April 30 Morning Edition

NBC5
— Pritzker Says He Supports Reopening State in Phases When Time Comes Pritzker said at a news conference Wednesday that he agrees “100%” with a region-by-region approach, but that doesn’t necessarily mean geographically
https://www.nbcchicago.com/news/local/pritzker-says-he-supports-reopening-state-in-phases-when-time-comes/2263964/

ABC7
— Stimulus, unemployment, financial help for those impacted by coronavirus SBA, student loans, rent, utilities, taxes and more
https://abc7chicago.com/coronavirus-help-credit-cards-unemployment-stimulus/6132626/
— Sex assault allegation poses challenge for Joe Biden’s 2020 presidential campaign – AP
https://abc7chicago.com/politics/sex-assault-allegation-poses-challenge-for-bidens-campaign/6139976/

WGN TV
— The cost of ‘just in case’ hospitals during the coronavirus pandemic – Ben Bradley
https://wgntv.com/news/coronavirus/the-cost-of-just-in-case-hospitals-during-the-coronavirus-pandemic/

CHICAGO SUN-TIMES
— Trump says he won’t extend social distancing guidelines Vice President Mike Pence said the guidelines have been incorporated into the new guidance issued by the White House earlier this month that lays out how states can gradually begin to reopen as the rate of new cases slows. – AP
https://chicago.suntimes.com/coronavirus/2020/4/29/21241715/trump-says-he-wont-extend-social-distancing-guidelines-coronavirus-covid-19-stay-at-home-orders
— Rolling out contact tracing in Illinois a daunting task, but essential, expert says It takes about a day to trace the contacts of COVID-19 patients at the Howard Brown Health clinic in Hyde Park, its director says. About 2⁄3 of those contacts end up testing positive. – Tom Schuba
https://chicago.suntimes.com/coronavirus/2020/4/29/21242079/howard-brown-contact-tracing-illinois-coronavirus
— Nancy Pelosi taps Bill Foster to new House COVID-19 watchdog panel Foster is among seven Democrats Pelosi selected for the 12-member panel. It is not clear yet if Republicans will appoint anyone. – Lynn Sweet (DIERSEN: Appointees to this panel should have watchdog credentials. I worked 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 before that, I worked for IRS for almost 9 years, the last 5 1/2 years at the GS-12 Step 1-5 levels, currently, $85,084-$96,431/year. I passed the Certified Internal Auditor and CPA examinations on my first attempt. I became a licensed CPA, Certified Fraud Examiner, Certified Government Financial Manager, Certified Financial Services Auditor, and Forensic Accountant. I have master’s degrees in business, accounting, and finance.)
https://chicago.suntimes.com/2020/4/29/21241716/house-speaker-nancy-pelosi-rep-bill-foster-illinois-house-covid-19-watchdog-panel
— COVID-19 lawsuits a symptom of a pre-existing condition in Illinois — and the nation It would be easy to plug this particular disagreement into our age-old Chicago versus downstate animosities, and obviously, that’s one aspect of what is happening, but it’s broader and deeper than that as the national interest in this story confirms. – Mark Brown
https://chicago.suntimes.com/politics/2020/4/29/21242096/covid-19-lawsuits-cabello-bailey-pritzker-trump-coronavirus

CHICAGO TRIBUNE
— As commuters stay home, Metra has been forced to cut service again. One line will have just 1 inbound and 1 outbound run per day. – Mary Wisniewski
https://www.chicagotribune.com/coronavirus/ct-coronavirus-metra-service-cuts-three-lines-20200429-g6c3mvyarzhgbnfyn5v2fyjjty-story.html
— Employees being sought for Amazon’s under-construction grocery store in Naperville – ERIN HEGARTY
https://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/naperville-sun/ct-nvs-amazon-grocery-store-hiring-naperville-st-20200429-ljqvdapk3zbehf6b6iqcvv2n7q-story.html
— Reopen Illinois rally planned, viral house party reveals media disconnect and Tribune photos to use as your Zoom background
https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-cb-daywatch-newsletter-april29-20200430-x2iyx7bpjzga3lu7zwtqwq4opq-story.html
— Chicago police pledge to issue citation for another large city party as mayor condemns it – JEREMY GORNER and GREGORY PRATT
https://www.chicagotribune.com/coronavirus/ct-coronavirus-wedding-party-citation-20200429-glie24vk7rgdpptl5depymyaiq-story.html

