May 23 Evening Edition

ABC7
— Coronavirus Illinois: COVID-19 cases top 107K with over 4K deaths as Memorial Day weekend gets underway
By Eric Horng, Craig Wall and Liz Nagy
https://abc7chicago.com/politics/illinois-covid-19-cases-top-107k/6206947/

NBC5
— Illinois Reports 2,352 New Coronavirus Cases, 75 Additional Deaths The state reported 25,114 new test results on Saturday
https://www.nbcchicago.com/news/coronavirus/illinois-reports-2352-new-coronavirus-cases-75-additional-deaths/2277240/

CBS2
— Coronavirus In Illinois: 2,352 New COVID-19 Cases, 75 Additional Deaths
https://chicago.cbslocal.com/2020/05/23/coronavirus-in-illinois-2352-new-covid-19-cases-75-additional-deaths/

FOX NEWS CHICAGO
— Illinois reports 75 coronavirus deaths Saturday and more than 2,300 new cases
https://www.fox32chicago.com/news/illinois-reports-75-coronavirus-deaths-saturday-and-more-than-2300-new-cases

CHICAGO SUN-TIMES
— 75 more Illinois coronavirus deaths; state testing tops 700K More than half the deaths have occurred during the first three weeks of May, during what Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s office has said is a plateau period for the outbreak’s impact on Illinois that could last through June. – Mitchell Armentrout
https://chicago.suntimes.com/coronavirus/2020/5/23/21268596/illinois-coronavirus-cases-deaths-pritzker-reopening-may-23
— Illinois House clears Chicago casino measure in waning hours of special session There were several amendments flying around Saturday morning, but ultimately, bill sponsor state Rep. Bob Rita was able to round up enough support. The measure was pushed by Mayor Lori Lightfoot and is essential in helping the city’s police and fire pensions. – Tina Sfondeles
https://chicago.suntimes.com/2020/5/23/21268597/chicago-casino-bill-fix-springfield-illinois-house-pass-pritzker-gambling-expansion

CHICAGO TRIBUNE
— Age is more than a number for nation’s geezer politicians – CHARLES SELLE (DIERSEN: What do you say to those who promote age discrimination?)
https://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/lake-county-news-sun/opinion/ct-lns-selle-older-politicians-st-0526-20200522-eebmt7cwbfc4fpmxqxgndmplee-story.html
— Chicago faith leaders divided on whether to reopen for in-person service as state adds more than 2,300 new COVID-19 cases – MADELINE BUCKLEY
https://www.chicagotribune.com/coronavirus/ct-coronavirus-chicago-illinois-update-churches-20200523-bccarmy2y5gznm5rminnpiooci-story.html
— Illinois House passes legislation sought by Mayor Lori Lightfoot in her effort to land a casino in Chicago – JAMIE MUNKS and DAN PETRELLA
https://www.chicagotribune.com/politics/ct-chicago-casino-legislation-20200523-c5sem6ajmrgspme53h2mzgo4gy-story.html

DAILY HERALD
— Illinois reports 2,352 new COVID-19 cases, 75 more deaths Saturday
https://www.dailyherald.com/news/20200523/illinois-reports-2352-new-covid-19-cases-75-more-deaths-saturday

SPRINGFIELD STATE JOURNAL REGISTER
— Mark Curran takes on Durbin but also some in GOP – Bernard Schoenburg
https://www.sj-r.com/news/20200523/curran-takes-on-durbin-but-also-some-in-gop

BELLEVILLE NEWS DEMOCRAT
— Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker’s executive orders are unconstitutional, lawsuit argues – REBECCA ANZEL
https://www.bnd.com/news/politics-government/article242962006.html
(FROM THE ARTICLE: Two parties in the lawsuit are George Pearson, the Will County Republican Committee chairman, and Steve Balich, a member of the Will County Board. Both claim the state’s restrictions “deprived” them of income. Pearson claims he cannot perform his duties to nominate candidates for the Nov. 3 general election ballot. Balich claims he cannot “effectively represent his constituents” or run for reelection.)

KANKAKEE DAILY JOURNAL
— ‘Freedom is important:’ Few hundred rally to demand reopening of region, state – Lee Provost
https://www.daily-journal.com/news/local/freedom-is-important-few-hundred-rally-to-demand-reopening-of-region-state/article_cd5dc5c8-9bcd-11ea-bd6f-ff3051750016.html

FOX ILLINOIS
— Pandemic halts vaccination for nearly 80 million children – AP
https://foxillinois.com/news/nation-world/pandemic-halts-vaccination-for-nearly-80-million-children
— Memorial Day spurs worries of spikes in cases while warnings come of second outbreak – Ahtra Elnashar
https://foxillinois.com/news/coronavirus/memorial-day-spurs-worries-of-spikes-in-cases-while-warnings-come-of-second-outbreak
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: Trump-haters say “Virus, economy, Trump and cash hamper GOP’s bid for House.”
https://foxillinois.com/news/nation-world/virus-economy-trump-and-cash-hamper-gops-bid-for-house

