Tag: old

May 25 Morning Edition

ABC7
— President Trump threatens to pull RNC from NC, says Gov. Roy Cooper ‘in shutdown mood’ (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://abc7chicago.com/politics/trump-threatens-to-pull-rnc-from-nc-says-gov-in-shutdown-mood/6210242/
— Illinois lawmakers remove key obstacle in decadeslong efforts to build Chicago casino – Michelle Gallardo
https://abc7chicago.com/illinois-legislature-budget-chicago-casino-coronavirus/6209065/
— 2 Chicago police officers injured while breaking up large crowd in Englewood – Jessica D’Onofrio
https://abc7chicago.com/2-cpd-officers-injured-while-breaking-up-large-crowd-in-englewood/6209901/?cmp=emc-wls-news-headlines-5/25/2020

CHICAGO TRIBUNE
— Does Joe Biden take black voters for granted? His latest gaffe suggests he might – SCOTT MARTELLE (DIERSEN: Who takes those who share your demographics for granted? I should write a book about those who take/took others for granted. I would focus on those who take/took the following for granted: those who are Republican Precinct Committeemen, Trump supporters, Protestant, conservative, patriotic, Republican, American, White, male, older, non-poor, gun owners, German American, those whose ancestors have been in America for a long time, etc. I would focus on those who have/had lots of religious, government, political, and/or financial clout in Illinois, DuPage County, Milton Township, Wheaton, Wheaton Chamber of Commerce, and Wheaton’s West District. I would focus on past and present leaders of the Illinois Republican Party, DuPage County Republican Central Committee, and Milton Township Republican Organization.))
https://www.chicagotribune.com/opinion/commentary/ct-opinion-joe-biden-black-voters-20200522-bviuwfyfazdirnqwmpkghx7ibe-story.html

CHICAGO SUB-TIMES
— “Finished, just finished”: Trump says he is done taking hydroxychloroquine Donald Trump promoted as a treatment for the coronavirus despite warnings from his own U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
https://chicago.suntimes.com/2020/5/25/21269521/trump-done-taking-hydroxychloroquine

WGN RADIO
— Rick Pearson speaks with Illinois Senate Republican leader Bill Brady
https://wgnradio.com/the-sunday-spin-politics-with-rick-pearson/the-sunday-spin-politics-with-rick-pearson-full-show-5-24-2020/

NPR ILLINOIS
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: A Trump-hater says “Trump Hasn’t Worn A Mask Publicly. Here’s What Might Convince Him To.”
https://www.nprillinois.org/post/trump-hasnt-worn-mask-publicly-heres-what-might-convince-him#stream/0

WTTW
— Pritzker ‘Disappointed’ that Lawmakers Failed to Pass New Rule to Punish Businesses Ignoring COVID-19 Order – Heather Cherone (DIERSEN: Who takes the lead in punishing others in Illinois, in your county, in your township, in your municipality, in your municipal district, in your precinct, and in your neighborhood? I should write a book about those who take the lead in punishing those in Illinois, in DuPage County, in Milton Township, in Wheaton, in Wheaton’s West District, in my precinct, and in my neighborhood. I would focus on those who have lots of religious, government, political, and/or financial clout and who punish those who they cannot manipulate/dominate.)
https://news.wttw.com/2020/05/24/pritzker-disappointed-lawmakers-failed-pass-new-rule-punish-businesses-ignoring-covid-19

WIREPOINTS
— No cuts, record spending, and hoping for a bailout. Six things you need to know about Illinois’ 2021 budget. – Ted Dabrowski and John Klingner
https://wirepoints.org/no-cuts-record-spending-and-hoping-for-a-bailout-six-things-you-need-to-know-about-illinois-2021-budget-wirepoints/
— Never mind the courts, says Pritzker. Only his views of the ‘science and data’ matter. – Mark Glennon
https://wirepoints.org/never-mind-the-courts-says-pritzker-only-his-view-of-the-science-and-data-matter-wirepoints/

ILLINOIS NEWSROOM
— Pandemic Puts Damper On Memorial Day Ceremonies – Jim Meadows
https://illinoisnewsroom.org/pandemic-puts-damper-on-memorial-day-ceremonies/

ILLINOIS FAMILY INSTITUTE
— President Trump Deems Churches “Essential”; Calls on Governors to Reopen Houses of Worship – David E. Smith
https://illinoisfamily.org/religious/president-trump-deems-churches-essential-calls-on-governors-to-reopen-houses-of-worship/

GOPUSA
— 30K More Registered Voters Than Eligible Voters In Detroit (DIERSEN: How much deadwood is on the voter rolls in your precinct, in your municipal district, in your municipality, in your township, in your county district, in your county, and in Illinois?)
https://www.gopusa.com/?p=89316
— Jeff Sessions Failed His Biggest Test (DIERSEN: What tests do your critics/opponents say that you failed. I should write a book about my critics/opponents and the tests that they hint/imply/argue/shout that I have failed as the GOPUSA Illinois Editor since 2000. They include my including links in GOPUSA emails to articles that they do not like.)
https://www.gopusa.com/?p=89338
— Former U.S. Rep. Allen West Hurt In Motorcycle Crash
https://www.gopusa.com/?p=89347

BRIETBART
— Democrats Face Criticism for Not Wearing Face Masks, Violating Own Rules – JOEL B. POLLAK
https://www.breitbart.com/politics/2020/05/24/democrats-face-criticism-for-not-wearing-face-masks-violating-own-rules/

AOL
— These unlikely celebrities still use AOL email accounts and we’re really not that surprised – TATIANA PILE (DIERSEN: How long have you had your email address? I have had diersen@aol.com for more than 25 years, since January of 1995 when I was 46 years old. How long have you owned a computer system? I have owned a computer system since 1982 when I was 34 years old. While I worked for GAO during the 1990s, before GAO provided its staff with computer systems, I bought several computer systems and used them in my office. I published Milton Township Republican Organization’s (MTRO) first website in 2000 and served as MTRO’s webmaster 2000-2004 and 2008-2010. I published Milton Township’s first website in 2001 and served as its webmaster 2001-2003. I served as Illinois Center Right Coalition’s webmaster 2004-2006. I have been sending out GOPUSA ILLINOIS emails since 2000 and publishing copies of them at www.gopillinois.com since 2005. I have been on Facebook since January of 2009.)
https://www.aol.com/article/entertainment/2020/05/25/these-unlikely-celebrities-still-use-aol-email-accounts-and-were-really-not-that-surprised/24357428/

THE HILL
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: Trump-haters use coronavirus to destroy America.
https://thehill.com/opinion/campaign/499181-the-big-tent-unifying-america

CNN
— Trump threatens to pull Republican convention out of North Carolina – Betsy Klein and Jeff Zeleny (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.cnn.com/2020/05/25/politics/trump-threatens-charlotte-republican-convention/index.html

NEW YORK TIMES
— FRONT PAGE TOP OF FOLD: The Coronavirus Is Deadliest Where Democrats Live Beyond perception and ideology, there are starkly different realities for red and blue America right now. – Jennifer Medina and Robert Gebeloff (DIERSEN: Obviously, therefore, the more Democrats who live in your neighborhood, in your precinct, in your municipal district, in your township, and in your county, the more that you have to worry about.)
https://www.nytimes.com/2020/05/25/us/politics/coronavirus-red-blue-states.html
— Pay Cuts Become a Tool for Some Companies to Avoid Layoffs “Shared sacrifice” in the white-collar ranks aims to avoid the cost of staffing up again. With no end to the crisis in sight, it is a leap of faith. – Nelson D. Schwartz (DIERSEN: When Republicans cut GAO’s budgets during the 1980s and 1990s, the Democrats who ran the agency never considered pay cuts. Instead, they used the budget cuts to get rid of their employees like me 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. I should write a book about the aforesaid.)
https://www.nytimes.com/2020/05/24/business/economy/coronavirus-pay-cuts.html
— Are Cars Protecting Los Angeles? The city is reviled for its sprawl-and-crawl culture, but a pandemic can change things. – Amy Wilentz (DIERSEN: Overwhelmingly, my critics/opponents, their operatives, and their dupes are anti-car. I should write a book about them. I would focus on those who are full of hatred against American-nameplate cars and full of hatred against those who own them.)
https://www.nytimes.com/2020/05/23/opinion/coronavirus-los-angeles-cars.html
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: A Trump-hater says “On Somber Weekend, President shares Posts Demeaning Rivals. ” I should write a book about those who demonize, denigrate, and condemn my judgment on which articles to include links to in GOPUSA ILLINOIS emails. I would focus on those critics/opponents who paint/painted themselves as being religious, conservative, and/or Republican. I would focus on those who have/had lots of religious, government, political, and/or financial clout in Wheaton, Milton Township, DuPage County, and Illinois. I would focus on those who are/were leaders of the Milton Township Republican Organization, DuPage County Republican Central Committee, and Illinois Republican Party.
https://www.nytimes.com/2020/05/24/us/politics/trump-tweets-racist.html
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: A Trump-hater says “Trump Sows Doubt on Voting. It Keeps Some People Up at Night. A group of worst-case scenario planners — mostly Democrats, but also some anti-Trump Republicans — have been gaming out how to respond to various doomsday options for the 2020 presidential election.”
https://www.nytimes.com/2020/05/24/us/politics/trump-2020-election-voting-rights.html

WALL STREET JOURNAL
— Trump Considers Forming Panel to Review Complaints of Online Bias Move is likely to draw pushback from tech companies; ACLU raises free-speech concerns – John D. McKinnon and Alex Leary (DIERSEN: My critics/opponents side with the left against me and against my GOPUSA ILLINOIS emails. I should write a book about my critics/opponents. I would focus on a) those who discourage me from sending out GOPUSA ILLINOIS mails and b) those who discourage everyone from reading those emails. I would focus on past and present leaders of the Milton Township Republican Organization, DuPage County Republican Central Committee, Illinois Republican Party, Wheaton, Milton Township, DuPage County, Illinois, Wheaton Chamber of Commerce, TAPROOT Republicans of Illinois, Illinois Center Right Coalition, American Association of Political Consultants Midwest Chapter, etc. I would focus on those who have lots of religious, government, political, and or financial clout. I would focus on those who falsely paint themselves as being religious, conservative, and/or Republican to give themselves standing to destroy individuals and to destroy organizations that are conservative and/or Republican.)
https://www.wsj.com/articles/trump-considers-forming-panel-to-review-complaints-of-online-bias-11590238800
(FROM THE ARTICLE: “Left-wing bias in the tech world is a concern that definitely needs to be addressed from our vantage point, and at least exposed [so] that Americans have clear eyes about what we’re dealing with,” a White House official said. Mr. Trump has long expressed that viewpoint, and in a recent Twitter post indicated that a plan to address complaints of bias is in the works. “The Radical Left is in total command & control of Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and Google,” Mr. Trump tweeted May 16, adding that his administration is “working to remedy this illegal situation.”)
— In Seattle, Coronavirus Fallout Opens Economic Divide Tech workers have been able to work from home, but manufacturing and service-sector employees are facing layoffs and infection risk –
Kim Mackrael and Andrew Tangel
https://www.wsj.com/articles/in-seattle-coronavirus-fallout-opens-economic-divide-11590328819
— Covid-19 Tests Come to Work Companies are asking more workers to take coronavirus tests, but the logistics are complicated Employers are puzzling over whom to test, and how often, particularly given that tests typically cost $100 or more each. – Sarah Krouse (DIERSEN: Are you a member of organizations? If so, what tests will those organizations require their members to pass to attend meetings? Will all members be required to pass tests or just those who are old, obese, and/or have health problems including diabetes? )
https://www.wsj.com/articles/covid-19-tests-come-to-work-11590399001
— Summer Jobs Dry Up and Teens Face Highest Unemployment in Decades Younger workers’ go-to positions at pools, restaurants, golf courses are hit by the coronavirus – Patrick Thomas (DIERSEN: What summer jobs did you have? I washed dishes during the summer of 1965. I cleaned golf shoes, chipped slag, and pumped gasoline during the summer of 1966. I delivered mail during the summers of 1967, 1968, and 1969.)
https://www.wsj.com/articles/summer-jobs-dry-up-and-teens-face-highest-unemployment-in-decades-11590312600

