May 1 Morning Edition

ABC7
— Illinois face mask order starts Friday, groups scramble to distribute masks to those in need
https://abc7chicago.com/coronavirus-illinois-face-mask-chicago/6141574/
— Illinois unemployment claims spike to 830K statewide as IDES scrambles to open call center – Will Jones
https://abc7chicago.com/unemployment-benefits-illinois-ides/6141377/
— Illinois coronavirus contact tracing, COVID-19 testing concerns cause challenges for pandemic tracking – Chuck Goudie, Barb Markoff, Christine Tressel, Ross Weidner and Jonathan Fagg
https://abc7chicago.com/cornavirus-illinois-coronavirus-update-test/6141274/

NBC5
— Public Health Officials Agree Contact Tracing is Necessary to Help Prevent the Spread of Coronavirus
https://www.nbcchicago.com/news/local/public-health-officials-agree-contact-tracing-is-necessary-to-help-prevent-the-spread-of-coronavirus/2264780/
— Cases Remain High In Home Of Lawmaker Who Challenged Pritzker Virus Order Adequate testing was reported in Winnebago County only 6% of the time, NBC 5 Investigates found
https://www.nbcchicago.com/news/local/data-reveals-insufficient-testing-in-parts-of-winnebago-county/2264680/
— Chicago Police Officers Required to Wear Protective Face Masks, Gloves Effective Midnight Friday The memo comes the evening prior to when Illinois’ modified stay-at-home order is set to take place
https://www.nbcchicago.com/news/local/chicago-police-officers-required-to-wear-protective-face-masks-gloves-effective-midnight-friday/2264701/

FOX NEWS CHICAGO
— Illinois casinos to stay closed until further notice due to COVID-19 – AP
https://www.fox32chicago.com/news/illinois-casinos-to-stay-closed-until-further-notice-due-to-covid-19
— Slowed COVID-19 spread leaves 1,000s of makeshift beds empty in Illinois
https://www.fox32chicago.com/news/slowed-covid-19-spread-leaves-1000s-of-makeshift-beds-empty-in-illinois

CHICAGO TRIBUNE
— Masks at the ready: Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s modified stay-at-home order kicks in Friday amid legal and political pushback – DAN PETRELLA, RICK PEARSON, ANGIE LEVENTIS LOURGOS and JAMIE MUNKS
https://www.chicagotribune.com/coronavirus/ct-coronavirus-illinois-pritzker-20200501-oeyl34k275gr3eai7gytkdcj4a-story.html
— Gov. Pritzker says coronavirus contact tracing is a key to reopening Illinois. Public health leaders concede the system isn’t ready yet. – HAL DARDICK and DAN PETRELLA
https://www.chicagotribune.com/coronavirus/ct-coronavirus-illinois-pritzker-contact-tracing-20200501-74e5vzzj7fgzraypw5sljizvmq-story.html
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: Trump-haters say “Illinois residents give Pritzker thumbs-up, Trump thumbs-down in the middle on handling of coronavirus crisis.” (DIERSEN: What percent of Illinois residents are anti-Trump, anti-Protestant, anti-conservative, anti-patriotic, anti-Republican, anti-American, anti-White, anti-male, anti-older people, anti-rich people, anti-gun owners, anti-German Americans, anti-draft avoiders, and/or anti-those whose ancestors have been in America for a long time? Pritzker promises to give more and more and more preference to the aforesaid.)
https://www.chicagotribune.com/politics/ct-coronavirus-illinois-poll-pritzker-trump-stay-at-home-20200501-qxs3awpow5bzxfpqbihij3zj5m-story.html
— Judges rule in favor of Chicago in sanctuary city fight with Trump Justice Department – JOHN BYRNE (DIERSEN: America-haters are over-joyed.)
https://www.chicagotribune.com/politics/ct-lori-lightfoot-rahm-emanuel-donald-trump-sanctuary-cities-suit-20200430-3pmfpqaagfdv3mx6ozrnxxmh34-story.html
— Can Gov. J.B. Pritzker handle the pushback against his coronavirus edicts? – John Kass
https://www.chicagotribune.com/columns/john-kass/ct-jb-pritkzer-michael-madigan-kass-20200501-jpguz4v3kvbv7fwtaavqkrowhy-story.html
— Time for states to reopen their economy? Political divisions emerge as Midwest governors weigh coronavirus cases vs. unemployment. – BILL RUTHHART
https://www.chicagotribune.com/coronavirus/ct-coronavirus-midwest-governors-pandemic-reopen-businesses-20200501-wagokkrburbkzfbkaopwasyfpi-htmlstory.html
— Which Midwest states are reopening economies amid the coronavirus pandemic? Here’s a breakdown – BILL RUTHHART and KORI RUMORE
https://www.chicagotribune.com/coronavirus/ct-coronavirus-which-midwest-states-are-reopening-20200501-hdisohtnbfd7tbgmmohgtw4fse-htmlstory.html
— Cost of emergency housing during pandemic rises to $300,000 and more for DuPage Pads and BEDS Plus – KIMBERLY FORNEK
https://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/clarendon-hills/ct-dch-homeless-dupage-pads-beds-tl-0507-20200430-avjlqz7wvbctpjvdaukq7qtkya-story.html

