April 14 Evening Edition

ABC7
— Coronavirus Illinois: Updated COVID-19 death toll nears 900, 24K total; Pritzker says IL ‘bending the curve’ – Jessica D’Onofrio, Craig Wall and Liz Nagy
https://abc7chicago.com/health/illinois-bending-the-curve-pritzker-says-as-covid-19-deaths-near-900/6102017/
— Trump directs halt to payments to World Health Organization during coronavirus pandemic – AP
https://abc7chicago.com/politics/trump-directs-halt-to-payments-to-who-during-virus-pandemic/6103052/
— Fauci: ‘We’re not there yet’ on key steps to reopen economy after coronavirus outbreak – AP
https://abc7chicago.com/health/fauci-were-not-there-yet-on-key-steps-to-reopen-economy/6102644/

NBC5
— Illinois Reports 1,222 New Cases of Coronavirus, 74 Additional Deaths In recent days, Governor Pritzker and other officials have said numbers are indicating that the state might be starting to “flatten the curve” of COVID-19 cases
https://www.nbcchicago.com/news/coronavirus/illinois-reports-1222-new-cases-of-coronavirus-74-additional-deaths/2255720/
— Pritzker Says ‘Positive Trends’ in Coronavirus Numbers Helping to Flatten Curve The governor says the state is increasing healthcare capacity as the number of new cases of the virus begins to slow
https://www.nbcchicago.com/news/coronavirus/pritzker-cites-positive-trends-in-coronavirus-numbers-statewide/2255763/
— Trump Reverses Course on Power to ‘Reopen’ States Amid Virus It’s unclear if any states are actively considering reopening their economies before May 1 – Jill Colvin and Zeke Miller
https://www.nbcchicago.com/news/politics/president-trump/trump-reverses-course-on-power-to-reopen-states-amid-virus/2255937/

CHICAGO TRIBUNE
— Pritzker says Illinois is ‘bending the curve’ as coronavirus growth rate slows, ICU beds in use stabilize – LISA SCHENCKER and DAN PETRELLA
https://www.chicagotribune.com/coronavirus/ct-coronavirus-pritzker-illinois-bending-curve-20200415-5x3xosckmvebjaisooibf5fisi-story.html

CHICAGO SUN-TIMES
— 4/20 plans nixed as celebrations of legal weed move online amid coronavirus outbreak But Dispensary 33’s festival going virtual means revelers can actually legal consume pot — at home, a spokeswoman says. – Tom Schuba (DIERSEN: To smoke pot is to increase the likelihood of your catching and spreading coronavirus.)
https://chicago.suntimes.com/coronavirus/2020/4/14/21220991/4-20-legal-weed-illinois-cannabis-wellness-coronavirus-dispensary-33-olive-harvey
— Trump’s ‘I alone can fix it’ view and state powers collide In the days and weeks before, Trump had laid responsibility for the pandemic response at the feet of the nation’s governors. Now, he says he has vast powers as president to compel states to action. – AP
https://chicago.suntimes.com/coronavirus/2020/4/14/21221038/donald-trump-state-powers-collide-stay-at-home-orders-coronavirus-covid-19
— Illinois Democrats pushing CDC to collect racial data about COVID-19 deaths “These numbers shed light on grave racial disparities in communities across the United States,” Illinois Democrats said in a letter to HHS Secretary Alex Azar. – Lynn Sweet (DIERSEN: What about other health disparities including gender, sexual orientation, age, citizenship status, liberal/moderate/conservative, political affiliation, national origin, religion, income, net worth, veteran status, rural/suburban/urban, homeowner/renter, parents’ health, length of time ancestors have been in America, booze consumption, pot consumption, BMI, exercise, etc.)
https://chicago.suntimes.com/politics/2020/4/14/21220519/illinois-democrats-demand-cdc-collect-data-on-covid-19-black-deaths
— Preckwinkle dumping two from party posts for backing Foxx rival: Her re-election ‘was particularly important to me’ “We serve at the pleasure of the president, and apparently, my independence doesn’t pleasure the president,” said state Sen. Laura Murphy, noting that her township organization has a long history of making its own endorsements. – Mark Brown
https://chicago.suntimes.com/politics/2020/4/14/21221473/preckwinkle-foxx-reboyras-murphy-cook-county-democratic-party-slating
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: White-haters use coronavirus to promote hatred against Whites.
https://chicago.suntimes.com/2020/4/13/21219283/racism-coronavirus-covid-19-african-americans
— King Donald can’t reopen America alone, but neither can governors As a practical matter, the president and the governors had better work this one out. A fractured effort to reopen the nation would be a lousy effort. – Editorial
https://chicago.suntimes.com/2020/4/14/21220778/coronavirus-covid-19-pandemic-reopen-american-economy-states-constitution-editorial-j-b-pritzker
— Pritzker arranging secret flights from China to bring millions of masks and gloves to Illinois The governor is worried President Trump might try to seize the supplies for the federal stockpile so he’s keeping the details quiet, a source said. – Frank Main
https://chicago.suntimes.com/coronavirus/2020/4/14/21221459/pritzker-secret-flights-china-illinois-ppe-trump-coronavirus