USA TODAY
— ‘Draconian’? ‘House arrest’? Coronavirus lockdowns prompt raft of lawsuits against states – Bart Jansen
https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2020/05/25/coronoavirus-lockdowns-prompt-raft-lawsuits-against-states/5231533002/

BOSTON GLOBE
— Goodbye to hugs and handshakes Coronavirus allows us to leave some rituals behind. Good riddance! – Scot Lehigh
https://www.bostonglobe.com/2020/05/20/opinion/goodbye-hugs-handshakes/

DAILY POST
— Three fires in one week at homeless encampment near Facebook – EMILY MIBACH
https://padailypost.com/2020/05/24/three-fires-in-one-week-at-homeless-encampment-near-facebook/

GUARDIAN
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: Ever-increasingly, America-haters use coronavirus to demonize, to denigrate, and to condemn America as being full of White supremacists, Nazis, KKK members, haters, racists, sexists, bigots, and even worse things. If that is true, why do so many citizens of foreign countries who are non-White, who are female, and/or who are younger, who lack education, who lack job skills, who have financial problems, who have health problems, who have other problems, etc. come to America? Democrats want immigrants because immigrants vote for Democrats. RINOs want immigrants because RINOs want cheap labor. Democrats and RINOs promise citizens of foreign countries that if they come to America, they will get preference over citizens of America who are White, male, older, Trump supporters, Protestant, Republican, German American, and those whose ancestors have been in America for a long time.
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/may/25/latino-workers-coronavirus-discrimination-meat-plants

May 24 Morning Edition

ABC7
— Chicago churches stand in solidarity with President Trump, plan Sunday services despite stay-at-home order Mayor Lori Lightfoot says she does not answer to the president – Jesse Kirsch
https://abc7chicago.com/religion/chicago-churches-stand-with-trump-plan-services/6208087/
— Illinois House passes $40 billion budget relying heavily on federal funding – AP
https://abc7chicago.com/politics/illinois-house-passes-$40b-budget-relying-on-federal-funding/6208063/
— Illinois House passes casino legislation pushed by Mayor Lightfoot – AP
https://abc7chicago.com/entertainment/new-casino-legislation-passed-by-illinois-house/6207120/
— New York Times devotes front page to COVID-19 victims as US deaths near 100K – AP
https://abc7chicago.com/society/ny-times-publishes-names-of-1000-covid-19-victims-on-front-page/6208188/

CBS2
— South Side Churches Praising President Trump’s Call For Churches To Reopen, Plan To Hold Services Sunday
https://chicago.cbslocal.com/2020/05/23/south-side-churches-praising-president-trumps-call-for-churches-to-reopen-plan-to-hold-services-sunday/

CHICAGO TRIBUNE
— Lawmakers’ historic pandemic-driven special session focuses on new budget and Chicago casino – RICK PEARSON, JAMIE MUNKS and DAN PETRELLA
https://www.chicagotribune.com/politics/ct-illinois-legislature-special-session-roundup-20200523-twl7cgkeknefpp2bf44g2aof4e-story.html
— When we have a coronavirus vaccine, will we want to use it? – Clarence Page (DIERSEN: Will the following be forced to be vaccinated: Old people, obese people, and those who have health problems including diabetes?)
https://www.chicagotribune.com/columns/clarence-page/ct-column-vaccine-coronavirus-polio-salk-page-20200522-6v4hng2izjeqjcub4n4g2ud6ji-story.html
— Yes, we’re all ready for life to return to normal, but what price are you willing to pay? – DAVID MCGRATH
https://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/naperville-sun/opinion/ct-nvs-mcgrath-column-st-0524-20200522-gpkbe3rp3bcxzo5wcvufs57gmy-story.html
— Struggling with severely reduced ridership, Metra offers a new $10 daily pass – MARY WISNIEWSKI
https://www.chicagotribune.com/coronavirus/ct-coronavirus-chicago-metra-10-pass-ridership-20200520-cdcsclyflrhvxgkcy2a4wgbfma-story.html

CHICAGO SUN-TIMES
— No more remote reporting during crunch time in Springfield for me This experience has shown me that a representative democracy is impossible to maintain without including the public. – Rich Miller
https://chicago.suntimes.com/columnists/2020/5/22/21268052/no-more-remote-reporting-during-crunch-time-in-springfield-for-me

DAILY HERALD
— House OKs $40 billion state budget
https://www.dailyherald.com/news/20200523/house-oks-40-billion-state-budget
— FRONT PAGE TOP OF FOLD: Two young men died fighting in Vietnam, and their high school class has never forgotten – Burt Constable
https://www.dailyherald.com/news/20200523/constable-two-young-men-died-fighting-in-vietnam-and-their-high-school-class-has-never-forgotten
— Wheaton Municipal Band cancels June and July concerts – Gail Sonkin
https://www.dailyherald.com/submitted/20200523/wheaton-municipal-band-cancels-june-and-july-concerts

SPRINGFIELD STATE JOURNAL REGISTER
— Some highlights from the state spending plan – Doug Finke
https://www.sj-r.com/news/20200523/some-highlights-from-state-spending-plan
— Lawsuit: ‘Property seizure’ violates U.S., Illinois constitutions – Rebecca Anzel (DIERSEN: I should write a book about those who are/were similarly situated to me. I would focus on those who are/were Republican Precinct Committeemen, TAPROOT Republicans of Illinois members, Wheaton Chamber of Commerce members, Illinois Center Right Coalition members, American Association of Political Consultants members, GAO employees, Association of Government Accountants members, IRS employees, Firestone Stores employees, Post Office employees, etc. I would focus on how they view/viewed me and how they treat/treated me. I would focus on those who disapprove/disapproved of my being Protestant (baptized, raised, and confirmed as a Missouri Synod Lutheran), conservative, Republican, White, male, old (born in 1948), non-poor, gun owner, draft avoider, 100% German American, Crete resident 1948-1972, Wheaton resident since 1978, federal employee 1966-1969 and 1971-1997, union member 1966-1969 and 1971-1980, federal retiree since 1997, and/or that my ancestors have been in America since 1844.)
https://www.sj-r.com/news/20200523/lawsuit-property-seizure-violates-us-illinois-constitutions
(FROM THE ARTICLE: They are asking a judge to order the state to pay all “similarly situated persons, companies and entities … just compensation.”)

HERALD NEWS
— Republicans rally with open-up supporters in Shorewood – BOB OKON
https://www.theherald-news.com/2020/05/23/republicans-rally-with-open-up-supporters-in-shorewood/dh0aqa1/

GALESBURG REGISTER MAIL
— Gun owners won’t like Senate Bill 1966 – Al Hayden
https://www.galesburg.com/sports/20200523/outdoors-gun-owners-wont-like-senate-bill-1966

ALTON TELEGRAPH
— All the loopholes states have to ‘balance’ their budgets – Brandon Kochkodin
https://www.thetelegraph.com/news/article/All-the-loopholes-states-have-to-balance-their-15288748.php

SUBURBAN LIFE
— DuPage sheriff, Milton Township forge partnership
https://www.mysuburbanlife.com/2020/05/22/dupage-sheriff-milton-township-forge-partnership/ajdy55e/

CAPITOL FAX
— Senate President Don Harmon talks to reporters
https://capitolfax.com/2020/05/24/senate-president-don-harmon-talks-to-reporters/
— Madigan’s closing statement
https://capitolfax.com/2020/05/24/madigans-closing-statement/
— Gaming bill passes Senate 42-14 *** Sen. Martwick is in town to vote for the Chicago casino bill
https://capitolfax.com/2020/05/23/sen-martwick-is-in-town/

NATIONAL REVIEW
— The Return of Exclusivity – MICHAEL BRENDAN DOUGHERTY (DIERSEN: Since 2000 when I was 52 years old, my critics/opponents have been beyond furious that I have had the time and the money needed to put GOPUSA ILLINOIS emails together and to send them out free of charge and without any advertising or forced survey questions. I have that time and that money because my Democrat GAO superiors succeeded in forcing me to take their early retirement “offer” in 1997 when I was 49 years old. Why was I eligible to take early retirement? I had worked for the federal government for almost 30 years – almost 18 years working for GAO 1980-1997, almost 9 years working for IRS 1971-1980, and almost 3 years working for the Post Office 1966-1969. The last 11 years that I worked for GAO was at the GS-13 Step 1-10 levels, currently $101,176-$131,532/year. My critics/opponents paint my Civil Service Retirement System pension and my federal health, dental, and vision insurance subsidy as being an “unfair advantage.” My critics/opponents would never stoop to take the federal jobs that I did. I should write a book about my critics/opponents who have not and would 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, and/or f) because they cannot pass a physical examination.)
https://www.nationalreview.com/corner/the-return-of-exclusivity/
(FROM THE ARTICLE: The New York Times has succeeded in the digital era in part because it was the first to introduce an effective paywall model to generate digital subscription revenue. The model is so effective at generating needed revenue that National Review Online has implemented something like it.)

EPOCH TIMES
— 5 Things New Graduates Should Do to Plan Their Careers – ERIC D. JOHNSON AND REBECCA COOK (DIERSEN: I wanted a career in the automotive industry. That all ended in 1971 when I was 22 years old when Oldsmobile withdrew a job offer that I had accepted saying that it had just agreed to stop hiring Whites to settle an EEOC complaint.)
https://www.theepochtimes.com/5-things-new-graduates-should-do-to-plan-their-careers_3354171.html

NEW YORK TIMES
— Inequality Has Been Laid Bare by the Outbreak. Now What? We’re seeing how what we have compares with what others have, and the differences can matter a lot. – Jay Caspian Kang (DIERSEN: Trump-haters use the pandemic to promote class warfare.)
https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2020/05/20/magazine/covid-quarantine-inequality.html
— What if We All Vacationed at Home Again? – Henry Wismayer (DIERSEN: My wife and I have been married since 1978. We have never taken a real vacation. We took short vacations four times each year 1978-1992 after her business trips. But her income dropped in 1992 when she lost her job working for the U.S. League of Savings Institutions and my income dropped much more in 1997 when I lost my job working for GAO. I went on short vacations in 1969, 1970, 1971, 1973, 1974, 1975, 1976, and 1977.)
https://www.nytimes.com/2020/05/23/opinion/sunday/coronavirus-travel-summer-vacation.html
— Crumbs for the Hungry but Windfalls for the Rich Billions are going to zillionaires under the guise of pandemic relief. – Nicholas Kristof
https://www.nytimes.com/2020/05/23/opinion/sunday/coronavirus-economic-response.html
— Why Does the U.S. Military Celebrate White Supremacy? It is time to rename bases for American heroes — not racist traitors. – Editorial
https://www.nytimes.com/2020/05/23/opinion/sunday/army-base-names-confederacy-racism.html
— Contact Tracing Is Harder Than It Sounds An elite cadre of 20th-century syphilis hunters can teach us a lot about what it takes to stop infections. – Kate Murphy
https://www.nytimes.com/2020/05/23/sunday-review/coronavirus-contact-tracing.html
— HARDCOPY ARTICLE TITLE: Why the tests instituted to lift college diversity are falling out of favor – Shawn Hubler (DIERSEN: What tests have you passed? The tests that I have passed include 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/2020/05/23/us/SAT-ACT-abolish-debate-california.html
— ALL OF THE FRONT PAGE: Remembering the Nearly 100,000 Lives Lost to Coronavirus in America As the U.S. approaches a grim milestone in the outbreak, The New York Times gathered names of the dead and memories of their lives from obituaries across the country. – Dan Barry, Larry Buchanan, Clinton Cargill, Annie Daniel, Alain Delaquérière, Lazaro Gamio, Gabriel Gianordoli, Richard Harris, Barbara Harvey, John Haskins, Jon Huang, Simone Landon, Juliette Love, Grace Maalouf, Alex Matthews, Farah Mohamed, Steven Moity, Destinée-Charisse Royal, Matt Ruby and Eden Weingart
https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2020/05/24/us/us-coronavirus-deaths-100000.html

NEW YORK POST
— During coronavirus pandemic, essentials are the new protected class – Michael Goodwin (DIERSEN: Democrats promote dependency on government. Republicans are supposed to promote individual responsibility.)
https://nypost.com/2020/05/23/coronavirus-is-boom-time-for-socialists-goodwin/
(FROM THE ARTICLE: For socialists and those who lean that way, pandemic time is boom time. Washington is printing and spending money like never before and both parties support sending cash to businesses and the unemployed. Rent and mortgage payments are being deferred, Medicare-for-all is getting a second look and support is growing for a program that would take the nation across the economic Rubicon — a guaranteed basic income. Seldom is heard those cautionary words of yesteryear, “moral hazard.” A time of great need and fear is shattering any stigma about being on the dole. A logical conclusion is that politics will follow culture and Bernie Sanders- and AOC-types will call the shots in America. Unless ­Republicans and conservatives get on board, they will be consigned to history’s dustbin. Perhaps. But pay attention to another potential reaction to the pandemic. Think of it as the revenge of the nonessentials.)

