May 16 Morning Edition

ABC7
— Coronavirus Illinois: COVID-19 cases top 90K with over 4K deaths; GOP congressmen write angry letter responding to Pritzker funding comments Republican congressmen fire off letter after Pritzker says counties that don’t comply risk losing federal aid – Eric Horng, Stacey Baca and Sarah Schulte
https://abc7chicago.com/society/state-remains-on-track-to-move-to-next-reopening-phase;-gop-lawmakers-lash-out/6186133/
— Coronavirus deaths: Nearly half of Illinois COVID-19 deaths linked to long-term care facilities, according to IDPH – Chuck Goudie, Barb Markoff, Christine Tressel, Ross Weidner and Jonathan Fagg
https://abc7chicago.com/health/nearly-half-of-illinois-covid-19-deaths-linked-to-long-term-care-facilities/6186917/

FOX NEWS CHICAGO
— Illinois widens test eligibility as COVID-19 deaths pass 4,000 – AP
https://www.fox32chicago.com/news/illinois-widens-test-eligibility-as-covid-19-deaths-pass-4000

CHICAGO SUN-TIMES
— Face off on masks looming in Springfield? Two downstate Republicans balk at COVID-19 precautions Mulling an about-face, state Rep. Brad Halbrook and fellow Republican state Rep. Darren Bailey said they won’t commit to wearing masks when the House meets on Wednesday, potentially creating a standoff between them and Illinois House Speaker Mike Madigan. – Neal Earley
https://chicago.suntimes.com/politics/2020/5/15/21260692/face-masks-covering-springfield-downstate-republican-darren-bailey-halbrook-covid-19-coronavirus
— With the focus on the coronavirus, Lightfoot opts for bare-bones capital plan The capital plan is on the agenda for Monday’s Finance Committee meeting. – Fran Spielman
https://chicago.suntimes.com/city-hall/2020/5/14/21259380/with-the-focus-on-the-coronavirus-lightfoot-opts-for-bare-bones-capital-plan

CHICAGO TRIBUNE
— Coronavirus deaths at long-term care facilities grow to nearly 2,000, accounting for nearly half of overall state total – Joe Mahr
https://www.chicagotribune.com/coronavirus/ct-coronavirus-long-term-care-facilities-data-20200515-asxjczfnojem5fkhncnnyrvgze-story.html

SPRINGFIELD STATE JOURNAL REGISTER
— State Rep. Tim Butler, R-Springfield, takes drive-through COVID-19 test
https://www.sj-r.com/news/20200515/lawmaker-takes-drive-through-covid-19-test

FOX ILLINOIS
— Blue Mound bar throws ‘anti-corona party’ despite cease and desist order
https://foxillinois.com/news/coronavirus/blue-mound-bar-throws-anti-corona-party-despite-cease-and-desist-order

NEWS CHANNEL 20
— Congressmen urge lawmakers to prevent Pritzker from withholding funds from counties
https://newschannel20.com/news/local/congressmen-urge-lawmakers-to-prevent-pritzker-from-withholding-funds-from-counties

CENTRAL ILLINOIS PROUD
— Peoria Humane Society to host ‘pet food’ drives – Nick Molinari
https://www.centralillinoisproud.com/news/local-news/peoria-humane-society-to-host-pet-food-drives/

NAPERVILLE COMMUNITY TELEVISION
— Three Downtown Businesses Close Down
https://www.nctv17.com/news/three-downtown-businesses-close-down/

CHICAGO CITY WIRE
— University of Illinois professors ‘do not recommend’ mask requirement for general public without COVID-19 symptoms – Glenn Minnis
https://chicagocitywire.com/stories/536900058-university-of-illinois-professors-do-not-recommend-mask-requirement-for-general-public-without-covid-19-symptoms

