December 30 Evening Edition

ABC7

— Illinois COVID cases: IL reports record-high 30,386 new cases, 87 deaths. IL adopts CDC quarantine guidelines.
https://abc7chicago.com/illinois-covid-testing-cases-test/11406919/
— Woman beaten, robbed by 8 people on Lakeview sidewalk; 2nd group robbery reported at CTA Red Line. Chicago police warn of 20 other similar crimes in Lakeview, Lincoln Park over last 2 months. – Liz Nagy
https://abc7chicago.com/lakeview-chicago-crime-robbery-muggings/11404648/
— Woman shot outside Hilton Chicago/Oak Brook Hills Resort & Conference Center in Westmont. Suspect fled the scene and is not in custody, Westmont spokesperson says.
https://abc7chicago.com/hilton-chicago-oak-brook-hills-resort-conference-center-shooting-hotel-westmont/11404826/
— Illinois using SMART health card with personal vaccine QR code to prove you’re vaccinated – Mark Rivera
https://abc7chicago.com/illinois-vaccine-qr-code-smart-health-card-vax-verify-vaccination/11407825/

NBC5
— Illinois Obliterates Daily COVID Record, With More Than 30K New Cases in Single Day
https://www.nbcchicago.com/news/coronavirus/illinois-obliterates-daily-covid-record-with-more-than-30k-new-cases-in-single-day/2718252/

FOX32
— Illinois launches Vax Verify system to confirm vaccination status for residents
https://www.fox32chicago.com/video/1018080

WGN RADIO
— DuPage County State’s Attorney Robert Berlin: Self-defense not a viable argument for Oakbrook Center shooters
https://wgnradio.com/john-williams/dupage-county-states-attorney-robert-berlin-self-defense-not-a-viable-argument-for-oak-brook-shopping-center-shooters/

CHICAGO SUN-TIMES
— Federal court dismisses lawsuits sought to fight state redistricting map. The suits, brought by state Republicans, the Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund (MALDEF), and the East St. Louis Branch of the NAACP, argued that the redistricting map passed by the Democrats last summer disenfranchised minority voters in some districts. – Matthew Hendrickson
https://chicago.suntimes.com/metro-state/2021/12/30/22860312/federal-court-dismisses-lawsuits-illinois-republicans-2-others-redistricting-map-fight
— Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton tests positive for COVID-19. The lieutenant governor, who was fully vaccinated and boosted, had only mild symptoms Thursday. – Mitchell Armentrout
https://chicago.suntimes.com/coronavirus/2021/12/30/22860002/juliana-stratton-tests-positive-covid-illinois-lt-gov-coronavirus
— State lawmakers slash January legislative session due to COVID-19 surge. Lawmakers will meet for just one day in Springfield as the state sees its highest coronavirus caseloads of the pandemic. – Mitchell Armentrout
https://chicago.suntimes.com/2021/12/30/22859948/illinois-capitol-springfield-legislative-session-canceled-covid-january
— Illinois obliterates daily COVID-19 case record with more than 30K positive tests. With cases, hospitalizations and deaths rising rapidly, officials are urging more residents to get vaccinated and boosted. – Mitchell Armentrout
https://chicago.suntimes.com/coronavirus/2021/12/30/22860227/illinois-coronavirus-record-high-cases-30000-covid-omicron-vaccine-chicago

CHICAGO TRIBUNE
— Amid record-breaking COVID-19 spike, Illinois driver’s license facilities will temporarily close; lieutenant governor infected – JEREMY GORNER
https://www.chicagotribune.com/politics/ct-illinois-covid-lieutenant-governor-stratton-20211230-f5qorea7xjgshezyem2rui72i4-story.html
— Food pantries have worked overtime to meet demand. Our neighbors still need our help. – KELLIE O’CONNELL
(COMMENT: Soon, under the Democrats and under the RINOs, everyone in America will be a) handing out welfare and/or b) collecting welfare.)
https://www.chicagotribune.com/opinion/commentary/ct-opinion-food-pantries-chicago-need-20211229-2gstmyex5rczrmigiuwqntddbe-story.html
— OUTRAGEOUS, DISGUSTING, 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.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/aurora-beacon-news/ct-abn-aurora-marijuana-st-1231-20211230-2olhqzn2b5bcbajqg7n5efwinu-story.html
— Federal court panel upholds Democratic-drawn state legislative districts – RICK PEARSON
https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-illinois-legislative-map-ruling-democrats-20211230-ol5cmwt5kff6bljqewlc4f64fi-story.html
— Gov. Pritzker urges hospitals to halt nonemergency surgeries amid record-breaking COVID-19 spike; lieutenant governor infected and driver’s facilities to close – JEREMY GORNER
https://www.chicagotribune.com/politics/ct-illinois-covid-lieutenant-governor-stratton-20211230-f5qorea7xjgshezyem2rui72i4-story.html