NPR ILLINOIS
— Evangelical Leader Cites ‘Growing Angst’ With Guv’s Covid-19 Response – MAUREEN FOERTSCH MCKINNEY
https://www.nprillinois.org/post/evangelical-leader-cites-growing-angst-guvs-covid-19-response#stream/0

WEST SUBURBAN JOURNAL
— Lightford announces $31.5 million in grant opportunities for historically underserved communities (DIERSEN: Why do some communities need more service than others?)
https://westsuburbanjournal.com/lightford-announces-31-5-million-in-grant-opportunities-for-historically-underserved-communities/

EVANSTON NOW
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: DISGUSTING, TRAGIC: Democrat push pot to push reparations.
https://evanstonnow.com/story/government/bill-smith/2020-05-22/84623/reparations-rally-promotes-more-funding

CHICAGO READER
— When it comes to pandemic planning, is the mayor responsive and collaborative, or dismissive and combative? – Dave Glowacz
https://www.chicagoreader.com/chicago/lightfoot-covid-19-funding/Content?oid=80102325&mc_cid=1a233b50a1&mc_eid=c968c7978e

CENTER SQUARE
— DISGUSTING, TRAGIC: Illinois has 9,176 legal cannabis industry jobs, study finds
https://www.thecentersquare.com/illinois/illinois-has-9-176-legal-cannabis-industry-jobs-study-finds/article_a61092be-9aa3-11ea-be40-07b038e94c45.html

ILLINOIS POLICY INSTITUTE
— ILLINOIS TOPS LIST FOR HARSHEST COVID-19 RESTRICTIONS IN AMERICA – Ben Szalinski
https://www.illinoispolicy.org/illinois-tops-list-for-harshest-covid-19-restrictions-in-america/

CAPITOL FAX
— 2,352 new cases, 75 additional deaths
https://capitolfax.com/2020/05/23/2352-new-cases-75-additional-deaths/
— Amendment introduced to allow remote legislating
https://capitolfax.com/2020/05/23/amendment-introduced-to-allow-remote-legislating/
— House approves gaming bill 77-32
https://capitolfax.com/2020/05/23/house-approves-gaming-bill-77-32/
— Sen. Dale Righter cleans up Eastern Bloc member’s mess
https://capitolfax.com/2020/05/23/sen-dale-righter-cleans-up-eastern-bloc-members-mess/
— IDPH stops reporting historical nursing home COVID-19 outbreak data
https://capitolfax.com/2020/05/23/idph-stops-reporting-historical-nursing-home-covid-19-ourtbreak-data/
— End of session cheat sheet
https://capitolfax.com/2020/05/23/end-of-session-cheat-sheet/
— New approp, BIMP amendments surface, casino push continues, cannabis bill hits a snag with Pritzker thumbs down
https://capitolfax.com/2020/05/23/new-approp-bimp-amendments-surface-casino-push-continues-cannabis-bill-hits-a-snag-with-pritzker-thumbs-down/

NEWSMAX
— Illegal Aliens Have Major Role in Food Supply – James Walsh
https://www.newsmax.com/jameswalsh/immigration-food-supply/2020/05/22/id/968538/

THE HILL
— Trump campaign: Biden remarks about black people ‘racist and dehumanizing’ – JONATHAN EASLEY
https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/499143-trump-campaign-biden-remarks-about-black-people-racist-and-dehumanizing
— Trump escalates fight against mail-in voting – BRETT SAMUELS
https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/499269-trump-escalates-fight-against-mail-in-voting

NBC NEWS
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: Trump-haters say “More Americans are souring on Trump’s coronavirus handling.”
https://www.aol.com/article/news/2020/05/22/more-americans-are-souring-on-trumps-coronavirus-handling-new-polling-shows/24389274/

NEW YORK TIMES
— Biden’s ‘Breakfast Club’ Controversy Shows What His Rivals Already Knew – Tariro Mzezewa
https://www.nytimes.com/2020/05/23/us/politics/joe-biden-breakfast-club.html

BLOOMBERG LAW
— DISGUSTING, TRAGIC: Cannabis Binge in Quarantine Lifts Hope for Federal Legalization – Patrick T. Fallon/
https://news.bloomberglaw.com/coronavirus/quarantined-americans-embrace-cannabis-reshaping-an-industry

JD SUPRA
— Seven Things To Consider When An Employee Refuses To Return to Work (DIERSEN: What percent of employees will use coronavirus to refuse to return to work until their employer gets rid of all its employees who are older, obese, and/or have health problems including diabetes? What percent of members of organizations will use coronavirus to refuse to stay a member until the organization gets rid of all its members who are older, obese, and/or have health problems including diabetes?)
https://www.jdsupra.com/legalnews/seven-things-to-consider-when-an-45827/

ACLU
— America, It Is Time to Talk About Reparations – Jeffery Robinson (DIERSEN: If the leaders of your municipality imposed reparations, which residents would they require to pay the most reparations – those who are Trump supporters, Protestant, conservative, patriotic, Republican, American, White, male, older, heterosexual, non-poor, gun owners, German American, draft avoiders, and/or those whose ancestors have been in America for a long time?)
https://www.aclu.org/news/racial-justice/america-it-is-time-to-talk-about-reparations/

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.