DAILY HERALD
— DuPage mayors calling for letting businesses reopen earlier – Marie Wilson
https://www.dailyherald.com/business/20200429/dupage-mayors-calling-for-letting-businesses-reopen-earlier

WTTW
— Rosemont Mayor Stephens on Pandemic’s Impact on Conventions, Entertainment – Quinn Myers
https://news.wttw.com/2020/04/29/rosemont-mayor-stephens-pandemic-s-impact-conventions-entertainment
— Is It Time to Get Back to Springfield? – Amanda Vinicky
https://news.wttw.com/2020/04/29/it-time-get-back-springfield
— O’Hare, Midway Grapple with Near Shutdown of Air Travel – Paris Schutz
https://news.wttw.com/2020/04/29/o-hare-midway-grapple-near-shutdown-air-travel

CHAMPAIGN/URBANA NEWS GAZETTE
— Campaign rhetoric won’t cut it in coronavirus legal fight – Jim Dey
https://www.news-gazette.com/coronavirus/jim-dey-campaign-rhetoric-won-t-cut-it-in-coronavirus-legal-fight/article_45d9a6b4-8ee7-599d-9d02-0d17ee8cd785.html

PEORIA JOURNAL STAR
— Monmouth Smithfield plant to resume operations – Jane Carlson
https://www.pjstar.com/news/20200430/monmouth-smithfield-plant-to-resume-operations

SOUTHERN
— Pritzker should stop laughing at Southern Illinois – Tim Schneider
https://thesouthern.com/opinion/columnists/opinion-tim-schneider-pritzker-should-stop-laughing-at-southern-illinois/article_913cb367-deab-5d15-a39c-64c1502fa445.html

FOX ILLINOIS
— Unemployment surge pushing state funds toward insolvency – AP
https://foxillinois.com/news/nation-world/unemployment-surge-pushing-state-funds-toward-insolvency
— As US economy shrinks, some remain optimistic for quick recovery – AHTRA ELNASHAR
https://foxillinois.com/news/coronavirus/as-us-economy-shrinks-some-remain-optimistic-for-quick-recovery
— Debate flares over legal protections as businesses open up – AP
https://foxillinois.com/news/nation-world/debate-flares-over-legal-protections-as-businesses-open-up

NPR ILLINOIS
— Tesla’s Elon Musk Rants Again; Calls Lockdowns Forcible Imprisonment And ‘Fascist’ – CAMILA DOMONOSKE
https://www.nprillinois.org/post/teslas-elon-musk-rants-again-calls-lockdowns-forcible-imprisonment-and-fascist#stream/0

NEWS CHANNEL 20
— Fed signals it will likely hold rates near zero for months – AP
https://newschannel20.com/news/coronavirus/fed-keeps-key-rate-near-zero-and-pledges-to-use-full-range-of-tools-to-bolster-economy

CHICAGO PATCH
— Gov. J.B. Pritzker Is Doing His Best Donald Trump Impression Now The J.B. Pritzker Show now includes the governor’s spot on impression of President Donald Trump, for a Democrat, that is. – Mark Konkol
https://patch.com/illinois/chicago/gov-j-b-pritzker-doing-his-best-donald-trump-impression-now

ALGONQUIN PATCH
— Coronavirus In IL: ‘Open Illinois Now’ Protest In Algonquin Freedom Movement USA plans to protest the state’s extended stay-at-home order ​due to the coronavirus pandemic. – Rebecca Bream
https://patch.com/illinois/algonquin/coronavirus-il-open-illinois-now-protest-algonquin

ILLINOIS REPUBLICAN PARTY
— Illinois Should Plan to Reopen Regionally – Illinois Republican Party Chairman Tim Schneider
https://illinois.gop/illinois-should-plan-to-reopen-regionally/?fbclid=IwAR0cSc_8rb7St9U2dh_jLmob8cIzx2mdf95mRclttdp_w8nkZYEy3mH6q8w