DAILY HERALD
— April 14 COVID-19 cases per county, some towns, and how to search by ZIP code.
https://www.dailyherald.com/news/20200414/april-14-covid-19-cases-per-county-some-towns-and-how-to-search-by-zip-code
— 6th Congressional District: Call with Casten, doctor tells seniors of scarcity in testing, masks – Marie Wilson
https://www.dailyherald.com/news/20200414/call-with-casten-doctor-tells-seniors-of-scarcity-in-testing-masks

CRAIN’S CHICAGO BUSINESS
— Pritzker looks to form Midwest version of West Coast, Northeast COVID coalitions The governor’s office confirms both he and key staffers have been on the phone with Midwest peers even as governors in the Northeast and Pacific Coast areas step up regional coordination. – GREG HINZ
https://www.chicagobusiness.com/greg-hinz-politics/pritzker-looks-form-midwest-version-west-coast-northeast-covid-coalitions
— Big law firms cut pay amid COVID-19 worries Baker McKenzie is slashing base compensation 15 percent for U.S. lawyers and other professionals. Winston & Strawn has reduced monthly draws made by partners against their salaries by 50 percent. – STEVEN R. STRAHLER
https://www.chicagobusiness.com/law/big-law-firms-cut-pay-amid-covid-19-worries
— State’s COVID tab so far: $170 million Nearly all Illinois’ charges since March 24 are for personal protective equipment, but also included are two chartered flights to Shanghai and hospital beds for the state’s alternative care sites. – A.D. QUIG
https://www.chicagobusiness.com/government/states-covid-tab-so-far-170-million

WGN TV
— Indiana man waiting for $1,700 stimulus payment sees millions in his bank account – Dana Rebik (DIERSEN: To smoke pot is to increase the likelihood of your catching and spreading coronavirus.)
https://wgntv.com/news/coronavirus/indiana-man-waiting-for-1700-stimulus-payment-sees-millions-in-his-bank-account/

ROCKFORD REGISTER STAR
— Recreational marijuana sales in Illinois are “essential” according to our state’s leaders. Why? Because according to a news release from the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation, revenue generated by adult-use sales funds social justice and equity goals that are “at the core of Illinois’ adult use law.” – Philip J. Meyers, Rockford
https://www.rrstar.com/opinion/20200414/essential-businesses-are-just-those-that-make-money

SPRINGFIELD STATE JOURNAL REGISTER
— State has spent over $174 million to fight COVID-19 – Doug Finke
https://www.sj-r.com/news/20200414/state-has-spent-over-174-million-to-fight-covid-19

HERALD NEWS
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: Newman says that those who agree with her are savvy.
https://www.theherald-news.com/2020/04/13/newman-says-her-ideas-resonated-with-savvy-voters-in-illinois-3rd-district/amddmip/

NEWS CHANNEL 20
— Fauci: ‘We’re not there yet’ on key steps to reopen economy – AP
https://newschannel20.com/news/coronavirus/fauci-were-not-there-yet-on-key-steps-to-reopen-economy

WSIL TV
— DISGUSTING, TRAGIC: COVID-19 pandemic fuels push for online marijuana sales
https://wsiltv.com/2020/04/14/covid-19-pandemic-fuels-push-for-online-marijuana-sales/