POLITICUS USA
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: A Republican-hater says “The GOP’s Hypocritical Assault on States and the American People.”
https://www.politicususa.com/2020/05/23/opinion-the-gops-hypocritical-assault-on-states-and-the-american-people.html

SHARON MELNICK, PHD
— SEPTEMBER 26, 2011 FLASHBACK: DO YOU CAUSE YOUR OWN PROBLEMS? (DIERSEN: I should write a book about those who hint/imply/argue/shout that I cause/caused all my own problems. I would focus on those who are/were Republican Precinct Committeemen, TAPROOT Republicans of Illinois members, Wheaton Chamber of Commerce members, Illinois Center Right Coalition members, American Association of Political Consultants members, GAO employees, Association of Government Accountants members, IRS employees, Firestone Stores employees, Post Office employees, etc. I would focus on how they view/viewed me and how they treat/treated me. I would focus on those who disapprove/disapproved of my being Protestant (baptized, raised, and confirmed as a Missouri Synod Lutheran), conservative, Republican, White, male, old (born in 1948), non-poor, gun owner, draft avoider, 100% German American, Crete resident 1948-1972, Wheaton resident since 1978, federal employee 1966-1969 and 1971-1997, union member 1966-1969 and 1971-1980, federal retiree since 1997, and/or that my ancestors have been in America since 1844.)
https://www.sharonmelnick.com/do-cause-your-own-problems/

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/

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 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 15 Evening 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/coronavirus-illinois-covid-19-cases-top-90k-with-over-4k-deaths/6186133/
— Chicago Reopening: Lightfoot warns churches, worshipers who plan to defy stay-at-home order through Sunday service – Evelyn Holmes
https://abc7chicago.com/community-events/mayor-lightfoot-warns-churches-who-plan-to-defy-illinois-stay-at-home-order/6186498/

NBC5
— 2,432 New Coronavirus Cases Reported in Illinois as Total Inches Closer to 100,000 There were also an additional 130 deaths
https://www.nbcchicago.com/news/coronavirus/2432-new-coronavirus-cases-in-illinois-as-total-inches-closer-to-100000/2272805/
— Illinois GOP Agitates for Chance to Negotiate COVID-19 Reopening
https://www.nbcchicago.com/news/local/chicago-politics/illinois-gop-agitates-for-chance-to-negotiate-covid-19-reopening/2272528/
— Unemployed, Business Owners File Suit Against Pritzker and Illinois, Seek Compensation The plaintiffs named in the lawsuit claimed their “livelihoods and income were taken for a public purpose”
https://www.nbcchicago.com/news/local/unemployed-business-owners-file-suit-against-pritzker-and-illinois-seek-compensation/2272824/

CBS2
— Gov. JB Pritzker Urges Republican Critics To Stop ‘Pushing Stories’ About His Family’s Whereabouts; ‘There Are Threats To My Safety And To Their Safety’
https://chicago.cbslocal.com/2020/05/15/gov-jb-pritzker-urges-republican-critics-to-stop-pushing-stories-about-his-familys-whereabouts-there-are-threats-to-my-safety-and-to-their-safety/

WGN TV
— As retail sales plummet, Chicago small shops look to survive pandemic – AP
https://wgntv.com/chicago-news/as-retail-sales-plummet-chicago-small-shops-look-to-survive-pandemic/
— Critics of stay-at-home order want churches to reopen – Gaynor Hall
https://wgntv.com/chicago-news/critics-of-stay-at-home-order-want-churches-to-reopen/

FOX NEWS CHICAGO
— Illinois surpasses 4,000 COVID-19 deaths and 90,000 cases statewide
https://www.fox32chicago.com/news/illinois-surpasses-4000-covid-19-deaths-and-90000-cases-statewide

CHICAGO TRIBUNE
— Southland communities lay off, furlough staff as coronavirus pandemic craters revenue projections – ZAK KOESKE
https://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/daily-southtown/ct-sta-municipal-impact-coronavirus-st-0517-20200516-4u6f4ebsrbd6lo4bedns522mxi-story.html
— State says COVID-19 testing expanded to include many workers who aren’t exhibiting symptoms – JAMIE MUNKS and RICK PEARSON
https://www.chicagotribune.com/coronavirus/ct-coronavirus-illinois-pritzker-testing-20200516-adn2oqzf6jbhvlvkfquqy5vebi-story.html
— Preckwinkle’s Cook County disaster proclamation could extend to Sept. 30: ‘The more time we give, the better’ – ALICE YIN
https://www.chicagotribune.com/coronavirus/ct-coronavirus-cook-county-preckwinkle-disaster-proclamation-20200515-crkchleuiraudhclatdday2uma-story.html

CHICAGO SUN-TIMES
— Preckwinkle to seek extension of disaster proclamation until end of September — but one commissioner suggests it’s illegal Preckwinkle’s March 10 order is set to expire at the end of May, though, if approved by the board of commissioners at their May 21 meeting, the order could be extended through Sept. 30. – Rachel Hinton
https://chicago.suntimes.com/politics/2020/5/15/21260245/preckwinkle-extension-disaster-proclamation-september-morrison
— Everything must be on the table as city, state fight back from financial devastation With help from Congress at a standstill, Illinois and Chicago leaders will have to take painful measures, possibly including service cuts, furloughs, layoffs and changes in pensions – Editorial
https://chicago.suntimes.com/2020/5/15/21256032/illinois-chicago-government-finances-j-b-pritzker-lori-lightfoot-city-budget-coronavirus-economic
— Coronavirus now in 100 Illinois counties as state tops 4K deaths, 90K cases With 130 deaths reported on Friday, the state has lost 1,727 people so far in May and 4,058 overall. – Tina Sfondeles
https://chicago.suntimes.com/coronavirus/2020/5/15/21260348/illinois-coronavirus-pritzker-testing-cases-deaths-counties-may-15

DAILY HERALD
— Some Northwest suburbs ask to be split from Chicago in governor’s Restore Illinois plan – Eric Peterson
https://www.dailyherald.com/news/20200515/some-northwest-suburbs-ask-to-be-split-from-chicago-in-governors-restore-illinois-plan
— McHenry County Board members discuss salary reduction for elected officials – Kelli Duncan
https://www.dailyherald.com/news/20200515/mchenry-county-board-members-discuss-salary-reduction-for-elected-officials
— New committeeperson named for Republicans in Barrington Township
https://www.dailyherald.com/news/20200515/new-committeeperson-named-for-republicans-in-barrington-township
— Cook County is now the county with most COVID-19 cases in U.S.
https://www.dailyherald.com/news/20200515/sun-times-cook-county-is-now-the-county-with-most-covid-19-cases-in-us

CRAIN’S CHICAGO BUSINESS
— Lightfoot: Chicago staring down another $1 billion budget hole A year into office, the mayor faces a budget gap similar to what she started with, and there are fewer options to fill it. Without federal aid, “we are going to be in a world of hurt.” – A.D. QUIG and GREG HINZ
https://www.chicagobusiness.com/government/lightfoot-chicago-staring-down-another-1-billion-budget-hole
— Illinois sees some good news on the pandemic The rate of positive COVID tests continues to decrease, indicating fewer people are getting sick from the virus. – STEPHANIE GOLDBERG
https://www.chicagobusiness.com/government/illinois-sees-some-good-news-pandemic
— McDonald’s franchisees face steep costs to bring back dine-in The fast-food giant’s guidelines for reopening during the pandemic come with costs that burden operators. – DALTON BARKER
https://www.chicagobusiness.com/restaurants/mcdonalds-franchisees-face-steep-costs-bring-back-dine

QUAD CITY TIMES
— Census outreach ‘incredibly stymied’ by COVID-19 pandemic – JERRY NOWICKI
https://qctimes.com/business/census-outreach-incredibly-stymied-by-covid-19-pandemic/article_30472e26-ed0f-5867-9f6a-64c39b019e66.html

ALTON DAILY NEWS
— Illinois Unemployment Numbers Continue to Climb – Cole Lauterbach
http://altondailynews.com/news/details.cfm?id=304066#.Xr8OoiN_OM8

EFFINGHAM DAILY NEWS
— Pritzker’s graduated tax fails on all counts – Jim Nowlan
https://www.effinghamdailynews.com/opinion/columns/jim-nowlan-guest-columnist-pritzker-s-graduated-tax-fails-on-all-counts/article_f457fa1c-96ec-11ea-9bc2-6745501b967f.html

FOX ILLINOIS
— Coronavirus decimates state budgets, federal funding uncertain – Leandra Bernstein
https://foxillinois.com/news/connect-to-congress/coronavirus-decimates-state-budgets-federal-funding-uncertain
— Pandemic planning becomes political weapon as deaths mount – AP
https://foxillinois.com/news/nation-world/pandemic-planning-becomes-political-weapon-as-deaths-mount

CENTER SQUARE
— Illinois GOP Congressmen ask Washington to protect local aid from Pritzker threats over orders – Cole Lauterbach
https://www.thecentersquare.com/illinois/illinois-gop-congressmen-ask-washington-to-protect-local-aid-from-pritzker-threats-over-orders/article_25835954-96ef-11ea-bbd9-efbef4b24a36.html

ILLINOIS LEAKS
— Rep Bailey’s Clay Co. case v. Gov Pritzker to stay in Clay Co. – JOHN KRAFT
https://edgarcountywatchdogs.com/2020/05/rep-baileys-clay-co-case-v-gov-pritzker-to-stay-in-clay-co/
— You have the key to open your doors, not the Government – Know your rights – KIRK ALLEN
https://edgarcountywatchdogs.com/2020/05/you-have-the-key-to-open-your-doors-not-the-government-know-your-rights/

ILLINOIS REVIEW
— ORLAND PARK MAYOR CALLS FOR REDRAWING OF “RESTORE ILLINOIS” COVID PLAN’S REGIONAL BOUNDARIES
https://www.illinoisreview.com/illinoisreview/2020/05/orland-park-mayor-calls-for-redrawing-of-restore-illinois-covid-plans-regional-boundaries.html
— H.R. 6666 – A Devilish Surveillance Plot – Kathy Valente
https://illinoisfamily.org/federal/h-r-6666/
— GOP STATE LAWMAKERS PROPOSE LIMIT ON GOVERNOR 30-DAY DISASTER DECLARATIONS
https://www.illinoisreview.com/illinoisreview/2020/05/gop-state-lawmakers-propose-limit-on-governor-30-day-disaster-declarations.html
— THORNER/INGOLD: IF WE OPEN, WILL THEY COME?
https://www.illinoisreview.com/illinoisreview/2020/05/thorneringold-if-we-open-businesses-will-they-come.html
— CONGRESS SHOULD PREVENT GOVS FROM KEEPING FEDERAL FUNDS FROM LOCAL MUNICIPALITIES, IL DELEGATION SAYS
https://www.illinoisreview.com/illinoisreview/2020/05/congress-should-prevent-govs-from-keeping-federal-funds-from-local-municipalities-il-delegation-says.html

