May 26 Evening Edition

ABC7
— Coronavirus Illinois: COVID-19 cases top 113K with over 4.9K deaths; IL may be entering ‘downward trend’ of deaths, Dr. Ezike Ngozi says Most Illinois businesses ready to reopen Friday – Craig Wall
https://abc7chicago.com/business/illinois-may-be-entering-downward-trend-of-covid-19-deaths/6213053/
— In a first, Twitter adds fact-check warnings to Trump tweets about mail-in voting – AP
https://abc7chicago.com/politics/in-a-first-twitter-adds-fact-check-warnings-to-trump-tweets/6213505/

NBC5
— 1,178 New Coronavirus Cases Reported in Illinois as Deaths Near 5,000 As of Tuesday, all four of Illinois’ health regions remained on track to enter the third phase of reopening on May 29, one day before the end of the statewide stay-at-home order
https://www.nbcchicago.com/news/local/1178-new-coronavirus-cases-reported-in-illinois-as-deaths-near-5000/2278209/

CBS2
— Chicago To Spend $56 Million Hiring Hundreds Of COVID-19 Contact Tracers – Dana Kozlov
https://chicago.cbslocal.com/2020/05/26/chicago-to-spend-56-million-hiring-hundreds-of-covid-19-contact-tracers/

FOX NEWS CHICAGO
— May 10 to May 16 was first week where Illinois COVID-19 deaths were lower than previous week
https://www.fox32chicago.com/news/may-10-to-may-16-was-first-week-where-illinois-covid-19-deaths-were-lower-than-previous-week

WTTW
— Special Session Recap: Casinos and Curbside Cocktails, No Hearings on Restore Illinois Plan – Amanda Vinicky
https://news.wttw.com/2020/05/26/special-session-recap-casinos-and-curbside-cocktails-no-hearings-restore-illinois-plan

WGN RADIO
— House Republican Leader Jim Durkin on Illinois passing budget, Chicago casino changes
https://wgnradio.com/roe-conn/house-republican-leader-jim-durkin-on-illinois-passing-budget-chicago-casino-changes/

CHICAGO TRIBUNE
— Joe Biden calls Trump a ‘fool’ for mocking face masks during coronavirus pandemic – AP
https://www.chicagotribune.com/coronavirus/ct-nw-joe-biden-trump-mask-coronavirus-20200527-vsthlqtrh5dzxnby7zthbmrcsq-story.html
— Mayor scolds new police superintendent after Chicago sees most violent Memorial Day weekend in five years: ‘Whatever the strategy is, it didn’t work. … We have to do better’ – JEREMY GORNER and PAIGE FRY
https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/breaking/ct-memorial-day-violence-chicago-police-20200526-6d6bceldqnccbp2xkdj5rfnrjm-story.html
— Kinzinger calls out Trump in tweet
https://www.chicagotribune.com/politics/ct-the-spin-memorial-day-violence-lightfoot-20200526-wyilzgxgcbggncerqfeibs76au-story.html

CHICAGO SUN-TIMES
— Lightfoot: Memorial Day weekend’s violent ‘bloodbath’ was a ‘fail’ by city’s new top cop “People are feeling restless after being cooped up for weeks,” Chicago Police Supt. David Brown said of crowds that gathered on the South and West sides. – Fran Spielman and Mitch Dudek
https://chicago.suntimes.com/crime/2020/5/26/21270626/chicago-police-stay-home-order-shootings-violence-memorial-day-brown-lightfoot
— Chicago moves to create 600-strong army of contact tracers to fight coronavirus Community groups designated by the city will be charged with recruiting, training, hiring and supporting the contact tracers, supervisors and referral coordinators who will have the capacity to trace 4,500 new contacts each day. – Fran Spielman
https://chicago.suntimes.com/city-hall/2020/5/26/21270648/coronavirus-contact-tracing-patients-testing-covid-19-lightfoot-chicago
— 39 more die in Illinois of COVID-19 as all regions of state set to move to Phase 3 on Friday Officials said the 39 deaths reported on Tuesday could be lower due to Memorial Day. There were also 1,178 new cases reported from 17,230 tests received. The virus remains in 100 of 102 Illinois counties. – Tina Sfondeles
https://chicago.suntimes.com/news/2020/5/26/21270964/illinois-deaths-covid-19-coronavirus-may-25-pritzker-testing

DAILY HERALD
— Deaths from COVID-19 close in on 5,000, but officials see downward trend – Marni Pyke
https://www.dailyherald.com/news/20200526/deaths-from-covid-19-close-in-on-5000-but-officials-see-downward-trend
— Elburn pub defies state, reopens for dine-in business with mayor’s blessing – Susan Sarkauskas
https://www.dailyherald.com/news/20200526/elburn-pub-defies-state-reopens-for-dine-in-business-with-mayors-blessing
— DuPage County expected to get COVID-19 testing site – Robert Sanchez
https://www.dailyherald.com/news/20200526/dupage-county-expected-to-get-covid-19-testing-site
(FROM THE ARTICLE: County board Chairman Dan Cronin announced during a board meeting that the county has reached an agreement with the state to form a partnership for a testing facility planned for the DuPage County Fairgrounds in Wheaton.)

