75pwa-story.html

DAILY HERALD
— FRONT PAGE TOP OF FOLD WITH BIG COLOR PICTURE: Ever-increasingly Trump-haters use coronavirus to paint Republicans as being White supremacists, Nazis, KKK members, haters, racists, sexists, bigots, and even worse things.
https://www.dailyherald.com/news/20200518/why-covid-19-infections-are-surging-in-suburban-latino-communities
— How the post COVID-19 workplace will be different – John T. Slania (DIERSEN: Will employers use coronavirus to get rid of their employees who are older, who are obese, and/or who have underlying medical conditions including diabetes? Will organizations use coronavirus to get rid of their members who are older, who are obese, and/or who have underlying medical conditions including diabetes?)
https://www.dailyherald.com/business/20200518/how-the-post-covid-19-workplace-will-be-different
— FRONT PAGE TOP OF FOLD WITH COLOR PICTURE: Don’t expect public transit to bounce back to ‘normal’ when COVID-19 retreats – Marni Pyke
https://www.dailyherald.com/news/20200518/dont-expect-public-transit-to-bounce-back-to-normal-when-covid-19-retreats
— The Deal at 30: Study suggests Hoffman would have grown without Sears – David Bernstein
https://www.dailyherald.com/news/20200516/the-deal-at-30-study-suggests-hoffman-would-have-grown-without-sears

BLOOMINGTON PANTAGRAPH
— Durbin defends Pritzker, says more federal COVID-19 funds needed – Brenden Moore
https://www.pantagraph.com/durbin-defends-pritzker-says-more-federal-covid-19-funds-needed/article_a86daa6f-fa2d-5fae-a745-c04ed437d8d7.html

ALTON TELEGRAPH
— Can we afford to wait out the coronavirus hit? – Editorial
https://www.thetelegraph.com/opinion/article/Editorial-Can-we-afford-to-wait-out-the-15276795.php

SUBURBAN LIFE
— DuPage Foundation awards $500,000 to numerous organizations
https://www.mysuburbanlife.com/2020/05/15/dupage-foundation-awards-500-000-to-numerous-organizations/awt5xbi/

FOX ILLINOIS
— A look into the world of ‘politicized medicine’ in the age of COVID-19 – Sharyl Attkisson
https://foxillinois.com/news/nation-world/a-look-into-the-world-of-politicized-medicine-in-the-age-of-covid-19

WIREPOINTS
— Morning Raid to Crush Chicago Churchgoers: Entire Neighborhood Has Cars Towed – Mark Glennon
https://wirepoints.org/morning-raid-to-crush-chicago-churchgoers-entire-neighborhood-has-their-cars-towed-wirepoints/
— Pritzker Criminalizes Violators of His Shutdown Order Using His Own Rule-Making Power – Mark Glennon
https://wirepoints.org/pritzker-now-using-executive-rulemaking-to-criminalize-violations-of-his-emergency-shutdown-order-wirepoints/
— Gov. Pritzker’s overly-restrictive shutdown rules make Illinois a national outlier – Ted Dabrowski and John Klingner
https://wirepoints.org/gov-pritzkers-overly-restrictive-shutdown-rules-make-illinois-a-national-outlier-wirepoints-quicktake/
— Illinois eying loan from Fed, but who would certify state is solvent? – Quicktake (DIERSEN: Just kidding, but to avoid bankruptcy, will the Democrats who run Illinois auction off some or all of Illinois’ 102 counties to neighboring states? How much would Wisconsin, Iowa, Missouri, Kentucky, Indiana, and Michigan bid for Illinois counties near their states?)
https://wirepoints.org/illinois-eying-loan-from-fed-but-who-would-certify-state-is-solvent-quicktake/

ILLINOIS LEAKS
— Our letter to JCAR to Object and Suspend IDPH emergency rule which makes criminals out of business owners – KIRK ALLEN
https://edgarcountywatchdogs.com/2020/05/our-letter-to-jcar-to-object-and-suspend-idph-emergency-rule-which-makes-criminals-out-of-business-owners/

ILLINOIS REVIEW
— REP. CABELLO SOUNDS THE ALARM ON NEW CRIMINALIZATION OF NON-COMPLIANCE WITH HEALTH RULES; CALLS ON LEGISLATURE TO TAKE ACTION
https://www.illinoisreview.com/illinoisreview/2020/05/rep-cabello-sounds-the-alarm-on-new-criminalization-of-non-compliance-with-health-rules-calls-on-leg.html
— REP. SKILLICORN: RECALL RESOLUTION ON THE TABLE IF GOV. PRITZKER FAILS TO FIX UNEMPLOYMENT CLAIMS WEBSITE
https://www.illinoisreview.com/illinoisreview/2020/05/rep-allen-skillicorn-recall-resolution-on-the-table-if-gov-pritzker-fails-to-fix-unemployment-claims.html
— REP. WEHRLI DENOUNCES PRITZKER RULE THAT CRIMINALIZES “NON-ESSENTIAL” BUSINESSES THAT REOPEN
https://www.illinoisreview.com/illinoisreview/2020/05/rep-wehrli-denounces-pritzker-rule-that-criminalizes-non-essential-businesses-that-reopen.html
— SEN. REZIN OPPOSES PRITZKER’S LATEST “RULE”
https://www.illinoisreview.com/illinoisreview/2020/05/sen-rezin-opposes-pritzkers-latest-rule.html
— THORNER: RESPONSE TO CHINESE CORONAVIRUS REVEALS TRUE AUTHORITARIAN BENT OF ANTI-AMERICAN GLOBALISTS
https://www.illinoisreview.com/illinoisreview/2020/05/thorner-response-to-chinese-coronavirus-reveals-true-authoritarian-bent-of-anti-american-globalists-1.html
— ILLINOIS POLICY INSTITUTE WRITER SAYS PRITZKER SHOULD STALL AUTOMATIC PAY RAISES FOR STATE WORKERS (DIERSEN: Step increases recognize/reward work experience that employees gain. I should write a book about those who have demonized, denigrated, and condemned the work experience that I gained a) working for GAO for almost 18 years, the last 11 years of which at the GS-13 Step 1-10 levels, currently $101,176–$131,532/year and b) working for IRS for almost 9 years, the last 5 1/2 years of which at the GS-12 Step-1-5 levels, currently $85,084-$96,431/year. I should write a book about those who have demonized, denigrated, and condemned the experience that I gained a) passing the CPA and Certified Internal examinations on my first attempt and b) earning master’s degrees in business, accounting, and finance. I would focus on those in Wheaton’s West District, Wheaton, Milton Township, DuPage County, and Illinois who have/had lots of religious, government, political, and/or financial clout. I would focus on present/past leaders of the Wheaton Chamber of Commerce, Milton Township Republican Organization, DuPage County Republican Central Committee, Illinois Republican Party, TAPROOT Republicans of Illinois, Illinois Center Right Coalition, and American Association of Political Consultants Midwest Chapter. I would focus on the aforesaid who blame me and my GOPUSA ILLINOIS emails for their problems, for your problems, for my problems, and for everyone’s problems.)
https://www.illinoisreview.com/illinoisreview/2020/05/illinois-policy-institute-writer-says-pritzker-should-stall-automatic-pay-raises-for-state-workers.html
— ILLINOIS BUSINESS OWNERS COULD DO JAIL TIME UNDER PRITZKER’S NEW EMERGENCY RULES
https://www.illinoisreview.com/illinoisreview/2020/05/illinois-business-owners-could-do-jail-time-under-pritzkers-new-emergency-rules.html
— ILLINOIS SHERIFFS FIRE BACK AT GOV. PRITZKER: ‘WE’RE NOT GOING TO BE THREATENED’
https://www.illinoisreview.com/illinoisreview/2020/05/illinois-sheriffs-fire-back-at-gov-pritzker-were-not-going-to-be-threatened.html
— 100,000 BUSINESSES HAVE PERMANENTLY COLLAPSED UNDER PANDEMIC LOCKDOWNS
https://www.illinoisreview.com/illinoisreview/2020/05/100000-businesses-have-permanently-collapsed-under-pandemic-lockdowns.html
— THE US IS DRAMATICALLY OVERCOUNTING CORONAVIRUS DEATHS
https://www.illinoisreview.com/illinoisreview/2020/05/the-us-is-dramatically-overcounting-coronavirus-deaths.html
— ROSSI: THE INSANITY AND MASSIVE PAIN OF THE COVID 19 SHUTDOWN
https://www.illinoisreview.com/illinoisreview/2020/05/rossi-the-insanity-and-massive-pain-of-the-covid-19-shutdown.html

CAPITOL FAX
— IDPH issues new emergency rules
https://capitolfax.com/2020/05/18/idph-issues-new-emergency-rules/
— IDPH weekend reports: 2,088 new cases and 74 additional deaths on Saturday, 1,734 new cases and 51 additional deaths on Sunday
https://capitolfax.com/2020/05/18/idph-weekend-reports-2088-new-cases-and-74-additional-deaths-on-saturday-1734-new-cases-and-51-additional-deaths-on-sunday/

FOX NEWS
— Pelosi’s crazy $3T coronavirus spending bill may have secret purpose – Don’t underestimate her – Newt Gingrich
https://www.foxnews.com/opinion/newt-gingrich-pelosis-crazy-3t-coronavirus-spending-bill-may-have-secret-purpose-dont-underestimate-her

GOPUSA
— NFL Considers Rewarding Teams With Favorable Draft Picks For Minority Hires (DIERSEN: While I worked for the federal government for almost 30 years, to get promoted, Democrat politicians forced my superiors and supervisors to a) excel in retaining and promoting young Democrat minorities and young Democrat females and b) excel in getting rid of their employees who were Republican, White, male, and/or non-veteran who had not made 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. Obviously, the aforesaid is Affirmative Action, Diversity, Inclusion, patronage, political affiliation discrimination, reverse discrimination, age discrimination, and up-or-out.)
https://www.gopusa.com/?p=89020

BREITBART
— Rep. Rodney Davis (R-IL) Introduces Bill to Ban ‘Ballot Harvesting’ – JOEL B. POLLAK
https://www.breitbart.com/politics/2020/05/17/house-republican-introduces-bill-to-ban-ballot-harvesting/
— Union Workers Warn Nancy Pelosi’s Coronavirus Plan Guts Pensions – John Binder
https://www.breitbart.com/politics/2020/05/17/union-workers-pelosi-coronavirus-gut-pensions/