CHICAGO SUN-TIMES
— State unemployment funds going broke from record flood of claims Illinois and other states may be forced to raise taxes on employers as their unemployment trust funds face financial collapse, analysts say.
https://www.chicagobusiness.com/government/state-unemployment-funds-going-broke-record-flood-claims
— Freedom to worship? Pritzker adds ‘free exercise of religion’ as ‘essential’ activity in new order — but not large gatherings The extended executive order contains a key change under permitted examples of leaving the home for “essential activities” during the coronavirus pandemic. But any religious gatherings are limited to ten people. – Tina Sfondeles
https://chicago.suntimes.com/2020/4/30/21243640/illinois-stay-at-home-order-jb-pritzker-free-exercise-religion
— How Gov. Pritzker could slow the spread of COVID-19 at Cook County Jail The governor should lift an executive order that prevents 120 convicted detainees at the jail from being transferred to state prisons. – Editorial
https://chicago.suntimes.com/2020/4/30/21242699/cook-county-jail-covid-19-gov-j-b-pritzker-illinois-department-corrections-pandemic-idoc-editorial
— Illinois ‘fair map’ plans for Legislature and Congress unfair to Latinos The current legislative maps empower Latinos to elect leaders who truly represent our best interests. – U.S. Rep. Jesús “Chuy” García, et al. (DIERSEN: The following groups want maps empower them: those who are anti-Trump, anti-Protestant, anti-conservative, anti-patriotic, anti-Republican, anti-American, anti-White, anti-male, anti-older people, anti-rich people, anti-gun owners, anti-German Americans, anti-draft avoiders, and anti-those whose ancestors have been in America for a long time.)
https://chicago.suntimes.com/2020/4/30/21241677/illinois-fair-map-plan-unfair-latinos-suntimes-letters
— Armed suspects sought in Wheaton gas station robbery: police The trio entered a Bucky’s convenience store on Roosevelt Road and held three people at gunpoint, police say.
https://chicago.suntimes.com/crime/2020/5/1/21243968/wheaton-gas-station-robbery-buckys-convenience-store-roosevelt

SPRINGFIELD STATE JOURNAL REGISTER
— Cabello opposes ‘police state’ order, but wants all public officials to wear body cams – Bernard Schoenburg (DIERSEN: I have purchased a body camera and I reserve my right to use it to better document threats made against me.)
https://www.sj-r.com/news/20200430/bernard-schoenburg-cabello-opposes–police-state-order-but-wants-all-public-officials-to-wear-body-cams

FOX ILLINOIS
— ‘Everyone’s watching’: Biden’s VP audition process begins – AP
https://foxillinois.com/news/nation-world/everyones-watching-bidens-vp-audition-process-begins
— How law enforcement want you to comply with face mask, covering executive order – Haydee Clotter
https://foxillinois.com/news/local/how-law-enforcement-want-you-to-comply-with-face-mask-covering-executive-order
— Trump predicts ‘spectacular’ rebound as economy plunges
https://foxillinois.com/news/nation-world/trump-predicts-spectacular-rebound-as-economy-plunges
— Trump harshly blames China for pandemic; a lab ‘mistake’?
https://foxillinois.com/news/nation-world/trump-harshly-blames-china-for-pandemic-a-lab-mistake
— Pelosi: $1T needed to avert state, city layoffs from virus
https://foxillinois.com/news/nation-world/pelosi-1t-needed-to-avert-state-city-layoffs-from-virus