CAPITOL FAX
— 2,432 new cases, 130 additional deaths
https://capitolfax.com/2020/05/15/2432-new-cases-130-additional-deaths/
— Pritzker announces expanded testing – Talks about positivity rates – Warns people in QC to be careful about Iowa – Says he’s at home in Chicago – Wife and daughter were in Florida before stay at home order and stayed there – Says wife and daughter are “home now” – Regarding Georgia, it takes weeks to see changes after opening up – Explains why charter boat tours are still banned – Regarding letter from GOP congressmen: “They’re missing the point” – Still waiting to see if antibody tests are accurate – On a path to more testing in every region – Addresses Naperville Park District lawsuit threat – Says family was in Wisconsin at “working farm” – Claims GOP is “putting my children and my family in danger” – Governor’s office clarifies that family is in Chicago now – Discouraging use of ABS rapid tests until FDA guidance issued
https://capitolfax.com/2020/05/15/pritzker-announces-expanded-testing/
— COVID-19 roundup
https://capitolfax.com/2020/05/15/covid-19-roundup-39/
— Duckworth to interview for veep spot
https://capitolfax.com/2020/05/15/duckworth-to-interview-for-veep-spot/
— Unprecedented economic carnage
https://capitolfax.com/2020/05/15/unprecedented-economic-carnage/
— Some Eastern Bloc members say they won’t wear face masks during session, but they won’t be allowed inside
https://capitolfax.com/2020/05/15/some-eastern-bloc-members-say-they-wont-wear-face-masks-during-session-but-they-wont-be-allowed-inside/

WASHINGTON EXAMINER
— ‘The founders would be ashamed’: Kevin McCarthy slams new remote Congress rules – Susan Ferrechio
https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/congress/the-founders-would-be-ashamed-mccarthy-slams-new-remote-congress-rules

FEDERALIST
— 100,000 Businesses Have Permanently Collapsed Under Pandemic Lockdowns – Tristan Justice
https://thefederalist.com/2020/05/15/100000-businesses-have-permanently-collapsed-under-pandemic-lockdowns/

NEW YORK TIMES
— J.C. Penney, 118-Year-Old Department Store, Files for Bankruptcy The chain’s move came after J. Crew and the Neiman Marcus Group filed, and represented the biggest casualty amid retail closures tied to the coronavirus pandemic. – Sapna Maheshwari and Michael Corkery
https://www.nytimes.com/2020/05/15/business/jc-penney-bankruptcy-coronavirus.html

WASHINGTON POST
— Wondering what’s safe as states start to reopen? Here’s what some public health experts say. – Katherine Shaver
https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/trafficandcommuting/wondering-whats-safe-as-states-start-to-reopen-heres-what-some-public-health-experts-say/2020/05/14/9e684e3c-949d-11ea-91d7-cf4423d47683_story.html

May 14 Evening Edition

ABC7
— Coronavirus Illinois: COVID-19 cases top 87K with over 3.9K deaths; All Illinois regions poised to move to next phase of reopening, Pritzker says Illinois reports 3,239 new COVID-19 cases, 138 deaths on May 14 – Jessica D’Onofrio
https://abc7chicago.com/society/all-illinois-regions-poised-to-move-to-next-phase-of-reopening-pritzker-says/6181604/
— Coronavirus Chicago: Willie Wilson voices support for 100 churches to reopen Sunday in defiance of stay-at-home order – Jessica D’Onofrio
https://abc7chicago.com/health/willie-wilson-voices-support-for-100-churches-to-reopen-sunday-in-defiance-of-stay-at-home-order/6181687/?cmp=emc-wls-news-headlines-5/14/2020
— Coronavirus drives sharp rise in food prices at grocery stores in April
https://abc7chicago.com/food/grocery-store-prices-rose-sharply-in-april-from-covid-19-pandemic/6183211/

NBC5
— 3,239 New Coronavirus Cases, 138 Additional Deaths Reported in Illinois The numbers lift statewide totals to 87,937 cases and 3,928 deaths
https://www.nbcchicago.com/news/coronavirus/3239-new-coronavirus-cases-in-illinois/2272151/
— All Regions in Illinois Now on Track to Move to Phase 3 at End of May, Pritzker Says No region can officially move forward until May 29, under the parameters of the governor’s plan
https://www.nbcchicago.com/news/coronavirus/all-regions-in-illinois-now-on-track-to-move-to-phase-3-at-end-of-may-pritzker-says/2272206/

FOX NEWS CHICAGO
— Illinois nearing 4,000 coronavirus deaths
https://www.fox32chicago.com/news/illinois-nearing-4000-coronavirus-deaths

CHICAGO TRIBUNE
— Illinois Tollway collections down $52 million in April due to pandemic – Mary Wisniewski
https://www.chicagotribune.com/coronavirus/ct-coronavirus-illinois-tollway-52-million-loss-20200513-s7kcoueacjhrpm4w74cpn4y4sq-story.html
— Chicago-area transit may look different this summer, with social distancing and the end of rush hour – Mary Wisniewski
https://www.chicagotribune.com/coronavirus/ct-coronavirus-transit-future-cta-metra-pace-masks-crowds-20200514-of35kwsm7vazjiga4356mzl72y-story.html
— As House readies vote on coronavirus package with second stimulus checks, some lawmakers push for guaranteed income programs – CATIE EDMONDSON
https://www.chicagotribune.com/coronavirus/ct-nw-nyt-congress-coronavirus-stimulus-checks-20200514-pmdses3xljgevfbywbmharveoq-story.html
— Preckwinkle unveils COVID-19 recovery plan for Cook County focusing on racial equity – ALICE YIN (DIERSEN: To promote racial and gender equity, my Democrat superiors in the federal government a) gave preference to their Democrat employees who were minority, female, and/or younger and b) got rid of their Republican employees who were White, male, older, and/or non-veteran.)
https://www.chicagotribune.com/coronavirus/ct-cook-county-preckwinkle-recovery-plan-coronavirus-20200514-x2vahslxbbdzhmgopiegxq2k4u-story.html

DAILY HERALD
— Illinois GOP agitates for chance to negotiate COVID-19 re-opening – AP
https://www.dailyherald.com/article/20200514/news/305149944/
— Chicago, suburbs hit testing milestone, on track to ease stay-at-home restrictions – Marni Pyke
https://www.dailyherald.com/news/20200514/chicago-suburbs-hit-testing-milestone-on-track-to-ease-stay-at-home-restrictions-
— Suburban pastors expect excitement, caution with reopenings – Bob Susnjara
https://www.dailyherald.com/news/20200514/suburban-pastors-expect-excitement-caution-with-reopenings
— Kane sheriff: Deputies need judge’s order to enforce governor’s orders – Harry Hitzeman
https://www.dailyherald.com/news/20200514/kane-sheriff-deputies-need-judgess-order-to-enforce-governors-orders
— Batavia preparing for anticipated revenue shortfall due to coronavirus pandemic – Lauren Rohr
https://www.dailyherald.com/news/20200514/batavia-preparing-for-anticipated-revenue-shortfall-due-to-coronavirus-pandemic
— Elmhurst Park District facing furloughs, lost revenue from pandemic – Bob Smith
https://www.dailyherald.com/news/20200514/elmhurst-park-district-facing-furloughs-lost-revenue-from-pandemic
— Trump: Virus shows supply chains should be moved from China – AP
https://www.dailyherald.com/business/20200514/trump-virus-shows-supply-chains-should-be-moved-from-china

CRAIN’S CHICAGO BUSINESS
— Chicago’s on track to move to next phase of recovery on May 29, Pritzker says Limited reopening of stores, offices, gyms and hair salons will occur if health numbers hold up—and if Lightfoot doesn’t impose tougher rules for the city. – GREG HINZ
https://www.chicagobusiness.com/greg-hinz-politics/chicagos-track-move-next-phase-recovery-may-29-pritzker-says
— The cap on SALT deductions is back on the agenda in D.C. Tucked into Pelosi’s big $3 trillion COVID-relief bill is a clause to drop the $10,000 federal cap on deductions for state and local taxes for the next two years, a hot topic ever since the GOP passed it in a previous Congress. – GREG HINZ
https://www.chicagobusiness.com/greg-hinz-politics/cap-salt-deductions-back-agenda-dc

WBEZ
— Chicago Teachers Union Calls On State To Force CPS To Bargain Over Remote Learning The union says state rules require the school district to bargain about instruction from home. Mayor Lori Lightfoot has already said no. – Sarah Karp
https://www.wbez.org/stories/chicago-teachers-union-calls-on-state-to-force-cps-to-bargain-over-remote-learning/2b25266f-1b23-46d8-93f3-7db3bee26711

SOUTHERN
— Republicans push for revisions to ‘Restore Illinois’ plan – PETER HANCOCK
https://thesouthern.com/news/local/govt-and-politics/republicans-push-for-revisions-to-restore-illinois-plan/article_bf14d217-2488-53d4-bfb8-6d7e0a1f24d2.html

ALTON TELEGRAPH
— County action on reopening brings political responses – Scott Cousins
https://www.thetelegraph.com/news/article/County-action-on-reopening-brings-political-15271216.php

NPR ILLINOIS
— With School Buildings Closed, Children’s Mental Health Is Suffering – ANYA KAMENETZ
https://www.nprillinois.org/post/school-buildings-closed-childrens-mental-health-suffering#stream/0

CHICAGO READER
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: White-haters use coronavirus to promote hatred against Whites.
https://www.chicagoreader.com/chicago/covid-death-racial-disparity/Content?oid=79884746&mc_cid=c588c4801b&mc_eid=c968c7978e

WILL COUNTY NEWS
— Federal Lawsuit filed against Governor Jay Robert Pritzker in his official capacity and the State of Illinois – Steve Balich
https://thewillcountynews.com/install/index.php/2020/05/13/federal-lawsuit-filed-against-governor-jay-robert-pritzker-in-his-official-capacity-and-the-state-of-illinois/

CENTER SQUARE
— Lawmakers expect pandemic special session to be a ‘rodeo’ Aside from state budget, Illinois lawmakers expected to take up expanded to take up mail-in voting possible but not check on executive authority – Greg Bishop
https://www.thecentersquare.com/illinois/lawmakers-expect-pandemic-special-session-to-be-a-rodeo/article_bfd419fc-9547-11ea-bc5e-af4c3238930d.html

WIREPOINTS
— Facing Growing Defiance, Pritzker Thumbs Nose at AG Opinion, Insults and Threatens Dissidents – Mark Glennon
https://wirepoints.org/facing-growing-defiance-pritzker-thumbs-nose-at-ag-opinion-insults-and-threatens-dissidents-wirepoints/
— COVID-19 deaths and pre-existing conditions. What Illinois’ data says about who’s at risk. – Ted Dabrowski and John Klingner
https://wirepoints.org/covid-19-deaths-and-pre-existing-conditions-what-illinois-data-says-about-whos-at-risk-wirepoints/

CAPITOL FAX
— Another 3 million Americans, 73,000 Illinoisans apply for unemployment insurance
https://capitolfax.com/2020/05/14/another-3-million-americans-73000-illinoisans-apply-for-unemployment-insurance/
— Bailey files new lawsuit based on informal 2001 AG opinion
https://capitolfax.com/2020/05/14/bailey-files-new-lawsuit-based-on-informal-2001-ag-opinion/
— Illinois Sheriffs’ Association: “It is outrageous that the Governor is threatening retaliation”
https://capitolfax.com/2020/05/14/illinois-sheriffs%e2%80%99-association-it-is-outrageous-that-the-governor-is-threatening-retaliation/
— Pritzker talks unemployment insurance – As of right now, all regions are meeting guidelines to move forward to Phase 3 – Explains regionalization approach – Restates possible licensure and legal consequences – Says Leader Brady demand “sounds like grandstanding” – Brady responds – Answers “loaded” question – Explains rolling averages – Business guidance coming in next two weeks or so – Dr. Ezike comments on 12-year-old boy who died – Dr. Ezike says she has no info on reopen protesters catching virus – Dr. Ezike says people can refuse hospital admission – Asked about hospital rumor – Pritzker says he’d like to go to Springfield, but waiting on medical sign-off – Dr. Ezike explains that increased testing will result in increased cases – Dr. Ezike says woman who gave birth and died after being sent home a “significant tragedy” and vows probe – Dr. Ezike comments on WHO official claim that virus may never go away – Dr. Ezike explains mental health treatment options – Governor talks budget process moving forward – Revenue projections have not changed “a whole lot” – Could be population shift, but maybe not because of virus – Believes EO is on solid legal footing – Explains why Illinois has 28-day metric – Praises Catholic Church reopening plan, is working with other denominations – “It’s just the very loud voices of people who are being defiant and ignoring science and data”
https://capitolfax.com/2020/05/14/pritzker-talks-unemployment-insurance-as-of-right-now-all-regions-are-meeting-guidelines-to-move-forward-to-phase-3/
— 3,239 new cases, 138 additional deaths
https://capitolfax.com/2020/05/14/3239-new-cases-138-additional-deaths/
— COVID-19 roundup
https://capitolfax.com/2020/05/14/covid-19-roundup-38/