MCHENRY COUNTY BLOG
— Ex-Justice Department Bully Andrew Weissmann, Who Brought Arthur Anderson Down and Fled Mueller Commission Before It Imploded, Ends Up in Chicago Law Firm
http://mchenrycountyblog.com/2020/04/30/ex-justice-department-bully-who-brought-arthur-anderson-down-and-fled-mueller-commission-before-it-imploded-ends-up-in-chicago-law-firm/
— Inspired by Illinois GOP? Republicans Sue Governor Gavin Newsom on Ballot Harvesting in Special Congressional Election on May 12
http://mchenrycountyblog.com/2020/04/30/inspired-by-illinois-gop-republicans-sue-governor-gavin-newsom-on-ballot-harvesting-in-special-congressional-election-on-may-12/
— McConchie Offers Re-Opening Plan
http://mchenrycountyblog.com/2020/04/29/mcconchie-offers-re-opening-plan/
— Broader Challenge to Pritzker’s Emergency Order
http://mchenrycountyblog.com/2020/04/29/broader-challenge-to-pritzkers-emergency-order/

WASHINGTON TIMES
— Trump calls for return to ‘the way it was’ as coronavirus crisis crashes economy – Dave Boyer
https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2020/apr/29/donald-trump-touts-reopening-coronavirus-crashes-u/
— Trump erupts at campaign team as his poll numbers slide – AP
https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2020/apr/29/trump-erupts-at-campaign-team-as-his-poll-numbers-/

NEWSMAX
— Senior Chinese Official Slams Trump on Virus Response – Marisa Herman
https://www.newsmax.com/us/le-yucheng/2020/04/29/id/965175/

TOWNHALL
— Coronavirus Pandemic + Trump Derangement Syndrome = Bad Math – Larry Elder
https://townhall.com/columnists/larryelder/2020/04/30/coronavirus-pandemic–trump-derangement-syndrome–bad-math-n2567882

REAL CLEAR POLITICS
— Trump: Coronavirus “Should Have Never Happened, It Could Have Been Stopped But People Chose Not To” – Ian Schwartz
https://www.realclearpolitics.com/video/2020/04/29/trump_coronavirus_should_have_never_happened_it_could_have_been_stopped_but_people_chose_not.html

THE HILL
— Illinois state lawmaker Jason Plummer calls for US to not bail out his ‘corrupt’ state – REBECCA KLAR
https://thehill.com/homenews/state-watch/495374-illinois-state-lawmaker-calls-for-us-to-not-bail-out-his-corrupt-state
— Trump says China ‘will do anything they can’ to keep him from being reelected – REBECCA KLAR
https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/495393-trump-says-china-will-do-anything-they-can-to-keep-him-from-being
— Kushner predicts much of the country will be ‘back to normal’ in June – BRETT SAMUELS
https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/495212-kushner-predicts-much-of-the-country-will-be-back-to-normal-in-june
— Liability shield for businesses emerges as new fight over reopening – ALEX GANGITANO AND JOHN KRUZEL
https://thehill.com/business-a-lobbying/495288-liability-shield-businesses-new-fight-reopening

POLITICO
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: A Trump-hater says “Admit It: You Are Willing to Let People Die to End the Shutdown.”
https://www.politico.com/news/magazine/2020/04/30/coronavirus-shutdown-altitude-ethics-223569

CNN
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: A Trump-hater says “As Trump frets over sliding poll numbers, he doubles down on Fox-centric media strategy.”
https://www.cnn.com/2020/04/30/media/donald-trump-fox-news-reliable-sources/index.html
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: A Trump-hater says “Trump treats meatpacking workers as disposable.”
https://www.cnn.com/2020/04/29/opinions/trump-treats-meatpacking-workers-as-disposable-reyes/index.html
— 30 million Americans have filed initial unemployment claims since mid-March – Anneken Tappe
https://www.cnn.com/2020/04/30/economy/unemployment-benefits-coronavirus/index.html

ASSOCIATED PRESS
— Economists agree: No quick rebound from recession is likely – MARTIN CRUTSINGER
https://apnews.com/e0d04987133c2f48992b98ace0a1e846
— Wisconsin governor orders 5% cut in state spending
https://www.wearegreenbay.com/coronavirus/wisconsin-governor-orders-5-cut-in-state-spending/

REUTERS
— Trump says China wants him to lose his bid for re-election – Steve Holland
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-trump-china-exclusive/exclusive-trump-says-china-wants-him-to-lose-re-election-race-idUSKBN22C01F?il=0
— Trump says brushes off polls showing Biden leading presidential race – Steve Holland
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-trump-election-exclusive/exclusive-trump-says-he-does-not-believe-polls-that-show-biden-ahead-in-presidential-race-idUSKBN22C03K?il=0

NEW YORK TIMES
— Trump Administration Signals Support for Allies’ Fight Against Virus Orders – Lisa Lerer and Kenneth P. Vogel
https://www.nytimes.com/2020/04/29/us/politics/coronavirus-trump-justice-department.html

