NBC5
— Report Ranks Top 100 School Districts in Illinois
https://www.nbcchicago.com/news/local/Report-Ranks-Top-100-School-Districts-in-Illinois-479292443.html
FOX NEWS CHICAGO
— House GOP blasts Pritzker’s plan for graduated income tax – AP
http://www.fox32chicago.com/news/local/house-gop-blasts-pritzkers-plan-for-graduated-income-tax
CHICAGO SUN-TIMES
— Billionaire Ken Griffin takes on Chicago crime with $10 million donation – Frank Main (DIERSEN: If you had lots of money like Griffin, who would you give it to? I would give lots of money to activists, candidates, elected officials, and political organizations that defend and advance the Republican Party platform, the Illinois Republican Party platform, and the Milton Township Republican Central Committee resolution against video gambling. I would give lots of money to those who oppose the promotion of a) dependency on government, b) dependency on charity, c) LGBTQ activity, d) abortion, e) mass/illegal immigration, f) diminishment of First and Second Amendment rights, g) booze, gambling, pot, and other vices, h) patronage and political affiliation discrimination, i) reverse discrimination, j) age discrimination, and k) other destructive things.)
https://chicago.suntimes.com/chicago-politics/billionaire-ken-griffin-takes-on-chicago-crime-with-10-million-donation/
CHICAGO TRIBUNE
— Would the Illinois National Guard go to the border? – Bill Lukitsch
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/politics/ct-chicago-ohare-aldermen-20180411-story.html
(FROM THE ARTICLE: Gov. Rauner on Tuesday evening said the state has not been asked by President Donald Trump to send Illinois National Guard troops to the Mexican border. But, he said, he’d honor the request if it was made. “I’ve not spent any time thinking about it,” Rauner told reporters. “But frankly, the president is the commander in chief of our military. President Obama sent troops — National Guard to the border. President Bush sent National Guard troops to the border. Illinois has not been requested to send troops. If we are requested, I believe we’ll honor that request.”)
— Break into cars for animals? – Bill Lukitsch (DIERSEN: Outrageously, tragically, and unacceptably, since 1984, I have seen far too many situations in which dog owners mistreat if not abuse their dogs. Most commonly, they dump their dogs in their back yards and leave them there for hours on end unattended while their dogs loudly incessantly bark, howl, and cry.)
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/politics/ct-chicago-ohare-aldermen-20180411-story.html
(FROM THE ARTICLE: House lawmakers on Tuesday advanced a bill that would give legal protections to people who break into a car to save animals from dying. The proposed law from Republican state Rep. David Olsen gives immunity from criminal and civil penalties if someone finds an animal left inside a car and must act immediately to save its life by breaking in. The person would be required to make sure there is no other way to get to the trapped animal, notify law enforcement of the situation and leave a note on the vehicle’s windshield. Republican state Rep. Peter Breen, of Lombard, said “some pretty significant concerns here that ought to be addressed.” He asked whether the vehicle owner would be responsible if the pet attacks the concerned citizen and what would happen if the animal is injured or killed during the rescue. Humane Society state Director Marc Ayers told lawmakers that several states have recently put so-called Good Samaritan laws on the books, saying it makes sense “when you start looking at the big picture.” “After you’ve called law enforcement under current law, you’ve got two choices: You can stay there and watch the dog die, or two, you can become a criminal by opening the car door to save the dog’s life and then risk being sued in court,” Ayers said. “And I don’t think those are things that someone who’s acting in good faith should really be facing.”)
— Chicago Buildings Department lets most complaints linger, including some posing ‘serious threats to life’ – Hal Dardick
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/politics/ct-met-chicago-buildings-department-slow-response-20180410-story.html
— DISGUSTING, TRAGIC: Ex-Speaker Boehner joins marijuana firm’s board – Bloomberg
http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/ct-biz-boehner-acreage-holdings-20180411-story.html
DAILY HERALD
— Cronin in Springfield to make pitch to disband DuPage’s election commission – Robert Sanchez
http://www.dailyherald.com/news/20180411/cronin-in-springfield-to-make-pitch-to-disband-dupages-election-commission
(FROM THE ARTICLE: A state law change is the easiest way to undo the election commission because it was formed by a state law. While it could be disbanded through a binding referendum, DuPage doesn’t have the authority to do so because it doesn’t have home rule power. The clerk’s office sends out property tax bills and handles other documents such as birth certificates, marriage licenses and death certificates. It’s run by Paul Hinds, a Republican, and has 19 employees. The election commission is run by Executive Director Joseph Sobecki and has 23 employees. It also pays the salaries of the three election commissioners who each receive $27,500 a year. County officials estimate that consolidating the election commission and clerk’s office could save taxpayers at least $300,000 a year by combining staffs and finding efficiencies. “It makes perfect sense,” Cronin said. “There’s no reason not to do it.”)
