August 18 Evening Edition

ABC7
— Illinois COVID-19: IL reports 1,740 new coronavirus cases, 27 deaths Gov. Pritzker, IDPH announce new COVID-19 mitigation efforts take effect.
https://abc7chicago.com/health/illinois-reports-1740-new-coronavirus-cases-27-deaths/6376200/
— Vote by mail: US reps visit USPS Chicago HQ amid mail concerns
https://abc7chicago.com/politics/live-us-reps-visit-usps-chicago-hq-amid-mail-concerns/6375826/

FOX NEWS CHICAGO
— Minneapolis officer’s attorney alleges George Floyd overdosed on fentanyl, says charges should be dropped
https://www.fox32chicago.com/news/minneapolis-officers-attorney-alleges-george-floyd-overdosed-on-fentanyl-says-charges-should-be-dropped

CHICAGO TRIBUNE
— Lightfoot responds to President Trump’s criticism for raising Chicago bridges, says move protects Trump Tower – GREGORY PRATT
https://www.chicagotribune.com/politics/ct-lightfoot-trump-tower-security-20200818-glal7nxsavdnli7vlvnpw5lpoi-story.html
— Viral video claims people were caught on Chicago River bridge as it was being raised. City says they actually climbed up. – KATHERINE ROSENBERG-DOUGLAS
https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/breaking/ct-bridge-viral-video-chicago-20200818-m3b57tibffcdzphebcigi47avu-story.html
— Democratic National Convention ignores the elephant in the virtual room: Big-city violence – JOHN KASS
https://www.chicagotribune.com/columns/john-kass/ct-democratic-convention-big-city-violence-kass-20200818-co3qa2qj3zcwbn7xdegrssbcne-story.html
— 1,740 new known COVID-19 cases and 27 more deaths reported as Wisconsin removed from Chicago’s travel quarantine order
https://www.chicagotribune.com/coronavirus/ct-covid-19-pandemic-chicago-illinois-news-20200818-wqrey3g3nbfgjkfawliv5aelfa-story.html
— S&P 500 closes at a record, erasing last of pandemic losses – AP
https://www.chicagotribune.com/business/ct-biz-coronavirus-stock-market-sp-record-20200818-zuakyzgcdja3hercxxdzss7cn4-story.html
— Residents of liberal New York enclave see their values tested when homeless move into fancy hotel – DANIEL E. SLOTNIK (DIERSEN: What do you say to those who want to dump people who are the following into your county, into your county district, into your township, into your municipality, into your municipal district, into your precinct, and/or into your neighborhood: Trump-haters, Democrats, Libertarians, Greens, Independents, RINOs, liberals, moderates, homeless people, BLMers, LGBTers, minorities, females, young people, non-married people, non-Christians, non-Italian Americans, non-German Americans, those who have financial problems, those who have health problems, and/or those ancestors have not been in America for a long time?)
https://www.chicagotribune.com/coronavirus/ct-nw-nyt-homeless-hotels-liberal-neighborhood-new-york-20200818-5k5myysobngathfscstdotjs3e-story.html
— The ethics reforms Illinois needs: Remove Mike Madigan. Clean house. – Editorial
https://www.chicagotribune.com/opinion/editorials/ct-edit-madigan-step-down-corruption-comed-20200818-sy3jdruvo5dqfgnox4icytpxxy-story.html