PRAIRIE STATE WIRE
— Already the highest taxed in the nation, Pritzker wants Illinois residents to pay more – Bob Pepalis
https://prairiestatewire.com/stories/532463877-already-the-highest-taxed-in-the-nation-pritzker-wants-illinois-residents-to-pay-more
— Illinois Policy Institute writer says Pritzker should stall automatic pay raises for state workers – John Sammon (DIERSEN: Step increases recognize/reward experience that employees gain. I should write a book about those who have demonized, denigrated, and condemned the experience that I gained a) working 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; b) working for IRS for almost 9 years, the last 5 1/2 years of which at the GS-12 Step-1-5 levels, currently $85,084-$96,431/year; c) passing the CPA and Certified Internal examinations on my first attempt; and d) earning master’s degrees in business, accounting, and finance. I would focus on those in Wheaton’s West District, Wheaton, Milton Township, DuPage County, and Illinois who have/had lots of religious, government, political, and/or financial clout. I would focus on present/past leaders of the Wheaton Chamber of Commerce, Milton Township Republican Organization, DuPage County Republican Central Committee, Illinois Republican Party, TAPROOT Republicans of Illinois, Illinois Center Right Coalition, and American Association of Political Consultants Midwest Chapter. I would focus on the aforesaid who blame me and my GOPUSA ILLINOIS emails for their problems, for your problems, for my problems, and for everyone’s problems.)
https://prairiestatewire.com/stories/532398116-illinois-policy-institute-writer-says-pritzker-should-stall-automatic-pay-raises-for-state-workers
— Orland Park mayor Keith Pekau: Pritzker acts like North Korean dictator during COVID-19 crisis – W.J. Kennedy
https://prairiestatewire.com/stories/536974311-orland-park-mayor-pritzker-acts-like-north-korean-dictator-during-covid-19-crisis

ILLINOIS FAMILY INSTITUTE
— Coronavirus Should Remind Us Big Government Isn’t The Answer – Peter Heck
https://illinoisfamily.org/marriage/coronavirus-should-remind-us-big-government-isnt-the-answer/

ILLINOIS FAMILY ACTION
— The Party of Contradictions: Feminism vs. Islam – Mason Beasler
https://illinoisfamilyaction.org/2020/05/the-party-of-contradictions-feminism-vs-islam/
— Greasing the Skids Toward Socialism? – Jerry Newcombe
https://illinoisfamilyaction.org/2020/05/greasing-the-skids-toward-socialism/

WASHINGTON TIMES
— Illinois agencies unsure about reopening pools amid pandemic – AP
https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2020/may/16/illinois-agencies-unsure-about-reopening-pools-ami/

DAILY SIGNAL
— Trump Says US Will Resume Funding WHO — At Same Level As China – DAVID KRAYDEN
https://dailycaller.com/2020/05/15/donald-trump-us-resume-funding-who-same-level-china/
— US Manufacturing Output Plunges To Record Low – JAKE MERCIER
https://dailycaller.com/2020/05/15/u-s-manufacturing-output-plunges-record-low-according-to-fed/
— Record-Setting Fundraising Proves Americans Want More Trump – KIMBERLY GUILFOYLE
https://dailycaller.com/2020/05/15/guilfoyle-record-setting-fundraising-proves-americans-want-more-trump/

THE HILL
— House passes massive $3T coronavirus relief package – MIKE LILLIS AND SCOTT WONG
https://thehill.com/homenews/house/498054-house-passes-massive-3t-coronavirus-relief-package
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: Trump-haters want Trump to issue a “national plan on coronavirus” so that they can demonize it, denigrate it, and condemn it.
https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/498078-trump-faces-criticism-over-lack-of-national-plan-on-coronavirus

CNN
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: A Trump-hater says “White House ramps up PR campaign to improve Trump’s image.”
https://www.cnn.com/2020/05/16/politics/trump-coronavirus-vaccine-image/index.html