— Primary voting shenanigans? – Kenneth N. Marshall, Lombard (FROM THE LETTER: If I were a Jeanne Ives supporter and a conspiracy theorist … Consider:)
http://www.dailyherald.com/discuss/20180411/primary-voting-shenanigans
— Being smart on guns – Gregory Moffett, Glen Ellyn
http://www.dailyherald.com/discuss/20180411/being-smart-on-guns
— ‘Alarming’ trend: More juveniles sexually abusing kids under 6 – Harry Hitzeman
http://www.dailyherald.com/news/20180411/alarming-trend-more-juveniles-sexually-abusing-kids-under-6
CRAIN’S CHICAGO BUSINESS
— Ken Griffin bets big on U of C crime-fighting program – GREG HINZ (DIERSEN: If you had lots of money like Griffin, who would you give it to? I would give lots of money to activists, candidates, elected officials, and political organizations that defend and advance the Republican Party platform, the Illinois Republican Party platform, and the Milton Township Republican Central Committee resolution against video gambling. I would give lots of money to those who oppose the promotion of a) dependency on government, b) dependency on charity, c) LGBTQ activity, d) abortion, e) mass/illegal immigration, f) diminishment of First and Second Amendment rights, g) booze, gambling, pot, and other vices, h) patronage and political affiliation discrimination, i) reverse discrimination, j) age discrimination, and k) and other destructive things.)
http://www.chicagobusiness.com/article/20180411/BLOGS02/180419977#utm_medium=email&utm_source=ccb-morning10&utm_campaign=ccb-morning10-20180411
(FROM THE ARTICLE: The richest man in Chicago is making a big investment in an innovative local crime-fighting program that has shown great promise. At a news conference today, city officials and Citadel CEO Ken Griffin are to announce that Griffin is contributing $10 million to the University of Chicago Crime Lab, which has worked closely with the city’s police department to curb soaring violent crime rates in some neighborhoods.)
SPRINGFIELD STATE JOURNAL REGISTER
— ’60 Minutes’ report on cyber attacks includes Illinois elections board
http://www.sj-r.com/news/20180409/60-minutes-report-on-cyber-attacks-includes-illinois-elections-board
CHAMPAIGN/URBANA NEWS GAZETTE
— Willful failure? A prominent bond-ratings agency doesn’t see much good on Illinois’ political and financial fronts. – Editorial
http://www.news-gazette.com/opinion/editorials/2018-04-11/editorial-willful-failure.html
ALTON DAILY NEWS
— Rauner on Unity Tour with GOP – Greg Bishop
http://altondailynews.com/news/details.cfm?clientid=17&id=263258#.Ws4DQ4yKSM8
WJBC
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: Democrats have “High school students speak at gun violence vigil in Bloomington.”
http://www.wjbc.com/2018/04/11/high-school-students-speak-at-gun-violence-vigil-in-bloomington/
NORTHERN PUBLIC RADIO
— Rauner Mulls Mexican Border Deployment For Illinois National Guard – SAM DUNKLAU
http://northernpublicradio.org/post/rauner-mulls-mexican-border-deployment-illinois-national-guard
FOX ILLINOIS
— Durkin: Gun Dealer Licensing Act override doesn’t have the votes – Emily Manley
http://foxillinois.com/news/local/durkin-gun-dealer-licensing-act-override-doesnt-have-the-votes-04-10-2018
— Illinois now accepting teachers from across state lines – Nikki McGee (DIERSEN: GAO hired me in 1980 because it could not find a qualified Democrat, minority, female, younger person, or veteran who would take the job. IRS hired me in 1971 because it could not find a qualified Democrat, minority, female, or veteran who would take the job. The Post Office hired me in 1966 because it could not find a qualified Democrat, minority, female, or veteran who would take the job.)
http://foxillinois.com/news/local/illinois-now-accepting-teachers-from-across-state-lines-04-11-2018
CHICAGO NOW
— Gov. Rauner’s one chance to beat JB Pritzker in the Fall Governor’s race? Watch Berkowitz w/Robling to find out what it is
http://www.chicagonow.com/public-affairs-with-jeff-berkowitz/2018/04/gov-rauners-one-chance-to-beat-jb-pritzker-in-the-fall-governors-race-watch-berkowitz-wrobling-to-find-out-cableweb/
CHICAGO READER
— Black hockey players excel on ice despite history of racism, lack of rinks in Chicago A dearth of ice rinks and long history of racial tension have hampered efforts to diversify hockey’s ranks—but that’s changing. – Evan F. Moore (DIERSEN: Have you ever excelled at any sport? I have not. I blame the Osgood-Schlatter disease (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Osgood%E2%80%93Schlatter_disease) that I had while I was in grade school and high school.)