CHICAGO SUN-TIMES
— Madigan proving the very real elephant in the virtual room for Illinois Democrats during convention Thorny questions about Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan have followed state party leaders to their virtual convention. – Mitchell Armentrout
https://chicago.suntimes.com/politics/2020/8/18/21374347/madigan-illinois-democratic-convention-comed-bribery-case-kelly-mendoza
— Dozens call for defunding of Chicago police at City Hall rally “The city of Chicago constantly prioritizes police over Black and Brown youth, especially in terms of funding,” said Destiny Harris, 19, of Austin. – Clare Proctor
https://chicago.suntimes.com/2020/8/18/21374102/defund-police-rally-city-hall-black-lives-matter
— Illinois Dem congressional delegation accuses Trump of trying to ‘sabotage’ the Postal Service “President Trump is attempting to gangster the Postal Service, to use it for his own political purposes,” U.S. Rep. Danny Davis said. – Stefano Esposito
https://chicago.suntimes.com/elections/2020/8/18/21373736/postal-service-mail-ballots-illinois-democratic-congressional-delegation-accuses-trump-sabotage
— Lightfoot warns of layoffs and furloughs without revenue replacement money from Congress “If we don’t get help from the federal government, we have nothing but bad choices, including looking at layoffs and looking at furloughs,” Lightfoot said during a “COVID and the Economy” panel at the virtual Democratic convention. – Fran Spielman
https://chicago.suntimes.com/city-hall/2020/8/18/21374039/democratic-convention-coronavirus-congress-stimulus-revenue-replacement-layoffs-furloughs
— FOP says ‘dozens’ of officers unfairly stripped of police powers since George Floyd’s death The complaint to the Illinois Labor Relations Board says sidelining cops during pending investigations should be done only if their actions are ‘going to lead to criminal charges or firing.’ – Fran Spielman
https://chicago.suntimes.com/city-hall/2020/8/18/21373660/chicago-police-union-fop-complaint-george-floyd-investigations-officers-stripped-powers
— Chicago has $2.7B shortage of infrastructure dollars, aldermen told Budget Director Susie Park and other city officials outlined the magnitude of the capital funding shortage for the City Council’s Committee on Capital and Economic Development on Tuesday. – Fran Spielman
https://chicago.suntimes.com/city-hall/2020/8/18/21374198/chicago-infrastructure-city-council-aldermen-construction-funding-shortfall
— 3 more charged in recent looting, including woman on bond for same crime One man allegedly said that once he was at the store, “he decided to do what everybody else was doing,” prosecutors said. – David Struett
https://chicago.suntimes.com/crime/2020/8/18/21374374/looting-charges-hermes-brunello-cucinelli
— Illinois reports 1,740 new COVID-19 cases — and highest daily rate of positive test results in two and half months The state has reported four-digit caseloads of COVID-19 for four straight weeks. – Mitchell Armentrout
https://chicago.suntimes.com/politics/2020/8/18/21374180/illinois-covid-testing-positivity-increase-pritzker-cases-deaths-august-18
— Navy Pier to close until next spring as crowds dwindle amid COVID-19 pandemic The lakefront tourist attraction will shut down Sept. 8. The clout-heavy not-for-profit that runs it got nearly $2.5 million in federal coronavirus stimulus money. – David Roeder
https://chicago.suntimes.com/business/2020/8/18/21373710/chicago-navy-pier-close-covid-coronavirus-tourism-shakespeare-theater
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: Hate-filled Trump-hating Trump-haters promote hatred against Trump.
https://chicago.suntimes.com/2020/8/18/21373201/democratic-national-convention-dnc-2020-obama-unity-trump-oskosh-guns-immigration
— ‘Never have we seen the kind of vitriol and anger’ that police are enduring now: Illinois FOP Recent protests have shown a sharp increase in radical actors whose goals center more on destroying property and injuring innocent citizens and police than on enacting social change. – Chris Southwood
https://chicago.suntimes.com/2020/8/18/21373993/police-brutality-protests-illinois-fraternal-order-of-police-social-unrest-justice-reform-op-ed

DAILY HERALD
— Illinois records highest single-day positivity rate since June 5 – Jake Griffin
https://www.dailyherald.com/news/20200818/illinois-records-highest-single-day-positivity-rate-since-june-5
— Counties installing secure boxes for dropped-off ballots ahead of election – Russell Lissau
https://www.dailyherald.com/news/20200818/counties-installing-secure-boxes-for-dropped-off-ballots-ahead-of-election

NORTHWEST HERALD
— Former Gov. Blagojevich to headline fundraiser in St. Charles for GOP State Senate candidate
https://www.nwherald.com/2020/08/18/former-gov-blagojevich-to-headline-fundraiser-in-st-charles-for-gop-state-senate-candidate/aslbhi0/

DUPAGE POLICY JOURNAL
— Mazzochi bill targets Madigan, corruption as she urges others to say ‘Take a hike, Mike’ – Glenn Minnis
https://dupagepolicyjournal.com/stories/545746705-mazzochi-bill-targets-madigan-corruption-as-she-urges-others-to-say-take-a-hike-mike

CAPITOL FAX
— 15 Democratic state legislators issue statement condemning “lawless” protesters, supporting CPD
https://capitolfax.com/2020/08/18/15-democratic-state-legislators-issue-statement-condemning-lawless-protesters-supporting-cpd/
— 1,740 new cases, 27 additional deaths, 1,510 in hospitals, 4.3 percent positivity rate
https://capitolfax.com/2020/08/18/1740-new-cases-27-additional-deaths-1510-in-hospitals-43-percent-positivity-rate/