CRAIN’S CHICAGO BUSINESS
— City aims for big boost in COVID-19 contact tracing Grant money is earmarked to train a 600-person workforce. – A.D. QUIG
https://www.chicagobusiness.com/government/city-aims-big-boost-covid-19-contact-tracing
— Chicago loses one of its biggest conventions The Radiological Society of North America will hold its RSNA 2020 annual meeting virtually, scrapping an event that was slated to bring more than 50,000 attendees to McCormick Place. – DANNY ECKER
https://www.chicagobusiness.com/news/chicago-loses-one-its-biggest-conventions
— DISGUSTING, TRAGIC: Pot pushers push pot.
https://www.chicagobusiness.com/marijuanacannabis/new-weed-shop-coming-near-north-suburbs

JOURNAL GAZETTE NEWS COURIER
— State Rep. Allen Skillicorn, R-East Dundee, wants to recall Illinois governor J.B. Pritzker
https://jg-tc.com/news/state-and-regional/govt-and-politics/illinois-lawmaker-wants-to-recall-illinois-governor/article_7175d898-f170-529f-ab96-1c07b7520302.html

CENTRE DAILY
— ‘Off the wall.’ Hundreds of bikers pack into Illinois bar defying stay-at-home order – DON SWEENEY
https://www.centredaily.com/news/coronavirus/article242993461.html

NAPERVILLE COMMUNITY TELEVISION
— DuPage County Board Discusses Open DuPage
https://www.nctv17.com/news/dupage-county-board-discusses-open-dupage/

ILLINOIS POLICY INSTITUTE
— METRA RIDERSHIP DOWN 97% FROM COVID-19 – Ben Szalinski
https://www.illinoispolicy.org/metra-ridership-down-97-from-covid-19/

ILLINOIS LEAKS
— Is Governor Pritzker desperate for legal justifications for continued executive orders beyond the 30 day limit? – KIRK ALLEN
https://edgarcountywatchdogs.com/2020/05/is-governor-pritzker-desperate-for-legal-justifications-for-continued-executive-orders-beyond-the-30-day-limit/
— Edwardsville/Glen Carbon Chamber of Commerce sues Governor Pritzker over closure order – JOHN KRAFT
https://edgarcountywatchdogs.com/2020/05/edwardsville-glen-carbon-chamber-of-commerce-sues-governor-pritzker-over-closure-order/

CAPITOL FAX
— Reporters actually take Skillicorn seriously – Was home on Monday – Warns of increasing hospitalizations in Wisconsin – Says USDOJ is “very much under the political thumb of the White House” – Next EO will continue eviction ban – Number of people with multiple tests “very small” – Asked about southern Illinois winery’s refusal to require staff to wear masks – Dr. Ezike doesn’t answer question about self quarantine for Illinoisans at Lake of the Ozarks – Repeats that legislature “abdicated their responsibility” on replacing his withdrawn IDPH rule – Will sign cocktail takeout bill when it reaches his desk – Dr. Ezike: “I can’t give anybody a COVID free pass” – Says legislature should’ve made more cuts – State will carry on if Pres. Trump cuts off National Guard – “No deal” on cannabis with his office
https://capitolfax.com/2020/05/26/reporters-actually-take-skillicorn-seriously/
— 1,178 new cases, 39 additional deaths – But Dr. Ezike warns that weekend numbers are typically “a little bit lower”
https://capitolfax.com/2020/05/26/1178-new-cases-39-additional-deaths-but-dr-ezike-warns-that-weekend-numbers-are-typically-a-little-bit-lower/
— COVID-19 roundup
https://capitolfax.com/2020/05/26/covid-19-roundup-43/
— Budget roundup
https://capitolfax.com/2020/05/26/budget-roundup-17/
— New Senate rule allows remote committees, limited remote floor voting
https://capitolfax.com/2020/05/26/new-senate-rule-allows-remote-committees-limited-remote-floor-voting/
— ISP: “We’re between a rock and hard place”
https://capitolfax.com/2020/05/26/isp-we%e2%80%99re-between-a-rock-and-hard-place/
— Before you get a haircut next week, consider this
https://capitolfax.com/2020/05/26/before-you-get-a-haircut-next-week-consider-this/

GOPUSA
— Georgia Gov Offers State As GOP Convention Host Amid Virus
https://www.gopusa.com/?p=89430
— San Francisco Sanctions Tent Cities For Homeless Complete With Meals, Security And Showers
https://www.gopusa.com/?p=89433

BLAZE
— The CDC confirms remarkably low coronavirus death rate. Where is the media? Will they ever admit the grave consequences of their errors? – DANIEL HOROWITZ
https://www.theblaze.com/op-ed/horowitz-the-cdc-confirms-remarkably-low-coronavirus-death-rate-where-is-the-media

THE HILL
— GOP governors jockey to elbow out North Carolina as convention host – MAX GREENWOOD
https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/499610-gop-governors-jockey-to-elbow-out-north-carolina-as-convention-host

WASHINGTON POST
— Twitter labels Trump’s tweets with a fact check for the first time The action comes after years of criticism that social media companies have allowed the president to push misinformation unchecked – Elizabeth Dwoskin
https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2020/05/26/trump-twitter-label-fact-check/

LOS ANGELES TIMES
— What happens when vulnerable employees return to workplaces? – RACHEL SCHNALZER (DIERSEN: What happens when vulnerable organization members return to organization meetings? One would expect that ever-increasingly, employers and organizations will discourage, if not prohibit, vulnerable (old, obese, and/or health problems including diabetes) employees and members from returning.)
https://www.latimes.com/business/newsletter/2020-05-26/coronavirus-older-disabled-vulnerable-workers-business

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.