CONSERVATIVE HQ
— There’s No Proof Killing The Economy Saves Lives
http://www.conservativehq.com/node/32513

NEWSMAX
— Total Virus Layoffs Hit 36.5M as About 3M More Workers Seek Jobless Aid
https://www.newsmax.com/newsfront/jobless-claims-pandemic-virus/2020/05/14/id/967370/

THE HILL
— Trump says testing may be ‘frankly overrated’ – BRETT SAMUELS AND JESSIE HELLMANN
https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/497846-trump-says-testing-may-be-frankly-overrated


— Ousted health official warns US needs national plan to beat coronavirus – NATHANIEL WEIXEL
https://thehill.com/policy/healthcare/497766-ousted-health-official-warns-us-needs-national-strategy-to-combat

POLITICO
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: Trump-haters say “‘They are angry:’ Pandemic and economic collapse slam Trump across Rust Belt. Coronavirus infections and unemployment filings are spiraling in parts of the industrial Midwest where Donald Trump cleaned up in 2016.”
https://www.politico.com/news/2020/05/14/coronavirus-economic-collapse-rust-belt-trump-259657

BLOOMBERG
— U.S. Jobless Claims in Millions Again, Higher Than Expected – Katia Dmitrieva
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-05-14/u-s-jobless-claims-remain-in-millions-for-eighth-straight-week

RASMUSSEN REPORTS
— 23% of Republicans Think GOP Should Nominate Someone Other Than Trump (DIERSEN: What do you say to Republican candidates who hint/imply/argue/shout that they are one or more of the following: anti-Trump, anti-Protestant, anti-conservative, 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.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/elections/election_2020/23_of_republicans_think_gop_should_nominate_someone_other_than_trump

May 9 Evening Edition

ABC7
— Coronavirus Illinois: IL COVID-19 cases top 76K with over 3K deaths; Protesters push back against stay-at-home order – Eric Horng
https://abc7chicago.com/society/illinois-covid-19-cases-top-76k/6167111/
— DISGUSTING, TRAGIC: Chicago chef hosts cannabis dinner parties – Yukare Nakayama
https://abc7chicago.com/localish/chicago-chef-hosts-cannabis-dinner-parties/6163517/

NBC5
— More Than 2,300 New Coronavirus Cases Reported, With 111 Additional Deaths
https://www.nbcchicago.com/news/coronavirus/more-than-2300-new-coronavirus-tests-reported-with-111-additional-deaths/2269355/
— A Distinct Possibility: ‘Temporary’ Layoffs May Be Permanent Call it realism or pessimism, but more employers are coming to a reluctant conclusion: Many of the employees they’ve had to lay off in the face of the pandemic might not be returning to their old jobs anytime soon – Christopher Rugaber
https://www.nbcchicago.com/news/national-international/a-distinct-possibility-temporary-layoffs-may-be-permanent/2269377/

FOX NEWS CHICAGO
— Obama calls Trump’s coronavirus response an ‘absolute chaotic disaster’
https://www.fox32chicago.com/news/obama-calls-trumps-coronavirus-response-an-absolute-chaotic-disaster

CHICAGO TRIBUNE
— Coronavirus in Illinois updates: State now above 75,000 known COVID-19 cases as 111 new deaths are reported by health officials
https://www.chicagotribune.com/coronavirus/ct-coronavirus-pandemic-chicago-illinois-news-20200509-umkbk7q5xbdplkgzazoaymq33q-story.html

CHICAGO SUN-TIMES
— Latest Illinois coronavirus numbers: 111 additional deaths, 2,325 new cases The new data brings the state’s death toll to 3,349 and the state’s total case count to 76,085. – Ben Pope
https://chicago.suntimes.com/coronavirus/2020/5/9/21253156/illinois-coronavirus-pritzker-cases-deaths-testing-may-9
— Obama slams Trump’s COVID-19 response Former President Barack Obama has harshly criticized President Donald Trump’s handling of the pandemic as an “absolute chaotic disaster.” – AP
https://chicago.suntimes.com/2020/5/9/21253342/obama-slams-donald-trumps-coronavirus

DAILY HERALD
— COVID-19 deaths top 100 for fifth consecutive day – Barbara Vitello
https://www.dailyherald.com/news/20200509/covid-19-deaths-top-100-for-fifth-consecutive-day
— A distinct possibility: ‘Temporary’ layoffs may be permanent – AP
https://www.dailyherald.com/article/20200509/business/305099957/
— 3,000 families show up for drive-through food giveaway at Great America – Brian Hill (DIERSEN: How soon, because of efforts to fight coronavirus, will everyone in the world be a) giving out welfare and/or b) getting welfare? How soon, because of efforts to fight coronavirus, will all individuals, organizations, companies, governments, and countries in the world be bankrupt?)
https://www.dailyherald.com/news/20200509/3000-families-show-up-for-drive-through-food-giveaway-at-great-america

WTTW
— Historic Unemployment Rate Upends Trump’s Reelection Bid – AP
https://news.wttw.com/2020/05/09/historic-unemployment-rate-upends-trumps-reelection-bid

WBBM
— Protesters Opposing Pritzker’s Stay-At-Home Order Met By Counter Protestors Who Support Governor’s Measures – JIM GUDAS
https://wbbm780.radio.com/articles/protesters-oppose-pritzkers-stay-at-home-order

WBEZ
— Pandemic Forces Candidates To Find New Ways To Campaign The coronavirus outbreak has put conventional campaigning on hold, but candidates are finding new ways to connect with voters. – AP
https://www.wbez.org/stories/pandemic-forces-candidates-to-find-new-ways-to-campaign/e4166d91-463e-4924-b60d-677cfdb47d4b

SPRINGFIELD STATE JOURNAL REGISTER
— Davis makes list of 10 most vulnerable U.S. representatives – Bernard Schoenburg
https://www.sj-r.com/news/20200509/bernard-schoenburg-davis-makes-list-of-10-most-vulnerable-us-representatives

FOX ILLINOIS
— JC Penney to file for bankruptcy, close about 200 stores – ELIZABETH TYREE
https://foxillinois.com/news/nation-world/jc-penney-to-file-for-bankruptcy-close-about-200-stores-report

NEWS CHANNEL 20
— More than 76,000 COVID-19 cases reported in Illinois
https://newschannel20.com/news/local/more-than-76000-covid-19-cases-reported-in-illinois

ILLINOIS LEAKS
— Illinois Governor Pritzker – Cannabis over safety of most vulnerable? The ‘pot’ thickens….. – KIRK ALLEN
http://edgarcountywatchdogs.com/2020/05/illinois-governor-pritzker-cannabis-over-safety-of-most-vulnerable-the-pot-thickens/

BREITBART
— 60 Conservative Organizations Call on Facebook to Scrap ‘Oversight Board’ – ALLUM BOKHARI
https://www.breitbart.com/tech/2020/05/08/60-conservative-organizations-call-on-facebook-to-scrap-oversight-board/
— Tech Investor Jeffrey Wernick Blasts Facebook’s Oversight Board as ‘Technofascism’ – DAVID NG
https://www.breitbart.com/tech/2020/05/09/tech-investor-jeffrey-wernick-blasts-facebooks-oversight-board-as-technofascism/
(FROM THE ARTICLE: Tech investor Jeffrey Wernick is the latest prominent voice to speak out against Facebook’s new “oversight board” that will have the power to control speech on the social media platform. Wernick has described the board as a form of “technofascism” and an affront to the First Amendment. “Shame on Facebook. Shame on anyone who embraces this concept,” Wernick said in a statement released on Friday. “And shame on anyone who would agree to serve on this Committee. They are free speech frauds who want to control language and thought.” . . . Facebook’s oversight board — also known as its “Supreme Court” — is expected to wield significant power over what can and cannot be said on the platform. But the 20-person group, which will operate semi-independently of Facebook, has already come under fire for being compromised largely of left-wing and anti-Trump figures. The board includes Stanford University law professor Pamela Karlan, who earlier this year joked about President Trump’s then-13-year-old son Barron while she testified at the House impeachment hearings. Another member is Australian law professor Nicolas Suzor, who once tweeted that he “loved” an article comparing President Trump to Adolf Hitler. Other members include a former aide to Sen. Kamala Harris (D-CA) and three people who have documented ties to leftist billionaire George Soros. A coalition of 60 conservative organizations and publishers recently called on Facebook to do away with its politically skewed oversight board. The coalition also warned that the board is stacked with individuals from other countries who may not uphold America’s First Amendment principles.)

NEWS BUSTERS
— Free Speech Alliance: Facebook Oversight Board Is Packed With Liberals
https://www.newsbusters.org/blogs/nb/nb-staff/2020/05/07/free-speech-alliance-facebook-oversight-board-packed-liberals
(FROM THE ARTICLE: The Free Speech Alliance (FSA), a coalition of more than 60 conservative organizations, released the following statement Thursday about Facebook’s new Oversight Board and efforts to decide what content should be taken down from the site. The FSA declared, “Conservatives warned from the start that any new oversight mechanism was fraught with danger. Our fears were well founded. This new board will damage Facebook more than it can imagine.”)

POLITICO
— DISGUSTING, TRAGIC: Cannabis employees are in high demand during economic crash The industry is looking for thousands of workers across the country. – PAUL DEMKO, MONA ZHANG and AREK SARKISSIAN
https://www.politico.com/news/2020/05/09/cannabis-employees-in-high-demand-245535

NEW YORK TIMES
— Will We Face Depression-Era Job Losses? Let’s Not Find Out Congress should enact a federal jobs guarantee. – Angela Glover Blackwell and Darrick Hamilton
https://www.nytimes.com/2020/05/09/opinion/federal-jobs-guarantee-coronavirus.html

WASHINGTON POST
— As workplaces reopen, coronavirus could unleash an ‘avalanche’ of lawsuits over family leave, discrimination Legal experts expect more companies could face discrimination lawsuits from parents struggling to cope with household and child-care duties while working from home. – Jena McGregor
https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2020/05/05/mother-discrimination-childcare-lawsuit/
— This is how economic pain is distributed in America Job losses due to the coronavirus shutdown have fallen unequally on Americans according to age, gender, educational attainment and race – Tracy Jan (DIERSEN: How soon, if not already, will Trump-haters propose a coronavirus tax on 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.washingtonpost.com/business/2020/05/09/jobs-report-demographics/
— Trump flouts coronavirus protocols as security experts warn of need to protect president from a lethal threat – David Nakamura, Carol D. Leonnig and Josh Dawsey
https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/trump-flouts-coronavirus-protocols-as-security-experts-warn-of-need-to-protect-president-from-a-lethal-threat/2020/05/08/3a6a9cec-9136-11ea-a9c0-73b93422d691_story.html
— One chart shows how the stock market is completely decoupled from the labor market In the past decade, the S&P 500 and the unemployment rate moved nearly in lockstep, but that all changed last month. – Christopher Ingraham
https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2020/05/09/one-chart-shows-how-stock-market-is-completely-decoupled-labor-market/

24/7 WALL STREET
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: Trump-haters are overjoyed that “Black and Hispanic Unemployment Soar.”
https://247wallst.com/jobs/2020/05/09/black-and-hispanic-unemployment-soar/

CONSUMER REPORTS
— Going Back to Work While COVID-19 Is Still Spreading 5 questions to ask your employer before you head into the office – Laura Entis
https://www.consumerreports.org/coronavirus/going-back-to-work-while-covid-19-is-still-spreading/
(FROM THE ARTICLE: Will Social Distancing Be Practiced? . . . What Other Precautions Will Be in Place? . . . Will Protective Equipment Be Provided? . . . What Happens If an Employee Has COVID-19 or Shows Symptoms? . . . Can I Continue Teleworking?)