MCHENRY COUNTY BLOG
— Secretary of State’s Police Report on Jack Franks
http://mchenrycountyblog.com/2020/04/14/secretary-of-states-police-report-on-jack-franks/ 
— DuPage, Lake County Boards Move Toward Freezing Elected Officials’ Salaries
http://mchenrycountyblog.com/2020/04/14/dupage-lake-county-boards-move-toward-freezing-elected-officials-salaries/ 
— IL-06/IL-14: First Attack Ad Using Coronavirus Pandemic Launched by Republican Mike Garcia in California
http://mchenrycountyblog.com/2020/04/14/il-06-il-14-first-attack-ad-using-coronavirus-pandemic-launched-by-republican-mike-garcia-in-california/ 
— Wilcox Asks Unemployment Comp Help for Gig Workers
http://mchenrycountyblog.com/2020/04/14/wilcox-asks-unemployment-comp-help-for-gog-workers/

ILLINOIS POLICY INSTITUTE
— ILLINOIS STATE, LOCAL TAX BURDEN RANKED HIGHEST IN NATION – Brad Weisenstein
https://www.illinoispolicy.org/illinois-state-local-tax-burden-ranked-highest-in-nation/

CAPITOL FAX
— Brady sends out press release asking Pritzker to convene leaders meeting
https://capitolfax.com/2020/04/14/brady-sends-out-press-release-asking-pritzker-to-convene-leaders-meeting/
— Pritzker points to improved doubling rate, increased hospital capacity – 3600 out of state and retired healthcare professionals have signed up to join fight – Survey shows 69% recovery rate after 28 days – Talks about regional cooperation – Cooperation not a reaction to Trump comments – Repeats that state offers to Chicago for election day assistance were all rejected – Open to leaders meeting – Refuses to take Trump bait – Will talk about budget later this week – Decision “relatively soon” on state fairs
https://capitolfax.com/2020/04/14/pritzker-points-to-improved-doubling-rate-increased-hospital-capacity/
— 1,222 new cases, 74 additional deaths – 23,247 total cases, 868 total deaths
https://capitolfax.com/2020/04/14/1222-new-cases-74-additional-deaths-23247-total-cases-868-total-deaths/
— COVID-19 roundup
https://capitolfax.com/2020/04/14/covid-19-roundup-17/
— Comptroller says state has spent $174 million on COVID-19-related supplies
https://capitolfax.com/2020/04/14/comptroller-says-state-has-spent-174-million-on-covid-19-related-supplies/
— Pritzker’s three “T’s” to reopening: Testing, tracing and treatment
https://capitolfax.com/2020/04/14/pritzkers-three-ts-to-reopening-testing-tracing-and-treatment/
— Rep. Mark Batinick (R-Plainfield) calls for mask requirement in stores and restaurants
https://capitolfax.com/2020/04/14/republican-calls-for-mask-requirement-in-stores-and-restaurants/

WASHINGTON TIMES
— ‘Greatest fear’: Chicago hides names of released prisoners from police – Jeff Mordock
https://m.washingtontimes.com/news/2020/apr/12/chicago-hides-names-cook-county-prisoners-released/

WASHINGTON EXAMINER
— ‘They have contempt for the American people’: Hannity rips ‘media mob’ as ‘destructive force for the country’ – Spencer Neale 
https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/they-have-contempt-for-the-american-people-hannity-rips-media-mob-as-destructive-force-for-the-country
— States shell out billions for illegal immigrants while homeless veterans still languish – Andrew Mark Miller (DIERSEN: Democrats see illegals being their soldiers in their war against America.) 
https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/states-shell-out-billions-for-illegal-immigrants-while-homeless-veterans-still-languish-study
— ‘CNN has a tenuous claim on being a news outlet’: Tucker Carlson rakes network over negative Trump coverage – Spencer Neale
https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/cnn-has-a-tenuous-claim-on-being-a-news-outlet-tucker-carlson-rakes-network-over-negative-trump-coverage
— New survey results undercut liberal narrative that Republicans are anti-gay rights – Brad Polumbo (DIERSEN: In Illinois, ever-increasingly, RINO activists, RINO candidates, RINO party leaders, RINO major donors, RINO political consultants, RINO etc. get rid of and destroy Republicans like me who do not promote LGBTQ activity.)
https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/opinion/new-survey-results-undercut-liberal-narrative-that-republicans-are-anti-lgbt