COLLEGE FIX
— California lawmakers rush to impose race preferences in education during COVID-19 lockdown – ALEXANDER PEASE (DIERSEN: Ever-increasingly, Democrats force individuals, organizations, companies, governments, and countries to give preference to those 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, anti-draft avoiders, and/or anti-those whose ancestors have been in America for a long time. How strongly are the organizations that you are a member of giving preference to the aforesaid?)
https://www.thecollegefix.com/california-lawmakers-rush-to-impose-race-preferences-in-education-during-covid-19-lockdown/

THE HILL
— Critics say Trump, Congress fumbling economic response to COVID-19 – MIKE LILLIS
https://thehill.com/homenews/house/498224-critics-say-trump-congress-fumbling-economic-response-to-covid-19

POLITICO
— ‘Immunity passports’ won’t reopen America Antibody apps may still find a niche in the workplace. – JOANNE KENEN (DIERSEN: Will employers use coronavirus to get rid of their employees who are older, who are obese, and/or who have underlying medical conditions including diabetes? Will organizations use coronavirus to get rid of their members who are older, who are obese, and/or who have underlying medical conditions including diabetes?)
https://www.politico.com/news/2020/05/18/immunity-passports-reopen-america-264392
— Fed’s Powell warns unemployment could reach Depression-level 25 percent The Fed chief expressed hope that the economy would come out of recession in the second half of the year. – VICTORIA GUIDA
https://www.politico.com/news/2020/05/17/powell-unemployment-depression-25-percent-264500

ASSOCIATED PRESS
— LOCAL HEALTH AGENCIES STRUGGLE TO RAMP UP VIRUS TRACKING – Christina A. Cassidy
https://oilcity.news/associated-press/2020/05/16/local-health-agencies-struggle-to-ramp-up-virus-tracking/

CNBC
— 10% of retail demand might be lost forever – Lauren Thomas
https://www.cnbc.com/2020/05/13/10percent-of-retail-demand-might-be-lost-forever.html

NEW YORK TIMES
— ‘Geriatric,’ ‘China’s Puppet’: Trump Campaign Unleashes Ads Attacking Biden President Trump’s re-election team has launched a long-promised barrage of negative ads against Joseph R. Biden Jr., focusing on his age and his past comments on China. – Nick Corasaniti and Maggie Haberman (DIERSEN: Are you older? I am 71 years old. If your critics/opponents attacked your age, what would you stress? I would stress neither age problems nor any other kind of problem has stopped me from a) putting a GOPUSA ILLINOIS email together and sending it out each and every morning since 2004 and b) putting a GOPUSA ILLINOIS email together and sending it out each and every evening since 2015. Those emails included links to more than 367,800 articles and information on many upcoming events.)
https://www.nytimes.com/2020/05/15/us/politics/trump-ads-joe-biden.html
— Dump on Your Office All You Like. You’ll Miss It When It’s Gone. Your workplace shaped your identity in ways you never knew. – Jennifer Senior (DIERSEN: My Democrat GAO superiors, supervisors, coworkers, and subordinates were furious when in 1990, I got a preferred corner office in a new building ( https://200westadams.com/ ) a) because I had gotten promoted to GS-13 in 1986 and b) because of the almost 12 years of federal seniority that I had gained by working for IRS 1971-1980 and for the Post Office 1966-1969.)
https://www.nytimes.com/2020/05/17/opinion/coronavirus-office-telecommuting.html
— Congress Doesn’t Need to Meet in Person Lawmakers are just like the millions of other people who are working from home. – Josephine Wolff
https://www.nytimes.com/2020/05/15/opinion/virus-congress-remote-voting.html

WASHINGTON POST
— As coronavirus testing expands, a new problem arises: Not enough people to test – Steve Thompson, Juliet Eilperin and Brady Dennis
https://www.washingtonpost.com/health/as-coronavirus-testing-expands-a-new-problem-arises-not-enough-people-to-test/2020/05/17/3f3297de-8bcd-11ea-8ac1-bfb250876b7a_story.html
— Top Trump official says country safe to reopen as governors stress social distancing
https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2020/05/17/coronavirus-update-us/

NEW YORK DAILY NEWS
— NYC’s coming budget crisis: Mayor must start making responsible cuts in face of pandemic’s fiscal impact – Editorial
https://www.nydailynews.com/opinion/ny-edit-city-budget-coronavirus-covid-19-new-york-city-20200517-dmsnurexmvatxjhvpvcc5mah5q-story.html

USA TODAY
— FRONT PAGE: Aftershock: If coronavirus swells in a second wave later this year, will the nation be ready? – Dennis Wagner
https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/2020/05/17/coronavirus-peak-america-ready-second-wave-fall/3096338001/

DETROIT FREE PRESS
— Huge day as Detroit Three restart at least 52 plants shuttered since March by coronavirus – Phoebe Wall Howard, Jamie L. LaReau and Eric D. Lawrence
https://www.freep.com/story/money/cars/2020/05/18/ford-gm-fiat-chrysler-restart-plants-u-s-canada-mexico-amid-covid/5209746002/

WALL STREET JOURNAL
— Fed’s Jerome Powell Says Economy Faces Long, Uncertain Recovery It will be hard for public to be ‘fully confident’ without a coronavirus vaccine, central bank chairman says – Nick Timiraos
https://www.wsj.com/articles/feds-powell-says-economy-faces-long-uncertain-recovery-11589734446
— How Biden Can Win Over Progressives – Cenk Uygur (DIERSEN: Progressives want Biden to promise to use the federal government to get rid of the following once and for all: individuals, organizations, companies, governments, and countries that are Trump supporters, Protestant, conservative, patriotic, Republican, American, White, male, older, non-poor, gun owners, German American, draft avoiders, and those whose ancestors have been in America for a long time.)
https://www.wsj.com/articles/how-biden-can-win-over-progressives-11589741232
— Some Republicans Object to Trump’s Ousting of State Department Watchdog Lawmakers point to 2008 law that requires president to detail reasons for removing inspector general – Andrew Restuccia and Lindsay Wise (DIERSEN: If my Democrat superiors in the federal government had to truthfully detail the reasons why they took adverse actions against me, the reasons would be one or more of the following: a) they were carrying out orders from Democrat politicians and/or b) they disapproved of, despised, if not hated Republicans, conservatives, Protestants, German Americans, draft avoiders, Whites, males, older people, people who had more education than they had, people who had more professional certifications and/or licenses than they had, people who had more money than they had, and/or people whose ancestors had been in America longer than their ancestors.)
https://www.wsj.com/articles/republicans-object-to-trumps-ousting-of-state-department-watchdog-11589729560
— Graduations, Campus Classes Canceled by Coronavirus Shock College-Town Economy – Justin Baer
https://www.wsj.com/articles/graduations-campus-classes-canceled-by-coronavirus-shock-college-town-economy-11589707800

BLOOMBERG
— Coronavirus Wreaks Havoc on the Future of U.S. Immigrant Labor – Eric Martin
https://www.bloomberg.com/amp/news/articles/2020-05-17/coronavirus-wreaks-havoc-on-the-future-of-u-s-immigrant-labor

ECONOMIST
— America’s far right is energized by covid-19 lockdowns
https://www.economist.com/united-states/2020/05/17/americas-far-right-is-energised-by-covid-19-lockdowns

PEW RESEARCH AND ANALYSIS
— Staffing Nursing Homes Was Hard Before the Pandemic. Now It’s Even Tougher. – Sophie Quinton
https://www.pewtrusts.org/en/research-and-analysis/blogs/stateline/2020/05/18/staffing-nursing-homes-was-hard-before-the-pandemic-now-its-even-tougher

NEW YORK MAGAZINE
— The GOP Is the Problem. Is ‘Human Identity Politics’ the Solution? – Eric Levitz
https://nymag.com/intelligencer/2020/05/polarization-republicans-democracy-ezra-klein-book-review.html
(FROM THE ARTICLE: A large minority of African-American Democrats are social conservatives who believe that it is “always wrong” for two people of the same sex to engage in intercourse. One-third of Democratic voters believe that discrimination against whites is at least as big of a problem in the U.S. as discrimination against blacks. And for all of the talk of blue America’s supposed multiculturalism, a majority of Democratic voters agree with the statement “speaking English is essential for being a true American.” In other words: It isn’t actually the case that the median Democrat lacks all connection to the Republican Party’s dominant identity groups. There simply are not enough nonwhite (and/or enlightened white), secular, cosmopolitan, urban-dwelling people in the U.S. for a national party to be predominantly composed of them.)

MILWAUKEE INDEPENDENT
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: White-haters promote hatred of Whites.
http://www.milwaukeeindependent.com/featured/myth-anti-whiteness-telling-truth-mischaracterized-attacking-whites/

SUBURBAN
— Combatting discrimination is a prominent pandemic issue – Patrick Lejtenyi (DIERSEN: Of course, Trump-haters will use coronavirus to get rid of the following once and for all: Individuals, organizations, companies, governments, and countries that are Trump supporters, Protestant, conservative, patriotic, Republican, American, White, male, older, obese, diabetic, non-poor, gun owners, German American, draft avoiders, those whose ancestors have been in America for a long time, etc.)
http://www.thesuburban.com/life/education/combatting-discrimination-is-a-prominent-pandemic-issue-concordia-researcher/article_46269c8a-96e9-11ea-a325-f7a3c1fc2210.html

May 17 Evening Edition

ABC7
— Coronavirus Illinois: COVID-19 cases top 94K with over 4K deaths; some Chicago churches reopen, defying governor’s order
https://abc7chicago.com/illinois-coronavirus-how-many-new-cases-of-in-by-day-update/6191308/
— Illinois stay at home order: Businesses that defy could to face misdemeanor punishable by fine up to $2,500 – AP
https://abc7chicago.com/businesses-that-defy-stay-at-home-order-to-face-misdemeanor-fine/6191401/