https://www.chicagoreader.com/chicago/blackhawks-blacks-in-sports-national-hockey-league/Content?oid=45276499
POLITICO ILLINOIS
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: Democrats say there is widespread support to override the Rauner’s veto of a gun dealer licensing bill.
https://www.politico.com/newsletters/illinois-playbook/2018/04/11/exclu-poll-shows-widespread-gun-licensing-support-ken-griffins-10m-to-combat-violence-duckworths-emotional-note-to-self-quigley-for-senate-263947
PROPUBLICA ILLINOIS
— Trump’s Company Is Suing Towns Across the Country to Get Breaks on Taxes — “Trump, Inc.” Podcast Why is Trump’s business arguing its properties are worth just a fraction of what Trump has claimed they are on his own financial disclosures? To save on taxes. – Katherine Sullivan (DIERSEN: I sought and eventually obtained a reduction of my home’s assessed valuation from the Illinois Property Tax Appeal Board (http://www.ptab.illinois.gov/). To this day, my critics/opponents in Wheaton, in Milton Township, and in DuPage County who have lots of religious, government, political, and/or financial clout are beyond furious that I did that. I successfully argued that my home is worth less a) because Wheaton had approved a lot drainage plan for my home’s subdivision that was woefully inadequate, b) because Wheaton and the subdivision’s developer had failed to disclose subterranean drainage lines in the subdivision that created drainage easements, c) because Wheaton had let the subdivision’s developer attempt to clog the aforesaid lines instead of properly connecting them to Wheaton’s storm sewer system, d) because Wheaton had let my home’s builder violate many building codes when my home was built that resulted in damage to my home’s foundation, and e) because the aforesaid forced me to spend many hundreds of hours and many thousands of dollars to repair damages and to prevent further damages. SEE: https://www.leagle.com/decision/1987526153illapp3d3731482) To this day, my critics/opponents not only side with Wheaton, with Milton Township, with DuPage County, with the subdivision’s developer, and with my home’s builder against me, they help the aforesaid destroy me.)
https://www.propublica.org/article/trump-inc-podcast-trump-organization-suing-towns-property-tax-breaks
KANKAKEE TIMES
— Reick, Ives question $2 million outlay for competency-based education program – Angela Underwood
https://kankakeetimes.com/stories/511386947-reick-ives-question-2-million-outlay-for-competency-based-education-program
DUPAGE POLICY JOURNAL
— IL Rising – Tonia Khouri On Lowering Taxes For DuPage County
https://dupagepolicyjournal.com/stories/511387196-il-rising-tonia-khouri-on-lowering-taxes-for-dupage-county
NORTH COOK NEWS
— Illinois GOP Chairman Schneider’s Elgin car wash owes $21K in overdue property taxes (DIERSEN: Do/did you have “financial woes?” Needless-to-say, if I had ever had any kind of a “financial woe,” my critics/opponents, their operatives, and their dupes would have shouted that people who have “financial woes” should not seek or hold any kind of government or political office as a Republican. They would argue that if you cannot make and keep yourself financially secure, you have bad financial judgment.)
https://northcooknews.com/stories/511387192-illinois-gop-chairman-schneider-s-elgin-car-wash-owes-21k-in-overdue-property-taxes
(FROM THE ARTICLE: Political ascendance, but financial woes Waterwerks isn’t the only financial challenge Schneider has faced since becoming a Cook County Commissioner in 2006. Two companies Schneider has operated have been named in foreclosure suits, court records show. In 2012, Northbrook Bank & Trust filed a foreclosure lawsuit in Kane County against FourFathers Development LLC, which owned four parcels of property commonly known as The Falls of Plato on Russell Road in Elgin. The property was sold at an auction and a deficiency judgment in the amount of $5,226,034 was issued against the defendants in 2013. Records indicate at least a portion of the judgment remains unpaid. In 2015, orders were issued against several of Schneider’s other companies, including WaterWerks, in an effort to discover assets. Any proceeds from a sale of WaterWerks would go to resolve the Northbrook Bank & Trust judgment, record show. In March of last year, Baraboo National Bank filed a foreclosure lawsuit against Schneider and Rolling Knolls LLC related to property at 1508 Circle Drive in Elgin. The case was dismissed in October last year.)