DAILY HERALD
— Opioid task force to get $200K from DuPage County, where such overdoses are up 17% – Katlyn Smith
https://www.dailyherald.com/news/20211230/opioid-task-force-to-get-200k-from-dupage-county-where-such-overdoses-are-up-17
— Illinois records 30,386 new COVID-19 cases, most ever in one day – Jake Griffin
https://www.dailyherald.com/news/20211230/illinois-records-30386-new-covid-19-cases-most-ever-in-one-day

CRAIN’S CHICAGO BUSINESS
— Court upholds new Illinois legislative maps. A federal court rejected complaints from Republicans and Black and Latino groups that the remap plan is unfair. Barring a long-shot appeal, the new maps will be in place for 2022 elections. – GREG HINZ
https://www.chicagobusiness.com/greg-hinz-politics/illinois-legislative-maps-upheld-federal-court

SPRINGFIELD STATE JOURNAL REGISTER
— COVID-19 delays start of 2022 General Assembly; drafting a state budget remains a priority – Dean Olsen
https://www.sj-r.com/story/news/2021/12/30/covid-affects-start-illinois-2022-general-assembly/9022002002/
— Replacement for outgoing Legislative Inspector General Carol Pope remains uncertain – Dean Olsen
https://www.sj-r.com/story/news/state/2021/12/30/illinois-commission-deadlocked-replacement-inspector-general/9054296002/

ALTON TELEGRAPH
— Madison County crafting 500-plus ballot styles for June – Scott Cousins,
https://www.thetelegraph.com/news/article/County-gearing-up-for-a-late-primary-election-16732336.php

OUR QUAD CITIES
— Five-term Congressman Rodney Davis works to meet people in new 35-county district, including the QC area – Jonathan Turner
https://www.ourquadcities.com/news/local-news/five-term-congressman-works-to-meet-people-in-new-35-county-district-including-the-qc-area/

WAND TV
— COMMENT: Ever-increasingly, Democrats encourage children to be LGBTQers.
https://www.wandtv.com/news/state-releases-guidance-to-protect-transgender-nonbinary-gender-non-conforming-students/article_019dad66-698c-11ec-a87a-6729b32dd6dd.html

KANE COUNTY CONNECTS
— OMICRON SURGE ‘UNLIKE ANYTHING WE’VE SEEN’; 30,386 ILLINOIS CASES, 1,130 IN KANE; 5,689 IN ILLINOIS HOSPITALS Omicron Surge ‘Unlike Anything We’ve Seen’; U.S. Children Hospitalized in Record Numbers; At-Home Tests Less Sensitive To Omicron.
https://kanecountyconnects.com/2021/12/covid-19-update-omicron-surge-unlike-anything-weve-seen-30386-illinois-cases-1130-in-kane-5689-in-illinois-hospitals/

LAKE & MCHENRY COUNTY SCANNER
— Federal court delays new law that will prohibit Illinois jails from housing ICE detainees amid lawsuit appeal. – Sam Borcia
https://www.lakemchenryscanner.com/2021/12/30/federal-court-delays-new-law-that-will-prohibit-illinois-jails-from-housing-ice-detainees-following-lawsuit/

DUPAGE POLICY JOURNAL
— Ives compares Lightfoot to ‘Mrs. O’Leary’s cow’ following new vaccine mandate – Solange DeLisle
https://dupagepolicyjournal.com/stories/616563020-ives-compares-lightfoot-to-mrs-o-leary-s-cow-following-new-vaccine-mandate

WASHINGTON TIMES
— Conservatives blast AMA’s woke advice on how medical professionals should talk about race – Kery Murakami
https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2021/dec/30/conservatives-warn-dangers-medical-associations-wo/

WASHINGTON EXAMINER
— US maintains high death rate due to COVID-19 despite lockdowns, mask mandates, and vaccines – Cassidy Morrison
https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/us-maintains-high-death-rate-due-to-covid-19-despite-lockdowns-mask-mandates-and-vaccines