WASHINGTON POST
— Tammy Duckworth is Biden’s safest — and smartest — vice presidential pick – David Byler (DIERSEN: Duckworh has demonized, denigrated, and condemned Trump for avoiding the draft. How will Duckworth differentiate Biden’s avoiding the draft? Since 1966 when I was 18 years old, my critics/opponents, their operatives, and their dupes have demonized me, denigrated me, and condemned me for avoiding the draft.)
https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2020/04/29/tammy-duckworth-is-bidens-safest-smartest-vice-presidential-pick/
— Trump presented with grim internal polling showing him losing to Biden – Josh Dawsey
https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/trump-presented-with-grim-internal-polling-showing-him-losing-to-biden/2020/04/29/33544208-8a4e-11ea-9759-6d20ba0f2c0e_story.html
— 3.8 million Americans sought jobless benefits last week, extending pandemic’s grip on the national workforce More than 30 million Americans have filed for unemployment benefits in six weeks – Rachel Siegel and Andrew Van Dam
https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2020/04/30/weekly-jobless-claims-unemployment/
— Why Congress probably isn’t going to let states go bankrupt – Amber Phillips
https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2020/04/30/state-bankruptcy/

WALL STREET JOURNAL
— FRONT PAGE TOP OF FOLD: U.S. Economy Shrank at 4.8% Pace in First Quarter Gross domestic product recorded steepest contraction since the last recession – Harriet Torry
https://www.wsj.com/articles/first-quarter-gdp-us-growth-coronavirus-11588123665
— Partisan Fight Looms Over Voting by Mail Democrats, Republicans in Congress sharply differ over expanding mail balloting in November to ease coronavirus fears at polls – Lindsay Wise and Alexa Corse
https://www.wsj.com/articles/partisan-fight-looms-over-voting-by-mail-11588167903
— The Looming Civil-Liberties Battle The stage is set for a post-shutdown showdown between personal freedom and public health. – Joseph A. Ladapo
https://www.wsj.com/articles/the-looming-civil-liberties-battle-11588198523

FORBES
— ‘FREE AMERICA NOW’: Elon Musk Goes Full Lockdown Skeptic On Twitter – Rachel Sandler
https://www.forbes.com/sites/rachelsandler/2020/04/29/free-america-now-elon-musk-goes-full-lockdown-skeptic-on-twitter/
— Pension Bailout Or Bankruptcy? That’s Missing The Bigger Picture – Elizabeth Bauer
https://www.forbes.com/sites/ebauer/2020/04/28/pension-bailout-or-bankruptcy-thats-missing-the-bigger-picture/

NEWSWEEK
— PRO-TRUMP GROUP PLANS TO HOLD MAGA MAY DAY RALLIES ACROSS COUNTRY AMID PANDEMIC SHUTDOWNS – JAMES WALKER
https://www.newsweek.com/pro-trump-group-plans-maga-may-day-rallies-coronavirus-pandemic-1501112

FED WEEK
— Survey Sees Some Good Signs for Extending Careers (DIERSEN: Will the federal government extend its promotion deadlines? Currently, federal employees who are Republican, White, male, and/or non-veteran are gotten rid of if they do not make GS-13 (currently $101,176) by age 25, GS-14 (currently $119,559) by age 30, GS-15 (currently $140,634) by age 35, and Senior Executive Service (currently $170,800) by age 40. Extremely few federal employees make the aforesaid promotion deadlines.)
https://www.fedweek.com/retirement-financial-planning/survey-sees-some-good-signs-for-extending-careers/

DAILY BEAST
— Why Have Women’s Groups Gone Dead Silent on Biden Sex-Assault Accusation? In the wake of the #MeToo movement, prominent women came forward expressing regret they didn’t take allegations against then-President Bill Clinton seriously in the 1990s. – Scott Bixby and Hanna Trudo
https://www.thedailybeast.com/why-have-womens-groups-gone-dead-silent-on-biden-assault-accusation

GM AUTHORITY
— General Motors Burning Through $130 Million A Day, Financial Expert Says – SAM MCEACHERN
https://gmauthority.com/blog/2020/04/general-motors-burning-through-130-million-a-day-financial-expert-says/
— Corvette C8 Owner Discusses Buyer Demographics – SAM MCEACHERN
https://gmauthority.com/blog/2020/04/corvette-c8-owner-discusses-buyer-demographics-video/

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.