GOPUSA
— Shutdown Could Kill More Americans Than COVID-19
https://www.gopusa.com/?p=87530
— Parishioners In Their Cars With Windows Up, Fined $500 For Attending Drive-In Church Service
https://www.gopusa.com/?p=87553

BREITBART
— Trump: World Health Organization’s Attack on Travel Bans Put Political Correctness Above Saving Lives – John Binder
https://www.breitbart.com/politics/2020/04/14/trump-world-health-organizations-attack-on-travel-bans-put-political-correctness-above-saving-lives/

RUSH LIMBAUGH
— Pushback! Trump Exposes Phony Journalists with Video Montage
https://www.rushlimbaugh.com/daily/2020/04/14/trump-exposes-phony-journalists-with-video-montage/

TOWNHALL
— ‘Get Us Out of This!’ – Bill Murchison
https://townhall.com/columnists/billmurchison/2020/04/14/get-us-out-of-this-n2566895

ONE NEWS NOW
— Liberal leaders say illegals deserving of stimulus money – Chad Groening (DIERSEN: Liberals see illegals being their soldiers in their war against America.)
https://onenewsnow.com/politics-govt/2020/04/14/liberal-leaders-say-illegals-deserving-of-stimulus-money

CAMPUS REFORM
— Will Obama’s endorsement help Biden? This video casts doubt. – Jon Street
https://campusreform.org/?id=14713

THE HILL
— Trump sparks GOP backlash with claim of ‘total’ power to reopen the country – JORDAIN CARNEY 
https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/492716-trump-sparks-gop-backlash-with-claim-of-total-power-to-reopen-the-country

ROLL CALL
— As we rebuild from COVID-19, we cannot allow the Democrats, the liberal media or China to take us for a ride President Trump and House Republicans are up for the challenge, NRCC chairman Tom Emmer writes
https://www.rollcall.com/2020/04/14/as-we-rebuild-from-covid-19-we-cannot-allow-the-democrats-the-liberal-media-or-china-to-take-us-for-a-ride/

HUFFINGTON POST
— The Pandemic Is Crushing The Journalism Industry. The Government Could Save It. The scale of the crisis facing the journalism industry requires a radical and dramatic response: a massive public investment in local news. – Travis Waldron (DIERSEN: He who pays the piper calls the tunes.) 
https://www.huffpost.com/entry/journalism-coronavirus-bailout-stimulus_n_5e8de43ac5b6e59ccbfb9381
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: Trump-haters say “Trump’s Cabinet MIA As Coronavirus Pandemic Rages It’s supposed to be “all hands on deck,” but it’s really not.”
https://www.huffpost.com/entry/trump-cabinet-missing-coronavirus_n_5e95bc65c5b6cc788eaf729e

CNN
— Trump halts World Health Organization funding over handling of coronavirus outbreak – Betsy Klein
https://www.cnn.com/2020/04/14/politics/donald-trump-world-health-organization-funding-coronavirus/index.html

NEW YORK TIMES
— N.Y.C. Death Toll Soars Past 10,000 in Revised Virus Count The city has added more than 3,700 additional people who were presumed to have died of the coronavirus but had never tested positive. – J. David Goodman and William K. Rashbaum
https://www.nytimes.com/2020/04/14/nyregion/new-york-coronavirus-deaths.html
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: White-haters use coronavirus to promote hatred of Whites. 
https://www.nytimes.com/2020/04/14/opinion/coronavirus-racism-african-americans.html

NEW YORK POST
— Wall Street feasts on federal coronavirus aid while Main Street starves – Charles Gasparino
https://nypost.com/2020/04/14/wall-street-feasts-on-federal-coronavirus-aid-while-main-street-starves/

WASHINGTON POST
— Coming to your $1,200 relief check: Donald J. Trump’s name – Lisa Rein 
https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/coming-to-your-1200-relief-check-donald-j-trumps-name/2020/04/14/071016c2-7e82-11ea-8013-1b6da0e4a2b7_story.html

