ABC7
— Illinois COVID cases: IL reports 20,804 new cases, 96 deaths
https://abc7chicago.com/illinois-covid-testing-cases-test/11397924/
NBC5
— 50 New Illinois Laws Going Into Effect in 2022
https://www.nbcchicago.com/news/local/chicago-politics/50-new-illinois-laws-going-into-effect-in-2022/2716370/
— Illinois Among 5 States Where Pediatric Hospitalizations Are Rising Most
https://www.nbcchicago.com/news/local/illinois-among-5-states-where-pediatric-hospitalizations-are-rising-most-analysis/2716688/
FOX32
— Illinois lost 122,000 residents in 2021 — largest decline in state history
https://www.fox32chicago.com/news/illinois-lost-122000-residents-in-2021-largest-decline-in-state-history
— Burr Ridge, Orland Park will defy Cook County’s new COVID mandate requiring proof of vaccination
https://www.fox32chicago.com/news/burr-ridge-orland-park-will-defy-cook-countys-new-covid-mandate-requiring-proof-of-vaccination
CHICAGO TRIBUNE
— Illinois sets another grim COVID-19 record: Highest average daily case count since start of pandemic – JEREMY GORNER and JOE MAHR
https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/breaking/ct-covid-illinois-chicago-spike-20211228-ky7j3c4qx5agje7n5ufg6estqq-story.html
— Minimum wage bump coming, Juneteenth to become a state holiday: Here are the new laws taking effect Jan. 1 in Illinois – DAN PETRELLA and JEREMY GORNER
https://www.chicagotribune.com/politics/ct-illinois-new-laws-2022-20211228-mt5petesyngj7p6zphqizhcpm4-story.html
— My college students seem to have lost their drive to engage. The pandemic has wounded all of us. – DAVID W. BERNER
https://www.chicagotribune.com/opinion/commentary/ct-opinion-education-pandemic-pause-20211228-t25dz5gkinebpna2w7e7ymuyze-story.html
DAILY HERALD
— New COVID-19 cases top 20,000 for second time this week, for a 15% positive-test rate – Jake Griffin
https://www.dailyherald.com/news/20211228/new-covid-19-cases-top-20000-for-second-time-this-week-for-a-15-positive-test-rate
— DISGUSTING, OUTRAGEOUS, TRAGIC, UNACCEPTABLE: Pot pushers push pot. To push pot on an individual, municipality, township, county, state, or country is to destroy that individual, municipality, township, county, state, or country.
https://www.dailyherald.com/business/20211228/marijuana-dispensary-opens-near-aurora-outlet-mall
— Northern Illinois Food Bank awards $454,000 in grants to 18 pantries – Rick West
https://www.dailyherald.com/news/20211228/northern-illinois-food-bank-awards-454000-in-grants-to-18-pantries
BELLEVILLE NEWS DEMOCRAT
— If you steal something, you must report it as income, IRS says. – BAILEY ALDRIDGE
https://www.bnd.com/news/nation-world/national/article256887637.html
RANDOLPH COUNTY HERALD TRIBUNE
— State Rep. Friess launches campaign for reelection
https://www.randolphcountyheraldtribune.com/news/20211228/state-rep-friess-launches-campaign-for-reelection
NAPERVILLE PATCH
— Coronavirus Cases Surge In Naperville Ahead Of New Year. Total active COVID-19 cases in Naperville increased by more than 50 percent in the past week, according to the county health department. – Lisa Marie Farver
https://patch.com/illinois/naperville/coronavirus-cases-surge-naperville-ahead-new-year
WHEATON PATCH
— Coronavirus Cases Surge In Wheaton Ahead Of New Year. The week’s total active COVID-19 cases in Wheaton nearly doubled compared to the previous week, according to the county health department. – Lisa Marie Farver
https://patch.com/illinois/wheaton/coronavirus-cases-surge-wheaton-ahead-new-year