NPR ILLINOIS
— Russia’s Prime Minister Says He Has Coronavirus, As Country Tops 100,000 Cases – SCOTT NEUMAN
https://www.nprillinois.org/post/russias-prime-minister-says-he-has-coronavirus-country-tops-100000-cases#stream/0
— Passengers Must Wear Masks On Major Airlines To Cut Spread Of Coronavirus – DAVID SCHAPER
https://www.nprillinois.org/post/passengers-must-wear-masks-major-airlines-cut-spread-coronavirus#stream/0

DAILY NORTHWESTERN
— As states reopen, Evanston’s post-coronavirus path remains unclear – Andrew Myers (DIERSEN: What path to reopening does your municipality, your township, and your county have?)
https://dailynorthwestern.com/2020/04/30/city/as-states-reopen-evanstons-post-coronavirus-path-remains-unclear/

BATAVIA PATCH
— Coronavirus Cases in Batavia Double In 10 Days; 38 Total – Jason Addy
https://news.yahoo.com/coronavirus-cases-batavia-double-10-025817462.html

PROPUBLICA
— In Chicago, Urban Density May Not Be to Blame for the Spread of the Coronavirus The communities hardest hit by the coronavirus in Chicago are low-density black and Hispanic neighborhoods, including ones where economic decline and population loss have caused more people to live in the same household. – Haru Coryne
https://www.propublica.org/article/in-chicago-urban-density-may-not-be-to-blame-for-the-spread-of-the-coronavirus

BLOCK CLUB CHICAGO
— City Will Give 1 Million Masks To Residents, And Lightfoot Predicts We Could Wear Them Rest Of The Year Face coverings and masks can prevent people from unknowingly transmitting coronavirus to others. – Kelly Bauer
https://blockclubchicago.org/2020/04/30/city-will-give-1-million-masks-to-residents-and-lightfoot-predicts-well-wear-them-rest-of-the-year/

CENTER SQUARE
— Firearm range may sue Illinois if they’re kept from opening as essential business – Greg Bishop
https://www.thecentersquare.com/illinois/firearm-range-may-sue-illinois-if-they-re-kept-from-opening-as-essential-business/article_31d584b2-8b04-11ea-b69b-578efab17912.html

WIREPOINTS
— The other curve: We’re not flattening it, it’s flattening us. – Mark Glennon
https://wirepoints.org/the-other-curve-were-not-flattening-it-its-flattening-us-wirepoints/

ILLINOIS POLICY INSTITUTE
— PRITZKER WRONGLY CLAIMS AN ILLINOIS BUDGET SURPLUS ‘IF NOT FOR CORONAVIRUS’ – Adam Schuster and Ben Szalinski
https://www.illinoispolicy.org/pritzker-wrongly-claims-an-illinois-budget-surplus-if-not-for-coronavirus/
— ILLINOIS FARMERS SEE LITTLE THAT IS FAIR ABOUT PRITZKER’S ‘FAIR TAX’ – Brad Weisenstein
https://www.illinoispolicy.org/illinois-farmers-see-little-that-is-fair-about-pritzkers-fair-tax/

ILLINOIS REVIEW
— WAS THE SHUTDOWN NECESSARY?
https://www.illinoisreview.com/illinoisreview/2020/05/was-the-shutdown-necessary.html

CAPITOL FAX
— Rep. Bailey asks to withdraw TRO, says he will file an amended complaint
https://capitolfax.com/2020/05/01/rep-bailey-asks-to-withdraw-tro-says-he-will-file-an-amended-complaint/

WASHINGTON TIMES
— Forced face masking is a civil rights offense – Cheryl K. Chumley
https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2020/may/1/forced-face-masking-civil-rights-offense/

FOX NEWS
— Trump suggests he’s seen evidence indicating coronavirus came from Wuhan lab, compares WHO to PR agency
https://www.foxnews.com/us/trump-suggests-hes-seen-evidence-indicating-coronavirus-came-from-wuhan-lab-compares-who-to-pr-agency

AMERICAN GREATNESS
— Conservative Leaders Urge Trump to ‘Take Tough Action’ Against China for Unleashing COVID-19 on the World – Debra Heine
https://amgreatness.com/2020/04/29/conservative-leaders-urge-trump-to-take-tough-action-against-china-for-unleashing-covid-19-on-the-world/

BREITBART
— GOP Senators to Trump: Reject ‘Blank Check’ Bailouts to State Governments – SEAN MORAN
https://www.breitbart.com/politics/2020/04/30/gop-senators-to-trump-reject-blank-check-bailouts-to-state-governments/