WILLISTON HERALD
— How women can make their way in male-dominated fields (DIERSEN: Did you work in a bad male-dominated field? I did. While I worked for the federal government for almost 30 years, my superiors were always under tremendous pressure from Democrat politicians to hire and to retain young Democrat women. It was extremely difficult for them to do that because most women viewed the jobs as being bad and the jobs were male-dominated.)
https://www.willistonherald.com/news/business/how-women-can-make-their-way-in-male-dominated-fields/article_0848d43e-9070-11ea-a814-bfebe12f58e8.html

May 8 Morning Edition

ABC7
— Orland Park Mayor Keith Pekau calls for reopening village ahead of Gov. Pritzker’s stay-at-home-order timeline – Alexis McAdams
https://abc7chicago.com/business/orland-park-mayor-calls-for-reopening-village-ahead-of-governors-timeline/6162722/

NBC5
— Illinois Paid Over $2B in Unemployment Claims in First 4 Months of 2020 The IDES said it’s processed more than 1 million initial unemployment claims since March 1.
https://www.nbcchicago.com/news/local/illinois-paid-over-2b-in-unemployment-claims-in-first-4-months-of-2020/2268346/

CHICAGO SUN-TIMES
— Economy vs. epidemiology? Pritzker gears reopening to science and saving lives – but business leaders call plan ‘misguided’ The Illinois Department of Employment Security processed more claims during the first month of the pandemic than it did during all of last year — and that number nearly doubled in the second month of the crisis. – Mitchell Armentrout
https://chicago.suntimes.com/politics/2020/5/7/21251384/pritzker-reopening-illinois-unemployment-claim-region-chamber-commerce
— Hundreds of city workers take on new jobs to meet pandemic needs From librarians to Streets and Sanitation workers, their regular jobs are on hold or taking a backseat as the pandemic grips the city. – Mitch Dudek (DIERSEN: In 1971, while I was in training to be an IRS Revenue Officer, that was put on hold for a while when I was assigned to help enforce Nixon’s price controls which included freezes on wages, rents, and dividends.)
https://chicago.suntimes.com/city-hall/2020/5/7/21249727/chicago-redeploys-city-workers-meet-pandemic-needs-coronavirus-covid-19

CHICAGO TRIBUNE
— How does Gov. J.B. Pritzker — and how do local governments — collect taxes from businesses he’s shut down? – John Kass
https://www.chicagotribune.com/columns/john-kass/ct-coronavirus-small-businesses-taxes-kass-20200508-p2r27biwqzaxtair6ii7beiv3e-story.html
— Oak Brook village president blasts Gov. Pritzker’s reopening plan: ‘Our businesses have suffered beyond repair’ – CHUCK FIELDMAN
https://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/oak-brook/ct-dob-lalmalani-business-reaction-tl-0514-20200507-mzhf3z3ufjfd3czedte27wx4r4-story.html
— Illinois congressional delegation seeks extension of 2,000 National Guard troops to assist with pandemic through June – RICK PEARSON
https://www.chicagotribune.com/coronavirus/ct-illinois-national-guard-extension-20200507-jaqlfojdfzbpthutddqvgjt6uy-story.html
— Coronavirus in Illinois updates: Here’s what’s happening Friday with COVID-19 in the Chicago area
https://www.chicagotribune.com/coronavirus/ct-coronavirus-pandemic-chicago-illinois-news-20200508-hzzbgz52lnd2zl4iyt2t3i4ksm-story.html
— How to get back to normal? Mass testing – Steve Chapman (DIERSEN: Democrats run Illinois. What will the Democrats who run Illinois do with a) those who test positive and b) those who test negative?)
https://www.chicagotribune.com/columns/steve-chapman/ct-column-covid-trump-testing-vaccine-chapman-20200507-sym6a43zcneshkzsecendtxhxm-story.html

CRAIN’S CHICAGO BUSINESS
— Unemployment rate more than triples April’s rate of 14.7 percent is the highest since just after the Great Depression of the 1930s. – Bloomberg
https://www.chicagobusiness.com/employment/unemployment-rate-more-triples
— Ford to restart most U.S. factories—including Chicago—May 18 “We have reopened our facilities in China, successfully begun our phased restart in Europe and have been producing medical equipment in Michigan for more than six weeks and are using the lessons from all of that.” – MICHAEL MARTINEZ
https://www.chicagobusiness.com/manufacturing/ford-restart-most-us-factories-including-chicago-may-18

WBEZ
— U.S. Field Hospitals Stand Down, Most Without Treating Any COVID-19 Patients – Joel Rose
https://www.wbez.org/stories/us-field-hospitals-stand-down-most-without-treating-any-covid-19-patients/a5df4fff-611b-465f-83ec-10c5ff4e5f2a

PEORIA JOURNAL STAR
— Peoria businessman files lawsuit against Pritzker – Phil Luciano
https://www.pjstar.com/news/20200507/peoria-businessman-files-lawsuit-against-pritzker

SPRINGFIELD STATE JOURNAL REGISTER
— Economic fallout from no fair will be widespread
https://www.sj-r.com/news/20200507/economic-fallout-from-no-fair-will-be-widespread

JACKSONVILLE JOURNAL COURIER
— Another 74,000 Illinoisans land on unemployment line – Jerry Nowicki
https://www.myjournalcourier.com/news/article/Another-74-000-Illinoisans-land-on-unemployment-15256033.php

FOX ILLINOIS
— As Trump turns to economic recovery, partisan rift grows in perception of outbreak – Stephen Loiaconi
https://foxillinois.com/news/connect-to-congress/as-trump-turns-to-economic-recovery-partisan-rift-grows-in-perception-of-outbreak
— Face masks make a political statement in era of coronavirus (DIERSEN: One could expect that the more hatred of Trump that there is in a neighborhood, precinct, municipal district, municipality, township, county, state, and country, the more that you will be harassed if not threatened if you do not wear a mask. How much hatred of Trump is there in your neighborhood, precinct, municipal district, municipality, township, and county?)
https://foxillinois.com/news/nation-world/face-masks-make-a-political-statement-in-era-of-coronavirus-05-07-2020
— Governors disregarding White House guidelines on reopening – AP
https://foxillinois.com/news/nation-world/governors-disregarding-white-house-guidelines-on-reopening
— Anti-gun violence groups hold virtual rallies around Illinois FOID bill – Jakob Emerson
https://foxillinois.com/news/local/anti-gun-violence-groups-hold-virtual-rallies-around-illinois-foid-bill

MDJ ONLINE
— Leading statehouse Republican says Pritzker’s ‘major flaw’ is not addressing human toll from Illinois shutdown – Greg Bishop (DIERSEN: As the human toll grows, so will hatred of 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.mdjonline.com/neighbor_newspapers/extra/news/leading-statehouse-republican-says-pritzker-s-major-flaw-is-not-addressing-human-toll-from-illinois/video_c1477c22-ef01-57e6-889a-bdc37ddbb9f1.html

VANDALIA RADIO
— Illinois Governor Sees Budget Crisis From Coronavirus, Won’t Commit To Budget Cuts – Todd Stapleton
https://www.vandaliaradio.com/2020/05/08/illinois-governor-sees-budget-crisis-from-coronavirus-wont-commit-to-budget-cuts/

NEWS CHANNEL 20
— Rep. LaHood named to 15-member China Task Force – KHQA
https://newschannel20.com/news/coronavirus/rep-lahood-named-to-15-member-china-task-force
— Local businesses come together for meal handout (DIERSEN: How soon, because of the fight against coronavirus will everyone in the world be handing out welfare and/or collecting welfare?)
https://newschannel20.com/news/local/local-businesses-come-together-for-meal-handout

KHQA
— State leaders continue the fight to reopen Illinois faster than Pritzker proposes – Rachel Meyers
https://khqa.com/news/coronavirus/state-leaders-continue-the-discussion-to-reopen-illinois-faster-than-pritzker-proposes

WIREPOINTS
— Pritzker’s top-down reopen strategy will fail large parts of Illinois: He should expect push back – Ted Dabrowski and John Klingner
https://wirepoints.org/pritzkers-top-down-reopen-strategy-will-fail-large-parts-of-illinois-he-should-expect-push-back-wirepoints/

ILLINOIS POLICY INSTITUTE
— ILLINOIS’ ECONOMY SHRINKING BY MORE THAN $183M PER DAY AS STATE APPROACHES 1M NEW JOBLESS CLAIMS – Orphe Divounguy, Bryce Hill, Jon Josko
https://www.illinoispolicy.org/illinois-economy-shrinking-by-more-than-183m-per-day-as-state-approaches-1m-new-jobless-claims/

ILLINOIS REVIEW
— ACLJ SUBMITS FOIA DEMAND TO EXPOSE TRUTH BEHIND ILLINOIS DECISION TO KEEP ABORTION CLINICS OPEN DURING PANDEMIC
https://www.illinoisreview.com/illinoisreview/2020/05/aclj-submits-foia-demand-to-expose-truth-behind-illinois-decision-to-keep-abortion-clinics-open-duri.html
— SOCIAL JUSTICE ISN’T JUSTICE
https://www.illinoisreview.com/illinoisreview/2020/05/social-justice-isnt-justice.html
— ISOLATION AS DANGEROUS AS SMOKING 15 CIGARETTES A DAY, LOCKDOWN ADVISER WARNS
https://www.illinoisreview.com/illinoisreview/2020/05/isolation-as-dangerous-as-smoking-15-cigarettes-a-day-lockdown-adviser-warns.html

WASHINGTON EXAMINER
— ‘This is NUTS’: Ted Cruz slams city council resolution deeming ‘Chinese virus’ a hate speech term – Andrew Mark Miller
https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/this-is-nuts-ted-cruz-slams-city-council-resolution-deeming-chinese-virus-a-hate-speech-term
— The Human Rights Campaign sells its soul to endorse Joe Biden – Brad Polumbo
https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/opinion/the-human-rights-campaign-sells-its-soul-to-endorse-joe-biden

WASHINGTON FREE BEACON
— Obama’s China Ambassador Compares Trump’s Rhetoric Toward China to Hitler Max Baucus says U.S. will ‘pay a price’ for ‘China-bashing’ – Graham Piro
https://freebeacon.com/coronavirus/obamas-china-ambassador-compares-trumps-rhetoric-toward-china-to-hitler/

FREEDOM’S JOURNAL
— INDIVIDUAL RESPONSIBILITY VS. THE WELFARE STATE: A BIBLICAL PERSPECTIVE – Eric M. Wallace, PhD
https://freedomsjournalinstitute.org/uncategorized/individual-responsibility-vs-the-welfare-state-a-biblical-perspective/

THE HILL
— Biden faces hard lift in winning over hard left – JONATHAN EASLEY AND AMIE PARNES (DIERSEN: How soon, if not already, to defeat Trump, will Biden 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, heterosexual, 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/496656-biden-faces-hard-lift-in-winning-over-hard-left
— Ted Cruz: I don’t see why Texas should have to bail out states for irresponsibility – J. EDWARD MORENO (DIERSEN: One could argue that Illinois has not acted irresponsibly but that just those in Illinois who have voted for Democrats or RINOs have acted irresponsibly.)
https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/496343-ted-cruz-i-dont-see-why-texas-should-have-to-bail-out-states-for

CNN
— Record 20.5 million American jobs lost in April. Unemployment rate soars to 14.7% – Anneken Tappe
https://www.cnn.com/2020/05/08/economy/april-jobs-report-2020-coronavirus/index.html