WASHINGTON TIMES
— How toxic sanctuary laws are ruining America’s suburbs – Dale Wilcox
https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2020/aug/18/how-toxic-sanctuary-laws-are-ruining-americas-subu/

BREITBART
— Chicago Mayor Lightfoot: ‘Reckoning’ Seen in Chicago ‘an Incredible Moment in Our Civic History’ – TRENT BAKER
https://www.breitbart.com/clips/2020/08/18/chicago-mayor-lightfoot-reckoning-seen-in-chicago-other-cities-an-incredible-moment-in-our-civic-history/
— AOC Slams John Kasich: Someone Who ‘Fights Against Women’s Rights’ Cannot Speak for Democrats – Penny Starr
https://www.breitbart.com/2020-election/2020/08/18/aoc-slams-john-kasich-someone-who-fights-against-womens-rights-cannot-speak-for-democrats/

NEWSMAX
— Is the The Ivy League Guilty of Progressive Racism? – Patrick Buchanan
https://www.newsmax.com/patrickbuchanan/asian-connerly-conservatives-yale/2020/08/18/id/982649/
— Blagojevich to Newsmax TV: I Don’t Recognize Democratic Party – Brian Trusdell
https://www.newsmax.com/newsmax-tv/blagojevich-democrats-recognize-socialism/2020/08/18/id/982800/

NEWS BUSTERS
— New York Times Blind to Racial Bias at Yale – Clay Waters
https://www.newsbusters.org/blogs/nb/clay-waters/2020/08/18/galling-new-york-times-blind-racial-bias-yale-sees-it-improv-and

RUSH LIMBAUGH
— Thank Liberals for the Rolling Blackouts in California
https://www.rushlimbaugh.com/daily/2020/08/18/thank-liberals-for-the-rolling-blackouts-in-california/

LIFE NEWS
— Facebook and Twitter Censor Hundreds of Conservative Users Before Joe Biden’s Nomination – CORINNE WEAVER
https://www.lifenews.com/2020/08/18/facebook-and-twitter-censor-hundreds-of-conservative-users-before-joe-bidens-nomination/

THE HILL
— Democrats’ platform is built with a lot of ‘We hate Trump’ planks – BERNARD GOLDBERG
https://thehill.com/opinion/white-house/512551-democrats-platform-is-built-with-a-lot-of-we-hate-trump-planks
— Five things to know on the Democratic platform – JONATHAN EASLEY, CRISTINA MARCOS AND MIKE LILLIS
https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/512404-five-things-to-know-on-the-democratic-platform

POLITICO
— Postal Service cuts imperil ladder to middle class for many Black Americans – ELEANOR MUELLER and KELLIE MEJDRICH (DIERSEN: Since 1966 when I was 18 years old, my critics/opponents, their operatives, and their dupes have always hinted/implied/argued/shouted a) that instead of me, the Post Office should have hired a Black American in 1966 and b) that the Post Office should gotten rid of me much sooner than it did so that a Black American could have my job.)
https://www.politico.com/news/2020/08/18/postal-service-cuts-imperil-ladder-to-middle-class-for-many-black-americans-398190
(FROM THE ARTICLE: That ticket to economic security could be in jeopardy now. If President Donald Trump and Congress fail to resolve their fight over Postal Service funding, it won’t just put the agency’s financial future at risk. It could imperil one of the country’s longest-running and most reliable civil service jobs, potentially forcing steep cuts to an estimated 669,000-person workforce that is more than one-quarter Black — a rate more than double that of the national labor force. The sheer reach of the post office in all 50 states combined with the federal government’s anti-discrimination policies have made employment there more accessible than most industries to generations of Black workers. The agency’s pay and benefits often allowed them to share in the American Dream even when racial discrimination was everywhere in the country. A unionized postal worker can make as much as $75,000 a year, well above the national average income.)

REUTERS
— Trump: ‘suburban’ Americans don’t want low-income housing foisted on them
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-election-trump-suberbs/trump-suburban-americans-dont-want-low-income-housing-foisted-on-them-idUSKCN25E1X4

FORBES
— The Billionaires Backing Joe Biden’s Campaign – Michela Tindera
https://www3.forbes.com/business/the-billionaires-backing-joe-bidens-campaign-vue/

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.