NBC5
— Trump Calls Out Pritzker’s Handling of Coronavirus Response Efforts President Trump and the Illinois governor have previously traded attacks on how their respective governments have handled the pandemic – Becca Wood
https://www.nbcchicago.com/news/local/trump-calls-out-pritzkers-handling-of-coronavirus-response-efforts/2273582/
— Illinois Reports 1,734 Additional Coronavirus Cases, 51 Deaths Related to Virus The state also reported conducting more than 20,000 tests over the last 24 hours
https://www.nbcchicago.com/news/coronavirus/illinois-reports-1734-additional-coronavirus-cases-51-deaths-related-to-virus/2273503/
— Pritzker Order Reportedly Authorizes New Punishment for Businesses Violating Restrictions Business owners could face misdemeanor charges if they open in violation of the order
https://www.nbcchicago.com/news/coronavirus/pritzker-order-reportedly-authorizes-new-punishment-for-businesses-violating-restrictions/2273474/

— Illinois Coronavirus Updates: State Looks to New Ways to Enforce Stay-at-Home Order
https://www.nbcchicago.com/news/coronavirus/illinois-coronavirus-updates-state-looks-to-new-ways-to-enforce-stay-at-home-order/2273489/

CBS2
— Neighbors Protest Metro Praise International Church For Holding Services During Pandemic – Vi Nguyen
https://chicago.cbslocal.com/2020/05/17/stay-at-home-order-pandemic-protest-metro-praise-international-church/

— Coronavirus In Illinois: 1,734 New COVID-19 Cases, 51 Additional Deaths
https://chicago.cbslocal.com/2020/05/17/coronavirus-in-illinois-1734-new-covid-19-cases-51-additional-deaths/

FOX NEWS CHICAGO
— Illinois daily COVID-19 death toll drops to lows not seen in a couple weeks
https://www.fox32chicago.com/news/illinois-daily-covid-19-death-toll-drops-to-lows-not-seen-in-a-couple-weeks
— Adler Planetarium lays off 120 employees due to pandemic
https://www.fox32chicago.com/news/adler-planetarium-lays-off-120-employees-due-to-pandemic
— Office Depot closing stores, laying off 13,000 workers – Audrey Conklin
https://www.fox32chicago.com/news/office-depot-closing-stores-laying-off-13000-workers

WGN TV
— Officials report 1,734 new cases of coronavirus disease, 51 related deaths in Illinois – AP
https://wgntv.com/chicago-news/officials-report-1734-new-cases-of-coronavirus-disease-51-related-deaths-in-illinois/

CHICAGO SUN-TIMES
— Fifty-one more coronavirus deaths announced in Illinois, with positive tests continuing to come in below 20% The positivity rate in the northeast part of the state was 18.3% Sunday, the fourth straight day below 20%. In Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s reopening plan, a region could move to the third phase after 14 consecutive days of hitting that mark. – Ben Pope
https://chicago.suntimes.com/coronavirus/2020/5/17/21261686/illinois-coronavirus-pritzker-cases-deaths-testing-may-17-deaths
— Illinois’ latest 1-day statewide COVID-19 positivity rate dips below 9%
https://chicago.suntimes.com/essential-coronavirus-news/2020/5/17/21261282/latest-coronavirus-news-live-updates-chicago-illinois-2020
— Keeping it safe for legislators and democracy in Springfield this week Every protester should leave their guns at home. And any lawmaker who can’t be bothered to wear a face mask should stay out of town. – Editorial
https://chicago.suntimes.com/2020/5/17/21260565/coronavirus-covid-guns-legislature-michigan-domestic-terrorism-illinois-general-assembly-springfield
— How to crack down on COVID-19 deaths in nursing homes The first step is to evacuate coronavirus-infected residents from the lowest-rated facilities until the virus is contained or they recover. – Brandon Johnson, Cook County Commissioner
https://chicago.suntimes.com/2020/5/17/21260205/covid-nursing-home-deaths-personal-liberties-illinois-lockdown-first-amendment-letters-s-e-cupp
— While state remains shut down, Illinois residents head to neighboring states to shop, eat out In the first weekend that bordering states Indiana and Wisconsin largely were open for business, Illinoisans traveled across state lines, confident they won’t get sick. – Bob Chiarito
https://chicago.suntimes.com/coronavirus/2020/5/17/21261537/illinois-wisconsin-indiana-stay-at-home-order-open-coronavirus-covid-19
— Prognosis for COVID-19’s hit on Cook County finances plagued by ‘unknown unknowns’ “It’s worse than a hurricane, it’s worse than 9/11, it’s worse than the 2008 economic … downturn because this is a comprehensive stopping of the economy, a threat to public safety that forces total disruption of most traditional, economic activities,” said Laurence Msall, president of the Civic Federation. – Rachel Hinton
https://chicago.suntimes.com/politics/2020/5/17/21256486/cook-county-budget-shortfall-covid-19-finances-millions-coronavirus-revenues-hole

CHICAGO TRIBUNE
— Illinois officials report 51 more fatalities from coronavirus, the lowest number of daily deaths in nearly two weeks
https://www.chicagotribune.com/coronavirus/ct-coronavirus-pandemic-chicago-illinois-news-20200516-ildqrn4e4bhorexpljpc7dur7u-story.html
— We can’t wait for a COVID-19 vaccine to reopen, Britain, Italy tell citizens – AP
https://www.chicagotribune.com/coronavirus/ct-nw-coronavirus-world-updates-20200517-sckhmqobaveb7otzv6h7m6xdza-story.html
— Federal judge moves up petitions deadline for third-party and independent candidates but rejects call to require more signatures – RICK PEARSON
https://www.chicagotribune.com/politics/ct-third-party-candidates-ruling-20200517-2aunxlybungvlhqlpwvwa3ydcq-story.html
— Dozens defy stay-at-home order to attend Belmont-Cragin church while protesters warn of endangering the community – LAURA RODRÍGUEZ PRESA and JESSICA VILLAGOMEZ
https://www.chicagotribune.com/coronavirus/ct-coronavirus-illinois-churches-20200517-hawt4sd76jcmdorqquwytpqvx4-story.html

DAILY HERALD
— State reports 1,734 new COVID-19 cases, 51 additional deaths – Steve Zalusky
https://www.dailyherald.com/news/20200517/state-reports-1734-new-covid-19-cases-51-additional-deaths

CHAMPAIGN/URBANA NEWS GAZETTE
— Out of the virus frying pan, into the financial fire – Sheila A. Weinberg
https://www.news-gazette.com/opinion/guest-commentary/guest-commentary-out-of-the-virus-frying-pan-into-the-financial-fire/article_c034dce3-7516-53f7-b5f5-f306fc13a4a3.html

FOX ILLINOIS
— Biden’s VP search puts spotlight on how long he’ll serve – AP
https://foxillinois.com/news/nation-world/bidens-vp-search-puts-spotlight-on-how-long-hell-serve

CENTRAL ILLINOIS PROUD
— Trump says back to normal in golf means big crowds, no masks – AP
https://www.centralillinoisproud.com/sports/trump-says-back-to-normal-in-golf-means-big-crowds-no-masks/

BURR RIDGE PATCH
— Burr Ridge Mayor Updates Residents On Flattening Coronavirus Curve “Burr Ridge continues to do its part to bring the curve down.”
https://patch.com/illinois/burrridge/burr-ridge-mayor-updates-residents-flattening-coronavirus-curve

ILLINOIS ACTION
— Illinois – URGENT call to action! – KIRK ALLEN
https://edgarcountywatchdogs.com/2020/05/illinois-urgent-call-to-action/

THE HILL
— Biden hits Trump, Pence on LGBTQ+ rights – JUSTINE COLEMAN (DIERSEN: Ever-increasingly, Democrats, Libertarians, Greens, and RINOs get rid of you if you do not promote LGBTQ+ activity.)
https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/498197-biden-hits-trump-pence-on-lgbtq-rights

ABC NEWS
— How apps could change the workplace after coronavirus crisis Several apps could hold the future to a safe office after reopening. – Leighton Schneider and Michael Dobuski
https://abcnews.go.com/Health/apps-change-workplace-coronavirus-crisis/story?id=70726355

NEW YORK DAILY NEWS
— Trump adviser Peter Navarro says stay-at-home measures kill more people ‘indirectly’ than coronavirus – DAVE GOLDINER
https://www.nydailynews.com/coronavirus/ny-coronavirus-peter-navarro-indirectly-20200517-wy45r77utjh2xc35bxwfmcgom4-story.html

DENVER POST
— Dealing with discrimination in the workplace – Iris Halpern and Ellen K. Giarratana (DIERSEN: How strongly will employers use coronavirus to get rid of their employees who are older, who are obese, who have diabetes, etc.?)
https://www.denverpost.com/2020/05/17/workers-rights-qa-dealing-with-discrimination-in-the-workplace/

WALL STREET JOURNAL
— Why Stadiums Are Incubators for Coronavirus Spread Sports fans are longing to return to the stands, but health experts say stadiums are one of the highest-risk areas for coronavirus transmission. Dr. Peter Chin-Hong, an infectious disease specialist, walks us through how easily the virus could spread among the crowd.
https://www.wsj.com/video/why-stadiums-are-incubators-for-coronavirus-spread/16EEBD9D-DCF5-40D9-9628-7E8351E414D8.html

FORTUNE
— The class of 2020 is getting a crash course in job market uncertainty New grads are unsure and anxious about their professional prospects in a labor market ravaged by the coronavirus pandemic. – MCKENNA MOORE (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.)
https://fortune.com/longform/coronavirus-job-market-class-of-2020-entry-level-hiring-covid-19/

May 17 Morning Edition

ABC7
— Churches to reopen for Sunday service in defiance of Illinois’ stay-at-home order – Jesse Kirsch
https://abc7chicago.com/religion/churches-reopen-for-services-in-defiance-of-illinois-stay-at-home-order-/6190541/
— Obama criticizes US coronavirus response in online commencement speech for HBCU graduates He also addressed the fatal shooting of Ahmaud Arbery – AP
https://abc7chicago.com/politics/obama-criticizes-covid-19-response-in-online-graduation-speech/6189204/
— Chicago Ford assembly plant employees return to work with new COVID-19 safety measures in place; ‘I think they’re rushing it’ – John Garcia
https://abc7chicago.com/business/i-think-theyre-rushing-it-chicago-ford-assembly-plant-employees-return-to-work/6189771/?cmp=emc-wls-news-headlines-5/17/2020

NBC5
— Experts Warn of 2020 ‘Meltdown’ as Election Funding Faces Rocky Path Through Congress “There is a real significant risk to the integrity of the election if we don’t invest now in our election infrastructure.”
https://www.nbcchicago.com/news/national-international/experts-warn-of-2020-meltdown-as-election-funding-faces-rocky-path-through-congress/2273343/