NEW YORK TIMES
— U.S. employment hit 14.7% in April, with 20.5 million unemployed.
https://www.nytimes.com/2020/05/08/business/stock-market-coronavirus-jobs-report.html
— OUTSTANDING: The U.S. Supreme Court on Thursday threw out a lower court ruling that had invalidated a decades-old federal law defended by President Donald Trump’s administration that makes it a felony to encourage illegal immigration. – Reuters (DIERSEN: I should write a book about individuals, organizations, companies, governments, and countries that encourage illegal immigration. I would focus on those in Illinois, DuPage County, Milton Township, and Wheaton who have lots of religious, government, political, and/or financial clout. I would focus on those who focus on destroying those like me who support America’s immigration laws.)
https://www.nytimes.com/reuters/2020/05/07/world/asia/07reuters-usa-court-immigration-speech.html
— HARDCOPY ARTICLE TITLE: News Outlets Suffer as Advertisers Shun Articles About Coronavirus – Tiffany Hsu and Marc Tracy
https://www.nytimes.com/2020/05/07/business/media/advertising-coronavirus-news.html
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: Ever-increasingly, Trump-haters use coronavirus to defeat Trump.
https://www.nytimes.com/2020/05/07/opinion/coronavirus-republicans-jobs.html
— Knock, Knock, Who’s There? No Political Canvassers, for the First Time Maybe Ever Candidates and political parties are struggling to plan for a fall campaign without some of the most basic building blocks of politics. – Shane Goldmacher (DIERSEN: What will candidates want precinct committeemen to do to help elect them?)
https://www.nytimes.com/2020/05/07/us/politics/2020-elections.html
— FRONT PAGE TOP OF FOLD: For Workers, No Sign of ‘What Normal Is Going to Look Like’ Initial steps to reopen businesses have yet to offset continuing job losses, with a “secondary wave” of layoffs hitting white-collar industries. – Patricia Cohen and Tiffany Hsu (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://www.nytimes.com/2020/05/07/business/economy/coronavirus-unemployment-claims.html

WALL STREET JOURNAL
— Businesses Struggle to Lure Workers Away From Unemployment Some workers are making more from unemployment than at their old jobs, complicating reopenings – Kris Maher (DIERSEN: My Civil Service Retirement System pension is only 41% of what my GAO salary was in 1997 in today’s dollars.)
https://www.wsj.com/articles/businesses-struggle-to-lure-workers-away-from-unemployment-11588930202
— Postal Service Is in Financial Peril, Government Watchdog Report Says GAO says Congress should determine level of service the nation requires as coronavirus pandemic hits USPS’s business and determine whether agency should be financially self-sustaining – Paul Ziobro
https://www.wsj.com/articles/postal-service-is-in-financial-peril-government-watchdog-report-says-11588865412
— Coronavirus Puts Congress’s Doctor on Front Lines Senate and House leaders rely on Dr. Brian Monahan’s medical advice but reach different decisions on returning to Capitol – Kristina Peterson and Natalie Andrews
https://www.wsj.com/articles/coronavirus-puts-congresss-doctor-on-front-lines-11588852459

NEWSWEEK
— BANKRUPTCY FOR STATES? IT’S A BETTER IDEA THAN YOU THINK. – JOSHUA SHARF
https://www.newsweek.com/bankruptcy-states-its-better-idea-you-think-opinion-1502682

GOVERNMENT EXECUTIVE
— When Can You Afford to Retire? Questions to ask yourself if you’re considering early retirement. – Tammy Flanagan (DIERSEN: I should write a book about early retirement.)
https://www.govexec.com/pay-benefits/2020/05/when-can-you-afford-retire/165229/
(FROM THE ARTICLE: Would you like to retire at your minimum retirement age (55-57, depending on your year of birth) under the Federal Employees Retirement System? That decision will depend not just on your age, but whether or not you can afford to leave the working world behind. The three parts of FERS retirement—an annuity (including a supplement for some of those who retire early), Social Security benefits, and personal investments in the Thrift Savings Plan—were designed to work together to provide the income needed in retirement. How early you personally can comfortably retire requires asking yourself the following questions: How much income will you need to cover your expenses? Will you have enough income to last the rest of your life? Have you considered the tax implications of your financial decisions? Have you accounted for future inflation? Have you factored in unforeseen future events, such as the potential need for long term care and the volatility of your investments? Do you plan to continue to work after you retire from federal service? Can you afford to delay claiming Social Security retirement? Do you understand how much net income you’ll get from your FERS retirement benefit after reductions and withholdings? If you are married, have you considered your income requirements while you and your spouse are both living, but also when one of you may become the survivor? Do you have others who depend on you for financial support?)

May 7 Morning Edition

CHICAGO TRIBUNE
— Pritzker’s plan to reopen Illinois leaves convention industry in limbo. ‘We’re in no man’s land right now.’ – ALLY MAROTTI, MARY WISNIEWSKI and LORI RACKL (DIERSEN: What is the status of the Illinois Republican Party State Convention?)
https://www.chicagotribune.com/coronavirus/ct-coronavirus-chicago-convention-industry-20200506-p5ryl5zthnapbojrezmjoexnz4-story.html
— How will Illinois reopen? Three charts breaking down Pritzker’s plan – NAUSHEEN HUSAIN, CHAD YODER and JONATHON BERLIN
https://www.chicagotribune.com/coronavirus/ct-cb-pritzker-plan-reopen-illinois-20200506-erfvitdovffmzd7ativx4hj57q-htmlstory.html
— Aurora planning for possible $35M financial hit from pandemic – STEVE LORD
https://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/aurora-beacon-news/ct-abn-aurora-coronavirus-economics-st-0506-20200505-7g7qm5kg7vg3ndmmi5fqzql23q-story.html
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: A Trump-hater says “Trump wants ‘warrior’ Americans to face COVID-19 and reopen the country. You first, Mr. President.”
https://www.chicagotribune.com/columns/rex-huppke/ct-coronavirus-trump-warrior-economy-reopen-businesses-huppke-20200506-dmg7iwujc5fovdeurnv2xjjp4q-story.html
— These groups build healthier neighborhoods across Chicago. – Darcel Rockett (DIERSEN: To build healthier neighbors, precincts, municipal districts, municipalities, townships, counties, states, and countries, you discourage the promotion of a) booze, gambling, pot, and other vices, b) dependency on foreign countries, c) dependency on government, d) dependency on charity, e) LGBTQ activity, f) abortion, g) mass/illegal immigration, h) diminishment of First and Second Amendment rights, i) patronage, j) political affiliation discrimination, k) reverse discrimination, l) age discrimination, m) retaliation for opposing the aforesaid, n) etc.)
https://www.chicagotribune.com/real-estate/ct-re-chicago-neighborhood-development-awards-202000506-20200506-c5o3e3lxinhdnpwehdl7flaqau-story.html

CHICAGO SUN-TIMES
— Republicans: Let Legislature convene to end government by ‘decree’ House GOP Leader Jim Durkin and fellow Republicans also called the governor’s plan to reopen the state in phases “arbitrary” and denounced demonstrators who used Nazi slogans and symbols to protest Pritzker as “despicable.” – Neal Earley
https://chicago.suntimes.com/politics/2020/5/6/21249971/republicans-legislature-durkin-pritzker-decree-restore-illinois-covid-19-coronavirus

DAILY HERALD
— FRONT PAGE: Naperville chamber survey: 58% of businesses can survive only 5 months or less during pandemic – Marie Wilson
https://www.dailyherald.com/business/20200507/naperville-chamber-survey-58-of-businesses-can-survive-only-5-months-or-less-during-pandemic
— GOP wants ‘local’ say in Pritzker’s COVID-19 reopening plan – AP
https://www.dailyherald.com/news/20200506/gop-wants-local-say-in-pritzkers-covid-19-reopening-plan
— FRONT PAGE TOP OF FOLD WITH BIG COLOR PICTURE: Schaumburg residents pack stadium parking lot for free mask giveaway – Mark Welsh
https://www.dailyherald.com/news/20200506/schaumburg-residents-pack-stadium-parking-lot-for-free-mask-giveaway

ABC7
— Chicago gun violence across the city Wednesday leaves 9 shot, 3 killed
https://abc7chicago.com/chicago-violence-wednesday-leaves-9-shot-3-killed/6159673/?cmp=emc-wls-news-headlines-5/7/2020

CBS2
— Illinois To Receive Less CARES Act Funding Per Positive COVID-19 Case Than Neighboring States – Christopher Hacker
https://chicago.cbslocal.com/illinois-to-receive-less-funding-per-positive-covid-19-case-than-neighboring-states/
— Career Coach: Polishing Your Resume During The Pandemic – Audrina Bigos (DIERSEN: To make a statement against age discrimination, I purposely stressed dates in the resume ( https://gopillinois.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/DavidDiersenResume2019.pdf ) that I submitted last year to Wheaton to be selected to fill its West District City Counsel vacancy. Those dates included a) 1970 when I earned a bachelor’s degree in management from NIU, b) 1971-1980 when I worked for IRS, c) 1976 when I earned an MBA from Loyola, d) 1978 when my wife and I moved to Wheaton, e) 1979 when I passed the CPA examination on my first attempt, f) 1980-1997 when I worked for GAO, g) 1980 when I earned a master’s degree in accounting from DePaul, h) 1981 when I passed the Certified Internal Auditor examination on my first attempt and became a licensed CPA, and i) 1984 when my wife and I had our home built in Wheaton’s West District.)
https://chicago.cbslocal.com/2020/05/07/career-coach-polishing-your-resume-during-the-pandemic/
(FROM THE ARTICLE: “One thing people ask me about is how many years of experience should I put on my resume,” Alves said. “I really don’t want to have age discrimination but, the rule of thumb is that you really don’t list much more than 20-to-25 years of experience with dates attached.” For jobs you have to leave off, she said it’s okay to simply list other skills you gained in those jobs. When listing education, she said you can put the name of the college, city and state and the degree you earned. She said to leave out when you attended.)

WTTW
— Restaurants Warn of Mass Closures Under Pritzker’s Plan to Reopen – Amanda Vinicky
https://news.wttw.com/2020/05/06/restaurants-warn-mass-closures-under-pritzker-s-plan-reopen

WBEZ
— The State Needs Thousands Of Coronavirus Contact Tracers. This Community College Stepped Up. – Kate McGee
https://www.wbez.org/stories/the-state-needs-thousands-of-coronavirus-contact-tracers-this-community-college-stepped-up/bc6867b1-c9f2-4df8-8198-bb887697f431

SPRINGFIELD STATE JOURNAL REGISTER
— What’s next for central Illinois under the reopening plan? – Doug Finke (DIERSEN: Who exactly determines when regions can move to Phase 3?)
https://www.sj-r.com/news/20200506/whats-next-for-central-illinois-under-reopening-plan
(FROM THE ARTICLE: That region, like all of Illinois, is now considered to be in Phase 2 of the five phase plan. Under the plan, that means the spread of the virus is considered “flattening.” That’s an improvement over the initial stage of the virus which was considered “rapid spread.” The next several weeks will be critical in determining if the central region can move on to the next phase, which the plan calls “recovery.” In order to move on, the region must show no more than a 20 percent positivity rate on COVID-19 tests conducted in the region. They must also not increase by more than 10 percentage points. Along with that, there can be no overall increase in hospital admissions for COVID-19 for 28 days and at least 14 percent of intensive care unit beds, medical and surgical beds and ventilators must be available in case there is a surge. Testing must be available for all patients, health care workers, first responders, people with underlying conditions and residents and staff in congregate living facilities. Finally, the region has to begin contact tracing to track people who have been in contact with coronavirus patients. If a region can meet all of those criteria some additional restriction will be removed. People will still have to wear facing coverings in places where social distancing can’t be maintained. However, manufacturing, offices, retail, barbershops can reopen, as long as capacity limits and other safety precautions are observed. If additional progress if made for another 28 days, additional restrictions can be removed, including allowing larger gatherings and allowing restaurants and bars to reopen.)