NEW YORK TIMES
— FRONT PAGE TOP OF FOLD: DIERSEN HEADLINE: Trump-haters say “A Sitting President, Riling the Nation During a Crisis. By smearing his opponents, championing conspiracy theories and pursuing vendettas, President Trump has reverted to his darkest political tactics in spite of a pandemic hurting millions of Americans.”
https://www.nytimes.com/2020/05/15/us/politics/president-trump-coronavirus-pandemic-response.html
— Give Businesses Better Guidelines, Not Immunity A heedless rush to protect businesses from the legal system endangers workers, customers and everyone else. – Editorial (DIERSEN: How many employers will go out of business because of the cost of implementing coronavirus guidelines?)
https://www.nytimes.com/2020/05/15/opinion/coronavirus-liability-business-safety.html
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: A man-hater asks “Why Are Women-Led Nations Doing Better With Covid-19?”
https://www.nytimes.com/2020/05/15/world/coronavirus-women-leaders.html
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: A Trump-hater says “Trump, Biden and the Myth of ‘But 2016’ There are members of both parties who believe the president has the ability to defy the normal rules of politics. That view ignores electoral trends of recent years.”
https://www.nytimes.com/2020/05/15/us/politics/trump-vs-biden-polls.html
— FRONT PAGE TOP OF FOLD: When Shoppers Venture Out, What Will Be Left? A 16.4 percent sales decline in April may signal the bottom for retailers, but the climb back will be hard, and some companies may not make it. – Ben Casselman and Sapna Maheshwari
https://www.nytimes.com/2020/05/15/business/economy/coronavirus-retail-reopening.html

WASHINGTON POST
— Never Trumpers will host their own ‘Republican convention’ during the RNC – David Weigel
https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2020/05/15/never-trumpers-will-host-their-own-republican-convention-during-rnc/

LOS ANGELES TIMES
— Put NIMBYism under quarantine, before homeless people with coronavirus get even sicker – CARLA HALL (DIERSEN: What do you say to politicians and to others who steer Democrats, Libertarians, Greens, RINOs, illegals, homeless people, low-income people, refugees, recent immigrants, minorities, LGBTQers, stoners, drinkers, etc. to certain municipalities, to certain municipal districts, to certain precincts, and/or to certain neighborhoods?)
https://www.latimes.com/opinion/story/2020-04-17/nimby-homeless-covid-19

WALL STREET JOURNAL
— Campaigns, Like the Country, Begin Reawakening Trump ad tries to turn anger at China against former Vice President Biden, while Biden ad charges the president was slow and weak in coronavirus pandemic – Gerald F. Seib
https://www.wsj.com/articles/campaigns-like-the-country-begin-reawakening-11589601690
— Scenes From the Class Struggle in Lockdown Those who are anxious to open up the economy have led harder lives than those holding out for safety. – Peggy Noonan (DIERSEN: The operatives and the dupes who work for my critics/opponents hint/imply/argue/shout a) that they have led hard lives through no fault of their own and b) I did not really earn or disserve anything that I have. I should write a book about my critics/opponents, their operatives, and their dupes.)
https://www.wsj.com/articles/scenes-from-the-class-struggle-in-lockdown-11589498276
— The Often Distorted Reality of Hate Crime in America Racism remains a blight, but one-sided reporting and misrepresented facts don’t help – Gerard Baker
https://www.wsj.com/articles/the-often-distorted-reality-of-hate-crime-in-america-11589562033
— When It’s Time to Go Back to the Office, Will It Still Be There? As companies prepare for employees to return, they are asking whether a traditional headquarters is still necessary. The workplace will likely never be the same again. – Dana Mattioli and Konrad Putzier (DIERSEN: Do/did you work in an office? I did 1971-1997 – in Chicago working for IRS in 1971 and 1973-1980, in Harvey and Joliet working for IRS in 1973 and 1974, and in Chicago working for GAO 1980-1997.)
https://www.wsj.com/articles/when-its-time-to-go-back-to-the-office-will-it-still-be-there-11589601618
— When Epidemics Give a Voice to the Forgotten During London’s 1849 cholera outbreak, an unlikely chronicler let the city’s poor speak out—in ways now echoed on social media during the coronavirus crisis – Richard Holmes
https://www.wsj.com/articles/when-epidemics-give-a-voice-to-the-forgotten-11589471833
— Sales Report Puts the Second Quarter in a Deep Hole After April’s slump in retail sales, even pessimistic forecasts for the current quarter could be too upbeat – Justin Lahart
https://www.wsj.com/articles/sales-report-puts-the-second-quarter-in-a-deep-hole-11589561770
— Coronavirus Bolsters Car Ownership as Consumers Rethink Shared Rides As ride-hailing hits the skids amid the pandemic, auto makers see renewed interest in personal vehicles – William Boston in Berlin and Mike Colias (DIERSEN: I have owed a car since I was 16 in 1964.)
https://www.wsj.com/articles/coronavirus-bolsters-car-ownership-as-consumers-rethink-shared-rides-11589564566
— FRONT PAGE: Google Hides News, Tricked by Fake Claims Dubious copyright complaints citing 1998 law led the search giant to make unfavorable articles vanish – Andrea Fuller, Kirsten Grind and Joe Palazzolo (DIERSEN: I should write a book about my critics/opponents a) who demonize, denigrate, and condemn my stressing the source, title, author, and hyperlink of articles in GOPUSA ILLINOIS emails and b) who do everything that they can to make the original work of others to look like is their own work.)
https://www.wsj.com/articles/google-dmca-copyright-claims-takedown-online-reputation-11589557001