FOX NEWS
— Trump will get GOP’s 2024 nomination if he wants it, Lindsey Graham says – Dom Calicchio
https://sports.yahoo.com/trump-gop-apos-2024-nomination-100252204.html

BREITBART
— Facebook Censors Thomas Paine Quote as ‘False Information’ – THOMAS D. WILLIAMS, PH.D.
https://www.breitbart.com/the-media/2021/12/30/report-facebook-censors-thomas-paine-quote-as-false-information/

THE HILL
— Nearly three-quarters of GOP doubt legitimacy of Biden’s win: poll – MAX GREENWOOD
(COMMENT: Democrats are moral relativists who believe that their end justifies their means.)
https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/587700-nearly-three-quarters-of-gop-doubt-legitimacy-of-bidens-win-poll

WASHINGTON POST
— Can the IRS Be Trusted With Your Data? – Stephen L. Carter
(COMMENT: In 1978, Money Magazine published a 4-page article about my wife and I. The article reads like Money Magazine took advice from my Democrat IRS superiors on how to paint my education deductions as being improper. The article hints/implies/argues/shouts that the graduate business courses that I took at Loyola 1972-1976 and the graduate accounting courses that I took at DePaul 1976-1980 a) did not relate to my job duties, b) did not maintain or improve my job skills, c) were taken by me to get a job in the private sector, d) were taken by me to qualify me for a “new trade or business,” and e) were a distraction. Money Magazine and IRS would not have done that if I had been a Democrat, minority, female, and/or veteran.)
https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/can-the-irs-be-trusted-with-your-data/2021/12/30/c8ad5c76-697d-11ec-9390-eae241f4c8b1_story.html

WALL STREET JOURNAL
— Accept that you’ll likely spend more money in 2022 than you did in 2021. – Julia Carpenter
https://www.wsj.com/articles/consider-this-your-permission-to-spend-more-in-2022-11640821151

BUSINESS INSIDER
— After the Facebook whistleblower came forward, the company reportedly tried to discredit her reputation among politicians – Ben Gilbert
(COMMENT: I should write a book about those who discredit me with Republican politicians. I would focus on a) past and present leaders of the Illinois Republican Party, DuPage County Republican Central Committee, and Milton Township Republican Organization, b) past and present Republican leaders of Illinois, DuPage County, Milton Township, Wheaton, Wheaton Park District, and Wheaton Chamber of Commerce, c) past leaders of TAPROOT Republicans of Illinois, Illinois Center Right Coalition, and American Association of Political Consultants Midwest Chapter, d) past and present conservative and religious leaders, e) Republican candidates on ballots in my precinct, their political consultants, major donors, fundraisers, pollsters, campaign managers, campaign staff members, and campaign volunteers, and g) those who I have sued. I would focus on those who destroy those like me who they cannot manipulate or dominate, who refuse to glorify and praise them, who refuse to pander to them, who refuse to serve as one of their operatives or dupes, who refuse to cover up their wrongdoing, and/or who refuse to give them money. I would focus on those who blame me and blame my GOPUSA ILLINOIS newsletters for their problems, for your problems, for my problems, and for everyone’s problems. I would focus on those who hint/imply/argue/shout that they disapprove of those who share my demographics.)
https://news.yahoo.com/facebook-whistleblower-came-forward-company-185147003.html

TIMES NEWS EXPRESS
— Texas Rep. Dan Crenshaw calls House Freedom Caucus members ‘grifters’
https://timesnewsexpress.com/news/newsusa/texas-rep-dan-crenshaw-calls-house-freedom-caucus-members-grifters/

NEWSWEEK
— Just 21 Percent of Republicans Say Biden ‘Probably’ or ‘Definitely’ Won in 2020: Poll – JASON LEMON
https://www.newsweek.com/just-21-percent-republicans-say-biden-probably-definitely-won-2020-poll-1664390
— Republican Adam Kinzinger Rips Trump ‘Lies’ After He Makes Statement About 1/6 Committee – JASON LEMON
https://www.newsweek.com/republican-adam-kinzinger-rips-trump-lies-after-he-makes-statement-about-1-6-committee-1664458

NEW YORK MAGAZINE
— Why The View Is Struggling to Find a New Token Conservative – Eric Levitz
https://nymag.com/intelligencer/2021/12/why-the-view-is-struggling-to-find-a-new-token-conservative.html

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.