FORBES
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: Ever-increasingly, employers a) will not hire you, b) will not retain you, c) will not promote you, and d) will get rid of you if you do not promote Affirmative Action, Diversity, and Inclusion, that is, if you do not promote political affiliation discrimination, reverse discrimination, age discrimination, and retaliation for opposing the aforesaid. 
https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbesagencycouncil/2020/04/14/an-always-on-approach-to-gender-parity/
https://www.forbes.com/sites/nextavenue/2020/04/14/how-the-coronavirus-punishes-many-older-workers/#2c4b3a9b202a

NEW YORK MAGAZINE
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: Trump-haters side with Communist China against America.
https://nymag.com/intelligencer/2020/04/trump-china-biden-coronavirus-false-travel-ban-wuhan.html

GOVERNMENT EXECUTIVE
— Federal Employee Cases and Deaths Continue to Increase There’s a lot to keep track of. Here’s today’s list of news updates and stories you may have missed. – COURTNEY BUBLÉ
https://www.govexec.com/workforce/2020/04/coronavirus-roundup-federal-employee-cases-and-deaths-continue-increase/164603/
— Congress Should Withhold Support for Agency Requests Until Trump Nominates Qualified Leaders, Groups Say Permanent, qualified officials are necessary to stabilize the administration’s ‘fumbling response’ to coronavirus, organizations say. – ERIC KATZ
https://www.govexec.com/management/2020/04/congress-should-withhold-support-agency-requests-until-trump-nominates-qualified-leaders-groups-say/164615/

SLATE
— The Coronavirus Recovery Could Pit the Old and Young Against Each Other – JOSHUA KEATING (DIERSEN: Individuals, organizations, companies, governments, countries that promote age discrimination will use coronavirus to promote age discrimination. “Up-or-out” will become more and more and more official.)
https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2020/04/graying-populations-economic-recovery.html

NEWS ONE
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: White-haters use COVID-19 to promote hatred of Whites.
https://newsone.com/3927994/black-america-covid-19-bullet-america-gun/

RASMUSSEN REPORTS
— 65% of GOP Voters Say Coronavirus Reporters Chiefly Out to Get Trump
https://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/current_events/disease/65_of_gop_voters_say_coronavirus_reporters_chiefly_out_to_get_trump

Author: David Diersen

The opinions that I express in GOPUSA ILLINOIS emails are based on experience that I have gained doing many things since 1948. I base my opinions on what I learned a) working for the federal government for almost 30 years -- Post Office 1966-1969, IRS 1971-1980, and GAO 1980-1997, serving on the Executive Committee of the Association of Government Accountants Chicago Chapter 1983-1996, and being a union member while I worked for the Post Office and IRS; b) earning an MBA from Loyola in 1976, a masters degree in accounting from DePaul in 1980, and a masters degree in financial markets and trading from IIT in 1997; c) passing the CPA examination on my first attempt in 1979 and passing the Certified Internal Auditor examination on my first attempt in 1981; c) serving as a Republican Precinct Committeeman since 1999, the GOPUSA Illinois Editor since 2000, the TAPROOT Republicans of Illinois Chairman 2005-2012, a member of the 2008 Illinois Republican Party (IRP) Platform and Resolutions Committee, a Wheaton Chamber of Commerce Government Affairs Committee member 2003-2011, the Milton Township Republican Central Committee webmaster 2008-2010 and 2000-2004, an Illinois Center Right Coalition Steering Committee member 2003-2007, and an American Association of Political Consultants Midwest Chapter board member 2001-2004; d) attending the 2000, 2004, 2008, 2012, and 2016 IRP State Conventions as a delegate; e) being the subject of a nasty 4-page article in the February 1978 issue of Money Magazine; f) pursing litigation including Diersen v. GAO and Diersen v. Chicago Car Exchange; g) being married since 1978; h) living in Crete 1948-1972, in University Park 1972-1976, in Chicago 1976-1978, and in DuPage County, Milton Township, and Wheaton since 1978; and i) being baptized, raised, and confirmed as a Missouri Synod Lutheran.