CONSERVATIVE HQ
— Trump Should Not Let Red China Keep Laughing At Us – George Rasley
http://www.conservativehq.com/node/32432

ONE NEWS NOW
— The Biden double standard – Ben Shapiro
https://onenewsnow.com/perspectives/ben-shapiro/2020/04/29/the-biden-double-standard

NATIONAL REVIEW
— Biden Breaks Silence on Sexual Assault Allegation, Vows to Search Senate Files for Reade’s Complaint – ZACHARY EVANS
https://www.nationalreview.com/news/biden-breaks-silence-on-sexual-assault-allegation-vows-to-search-senate-files-for-reades-complaint/

NATIONAL LAW REVIEW
— Five Steps To Create A Safer Workplace For Returning Employees During COVID-19
https://www.natlawreview.com/article/five-steps-to-create-safer-workplace-returning-employees-during-covid-19

POLITICO
— Wearing a mask is for smug liberals. Refusing to is for reckless Republicans. Welcome to Washington’s latest partisan standoff. – RYAN LIZZA and DANIEL LIPPMAN (DIERSEN: What assumptions do Trump-haters want everyone to make a) about those who wear masks and b) about those who do not wear masks? If you had to wear a mask to attend an event, how much would that discourage you from attending that event?)
https://www.politico.com/news/2020/05/01/masks-politics-coronavirus-227765
— Capitol physician says Senate lacks capacity to test all senators The Senate returns Monday amid mounting anxiety from lawmakers that the coronavirus could spread quickly through the chamber. – BURGESS EVERETT and MARIANNE LEVINE
https://www.politico.com/news/2020/04/30/capitol-physician-senators-coronavirus-testing-226980

ABC NEWS
— House Democrats ready virtual organizing as coronavirus derails ground games House Democrats launch a “Virtual Action Center” on Friday. – Kendall Karson and Meg Cunningham
https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/house-democrats-ready-virtual-organizing-coronavirus-derails-ground/story?id=70415299

NEW YORK TIMES
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: Trump-haters say : “Trump’s Disinfectant Talk Trips Up Sites’ Vows Against Misinformation. Facebook, Twitter and YouTube have declined to remove the president’s statements about unproven coronavirus treatments.”
https://www.nytimes.com/2020/04/30/technology/trump-coronavirus-social-media.html
— States Made It Harder to Get Jobless Benefits. Now That’s Hard to Undo. Systems that were devised to treat each case as potentially fraudulent are now rushing to deal with millions of newly unemployed people. – Emily Badger  Alicia Parlapiano
https://www.nytimes.com/2020/04/30/upshot/unemployment-state-restrictions-pandemic.html
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: A Trump-hater says “Why the Trump Ploy Stopped Working. As the nation unifies, divisiveness falls flat.”
https://www.nytimes.com/2020/04/30/opinion/coronavirus-unity.html
— Crashing Economy, Rising Stocks: What’s Going On? What’s bad for America is sometimes good for the market. – Paul Krugman
https://www.nytimes.com/2020/04/30/opinion/economy-stock-market-coronavirus.html
— FRONT PAGE TOP OF FOLD: Millions Had Risen Out of Poverty. Coronavirus Is Pulling Them Back. Experts say that for the first time since 1998, global poverty will increase. At least a half billion people could slip into destitution by the end of the year. – Maria Abi-Habib
https://www.nytimes.com/2020/04/30/world/asia/coronavirus-poverty-unemployment.html

WASHINGTON POST
— Reopening of America: More than half of states will lift coronavirus restrictions by the end of the week
https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2020/04/30/coronavirus-latest-news/
— Public companies received $1 billion in stimulus funds meant for small businesses Nearly 300 public companies have reported receiving loans. Some have returned them. – Jonathan O’Connell, Steven Rich, and Peter Whoriskey
https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2020/05/01/sba-ppp-public-companies/

NEW YORK POST
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: Democrats, Libertarians, Greens, and RINOs promote distrust of Republicans.
https://nypost.com/2020/04/30/seeking-virus-data-people-struggle-with-trust/

USA TODAY
— Haircut? Sure. Flying? Maybe not. As states reopen, Americans more comfortable with small steps, survey shows – Rebecca Morin
https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2020/04/30/states-reopen-americans-more-comfortable-small-steps-survey/3052951001/