BUSINESS INSIDER
— Losing the party conventions would hurt (seriously) – Anthony L. Fisher
https://www.businessinsider.com/losing-democratic-republican-political-conventions-would-hurt-seriously-2020-5

CHARLOTTE OBSERVER
— The Republican convention, 100 days out, looms as a lifeline to Charlotte businesses – JIM MORRILL AND AUSTIN WEINSTEIN
https://www.charlotteobserver.com/news/politics-government/rnc-2020/article242745381.html

WBTV
— Republican National Committee chairwoman speaks about RNC plans with convention 100 days away – Alex Giles
https://www.wbtv.com/2020/05/16/republican-national-committee-chairwoman-speaks-about-rnc-plans-with-convention-days-away/

WFAE
— On Charlotte RNC, Trump Says Gov. Cooper Is ‘Playing Politics’ By Reopening Slowly – STEVE HARRISON
https://www.wfae.org/post/charlotte-rnc-trump-says-gov-cooper-playing-politics-reopening-slowly#stream/0

AMERICAN REPORTER
— Strong Immune System can help overcome the Covid 19 Virus
https://www.theamericanreporter.com/strong-immune-system-can-help-overcome-the-covid-19-virus-says-research/

ATLANTIC
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: A Trump-hater says “Trump Is Putting Himself at Risk for COVID-19. The president has faced greater exposure to the virus than he might let on.”
https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2020/05/trump-risk-covid-19/611746/

JD SUPRA
— Age Is More Than A Number: Trends In Workforce Composition, Ageism, And Efforts To Address The Elephant In The Room – Fisher Phillips (DIERSEN: I should write a book about age discrimination. How soon, if not already, will employers and organizations officially adopt “up-or-out” policies for their employees and members who are Republican, White, male, and/or non-veteran? For example, will the Illinois Republican Party (IRP) officially adopt the following policy those who are White, male, and/or non-veteran: township/ward party organization officers must be under age 30, county party organization officers must be under age 35, IRP State Central Committee members must be under age 40, and IRP officers must be under age 50?)
https://www.jdsupra.com/legalnews/age-is-more-than-a-number-trends-in-89175/

(FROM THE ARTICLE: Various factors have created a workplace phenomenon that is both underreported and underestimated: an aging workforce and increasing incidence of age discrimination. As people in this country are living longer, the cost of living continues to rise, and the pension model nears extinction, many older Americans continue to work well into their 70’s. Combine that with stereotypes borne of both bygone eras and the current tech-forward attitudes of the younger workforce, and the incidence of age-based discrimination in the workplace is increasing – though the problem is not typically viewed or treated as seriously as other forms of discrimination. Despite laws in place to protect older workers, many hurdles exist in identifying and addressing the issue.)

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.