CBS2
— Chicago Heights Ford Plant Reopens Monday As Workers Wear COVID-19 ‘Distance’ Watches – Chris Tye
https://chicago.cbslocal.com/2020/05/15/chicago-heights-ford-plant-reopens-monday-as-workers-wear-covid-19-distance-watches/

FOX NEWS CHICAGO
— ‘Reopen Illinois’ rallies held as Anti-Defamation League condemns Nazi imagery on signs – Michele Fiore
https://www.fox32chicago.com/news/reopen-illinois-rallies-held-as-anti-defamation-league-condemns-nazi-imagery-on-signs

CHICAGO TRIBUNE
— Federal appeals court says Pritzker’s executive order limiting gatherings will almost certainly withstand legal challenge
https://www.chicagotribune.com/coronavirus/ct-coronavirus-pandemic-chicago-illinois-news-20200516-ildqrn4e4bhorexpljpc7dur7u-story.html
— Putting ‘me’ first in age of coronavirus not only selfish but dangerous to all of us – DAVID MCGRATH (DIERSEN: Ever-increasingly, Trump-haters demonize you, denigrate you, and condemn you if you do not promote Pritzker.)
https://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/naperville-sun/opinion/ct-nvs-mcgrath-column-st-0515-20200515-ilntoackcvcm3jhapo7yqaftqy-story.html
— Find the right person for a job means hunting for ‘unique’ candidates, Naperville recruiter says – STEVE METSCH (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.)
https://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/naperville-sun/ct-nvs-down-to-business-st-0517-20200515-4pm6sog3arh53fvs47tipx4qwi-story.html
— DuPage PADS unlikely to return to old homeless system in wake of pandemic, outgoing agency CEO says – HILARY DECENT (DIERSEN: What do you say to Democrats and RINOs who have for many decades steered homeless people to DuPage County, and especially to Milton Township and to Wheaton?)
https://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/naperville-sun/opinion/ct-nvs-decent-column-st-0517-20200515-gesmcta5wneoblllyzhlgazwgq-story.html
— We need reasonable, sensible plans from the governor in response to the pandemic – ELIZABETH BAUER
https://www.chicagotribune.com/opinion/commentary/ct-opinion-commentary-elizabeth-bauer-pritzker-stay-home-order-20200515-5rtaay64njcl3jbhgwvtnmdt6a-story.html

CHICAGO SUN-TIMES
— Coronavirus live blog, May 16, 2020: Obama criticizes U.S. leaders’ virus response in online graduation speech – Harry Hitzeman (DIERSEN: Those who are sued retaliate against those who sue them. I should write a book about those who I have sued and their retaliation against me.)
https://chicago.suntimes.com/essential-coronavirus-news/2020/5/16/21260717/latest-coronavirus-news-live-updates-chicago-illinois-2020

DAILY HERALD
— Minorities, elderly represent higher rates of COVID-19 infections, deaths – Madhu Krishnamurthy (DIERSEN: Of course, Democrats blame Trump for that.)
https://www.dailyherald.com/news/20200517/minorities-elderly-represent-higher-rates-of-covid-19-infections-deaths
(FROM THE ARTICLE: In DuPage County, home to communities hardest-hit by the pandemic, Latinos comprise 27.5% of confirmed cases and 14.5% of the county’s population. African Americans make up 5.4% of confirmed cases and 5.3% of the population. Asians represent 6.4% of cases and 12.6% of the population, and whites account for 27.3% of confirmed cases and 79.7% of the population. Mortality rates per 100,000 population are: African Americans, 47.2%, whites, 29.4%, Latinos, 19.8%, and Asians, 16.3%.)
— Elgin church won’t reopen Sunday, threatens suit over COVID-19 shutdown
https://www.dailyherald.com/news/20200516/elgin-church-wont-reopen-sunday-threatens-suit-over-covid-19-shutdown

WTTW
— Pritzker Creates New Tier of Punishment for Businesses Ignoring COVID-19 Order – Amanda Vinicky (DIERSEN: In Illinois, because of Pritzker and the Democrats, how many businesses are going out of business a) every day and b) every hour?)
https://news.wttw.com/2020/05/16/pritzker-creates-new-tier-punishment-businesses-ignoring-covid-19-order
(FROM THE ARTICLE: Bars, restaurants and other businesses that open to customers in defiance of Illinois’ stay-at-home order now risk being charged with a misdemeanor. The new penalty level has been in effect since Friday afternoon when Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s administration quietly filed the emergency rule. While Pritzker’s executive order requires restaurants, salons and gyms to remain closed to on-site patrons due to COVID-19, the rule change codifies it under Illinois Department of Public Health regulations – violators of which can be charged with a Class A misdemeanor. As of Saturday afternoon there’s no indication it has yet been enforced. A Class A misdemeanor in Illinois is punishable by a fine between $75 and $2500.)

PEORIA JOURNAL STAR
— It’s not the first time the House has taken a hike It is rare, but not unprecedented, for the General Assembly to meet somewhere other than the Capitol. – Doug Finke
https://www.pjstar.com/opinion/20200516/its-not-first-time-house-has-taken-hike

MILWAUKEE JOURNAL SENTINEL
— No masks. No gloves. No problem. As coronavirus cases soar, carefree day-trippers from Illinois pour in – Elliot Hughes, Talis Shelbourne and Natalie Brophy
https://www.jsonline.com/story/news/2020/05/16/covid-19-cases-spike-but-wisconsin-crowds-kind-done-all/5207558002/

HOMEWOOD FLOSSMOOR CHRONICLE
— DISGUSTING, TRAGIC: Cannabis-infusion business gets green light in Homewood – David P. Funk
https://hfchronicle.com/article/2020/may/15/cannabis-infusion-business-gets-green-light-homewood

FOX ILLINOIS
— Fourth stay at home order protest draws hundreds to Springfield – Jakob Emerson
https://foxillinois.com/news/local/fourth-protest-of-stay-at-home-order-held-at-state-capitol

WGEM
— Protesters rally outside Illinois Capitol, compare Gov. Pritzker to Hitler
https://wgem.com/2020/05/16/protesters-rally-outside-illinois-capitol-compare-gov-pritzker-to-hitler/

CENTRAL ILLINOIS PROUD
— Anti-Defamation League Regional Director calls Pritzker comparisons to Hitler antisemitic, vile – Matt Sheehan
https://www.centralillinoisproud.com/news/local-news/anti-defamation-league-regional-director-calls-pritzker-comparisons-to-hitler-antisemitic-vile/
— Lawmakers debate on Heroes Act; Republicans and some Democrats go against bill – Basil John
https://www.centralillinoisproud.com/washington/washington-dc/lawmakers-debate-on-heroes-act-republicans-and-some-democrats-go-against-bill/

NEWS CHANNEL 20
— Fourth stay at home order protest draws hundreds to Springfield – Jakob Emerson
https://newschannel20.com/news/local/fourth-protest-of-stay-at-home-order-held-at-state-capitol
— Champaign County sees negative impact on tourism and economy – Taylor Deckert
https://newschannel20.com/news/local/champaign-county-sees-negative-impact-on-tourism-and-economy

ILLINOIS LEAKS
— Illinois Governor Pritzker’s emergency rule change locks down the state for 150 days, makes criminals out of those who violated new rules – KIRK ALLEN
https://edgarcountywatchdogs.com/2020/05/illinois-governor-pritzkers-emergency-rule-change-locks-down-the-state-for-150-days-makes-criminals-out-of-those-who-violated-new-rules/

WASHINGTON FREE BEACON
— Chinese State Media Warn Country Will Interfere in U.S. Election – Adam Kredo (DIERSEN: I should write a book about those who hint/imply/argue/shout that GOPUSA ILLINOIS emails interfere with elections in Illinois, in DuPage County, in Milton Township, in Wheaton, and in Wheaton’s West District. According to them, all government and political news and commentary is false except for the government and political news and commentary that they put out or bless.)
https://freebeacon.com/national-security/chinese-state-media-warn-country-will-interfere-in-u-s-election/

FOX NEWS
— Lawmakers can protect the elderly and reopen the economy – Bobby Jindal
https://finance.yahoo.com/video/lawmakers-protect-elderly-reopen-economy-232246055.html

BREITBART
— Pelosi Coronavirus Plan Bails Out the Rich with Tax Breaks, Cheap Labor – John Binder
https://www.breitbart.com/politics/2020/05/16/pelosi-coronavirus-plan-bails-out-the-rich-with-tax-breaks-cheap-labor/
— Congress Needs to Wake Up About State and Local Government Layoffs – JOEL B. POLLAK
https://www.breitbart.com/economy/2020/05/15/pollak-congress-needs-to-wake-up-about-state-and-local-government-layoffs/

THE HILL
— Trump and Biden signal bitter general election with latest attack ads – TAL AXELROD (DIERSEN: Expect that ever-increasingly, Biden will call Republicans White supremacists, Nazis, KKK member, haters, racists, sexists, bigots, and even worse things who should be gotten rid of once and for all. Expect that ever-increasingly, Biden will promise to use the federal government to get rid of the following once and for all: individuals, organizations, companies, governments, and countries that are Trump supporters, Protestant, conservative, patriotic, Republican, American, White, male, older, non-poor, gun owners, German American, draft avoiders, and those whose ancestors have been in America for a long time.)
https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/497885-trump-biden-signal-bitter-general-election-latest-attack-ads

NBC NEWS
— NYC tourist who posted pics at the beach in Hawaii arrested for violating quarantine rule – Minyvonne Burke
https://www.nbcnews.com/health/health-news/live-blog/2020-05-16-coronavirus-news-n1208496/ncrd1208636#blogHeader