ORLAND PARK PATCH
— Orland Park Board To Introduce Resolution Against Vax Mandate. Mayor Keith Pekau is set to discuss a resolution stating the village board will not enforce the new mandate, according to board documents. – Eileen O’Gorman
https://patch.com/illinois/orlandpark/orland-park-board-introduce-resolution-against-vax-mandate
BURR RIDGE PATCH
— Burr Ridge Won’t Enforce Vaccine Mandate. Mayor Gary Grasso’s position appears to be linked to his GOP congressional campaign. – David Giuliani
https://patch.com/illinois/burrridge/burr-ridge-wont-enforce-vaccine-mandate
WASHINGTON TIMES
— Critical race theory takes aim at immigration law – Stephen Dinan
https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2021/dec/28/critical-race-theory-takes-aim-immigration-law/
— ‘The View’ ‘struggling’ to fix Republican-free lineup – Jennifer Harper
https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2021/dec/28/inside-beltway-view-struggling-fix-republican-free/
WASHINGTON EXAMINER
— DeSantis takes action against communist China and ‘woke corporations’ – Heather Hamilton
https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/desantis-takes-action-against-communist-china-and-woke-corporations
— TikTok knocks Google out of first place for most popular website – Heather Hamilton
https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/tiktok-knocks-google-out-of-first-place-for-most-popular-website
NEW YORK POST
— ‘You’re a disgrace’: Chicago 911 dispatcher slams mayor over surge in crime – Jorge Fitz-Gibbon
https://nypost.com/2021/12/28/chicago-911-dispatcher-slams-mayor-over-surge-in-crime/
FOX NEWS
— ‘The Ingraham Angle’ on Biden’s COVID ‘fear-mongering,’ green energy agenda
https://www.foxnews.com/transcript/the-ingraham-angle-bidens-covid-fear-mongering-green-energy-agenda
— ‘Hannity’ on Biden’s mishandling of COVID, Chicago violence
https://www.foxnews.com/transcript/hannity-on-the-mishandling-of-the-covid-pandemic-by-the-biden-administration-and-their-real-objective
AMERICAN THINKER
— The hunt for a GOP punching bag to succeed Meghan McCain on ‘The View’ isn’t going well – Monica Showalter
https://www.americanthinker.com/blog/2021/12/the_hunt_for_a_gop_punching_bag_to_staff_the_view_isnt_going_well.html
BREITBART
— Victor Davis Hanson: Elites Are Destroying America with Globalism, Leftism, and Tribalism – ROBERT KRAYCHIK
https://www.breitbart.com/clips/2021/12/28/exclusive-victor-davis-hanson-elites-are-destroying-america-with-globalism-leftism-and-tribalism/
DAILY CALLER
— Meghan McCain Warns Democrats About Becoming Party That Believes Parents Shouldn’t ‘Have Any Say’ In What Kids Are Taught – KATIE JERKOVICH
https://dailycaller.com/2021/12/27/meghan-mccain-democrats-parents-homeschooling/
— MSNBC Panel Calls ‘Let’s Go Brandon’ Dad An Insurrectionist, Suggests CIA Investigation – SHAKHZOD YULDOSHBOEV
https://dailycaller.com/2021/12/28/msnbc-nicole-wallace-lets-go-brandon-jared-schmeck-insurrectionist/
FEDERALIST
— Nikole Hannah-Jones Says What The Rest Of The Left Won’t Admit Out Loud – TRISTAN JUSTICE
https://thefederalist.com/2021/12/28/nikole-hannah-jones-says-what-the-rest-of-the-left-wont-admit-out-loud/
NEWSMAX
— Florida Leads Nation in Migration, Immigration Growth – Charlie McCarthy
https://www.newsmax.com/us/florida-us-population-migration/2021/12/28/id/1050169/
PJ MEDIA
— Racist Minnesota School Board Votes to Segregate Minority Teachers, Pay People Less Based on Skin Color. – KEVIN DOWNEY JR.