ILLINOIS REVIEW
— DI LEO: THE POTHOLES OF SPRING
http://illinoisreview.typepad.com/illinoisreview/2018/04/the-potholes-of-spring.html
CAPITOL FAX
— Pritzker campaign pokes fun at new Rauner survey
https://capitolfax.com/2018/04/11/pritzker-campaign-pokes-fun-at-new-rauner-survey/
— Tribune reporters organizing union (DIERSEN: GAO did not unionize until 2007. If GAO had been unionized in 1997, I might still be a GAO employee.)
https://capitolfax.com/2018/04/11/tribune-reporters-organizing-union/
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: Democrats say “Poll finds strong support for gun dealer licensing in swing districts.”
https://capitolfax.com/2018/04/11/poll-finds-strong-support-for-gun-dealer-licensing-in-swing-districts/
FREEDOM’S JOURNAL
— BLACK POLITICAL POWER MEANS ZILCH – Walter E. Williams (DIERSEN: What are your demographics? How much political power do those who share your demographics have? Ever-increasingly, those who have the following demographics have more political power: 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://freedomsjournalinstitute.org/latest-news/opinion/black-political-power-means-zilch/
DAILY CALLER
— Fake News Nearly Caused Trump To Fire Mueller – Chuck Ross (DIERSEN: I should write a book about, or maybe I should sue, my critics/opponents, their operatives, their dupes who spread fake news about me and about my GOPUSA ILLINOIS emails.)
http://dailycaller.com/2018/04/10/report-trump-mueller-fake-news/?utm_medium=email
AMERICAN THINKER
— Insane Obama education rules vigorously defended by Trump’s Government Accountability Office – Peter Skurkiss (DIERSEN: My Democrat GAO superiors were furious when I suggested that a) GAO should not undertake work unless requested by at least one Democrat AND one Republican and b) all audit teams have at least one Democrat AND one Republican.)
https://www.americanthinker.com/blog/2018/04/insane_obama_education_rules_vigorously_defended_by_trumps_government_accountability_office.html
GOPUSA
— Dershowitz: ACLU would be ‘jumping up and down’ if FBI raided Hillary Clinton’s lawyer
http://www.gopusa.com/?p=43462
WASHINGTON EXAMINER
— Diamond and Silk warn conservatives may boycott Facebook because it’s a ‘political playground for Democrats’ – Anna Giaritelli
https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/diamond-and-silk-warn-conservatives-may-boycott-facebook-because-its-a-political-playground-for-democrats
— He’s out — Paul Ryan explains his kids were behind decision to quit – Susan Ferrechio and Al Weaver (DIERSEN: What job does Ryan want/expect to get that would give him more time to spend with his children?)
https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/congress/hes-out-ryan-explains-his-kids-were-behind-decision-to-quit
THE HILL
— DeVos review of racial bias guidance stirs controversy – LYDIA WHEELER (DIERSEN: Ever-increasingly, since the Civil War, Democrats blame Republicans for all the problems that minorities have had, are having, and will have.)
http://thehill.com/regulation/382574-devos-review-of-racial-bias-guidance-stirs-controversy
ASSOCIATED PRESS
— Rauner willing to spend own money to beautify Springfield
https://www.seattletimes.com/nation-world/nation-politics/rauner-willing-to-spend-own-money-to-beautify-springfield/
NEW YORK POST
— The 10-Year Baby Window That Is the Key to the Women’s Pay Gap Women who have their first child before 25 or after 35 eventually close the salary divide with their husbands. It’s the years in between that are most problematic, research shows. – Claire Cain Miller (DIERSEN: I should write a book about those who have demonized, denigrated, and condemned my wife and I the most because we gave up trying to have children, because we did not adopt, and because we did not become foster parents.)
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/04/09/upshot/the-10-year-baby-window-that-is-the-key-to-the-womens-pay-gap.html
WASHINGTON POST
— Federal employees lag private sector workers in salaries by 32 percent on average, report says – Eric Yoder (DIERSEN: I should write a book about those who have hinted/implied/argued/shouted the loudest a) since 1966 that the federal government overpaid me and that my vacation and sick leave benefits were too generous, b) since 1966 that my federal health, dental, and/or vision insurance subsidies have been too generous, c) since 1997 that my Civil Service Retirement System pension is too generous, d) since 2010 that my Social Security is too generous, and e) since 2013 that my Medicare is too generous.)