NEW YORK TIMES
— Dealing With the Dark Side of Low Interest Rates When you borrow, low interest rates are fabulous. But if you need to live on your savings, you will be receiving far less income. – Jeff Sommer (DIERSEN: Ever-increasingly, interest rates are less than inflation.)
https://www.nytimes.com/2020/05/15/business/strategies-investing-interest-rates.html
— I’m Sick of Asking Children to Be Resilient It’s time for reparations and resources and to not expect kids to “rise above.” – Mona Hanna-Attisha (DIERSEN: In what municipality were you raised? I was raised in Crete 1948-1972. I should write a book about Crete-haters who demonize, denigrate, and condemn a) Crete and b) those like me who were raised in Crete who are White, male, German American, Missouri Synod Lutheran, and/or non-veteran. I would focus on Crete-haters in Wheaton, Glen Ellyn, Milton Township, DuPage County, and Illinois. I would focus on Crete-haters who have lots of religious, government, political, and/or financial clout. I would focus on Crete-haters who continue to demonize, denigrate, and condemn me as being a newcomer even though I have lived in Wheaton since 1978.)
https://www.nytimes.com/2020/05/12/opinion/sunday/flint-inequality-race-coronavirus.html
— FRONT PAGE: How Washington Learned to Embrace the Budget Deficit Many economists who once warned of mounting debt are now urging lawmakers to spend more to combat economic pain from coronavirus. – Jim Tankersley (DIERSEN: Until last year, my wife and I had never spent more than our income. According to my critics/opponents, we were able to do that only because a) we gave up trying to have children, we did not adopt, and we did not become foster parents, b) the federal government grossly overpaid me, c) my federal retirement benefits are much too generous, d) my wife had good jobs, e) I avoided the draft, and f) I have had good health.)
https://www.nytimes.com/2020/05/16/business/deficits-virus-economists-trump.html

WASHINGTON POST
— Crisis exposes how America has hollowed out its government. – Dan Balz (DIERSEN: I should write a book about a) how Republicans used budget cuts to hollow out GAO and b) how the Democrats who ran GAO used those budget cuts to get rid of their employees who were Republican, White, male, and/or non-veteran and who they had not promoted to 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.washingtonpost.com/graphics/2020/politics/government-hollowed-out-weaknesses/
(FROM THE ARTICLE: Chronic weaknesses are well known Gene Dodaro, the comptroller general, leads the Government Accountability Office, the agency that is tasked with being a watchdog for government performance. He sees structural weaknesses that constantly impede performance. “The hardest part of my job is getting people to focus on things before they become a crisis,” he said. The GAO regularly produces a list of areas of high risk in government performance. The most recent, issued in 2019, began with this assessment: “The ratings for more than half of the 35 areas on the 2019 High Risk List remain largely unchanged. Since GAO’s last update in 2017, seven areas improved, three regressed, and two showed mixed progress.”)

FORBES
— Republicans ‘Appalled’ By $3 Trillion Heroes Act, As Democrats Urge Its Passing – Sergei Klebnikov
https://www.forbes.com/sites/sergeiklebnikov/2020/05/16/republicans-appalled-by-3-trillion-heroes-act-as-democrats-urge-its-passing/#40f808ec7599

TIME
— Welcome to the First Global Economic Depression of Our Lifetimes – IAN BREMMER
https://time.com/5837442/first-global-depression-our-lifetimes/

DAILY BEAST
— It’s Not Just Sheriffs—Now Prosecutors Refuse to Enforce Illinois Lockdown – Tracy Connor
https://www.thedailybeast.com/prosecutors-refuse-to-enforce-illinois-gov-jb-pritzkers-lockdown

SUN
— ‘OPEN ILLINOIS’ Protesters calling for end to coronavirus lockdown have tense standoff with Chicago cops despite gov’s vow to open state – Erica Davies
https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/11641674/illinois-coronavirus-lockdown-protests-standoff-cops-chicago/

May 16 Morning Edition

ABC7
— Coronavirus Illinois: COVID-19 cases top 90K with over 4K deaths; GOP congressmen write angry letter responding to Pritzker funding comments Republican congressmen fire off letter after Pritzker says counties that don’t comply risk losing federal aid – Eric Horng, Stacey Baca and Sarah Schulte
https://abc7chicago.com/society/state-remains-on-track-to-move-to-next-reopening-phase;-gop-lawmakers-lash-out/6186133/
— Coronavirus deaths: Nearly half of Illinois COVID-19 deaths linked to long-term care facilities, according to IDPH – Chuck Goudie, Barb Markoff, Christine Tressel, Ross Weidner and Jonathan Fagg
https://abc7chicago.com/health/nearly-half-of-illinois-covid-19-deaths-linked-to-long-term-care-facilities/6186917/

FOX NEWS CHICAGO
— Illinois widens test eligibility as COVID-19 deaths pass 4,000 – AP
https://www.fox32chicago.com/news/illinois-widens-test-eligibility-as-covid-19-deaths-pass-4000

CHICAGO SUN-TIMES
— Face off on masks looming in Springfield? Two downstate Republicans balk at COVID-19 precautions Mulling an about-face, state Rep. Brad Halbrook and fellow Republican state Rep. Darren Bailey said they won’t commit to wearing masks when the House meets on Wednesday, potentially creating a standoff between them and Illinois House Speaker Mike Madigan. – Neal Earley
https://chicago.suntimes.com/politics/2020/5/15/21260692/face-masks-covering-springfield-downstate-republican-darren-bailey-halbrook-covid-19-coronavirus
— With the focus on the coronavirus, Lightfoot opts for bare-bones capital plan The capital plan is on the agenda for Monday’s Finance Committee meeting. – Fran Spielman
https://chicago.suntimes.com/city-hall/2020/5/14/21259380/with-the-focus-on-the-coronavirus-lightfoot-opts-for-bare-bones-capital-plan

CHICAGO TRIBUNE
— Coronavirus deaths at long-term care facilities grow to nearly 2,000, accounting for nearly half of overall state total – Joe Mahr
https://www.chicagotribune.com/coronavirus/ct-coronavirus-long-term-care-facilities-data-20200515-asxjczfnojem5fkhncnnyrvgze-story.html

SPRINGFIELD STATE JOURNAL REGISTER
— State Rep. Tim Butler, R-Springfield, takes drive-through COVID-19 test
https://www.sj-r.com/news/20200515/lawmaker-takes-drive-through-covid-19-test

FOX ILLINOIS
— Blue Mound bar throws ‘anti-corona party’ despite cease and desist order
https://foxillinois.com/news/coronavirus/blue-mound-bar-throws-anti-corona-party-despite-cease-and-desist-order

NEWS CHANNEL 20
— Congressmen urge lawmakers to prevent Pritzker from withholding funds from counties
https://newschannel20.com/news/local/congressmen-urge-lawmakers-to-prevent-pritzker-from-withholding-funds-from-counties

CENTRAL ILLINOIS PROUD
— Peoria Humane Society to host ‘pet food’ drives – Nick Molinari
https://www.centralillinoisproud.com/news/local-news/peoria-humane-society-to-host-pet-food-drives/

NAPERVILLE COMMUNITY TELEVISION
— Three Downtown Businesses Close Down
https://www.nctv17.com/news/three-downtown-businesses-close-down/

CHICAGO CITY WIRE
— University of Illinois professors ‘do not recommend’ mask requirement for general public without COVID-19 symptoms – Glenn Minnis
https://chicagocitywire.com/stories/536900058-university-of-illinois-professors-do-not-recommend-mask-requirement-for-general-public-without-covid-19-symptoms

PRAIRIE STATE WIRE
— Already the highest taxed in the nation, Pritzker wants Illinois residents to pay more – Bob Pepalis
https://prairiestatewire.com/stories/532463877-already-the-highest-taxed-in-the-nation-pritzker-wants-illinois-residents-to-pay-more
— Illinois Policy Institute writer says Pritzker should stall automatic pay raises for state workers – John Sammon (DIERSEN: Step increases recognize/reward experience that employees gain. I should write a book about those who have demonized, denigrated, and condemned the experience that I gained a) working for GAO for almost 18 years, the last 11 years of which at the GS-13 Step 1-10 levels, currently $101,176–$131,532/year; b) working for IRS for almost 9 years, the last 5 1/2 years of which at the GS-12 Step-1-5 levels, currently $85,084-$96,431/year; c) passing the CPA and Certified Internal examinations on my first attempt; and d) earning master’s degrees in business, accounting, and finance. I would focus on those in Wheaton’s West District, Wheaton, Milton Township, DuPage County, and Illinois who have/had lots of religious, government, political, and/or financial clout. I would focus on present/past leaders of the Wheaton Chamber of Commerce, Milton Township Republican Organization, DuPage County Republican Central Committee, Illinois Republican Party, TAPROOT Republicans of Illinois, Illinois Center Right Coalition, and American Association of Political Consultants Midwest Chapter. I would focus on the aforesaid who blame me and my GOPUSA ILLINOIS emails for their problems, for your problems, for my problems, and for everyone’s problems.)
https://prairiestatewire.com/stories/532398116-illinois-policy-institute-writer-says-pritzker-should-stall-automatic-pay-raises-for-state-workers
— Orland Park mayor Keith Pekau: Pritzker acts like North Korean dictator during COVID-19 crisis – W.J. Kennedy
https://prairiestatewire.com/stories/536974311-orland-park-mayor-pritzker-acts-like-north-korean-dictator-during-covid-19-crisis

ILLINOIS FAMILY INSTITUTE
— Coronavirus Should Remind Us Big Government Isn’t The Answer – Peter Heck
https://illinoisfamily.org/marriage/coronavirus-should-remind-us-big-government-isnt-the-answer/

ILLINOIS FAMILY ACTION
— The Party of Contradictions: Feminism vs. Islam – Mason Beasler
https://illinoisfamilyaction.org/2020/05/the-party-of-contradictions-feminism-vs-islam/
— Greasing the Skids Toward Socialism? – Jerry Newcombe
https://illinoisfamilyaction.org/2020/05/greasing-the-skids-toward-socialism/

WASHINGTON TIMES
— Illinois agencies unsure about reopening pools amid pandemic – AP
https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2020/may/16/illinois-agencies-unsure-about-reopening-pools-ami/

DAILY SIGNAL
— Trump Says US Will Resume Funding WHO — At Same Level As China – DAVID KRAYDEN
https://dailycaller.com/2020/05/15/donald-trump-us-resume-funding-who-same-level-china/
— US Manufacturing Output Plunges To Record Low – JAKE MERCIER
https://dailycaller.com/2020/05/15/u-s-manufacturing-output-plunges-record-low-according-to-fed/
— Record-Setting Fundraising Proves Americans Want More Trump – KIMBERLY GUILFOYLE
https://dailycaller.com/2020/05/15/guilfoyle-record-setting-fundraising-proves-americans-want-more-trump/