https://pjmedia.com/news-and-politics/kevindowneyjr/2021/12/28/racist-school-board-votes-to-segregate-minority-teachers-pay-people-less-based-on-skin-color-n1544961
NEW AMERICAN
— “Ghost Flights” Flew Illegal Aliens into Pennsylvania on Christmas Night – Luis Miguel
https://thenewamerican.com/ghost-flights-flew-illegal-aliens-into-pennsylvania-on-christmas-night/
POST MILLENNIAL
— CNN, MSNBC ratings PLUMMET as Americans turn their backs on woke, liberal media. News networks have experienced a drastic dip in viewership in 2021, with left-leaning outlets faring the worst. – Hannah Nightingale
https://thepostmillennial.com/cnn-msnbc-ratings-plummet-as-americans-turn-their-backs-on-liberal-woke-media
EPOCH TIMES
— Report Puts Fauci’s Retirement at $350K Per Year, Biggest in US Government Pension History – Mark Tapscott
https://www.theepochtimes.com/report-puts-faucis-retirement-at-350k-per-year-biggest-in-us-government-pension-history_4181919.html
— Finland Man Blows Up His Tesla After Claiming to Face $22,000 Replacement Battery Bill – Katabella Roberts
https://www.theepochtimes.com/finland-man-blows-up-his-tesla-car-after-facing-22000-replacement-battery-bill_4176175.html
WESTERN JOURNAL
— GOP Finally Moves to Brutally Punish Cities, States That Allow Noncitizens to Vote – Samantha Chang
https://www.westernjournal.com/gop-finally-moves-brutally-punish-cities-states-allow-noncitizens-vote/
INDEPENDENT JOURNAL REVIEW
— Candace Owens on Trump’s Vaccine Comments: People Are Forgetting Where Trump Gets His News – Elizabeth Stauffer (COMMENT: My critics/opponents want everyone to get their government and political news and commentary from them, and from them only. I should write a book about my critics/opponents.)
https://ijr.com/owens-trumps-vaccine-comments-people-forgetting-trump-gets-his-news/
THE HILL
— Marjorie Taylor Greene calls Kwanzaa ‘a fake religion created by a psychopath’ “Stop. It’s a fake religion.” – Jenna Romaine
https://thehill.com/changing-america/respect/diversity-inclusion/587464-marjorie-taylor-greene-calls-kwanzaa-a-fake
— Rep. Bobby Rush tests positive in breakthrough case. – JOSEPH CHOI
https://thehill.com/homenews/587461-rep-bobby-rush-tests-positive-in-breakthrough-case
— Pentagon goes on offense vs GOP on vaccine mandates – ELLEN MITCHELL
https://thehill.com/policy/defense/587414-pentagon-goes-on-offense-vs-gop-on-vaccine-mandates
POLITICO
— Which 2024 Candidates Won 2021? This time, it’s actually not too early to game out the next presidential contest. The potential contenders are already maneuvering. – BILL SCHER
https://www.politico.com/news/magazine/2021/12/28/which-2024-candidates-won-2021-525749
FORBES
— Dr. Anthony Fauci’s Retirement Pay Will Exceed $350,000 Per Year – The Largest In U.S. Federal Government History – Adam Andrzejewski (COMMENT: In 1997, when I was 49 years old, my GS-13 Step 10 GAO salary was $132,845/year in today’s dollars. My Civil Service Retirement System pension is only $54,864/year today a) because my Democrat Post Office superiors forced me to resign in 1969 when I was 20 years old, b) because my Democrat IRS superiors refused to promote me beyond GS-12, c) because my Democrat GAO superiors refused to promote me beyond GS-13, and d) because my Democrat GAO superiors forced me to take their early retirement “offer” in 1997 when I was 49 years old and had worked for the federal government for almost 30 years and had almost a year of unused sick leave. Generally, you reach the 80% limitation when you have worked for the federal government for 42 years not including accumulated sick leave; that would have been 2010 for me. 80% of GS-13 Step 10 salary is $106,276/year. 80% of GS-14 Step 10 salary is $125,583/year. 80% of GS-15 Step 10 salary and Senior Executive Service salary is $138,000/year.)
https://www.forbes.com/sites/adamandrzejewski/2021/12/28/dr-anthony-faucis-retirement-pay-will-exceed-350000-per-year–the-largest-in-us-federal-government-history/
(FROM THE ARTICLE: Fauci has 55 years of service as a federal employee. For the second year in a row, Fauci was the most highly compensated federal employee and out earned the president, four star generals, and roughly 4.3 million of his colleagues. As director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), Fauci earned $434,312 in 2020, the latest year available, up from $417,608 in 2019. . .Federal employees with Fauci’s length of service can retire to earn “80 percent of [their] high-3 average salary, plus credit for [their] sick leave,” according to the U.S. Office of Personnel Management. . .So, at this point, we can use only the last three published years of his salary — 2018: $399,625; 2019: $417,608; and 2020: $434,312 — to calculate his potential retirement earnings. Dr. Fauci earned a total of $1.252 million from 2018-2020 in salary as a federal employee. If he’d left federal service at the end of FY2020, figuring 80% of his highest three-year average, would mean a federal pension of $333,745 a year, plus cost-of-living increases (($1,251,545/3) x 80% = $333,745). However, Fauci’s unpublished FY2021 and FY2022 salaries are likely commensurate, if not higher than his 2020 salary. Therefore, his retirement pay would be closer to $347,500 a year. (($1,302,936/3) x 80%).