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/powerpost/wp/2018/04/11/federal-employees-lag-private-sector-workers-in-salaries-by-32-percent-on-average-report-says/
DENVER POST
— Walker Stapleton discovered fraud helped him qualify for governor’s race. So now he’s taking a new path to make 2018 ballot. The move came after the Stapleton campaign discovered allegations made by rival Doug Robinson were true – JOHN FRANK and MARK K. MATTHEWS
https://www.denverpost.com/2018/04/10/walker-stapleton-fraud-petitions-governors-race/
WALL STREET JOURNAL
— The Secret to Better Social Media? Fewer Friends Too many Facebook friends might be the reason you don’t like Facebook anymore – David Pierce (DIERSEN: What do you say to those who read my GOPUSA ILLINOIS emails to get information to destroy me and to destroy those who share my demographics?)
https://www.wsj.com/articles/the-secret-to-better-social-media-fewer-friends-1523376444
— America’s Parties, Divided Every Which Way The ideological split is mirrored in race, sex, age, education, location and religion. – William A. Galston (DIERSEN: Ever-increasingly, a) Democrats, Libertarians, Greens, and RINOs 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 and b) Republicans are Trump supporters, Protestant, conservative, patriotic, White, male, older, rich, gun owners, German American, and/or those whose ancestors have been in America for a long time.)
https://www.wsj.com/articles/americas-parties-divided-every-which-way-1523399088
— How Death Strikes Around the U.S. Substance abuse, suicides and diabetes drive increase in premature deaths in nearly half the states, study finds – Betsy McKay and Renée Rigdon (DIERSEN: While I have diabetes, my critics/opponents, their operatives, and their dupes do not count on me dying prematurely.)
https://www.wsj.com/articles/how-death-strikes-around-the-u-s-1523372401
BLOOMBERG
— Bank of America Will Stop Lending to Makers of Assault-Style Guns – Laura J Keller and Polly Mosendz (DIERSEN: Those who support the Second Amendment should stop giving money to and borrowing from Bank of America.)
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2018-04-10/bofa-will-no-longer-lend-to-some-gunmakers-vice-chairman-says
FED WEEK
— Federal Employee Shortfall on Pay Narrows a Little (DIERSEN: I should write a book about those who have hinted/implied/argued/shouted the loudest a) since 1966 that the federal government overpaid me and that my vacation and sick leave benefits were too generous, b) since 1966 that my federal health, dental, and/or vision insurance subsidies have been too generous, c) since 1997 that my Civil Service Retirement System pension is too generous, d) since 2010 that my Social Security is too generous, and e) since 2013 that my Medicare is too generous.)
http://www.fedweek.com/fedweek/federal-employee-shortfall-on-pay-narrows-a-little/
(FROM THE ARTICLE: The federal-private sector pay gap has narrowed a little, with federal employees now behind by an average of 31.86 percent, compared with 34.07 percent in the prior accounting, according to a report that, if the past is a guide, likely will have little impact on prospects for a January 2019 federal pay raise. The Federal Salary Council assessment comes about six months later than usual since the council did not meet last fall on its regular schedule; the members–union officials and outside pay experts–had not been reappointed on time. The prior number, reported in late 2016, had been virtually unchanged over the previous several years. The report shows that the widest pay gap continues to be in the San Francisco area, followed by Washington-Baltimore, New York and Los Angeles. The narrowest remains in the “rest of U.S.” locality, which covers areas in the contiguous states outside one of the 44 city areas (Alaska and Hawaii are separate localities in their entirety) as well as U.S. territories and possessions.)
VOX
— How Trump broke Paul Ryan Why Paul Ryan is not running for reelection. – Tara Golshan
https://www.vox.com/policy-and-politics/2018/4/11/17223998/retire-paul-ryan-reelection-speaker
WORLD SOCIALIST WEB SITE
— Proposed Illinois budget continues assault on workers and sets stage for November elections – Michael Walters and Alexander Fangmann (DIERSEN: Are/were you a “worker.” My critics/opponents, their operatives, and their dupes have always demonized me, denigrated me, and condemned me as being a lowly worker. They stress that I did yard work and delivered newspapers 1962-1964; washed dishes 1964-1966; cleaned golf shoes, chipped slag, and pumped gasoline in 1966; delivered mail 1966-1969; worked on an automobile assembly line and as a security guard in 1970; sold tires, automotive services, and major appliances 1970-1971; pumped gasoline 1971-1972; collected delinquent taxes 1971-1980; and audited federal agencies 1980-1997.)
https://www.wsws.org/en/articles/2018/04/11/illi-a11.html