THE HILL
— House passes massive $3T coronavirus relief package – MIKE LILLIS AND SCOTT WONG
https://thehill.com/homenews/house/498054-house-passes-massive-3t-coronavirus-relief-package
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: Trump-haters want Trump to issue a “national plan on coronavirus” so that they can demonize it, denigrate it, and condemn it.
https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/498078-trump-faces-criticism-over-lack-of-national-plan-on-coronavirus

CNN
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: A Trump-hater says “White House ramps up PR campaign to improve Trump’s image.”
https://www.cnn.com/2020/05/16/politics/trump-coronavirus-vaccine-image/index.html

NEW YORK TIMES
— FRONT PAGE TOP OF FOLD: DIERSEN HEADLINE: Trump-haters say “A Sitting President, Riling the Nation During a Crisis. By smearing his opponents, championing conspiracy theories and pursuing vendettas, President Trump has reverted to his darkest political tactics in spite of a pandemic hurting millions of Americans.”
https://www.nytimes.com/2020/05/15/us/politics/president-trump-coronavirus-pandemic-response.html
— Give Businesses Better Guidelines, Not Immunity A heedless rush to protect businesses from the legal system endangers workers, customers and everyone else. – Editorial (DIERSEN: How many employers will go out of business because of the cost of implementing coronavirus guidelines?)
https://www.nytimes.com/2020/05/15/opinion/coronavirus-liability-business-safety.html
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: A man-hater asks “Why Are Women-Led Nations Doing Better With Covid-19?”
https://www.nytimes.com/2020/05/15/world/coronavirus-women-leaders.html
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: A Trump-hater says “Trump, Biden and the Myth of ‘But 2016’ There are members of both parties who believe the president has the ability to defy the normal rules of politics. That view ignores electoral trends of recent years.”
https://www.nytimes.com/2020/05/15/us/politics/trump-vs-biden-polls.html
— FRONT PAGE TOP OF FOLD: When Shoppers Venture Out, What Will Be Left? A 16.4 percent sales decline in April may signal the bottom for retailers, but the climb back will be hard, and some companies may not make it. – Ben Casselman and Sapna Maheshwari
https://www.nytimes.com/2020/05/15/business/economy/coronavirus-retail-reopening.html

WASHINGTON POST
— Never Trumpers will host their own ‘Republican convention’ during the RNC – David Weigel
https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2020/05/15/never-trumpers-will-host-their-own-republican-convention-during-rnc/

LOS ANGELES TIMES
— Put NIMBYism under quarantine, before homeless people with coronavirus get even sicker – CARLA HALL (DIERSEN: What do you say to politicians and to others who steer Democrats, Libertarians, Greens, RINOs, illegals, homeless people, low-income people, refugees, recent immigrants, minorities, LGBTQers, stoners, drinkers, etc. to certain municipalities, to certain municipal districts, to certain precincts, and/or to certain neighborhoods?)
https://www.latimes.com/opinion/story/2020-04-17/nimby-homeless-covid-19

WALL STREET JOURNAL
— Campaigns, Like the Country, Begin Reawakening Trump ad tries to turn anger at China against former Vice President Biden, while Biden ad charges the president was slow and weak in coronavirus pandemic – Gerald F. Seib
https://www.wsj.com/articles/campaigns-like-the-country-begin-reawakening-11589601690
— Scenes From the Class Struggle in Lockdown Those who are anxious to open up the economy have led harder lives than those holding out for safety. – Peggy Noonan (DIERSEN: The operatives and the dupes who work for my critics/opponents hint/imply/argue/shout a) that they have led hard lives through no fault of their own and b) I did not really earn or disserve anything that I have. I should write a book about my critics/opponents, their operatives, and their dupes.)
https://www.wsj.com/articles/scenes-from-the-class-struggle-in-lockdown-11589498276
— The Often Distorted Reality of Hate Crime in America Racism remains a blight, but one-sided reporting and misrepresented facts don’t help – Gerard Baker
https://www.wsj.com/articles/the-often-distorted-reality-of-hate-crime-in-america-11589562033
— When It’s Time to Go Back to the Office, Will It Still Be There? As companies prepare for employees to return, they are asking whether a traditional headquarters is still necessary. The workplace will likely never be the same again. – Dana Mattioli and Konrad Putzier (DIERSEN: Do/did you work in an office? I did 1971-1997 – in Chicago working for IRS in 1971 and 1973-1980, in Harvey and Joliet working for IRS in 1973 and 1974, and in Chicago working for GAO 1980-1997.)
https://www.wsj.com/articles/when-its-time-to-go-back-to-the-office-will-it-still-be-there-11589601618
— When Epidemics Give a Voice to the Forgotten During London’s 1849 cholera outbreak, an unlikely chronicler let the city’s poor speak out—in ways now echoed on social media during the coronavirus crisis – Richard Holmes
https://www.wsj.com/articles/when-epidemics-give-a-voice-to-the-forgotten-11589471833
— Sales Report Puts the Second Quarter in a Deep Hole After April’s slump in retail sales, even pessimistic forecasts for the current quarter could be too upbeat – Justin Lahart
https://www.wsj.com/articles/sales-report-puts-the-second-quarter-in-a-deep-hole-11589561770
— Coronavirus Bolsters Car Ownership as Consumers Rethink Shared Rides As ride-hailing hits the skids amid the pandemic, auto makers see renewed interest in personal vehicles – William Boston in Berlin and Mike Colias (DIERSEN: I have owed a car since I was 16 in 1964.)
https://www.wsj.com/articles/coronavirus-bolsters-car-ownership-as-consumers-rethink-shared-rides-11589564566
— FRONT PAGE: Google Hides News, Tricked by Fake Claims Dubious copyright complaints citing 1998 law led the search giant to make unfavorable articles vanish – Andrea Fuller, Kirsten Grind and Joe Palazzolo (DIERSEN: I should write a book about my critics/opponents a) who demonize, denigrate, and condemn my stressing the source, title, author, and hyperlink of articles in GOPUSA ILLINOIS emails and b) who do everything that they can to make the original work of others to look like is their own work.)
https://www.wsj.com/articles/google-dmca-copyright-claims-takedown-online-reputation-11589557001

BUSINESS INSIDER
— Losing the party conventions would hurt (seriously) – Anthony L. Fisher
https://www.businessinsider.com/losing-democratic-republican-political-conventions-would-hurt-seriously-2020-5

CHARLOTTE OBSERVER
— The Republican convention, 100 days out, looms as a lifeline to Charlotte businesses – JIM MORRILL AND AUSTIN WEINSTEIN
https://www.charlotteobserver.com/news/politics-government/rnc-2020/article242745381.html

WBTV
— Republican National Committee chairwoman speaks about RNC plans with convention 100 days away – Alex Giles
https://www.wbtv.com/2020/05/16/republican-national-committee-chairwoman-speaks-about-rnc-plans-with-convention-days-away/

WFAE
— On Charlotte RNC, Trump Says Gov. Cooper Is ‘Playing Politics’ By Reopening Slowly – STEVE HARRISON
https://www.wfae.org/post/charlotte-rnc-trump-says-gov-cooper-playing-politics-reopening-slowly#stream/0

AMERICAN REPORTER
— Strong Immune System can help overcome the Covid 19 Virus
https://www.theamericanreporter.com/strong-immune-system-can-help-overcome-the-covid-19-virus-says-research/

ATLANTIC
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: A Trump-hater says “Trump Is Putting Himself at Risk for COVID-19. The president has faced greater exposure to the virus than he might let on.”
https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2020/05/trump-risk-covid-19/611746/

JD SUPRA
— Age Is More Than A Number: Trends In Workforce Composition, Ageism, And Efforts To Address The Elephant In The Room – Fisher Phillips (DIERSEN: I should write a book about age discrimination. How soon, if not already, will employers and organizations officially adopt “up-or-out” policies for their employees and members who are Republican, White, male, and/or non-veteran? For example, will the Illinois Republican Party (IRP) officially adopt the following policy those who are White, male, and/or non-veteran: township/ward party organization officers must be under age 30, county party organization officers must be under age 35, IRP State Central Committee members must be under age 40, and IRP officers must be under age 50?)
https://www.jdsupra.com/legalnews/age-is-more-than-a-number-trends-in-89175/
(FROM THE ARTICLE: Various factors have created a workplace phenomenon that is both underreported and underestimated: an aging workforce and increasing incidence of age discrimination. As people in this country are living longer, the cost of living continues to rise, and the pension model nears extinction, many older Americans continue to work well into their 70’s. Combine that with stereotypes borne of both bygone eras and the current tech-forward attitudes of the younger workforce, and the incidence of age-based discrimination in the workplace is increasing – though the problem is not typically viewed or treated as seriously as other forms of discrimination. Despite laws in place to protect older workers, many hurdles exist in identifying and addressing the issue.)

May 15 Morning Edition

ABC7
— Biden says he would not pardon Trump, block investigations; ‘it’s a dereliction of duty’ – AP
https://abc7chicago.com/politics/biden-says-he-would-not-pardon-trump-block-investigations/6185248/?cmp=emc-wls-news-headlines-5/15/2020

CBS2
— Gov. JB Pritzker Seeks Change Of Venue For Rep. Darren Bailey’s Lawsuit Challenging Stay-At-Home Order
https://chicago.cbslocal.com/2020/05/15/gov-jb-pritzker-seeks-change-of-venue-for-rep-darren-baileys-lawsuit-challenging-stay-at-home-order/
— Working For Chicago: Northwestern University Experts Launching Effort To Help Struggling Evanston Businesses – Lauren Victory (DIERSEN: Who do your critics/opponents promote as being experts? I should write a book about my critics/opponents and who they promote as being experts. I would focus on my critics/opponents who promote themselves, promote my critics/opponents, promote their operatives, and promote their dupes as being experts in deciding what articles should be brought to the attention of Illinois Republicans, and more specifically, to the attention of Illinois Republican Precinct Committeemen/Captains. I would focus on my critics/opponents who hold leadership positions in the Illinois Republican Party, DuPage County Republican Central Committee, and Milton Township Republican Organization who do not want me to include links to articles in GOPUSA ILLINOIS emails that promote Trump or promote the traditional family, right to life, immigration, Second Amendment, illegal drugs, or equal opportunity (no race or gender based preference giving) planks in the Republican Party platform.)
https://chicago.cbslocal.com/2020/05/15/working-for-chicago-northwestern-university-experts-launching-effort-to-help-struggling-evanston-businesses/