OPM
— SALARY TABLE 2022-CHI (COMMENT: In 2022 dollars, I earned a) $136,387/year working for GAO in 1997, b) $104,915/year working for GAO in 1986, c) $99,994/year working for IRS in 1980, d) $88,229/year working for IRS in 1974, e) $73,611/year working for IRS in 1973, f) $60,840/year working for IRS in 1972, g) $49,738/year working for IRS in 1971, h) $18.40/hour working for the Post Office in 1969, and $17.25/hour working for the Post Office in 1966. My 2022 Civil Service Retirement System pension will be $58,101/year. That is a) $2,739/year less than what my IRS salary was in 1972 in today’s dollars and b) only 43% what my GAO salary was in 1997 in today’s dollars.)
https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/pay-leave/salaries-wages/salary-tables/pdf/2022/CHI.pdf
FEDERAL NEWS NETWORK
— Is 2022 the start of big time inflation? – Mike Causey
https://federalnewsnetwork.com/mike-causey-federal-report/2021/12/is-2022-the-start-of-big-time-inflation/
CENTER FOR PUBLIC INTEGRITY
— MAY 19, 2014 FLASHBACK: A wealth of advice. Nearly $2 billion flowed through consultants in 2003-2004 federal elections. – Sandy Bergo (COMMENT: I should write a book about Republican candidates on ballots in my precinct since 2000 who have acted like they took advice from my critics/opponents a) to not read my GOPUSA ILLINOIS newsletters and b) to blame me and my newsletters for all their problems, for all your problems, for all my problems, and for all of everyone’s problems. Previously, my critics/opponents blamed what I did raising funds from DuPage County Republicans so that they could help sponsor Wheaton’s Independence Day parades and fireworks 2005-2019 and my serving as a) the TAPROOT Republicans of Illinois chairman 2005-2012, b) a Wheaton Chamber of Commerce Government Affairs Committee member 2003-2011, c) the Milton Township Republican Organization webmaster 2008-2010, d) an Illinois Center Right Coalition Steering Committee member 2003-2007, and e) an American Association of Political Consultants Midwest Chapter board member 2000-2004.)
https://publicintegrity.org/politics/elections/campaign-consultants/a-wealth-of-advice/
(FROM THE ARTICLE: In the 2004 federal races, more than $1.85 billion flowed through a professional corps of consultants whose influence plays an important, though largely unexamined, role in the unrelenting escalation of campaign spending, a groundbreaking Center for Public Integrity study has found. The money going to these consultants amounted to more than half of the total spending by presidential candidates, national party committees, general election candidates for Congress, and so-called “527”s — independent political groups. The high cost of running for office raises concerns because fundraising demands can ultimately bind elected officials to special interest donors and lobbyists who help with fundraising — deepening the widely held perception that politicians serve the interests of large contributors over those of constituents. Potential candidates who can’t meet the fundraising demands are shut out.)
CAMPAIGNS & ELECTIONS
— How to Give Political Email Readers What They Want – Mindy Serin
https://campaignsandelections.com/campaigntech/how-to-give-political-email-readers-what-they-want/
— 7 Ways to Improve Your Next Campaign Plan – Caitlin Huxley
https://campaignsandelections.com/industry-news/7-ways-to-improve-your-next-campaign-plan/
— 4 Common Campaign Myths About Investing Early in Research – Brent Buchanan, Ethan Todd
https://campaignsandelections.com/industry-news/4-common-campaign-myths-about-investing-early-in-research/
RASMUSSEN REPORTS
— Rating President Biden on the Issues. Most Voters Give Biden ‘Poor’ Rating on Crime, Immigration
https://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/biden_administration/rating_president_biden_on_the_issues_dec28