PEORIA JOURNAL STAR
— House GOP says Pritzker reopening plan won’t work – Doug Finke
https://www.pjstar.com/news/20200506/house-gop-says-pritzker-reopening-plan-wont-work

BLOOMINGTON PANTAGRAPH
— State Sen. Bill Brady visits COVID-19 testing site in Bloomington – David Proeber
https://www.pantagraph.com/news/local/public_safety/photos-state-sen-bill-brady-visits-covid-19-testing-site-in-bloomington/collection_468829e3-8cd9-57f3-a565-332fa3c846a3.html

FOX ILLINOIS
— Cities and states continue to disagree on reopening – SCOTT THUMAN
https://foxillinois.com/news/nation-world/cities-and-states-continue-to-disagree-on-reopening
— Some senators now want lawmakers tested for coronavirus – AP
https://foxillinois.com/news/connect-to-congress/some-senators-now-want-lawmakers-tested-for-coronavirus

WREX
— IL Republicans demand return to Capitol, call for changes to ‘Restore Illinois’ plan – Mike Miletich
https://wrex.com/2020/05/07/il-republicans-demand-return-to-capitol-call-for-changes-to-restore-illinois-plan/

NEWS CHANNEL 20
— Event, conference cancellations hurting Springfield economy – Matt Roy
https://newschannel20.com/news/local/event-and-conference-cancellations-hurting-springfield-economy

NPR ILLINOIS
— Pritzker Highlights COVID Disparities, Demands “Bad Actor” Employers Be Reported – MIKE SMITH
https://www.nprillinois.org/post/pritzker-highlights-covid-disparities-demands-bad-actor-employers-be-reported#stream/0

JOLIET PATCH
— Joliet City Employees Face Temporary Salary Cuts Interim city of Joliet manager Steve Jones told Joliet Patch on Wednesday afternoon he hopes to have the pay cuts in place by June. – John Ferak
https://patch.com/illinois/joliet/joliet-city-employees-face-temporary-salary-cuts

CHALKBEAT
— Even before federal COVID-19 rescue checks arrive, Illinois schools spend tens of millions on technology – Mila Koumpilova, Alejandra Cancino, and Katie Drews
https://chicago.chalkbeat.org/2020/5/6/21249500/before-federal-covid-19-rescue-checks-arrive-illinois-schools-spend-tens-of-millions-on-technology

CENTER SQUARE
— Pritzker says businesses that open early without approval could lose state licenses – Brett Rowland (DIERSEN: What approvals do you need to do what you do? My critics/opponents want me to need the approval of the following to send out GOPUSA ILLINOIS emails: a) my critics/opponents, b) the Milton Township Republican Organization officers, c) the DuPage County Republican Central Committee officers, c) my representative on the Illinois Republican Party (IRP) State Central Committee, d) the IRP officers, e) Wheaton’s West District City Council member, f) Wheaton’s Mayor and City Council members, g) Milton Township’s officers and trustees, h) DuPage County elected officials, i) Illinois elected officials, j) federal elected officials, k) Illinois Review, l) Illinois conservative leaders, m) etc.)
https://www.thecentersquare.com/illinois/pritzker-says-businesses-that-open-early-without-approval-could-lose-state-licenses/article_36124820-8fd3-11ea-807d-2f94efdf7c29.html
— Rising state unemployment rates test government solvency – Michael Lucci
https://www.thecentersquare.com/national/analysis-rising-state-unemployment-rates-test-government-solvency/article_ae274824-8ecf-11ea-89cf-9f9581b731ea.html

ILLINOIS NEWS ROOM
— Locally ‘Essential,’ Federally Illegal: How Cannabis Dispensaries Are Handling The Pandemic – Dana Cronin
https://illinoisnewsroom.org/locally-essential-federally-illegal-how-cannabis-dispensaries-are-handling-the-pandemic/

WIREPOINTS
— Governor Pritzker’s Plan to Reopen Illinois Makes No Sense – Mark Glennon
https://wirepoints.org/governor-pritzkers-plan-to-reopen-illinois-makes-no-sense-wirepoints/

CAPITOL FAX
— 3.2 million Americans filed for unemployment benefits last week, 74,476 Illinoisans
https://capitolfax.com/2020/05/07/32-million-americans-filed-for-unemployment-benefits-last-week-74476-illinoisans/

WASHINGTON FREE BEACON
— How Do You Solve a Problem Like Illinois? The corona-crisis puts the Prairie State at the center of a bailout debate – Charles Fain Lehman
https://freebeacon.com/coronavirus/how-do-you-solve-a-problem-like-illinois/

GOPUSA
— What Are We Trying To Accomplish With Coronavirus Policy? – Ben Shapiro
https://www.gopusa.com/?p=88475

BREITBART
— Federal Judges Help Free Nearly 200 Illegal Aliens: Murderers, Rapists, Sex Offenders – John Binder
https://www.breitbart.com/politics/2020/05/06/federal-judges-help-free-nearly-200-illegal-aliens-murderers-rapists-sex-offenders/

DAILY SIGNAL
— Media Barely Try to Hide Bias in Covering Sexual Assault Accusations – Jarrett Stepman
https://www.dailysignal.com/2020/05/06/media-barely-try-to-hide-bias-in-covering-sexual-assault-accusations/

HERITAGE FOUNDATION
— Over Half of U.S. Counties Have Had No COVID-19 Deaths – Norbert J. Michel, Ph.D.
https://www.heritage.org/public-health/commentary/over-half-us-counties-have-had-no-covid-19-deaths

EPOCH TIMES
— Congress Gave $801 Million to 25 Colleges with $350 Billion in Endowments Via CARES Act – MARK TAPSCOTT
https://www.theepochtimes.com/congress-gave-801-million-to-25-colleges-with-350-billion-in-endowments-via-cares-act_3341325.html

NATIONAL REVIEW
— Big Tech Is Not Engaging in Coronavirus Censorship – MATTHEW FEENEY
https://www.nationalreview.com/2020/05/coronavirus-big-tech-content-moderation-not-censorship/

THE HILL
— Social distancing and the epidemic of prejudice – LINDA C. MCCLAIN (DIERSEN: How bad are your demographics? From what I see, ever-increasingly, under the Democrats, Libertarians, Greens, and RINOs, the following are bad demographics: Trump supporter, Protestant, conservative, patriotic, Republican, American, White, male, older, non-poor, gun owner, German American, draft avoider, and if your ancestors have been in America for a long time. Ever-increasingly, the more of the aforesaid that you are, the more unpopular, unwelcome, unacceptable, persona non grata, etc. that you are.)
https://thehill.com/opinion/civil-rights/496407-social-distancing-and-the-epidemic-of-prejudice
— 3.2 million more Americans file new jobless claims amid coronavirus downturn – SYLVAN LANE
https://thehill.com/policy/finance/496537-31-million-americans-file-new-jobless-claims-amid-coronavirus-downturn

POLITICO
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: Ever-increasingly, Trump-haters blame conservatives for coronavirus.
https://www.politico.com/news/2020/05/07/trump-death-toll-coronavirus-241819
— ‘Not a perfect messenger’: Trump campaign goes all-in on Biden sexual assault allegations The campaign is vigorously attacking Biden as a hypocrite, even as Trump appears to sympathize with his likely Democratic opponent. – ANITA KUMAR and MERIDITH MCGRAW
https://www.politico.com/news/2020/05/06/trump-allies-attack-biden-on-assault-allegations-but-trump-doesnt-236939

ASSOCIATED PRESS
— More than 20 million jobs vanished in April – JOSH BOAK
https://apnews.com/e15c0d5c75b2079bb25847eeb4ca317f

CNN
— One of Trump’s personal valets has tested positive for coronavirus – Kaitlan Collins and Peter Morris
https://www.cnn.com/2020/05/07/politics/trump-valet-tests-positive-covid-19/index.html

CNBC
— So much money, so little oversight: Coronavirus bailout cash is a big target for fraud The Government Accountability Office has established its own effort to run down fraud claims by setting up a webpage for leads. But with few controls on money going out at a record pace, it’s a case of “pay and chase,” according to GAO investigators. – Kayla Tausche
https://www.cnbc.com/2020/05/07/coronavirus-relief-cash-is-a-big-target-for-fraud.html

NEW YORK TIMES
— 3.2 million more filed jobless claims last week, pushing the seven-week total over 33 million.
https://www.nytimes.com/2020/05/07/business/stock-market-today-coronavirus.html
— Biden Leads Trump in First Poll to Address Sexual Assault Allegation In the first national survey asking voters about the allegations, Joe Biden widened his lead over President Trump in a head-to-head matchup that has continued to grow in the last couple of months. – Giovanni Russonello and Maggie Astor
https://www.nytimes.com/2020/05/06/us/politics/joe-biden-tara-reade-monmouth-poll.html
— The New York Times Tops 6 Million Subscribers as Ad Revenue Plummets Widespread interest in coronavirus coverage drew nearly 600,000 digital subscribers during three months of 2020. But the chief executive, Mark Thompson, gave a bleak forecast for ads. – Marc Tracy
https://www.nytimes.com/2020/05/06/business/media/new-york-times-earnings-subscriptions-coronavirus.html
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: According to Trump-haters, their using coronavirus to defeat Trumop is succeeding.
https://www.nytimes.com/2020/05/06/opinion/coronavirus-us.html
— Protesters Say the Police Use Social Distancing to Justify Crackdown After the police broke up a demonstration in New York City on Sunday, activists expressed concern that safety orders were being used to curtail free speech. – Azi Paybarah
https://www.nytimes.com/2020/05/05/nyregion/nypd-coronavirus.html
— Neiman Marcus, a Symbol of Luxury, Files for Bankruptcy The high-end retailer is the first department store to file for bankruptcy during the coronavirus pandemic. – Vanessa Friedman and Sapna Maheshwari
https://www.nytimes.com/2020/05/07/business/neiman-marcus-bankruptcy.html
— White House Rejected C.D.C. Reopening Guidelines, Asking for Revisions
https://www.nytimes.com/2020/05/07/us/coronavirus-updates.html

WASHINGTON POST
— As 3.2 million filed U.S. jobless claims last week, Post-Ipsos poll finds 77 percent of laid-off workers believe they’ll get jobs back Optimism is high among workers that they can return to their pre-pandemic jobs, but economists warn over 40 percent of job losses could become permanent. – Heather Long and Emily Guskin
https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2020/05/07/nearly-80-percent-laid-off-workers-believe-they-will-return-their-old-job-post-ipsos-poll-finds/

WALL STREET JOURNAL
— Law Firms Gear Up for Expected Jump in Bankruptcies Triggered by Coronavirus Nation’s restructuring practices have been thinned by a decade of economic growth – Katy Stech Ferek (DIERSEN: How long will it take for the fight against coronavirus to bankrupt every individual, organization, company, government, and country in the world?)
https://www.wsj.com/articles/law-firms-gear-up-for-expected-jump-in-bankruptcies-triggered-by-coronavirus-11588766411

JACKSONVILLE BAR BULLETIN
— Age Discrimination: What it takes to prove a case Supreme Court eases burden of proof for federal employees. – G. Thomas Harper (DIERSEN: I should write a book about age discrimination in the federal government.)
https://www.jaxdailyrecord.com/article/age-discrimination-what-it-takes-to-prove-a-case

NPR
— Understanding Nancy Pelosi: She ‘Knows Exactly What Her Leverage Is’ – DAVE DAVIES (DIERSEN: What leverage do the following have over you: the leaders of your municipal district, municipality, township, county, Illinois, and America? If you are a Republican Precinct Committeeman, what leverage do the following have over you: the leaders of your Republican township party organization, the leaders of your Republican county party organization, your representative on the Illinois Republican Party (IRP) State Central Committee, and the leaders of the IRP. If you are a conservative, what leverage do the following have over you: those who paint themselves as being conservative leaders in Illinois, in your country, in your township, in your municipality, and in your municipal district. Who are the conservative leaders in Illinois, in your country, in your township, in your municipality, and in your municipal district? What do you say to those who paint themselves as being conservative leaders, but who work against me and work against my GOPUSA ILLINOIS emails?)
https://www.npr.org/2020/05/06/851343192/understanding-nancy-pelosi-she-knows-exactly-what-her-leverage-is

LAW
— State Bankruptcies May Still Be a Long Shot, but Big Law Is Ready Law firm bankruptcy and restructuring practices are taking Mitch McConnell’s controversial proposal seriously enough to plan ahead. – Samantha Stokes (DIERSEN: If Illinois declared bankruptcy, how would that impact you? Do you get a salary or a pension from Illinois? Is Illinois subsidizing your health insurance? Does Illinois owe you money?)
https://www.law.com/americanlawyer/2020/05/04/state-bankruptcies-may-still-be-a-long-shot-but-big-law-is-ready/