CHICAGO SUN-TIMES
— ‘Grandstanding’ by Grand Old Party? Or is Pritzker masking his decisions? GOP lawmakers said they will wear face coverings and follow other safety measures when they return to Springfield, but they want to put Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s “Restore Illinois” plan under the microscope. – Neal Earley
https://chicago.suntimes.com/politics/2020/5/14/21259401/grandstanding-republican-pritzker-brady-springfield-hearing-covid-19-coronavirus-restore-illinois
— COVID-19 test shortage forces Chicago area clinics to halt curbside testing Physicians Immediate Care centers website said because of a lack of tests, “we are currently unable to test for COVID-19 in Illinois.” – Lynn Sweet and Tom Schuba
https://chicago.suntimes.com/coronavirus/2020/5/14/21259211/covid19-test-shortage-phsyicians-immediate-care-curbside-illinois-trump

CHICAGO TRIBUNE
— Chicago area now on track to move to next phase of Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s reopening plan on May 29 – Dan Petrella
https://www.chicagotribune.com/coronavirus/ct-coronavirus-illinois-pritzker-20200515-r7wvb5w7qvh65btlcxldwnbony-story.html
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: A Trump-hater says “Some want the economy flung open. Wake up. COVID-19’s no hoax.”
https://www.chicagotribune.com/opinion/commentary/ct-opinion-coronavirus-hoax-rauner-pritzker-greising-20200514-mis5cqnsgjgypiocrj2elqgata-story.html

DAILY HERALD
— Kane County Republicans launch Community Care Package events May 16 – Jim Oberweis
https://www.dailyherald.com/submitted/20200515/kane-county-republicans-launch-community-care-package-events-may-16
— How ‘OK, Boomer’ Is Holding You Back – Tim Jipping (DIERSEN: I should write a book about those who promote age discrimination. I would focus on those who have lots of religious, government, political, and/or financial clout and hold leadership positions in Wheaton, Milton Township, DuPage County, Illinois, Wheaton Chamber of Commerce, Milton Township Republican Organization, DuPage County Republican Central Committee, Illinois Republican Party, etc. I would focus on those who are over age 40 and who paint themselves as being religious, conservative, and/or Republican. I would focus on those who focus on getting rid of older people who are Trump supporters, Protestant, conservative, White, male, non-poor, gun owners, German American, draft avoiders, and/or those whose ancestors have been in America for a long time.)
https://www.dailyherald.com/business/20200514/how-ok-boomer-is-holding-you-back

CRAIN’S CHICAGO BUSINESS
— A record plunge for retail sales Revenue at retailers and restaurants fell 16.4% in April from the prior month, almost double the 8.3% drop in March.
https://www.chicagobusiness.com/retail/record-plunge-retail-sales

WTTW
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: Democrats hint/imply/argue/shout that if Clinton had been elected, that is, if Democrats ran the Executive Branch, there would be no coronavirus problems.
https://news.wttw.com/2020/05/13/federal-government-sends-cotton-baby-swabs-illinois

WBEZ
— DePaul University Students Are Suing For Tuition Refunds After COVID-19 Shutdown Students argue they’re receiving a lesser education with online classes and should get a partial tuition refund. – Kate McGee
https://www.wbez.org/stories/depaul-university-students-are-suing-for-tuition-refunds-after-covid-19-shutdown/80240207-fcc3-4133-a700-a812aa080550

SPRINGFIELD STATE JOURNAL REGISTER
— House Republicans say they’re not being given virus information – Doug Finke
https://www.sj-r.com/news/20200514/house-republicans-say-theyrsquore-not-being-given-virus-information
— FROM THE LETTER: “Corruption was so egregious the Tribune had to reveal that in order to get a job in county government applicants had to complete a form provided by the county GOP, not the county government.” DIERSEN: My critics/opponents promote patronage. 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.
https://www.sj-r.com/opinion/20200515/letter-corruption-not-limited-to-chicago

CHAMPAIGN/URBANA NEWS GAZETTE
— What’s fraud, and what’s not? – Editorial (DIERSEN: I became a) CPA in 1979 when I was 30 years old, b) Certified Internal Auditor in 1981, c) licensed CPA in 1981, d) Certified Fraud Examiner in 1990, e) Certified Government Financial Manager in 1994, f) Certified Financial Services Auditor in 1996, and g) Forensic Accountant in 1997. I worked for IRS 1971-1980, the last 5 1/2 years of which at the GS-12 Step 1-5 levels currently $85,084-$96,431 and for GAO 1980-1997, the last 11 years of which at the GS-13 Step 1-10 levels, currently $101,176-$131,532.)
https://www.news-gazette.com/opinion/editorials/editorial-what-s-fraud-and-what-s-not/article_d341ed48-d364-5e9a-9ef6-7f0366aca148.html

BELLEVILLE NEWS DEMOCRAT
— County encourages reopening despite Illinois rules. Edwardsville businesses take a pass. – TERI MADDOX
https://www.bnd.com/news/coronavirus/article242717036.html

SUBURBAN LIFE
— Webinar to focus on COVID-19’s impact on DuPage County
https://www.mysuburbanlife.com/2020/05/14/webinar-to-focus-on-covid-19s-impact-on-dupage-county/a5vi4k6/

FOX NEWS ILLINOIS
— Pelosi, GOP exchange barbs over new economic relief package – AP
https://foxillinois.com/news/coronavirus/pelosi-gop-exchange-barbs-over-new-economic-relief-package
— 36 million have sought US unemployment aid since virus hit – AP
https://foxillinois.com/news/nation-world/millions-more-people-likely-sought-us-jobless-aid-last-week

NPR ILLINOIS
— Contact Tracing Apps May Soon Be Coming To A Phone Near You. What’s At Stake For Illinoisans? – SAM DUNKLAU
https://www.nprillinois.org/post/contact-tracing-apps-may-soon-be-coming-phone-near-you-whats-stake-illinoisans#stream/0

WAND
— Gov. Pritzker asks for change of venue in Darren Bailey lawsuit
https://www.wandtv.com/news/gov-pritzker-asks-for-change-of-venue-in-darren-bailey-lawsuit/article_069c4622-9659-11ea-96ae-7fae8f2b0daf.html

AURORA PATCH
— Oberweis calls for lawmaker input into Governor’s re-opening plan The Governor’s plan to re-open Illinois needs the input of all of the state’s diverse regions, says Senator Oberweis
https://patch.com/illinois/aurora/oberweis-calls-lawmaker-input-governors-re-opening-plan

BOLINGBROOK PATCH
— Cannabis DUI’s Present Problems for Illinois Motorists The methods to identify and test drivers who are impaired from cannabis use makes cannabis DUI’s more problematic than alcohol DUI’s. – Nicholas Carrescia,
https://patch.com/illinois/bolingbrook/cannabis-duis-present-problems-illinois-motorists

BURR RIDGE PATCH
— Burr Ridge Mayor Says Pritzker Being ‘Unfair’ Mayor Gary Grasso is taking high-profile role in push to reopen suburbs quicker than Chicago. – David Giuliani
https://patch.com/illinois/burrridge/burr-ridge-mayor-says-pritzker-being-unfair

GENEVA PATCH
— Kane County Republicans Launch Community Care Package Community Care Package will be Saturday, May 16 – Travis Akin
https://patch.com/illinois/geneva/kane-county-republicans-launch-community-care-package

ILLINOIS POLICY INSTITUTE
— OPPOSITION TO PRITZKER’S LOCKDOWN SPREADING RAPIDLY – Brad Weisenstein
https://www.illinoispolicy.org/opposition-to-pritzkers-lockdown-spreading-rapidly/

ILLINOIS REVIEW
— ‘THE 1619 PROJECT’ TELLS A FALSE STORY ABOUT CAPITALISM, TOO
https://www.illinoisreview.com/illinoisreview/2020/05/the-1619-project-tells-a-false-story-about-capitalism-too.html
— FREE SPEECH ALLIANCE: FACEBOOK OVERSIGHT BOARD IS PACKED WITH LIBERALS
https://www.illinoisreview.com/illinoisreview/2020/05/free-speech-alliance-facebook-oversight-board-is-packed-with-liberals.html
— HOW PLANNED PARENTHOOD IS BENEFITING FROM COVID-19 PANDEMIC
https://www.illinoisreview.com/illinoisreview/2020/05/how-planned-parenthood-is-benefiting-from-covid-19-pandemic.html

CAPITOL FAX
— Illinois Republican delegation launches another broadside against Pritzker
https://capitolfax.com/2020/05/15/illinois-republican-delegation-launches-another-broadside-against-pritzker/

WASHINGTON EXAMINER
— Tammy Duckworth’s unique political profile may not be enough to earn Biden vice presidential slot – Naomi Lim (DIERSEN: Ever-increasingly, Duckworth uses her “unique political profile” to promote hatred against individuals, organizations, companies, governments, and counties that are Trump supporters, Protestant, conservative, Republican, White, male, older, non-poor, gun owners, German American, draft avoiders, those whose ancestors have been in America for a long time, etc.)
https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/tammy-duckworths-unique-political-profile-may-not-be-enough-to-earn-biden-vice-presidential-slot

CNS NEWS
— Biden’s First Day As President? Pathway to Citizenship (and Jobs) for All Illegal Aliens – Susan Jones (DIERSEN: Democrats want immigrants because they vote for Democrats. RINOs want immigrants because RINOs want cheap labor.)
https://www.cnsnews.com/article/national/susan-jones/bidens-first-day-president-pathway-citizenship-and-jobs-all-illegal

LIFE SITE NEWS
— Washington gov: Those who don’t cooperate with ‘contact tracers’ and tests not allowed to leave home – Doug Mainwaring
https://www.lifesitenews.com/news/washington-gov-those-who-dont-cooperate-with-contact-tracers-and-tests-not-allowed-to-leave-home

NATIONAL REVIEW
— Despite Lockdown, Planned Parenthood Opens New Illinois Clinic – ALEXANDRA DESANCTIS
https://www.nationalreview.com/corner/despite-lockdown-planned-parenthood-opens-new-illinois-clinic/

POLITICO
— State, local governments slash services as demand rises – ELEANOR MUELLER and KELLIE MEJDRICH
https://www.politico.com/news/2020/05/13/state-local-governments-slash-services-256212