WALL STREET JOURNAL
— U.S. Deaths From Coronavirus Top 63,000 as Crisis Slams Economies More than 3.8 million Americans file for jobless benefits; eurozone economy suffers sharpest contraction on record – Jennifer Calfas, Rebecca Ballhaus and Joshua Jamerson
https://www.wsj.com/articles/coronavirus-latest-news-04-30-2020-11588242578
— FRONT PAGE TOP OF FOLD: Over 3.8 Million Americans Filed for Jobless Benefits Last Week as States Struggle With Coronavirus Claims Surge Archaic technology hamstrings systems for processing benefits; ‘not really acceptable now’ – Sarah Chaney and Kate King
https://www.wsj.com/articles/states-struggle-with-coronavirus-unemployment-claims-surge-11588239004
— New York City Subways Won’t Run 24 Hours a Day During Pandemic MTA to shut system down from 1 a.m to 5 a.m. to allow for deep cleaning – Paul Berger
https://www.wsj.com/articles/mta-to-shut-new-york-city-subway-between-1-a-m-to-5-a-m-during-coronavirus-pandemic-11588265268
— Democrats Urge Joe Biden to Address Sexual Assault Allegation Prominent Democrats have defended Mr. Biden, whose campaign has denied the claim, but others say it could alienate voters – Tarini Parti and Eliza Collins
https://www.wsj.com/articles/democrats-urge-joe-biden-to-address-sexual-assault-allegation-11588276919
— FRONT PAGE: Coronavirus Pushes Colleges to the Breaking Point, Forcing ‘Hard Choices’ About Education Forecast declines in enrollment and revenue trigger spending cuts and salary freezes; ‘the world order has changed’ – Melissa Korn, Douglas Belkin and Juliet Chung
https://www.wsj.com/articles/coronavirus-pushes-colleges-to-the-breaking-point-forcing-hard-choices-about-education-11588256157
— Coronavirus Prompts Record Drop in Consumer Spending Report highlights early effects of the pandemic on personal income; ‘the tip of the iceberg’ – Sarah Chaney and Harriet Torry
https://www.wsj.com/articles/personal-income-household-spending-coronavirus-march-2020-11588197997
— All Tara Reade’s Deniers The Democrats who attacked Brett Kavanaugh duck and cover for Joe Biden. – Editorial
https://www.wsj.com/articles/all-tara-reades-deniers-11588266554
— De Blasio’s ‘Message’ to Jews Other demographic groups get only sympathy when hit especially hard by the coronavirus pandemic. – Jeff Ballabon and Mark Goldfeder
https://www.wsj.com/articles/de-blasios-message-to-jews-11588266378
— An Allied Plan to Depend Less on China The U.S., Australia, Japan and India already have a forum for coordination. – Paula J. Dobriansky
https://www.wsj.com/articles/an-allied-plan-to-depend-less-on-china-11588288513
— McDonald’s Sales Fall as Coronavirus Pandemic Changes Dining Habits Burger chain sees disruptions lasting for months; ‘getting back that breakfast business will be critical for us’ – Heather Haddon
https://www.wsj.com/articles/mcdonalds-sales-drop-6-11588248343

FORBES
— COVID-19 Layoff Or Pretext For Age Discrimination Against Older Employees? – Eric Bachman (DIERSEN: Democrats and RINOs use Affirmative Action, Diversity, Inclusion, up-or-out, budget cuts, etc. as pretexts to not hire Republicans, to not promote Republicans, and to get rid of Republicans, and especially Republicans who are Trump supporters, White, male, older, Protestant, German American, conservative, patriotic, non-poor, gun owners, draft avoiders, and/or those whose ancestors have been in America for a long time.)
https://www.forbes.com/sites/ericbachman/2020/04/30/covid-19-layoff-or-pretext-for-age-discrimination-against-older-employees/#227e2e364c56

JD SUPRA
— EEOC Offers Guidance To Employers Preparing To Reopen Their Workplaces
https://www.jdsupra.com/legalnews/eeoc-offers-guidance-to-employers-85442/

DAILY MAIL
— Illinois’ billionaire governor dodges question about his wife leaving town to see out coronavirus pandemic on their $12.1 million equine estate in Florida as he extends stay-at-home order to May 30 – FRANCES MULRANEY
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-8275807/Illinois-billionaire-governor-dodges-question-wife-leaving-town-pandemic.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.