ASSOCIATED PRESS
— Coronavirus Pandemic Has Grounded Presidential Campaigns, Political Operatives Turns To The Internet The coronavirus has ground the presidential campaigns of Joe Biden and Donald Trump to a near halt. For many years, political operatives have been perfecting their use of the internet’s vast array of social media platforms. (DIERSEN: I should write a book about my critics/opponents, their operatives, and their dupes. I would focus on those who focus on a) discouraging me from sending out GOPUSA ILLINOIS emails and b) discouraging everyone from reading those emails.)
https://www.republicworld.com/world-news/us-news/amid-pandemic-campaigning-turns-to-the-internet.html

NEW YORK TIMES
— As Pandemic Wrecks Budgets, States Cut and Borrow to Balance Books The White House threatens to veto a $3 trillion pandemic relief bill, and a study suggests that even talking can propel the droplets that spread the virus.
https://www.nytimes.com/2020/05/14/us/coronavirus-news-updates.html
— U.S. Retail Sales Plunge 16 Percent Retail sales in the U.S. fell 16.4 percent in April, for the biggest two-month decline on record.
https://www.nytimes.com/2020/05/15/business/stock-market-today-coronavirus.html
— The Pandemic Will Permanently Change the Auto Industry – Jack Ewing (DIERSEN: Will there be less hatred of Ford and GM?)
https://www.nytimes.com/2020/05/13/business/auto-industry-pandemic.html

WASHINGTON POST
— Q&A: What is ‘unmasking,’ who does it and why – Shane Harris (DIERSEN: I should write a book about my Democrat superiors, supervisors, coworkers, and subordinates in the federal government who focused on unmasking me as being a Republican, Missouri Synod Lutheran, 100% German American, draft avoider, conservative, Corvette owner since 1971, real estate owner since 1972, Crete resident 1948-1972, Wheaton resident since 1978, gun owner, someone who had retirement savings, someone whose ancestors have been in America since 1844, someone who had claimed partial day per diem, someone who had deducted educational expenses, etc. Of course, my Democrat superiors, supervisors, coworkers, and subordinates used the aforesaid against me.)
https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/qanda-what-is-unmasking-who-does-it-and-why/2020/05/14/ae254782-95ea-11ea-91d7-cf4423d47683_story.html
— A majority of Americans going to work fear exposing their household to the coronavirus – Tim Craig and Emily Guskin (DIERSEN: Everyone should expect that Democrats and Democrat plants, Libertarians and Libertarian plants, Greens and Green plants, and RINOs will use fear of coronavirus to destroy Republican organizations.)
https://www.washingtonpost.com/national/a-majority-of-americans-going-to-work-fear-exposing-their-household-to-the-coronavirus/2020/05/15/d316f1e8-9578-11ea-9f5e-56d8239bf9ad_story.html

USA TODAY
— Don’t sugarcoat news. Tell the truth. Don’t over-reassure. Lessons for those leading during coronavirus. – Nicole Carroll
https://www.usatoday.com/story/opinion/2020/05/15/coronavirus-expert-michael-osterholm-urges-leaders-tell-truth-pandemic-far-from-over/3120635001/

STAR HERALD
— Worrisome Trends Affecting Representative Democracy – LEE H. HAMILTON (DIERSEN: Ever-increasingly, Republican-haters use democracy to get rid of individuals, organizations, and companies that are Trump supporters, Protestant, conservative, patriotic, Republican, American, White, male, older, non-poor, gun owners, German American, draft avoiders, and/or those whose ancestors have been in America for a long time.)
https://www.starherald.com/opinion/columnists/syndicated/lee-h-hamilton-worrisome-trends-affecting-representative-democracy/article_32b6706d-e2c7-5bf9-9513-c746aef79341.html

WALL STREET JOURNAL
— Coronavirus Lockdowns Trigger Record Spending Drops on Shopping, Eating Out April U.S. retail sales are expected to show biggest monthly drop on record – Harriet Torry
https://www.wsj.com/articles/coronavirus-lockdowns-trigger-record-spending-drops-on-shopping-eating-out-11589535000
— Economic Shock of Virus Hit Lower-Income Households Harder, Fed Finds About a third of those who had lost a job or had their hours cut said they couldn’t cover their expenses for the month – David Harrison
https://www.wsj.com/articles/economic-shock-of-virus-hit-lower-income-households-harder-fed-finds-11589472735
— Coronavirus Employment Shock Hits Women Harder Than Men Women are more likely to work in vulnerable sectors like retailing and personal care – Sarah Chaney and Lauren Weber (DIERSEN: While I worked for the federal government for almost 30 years (as a part-time carrier/clerk for the Post Office 1966-1969, as a Revenue Officer for IRS 1971-1980, and as an Analyst for GAO 1980-1997), my superiors were frustrated in their tremendous efforts to hire and to retain qualified women because qualified women a) viewed federal employment as being bad, b) viewed the aforesaid jobs as being bad, and c) could get better paying jobs in the private sector.)
https://www.wsj.com/articles/coronavirus-employment-shock-hits-women-harder-than-men-11589535002
— McDonald’s Sets Conditions for Restaurant Reopenings To ease coronavirus concerns, fast-food chain suggests closing public soda fountains and issues cleaning instructions in 59-page guide – Heather Haddon
https://www.wsj.com/articles/mcdonalds-sets-conditions-for-restaurant-reopenings-11589466556
— Don’t Stand So Close to Me: AI Cameras Police Social Distancing at Work Coronavirus concerns lead companies to repurpose sensors that monitor office space, but privacy experts worry about mission creep – Parmy Olson
https://www.wsj.com/articles/dont-stand-so-close-to-me-ai-cameras-police-social-distancing-at-work-11589452202
— Doctors Fret as Coronavirus Keeps Heart, Stroke Patients Away From ER Fewer patients seeking help for emergency treatments and regular conditions raises concerns about long-term health – Denise Roland, Ian Lovett and Sarah Toy
https://www.wsj.com/articles/doctors-fret-over-lower-er-attendance-during-pandemic-11589454002
— Coronavirus Finishes the Retail Reckoning That Amazon Started Thousands of stores will close permanently as the Covid-19 pandemic turbocharges a shift to e-commerce – Suzanne Kapner and Sarah Nassauer
https://www.wsj.com/articles/coronavirus-finishes-the-retail-reckoning-that-amazon-started-11589459920

FORBES
— Back To The Office: How To Keep Anxious Workers Safe And Happy After Coronavirus – Josie Cox (DIERSEN: Everyone should expect that Democrats and Democrat plants, Libertarians and Libertarian plants, Greens and Green plants, and RINOs will use fear of coronavirus to destroy Republican organizations.)
https://www.forbes.com/sites/josiecox/2020/05/15/back-to-the-work-workers-safe-happy-after-coronavirus-covid/#757c0a401a4d

AMERICAN INDEPENDENT
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: Ever-increasing, Democrats and Democrat plants, Libertarians and Libertarian plants, Greens and Green plants, and RINOs make it clear that they use governments, political organizations, chambers of commerce, etc. to destroy you if you do not promote LGBTQ activity. I should write a book about Democrats and Democrat plants, Libertarians and Libertarian plants, Greens and Green plants, and RINOs in Wheaton, Milton Township, DuPage County, and Illinois who ever-increasingly focus on destroying individuals, organizations, companies, and governments that do not promote LGBTQ activity.
https://americanindependent.com/greg-gianforte-family-research-council-endorsement-hate-group-lgbtq-house-gop-montana/

WINDY CITY TIMES
— Biden camp gears up for ‘unprecedented’ campaign – Matt Simonette (DIERSEN: Of course, to elect Biden, LGBTQ activists will focus on destroying those individuals, organizations, companies, governments, and countries that do not promote LGBTQ activity.)
http://www.windycitymediagroup.com/lgbt/Biden-camp-gears-up-for-unprecedented-campaign-/68540.html

JD SUPRA
— DISGUSTING, TRAGIC: Cannabis Industry Keeps Hiring Amid COVID-19
https://www.jdsupra.com/legalnews/cannabis-industry-keeps-hiring-amid-26145/
— Returning to Work (While Social Distancing): Top Considerations for US Employers (DIERSEN: How soon, if not already, will employers and organizations use coronavirus to get rid of their employees and members once and for all who are a) older, b) obese, c) have underlying conditions including diabetes, d) etc.?)
https://www.jdsupra.com/legalnews/returning-to-work-while-social-68475/

ECONOMIC TIMES
— How organizations communicate with employees becomes more important during a crisis – Abhishek Tyagi and Dr Prachi Bhatt (DIERSEN: Are you a Republican Precinct Committeeman/Captain? If so, what emails have you received during the last week and month from the following: a) the chairman of your Republican township/ward party organization, b) the chairman of your Republican county party organization, c) your representative on the Illinois Republican Party (IRP) State Central Committee, and d) the chairman of the IRP? What do the aforesaid want you to know? Which of your fellow Republican Precinct Committeemen/Captains do the aforesaid promote?)
https://hr.economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/workplace-4-0/employee-engagement/how-organizations-communicate-with-employees-becomes-more-important-during-a-crisis/75750507

SUN
— STAY SAFE Coronavirus high risk groups – from diabetes to obesity, the people most vulnerable to Covid-19 – Hana Carter (DIERSEN: How soon, if not already, will employers and organizations use coronavirus to get rid of their employees and members once and for all who are a) older, b) obese, c) have underlying conditions including diabetes, d) etc.?)
https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/11259120/coronavirus-high-risk-obesity-old-diabetes-who-vulnerable/
(FROM THE ARTICLE: According to the Government website, people aged 70 or older, regardless of their health, are deemed as high risk. Those with chronic respiratory diseases, chronic heart disease, or people who are severely overweight or with a weakened immune system from conditions such as HIV and Aids are also on the list. Obesity has become a major issue as the fight against coronavirus has worn on as it exacerbates symptoms, making fighting the infection ten times harder for those with a BMI over 30 like the PM. New research has found that being obese doubles the risk of needing hospital treatment for coronavirus. It is also known to exacerbate other risk factors like diabetes and heart disease as well as putting excess weight on the diaphragm which makes breathing harder too. There is also a category deemed as extremely vulnerable. Those listed include people who have recently had an organ transplant, people with cancer who are undergoing active chemotherapy or radiotherapy and people with cancer of the bone. Using the Government website, we have pulled together both high risk and extremely vulnerable lists.)