May 4 Evening Edition

ABC7
— Coronavirus Illinois: COVID-19 cases surpass 63K with 2.6K deaths; Gov. Pritzker threatens ‘more stringent lockdown’ if people continue to defy stay-at-home order Illinois reports lowest daily COVID-19 death toll in weeks – Craig Wall and Eric Horng
https://abc7chicago.com/society/illinois-reports-lowest-daily-covid-19-death-toll-in-weeks-/6149954/

NBC5
— Illinois Reports 2,341 New Coronavirus Cases, Lifting State Total to 63,840 Pritzker has urged residents to focus on the state’s positivity rate
https://www.nbcchicago.com/news/coronavirus/illinois-reports-2341-new-coronavirus-cases-lifting-state-total-to-63840/2266256/
— Illinois May Reopen Region-by-Region, But Not in a Typical Way Pritzker previously stated that regions could reopen by May 30 if they see a 14-day decrease in case
https://www.nbcchicago.com/news/local/illinois-may-reopen-region-by-region-but-not-in-a-typical-way/2266348/
— Central Illinois City to Allow Gyms, Salons to Reopen, Potentially Defying State Order It is not known whether state officials will look to stop the plan from being implemented
https://www.nbcchicago.com/news/coronavirus/central-illinois-city-to-allow-salons-gyms-to-reopen-as-part-of-phased-reopening-plan/2266351/
— Senate Reopens Despite Risks as House Preps More Virus Aid The 100 senators are convening for the first time since March – Lisa Mascaro
https://www.nbcchicago.com/news/national-international/senate-to-reopen-despite-risks-as-house-eyes-hybrid-return/2266235/

FOX NEWS CHICAGO
— Illinois reports lowest daily death toll from COVID-19 in 2 weeks – Elizabeth Matthews
https://www.fox32chicago.com/news/illinois-reports-lowest-daily-death-toll-from-covid-19-in-2-weeks

WGN TV
— ‘It’s unsustainable’: Author of Forbes article on Illinois pension liabilities Adam Andrzejewski talks to WGN – Elyse Russo
https://wgntv.com/news/its-unsustainable-author-of-forbes-article-on-illinois-pension-liabilities-talks-to-wgn/

CHICAGO SUN-TIMES
— 46 more Illinois deaths reported as daily COVID-19 case count hits 2,341 The state received 13,834 tests results Sunday. Monday’s new case count of 2,341 brings the state tally to 63,840 positive cases. The state now has lost 2,664 people to COVID-19. – Tina Sfondeles
https://chicago.suntimes.com/coronavirus/2020/5/4/21246930/coronavirus-deaths-illinois-pritzker-covid-19-confirmed-cases
— DISGUSTING, TRAGIC: Illinois’ high times keep rolling amid coronavirus pandemic as recreational pot sales top $37 million in April The total trails only the $39.2 million worth of adult-use cannabis unloaded by dispensaries in January, the first month the drug was legalized for recreational use. – Tom Schuba
https://chicago.suntimes.com/cannabis/2020/5/4/21247259/chicago-dispensaries-illinois-marijuana-cannabis-sales-recreational
— America’s road back from COVID-19 must begin with an end to the politics of division We suppose the thinking of ideologues on both sides, right and left, is that the pandemic offers them a unique opportunity to finally make headway on longstanding aims. But now, more than ever, we need unity, not discord. – Editorial
https://chicago.suntimes.com/2020/5/4/21246553/coronavirus-j-b-pritzker-springfield-demonstrations-protests-thompson-center-covid-19-editorial

CHICAGO TRIBUNE
— Illinois reports the fewest coronavirus deaths in two weeks, but Gov. J.B. Pritzker urges longer view in fight against COVID-19 – DAN PETRELLA, LISA SCHENCKER and GREGORY PRATT
https://www.chicagotribune.com/coronavirus/ct-coronavirus-illinois-hospitalization-20200504-5nof62gkv5bunlb2uo6fnuyuda-story.html
— DISGUSTING, TRAGIC: Illinois legal weed sales during the first full month of coronavirus lockdown amount to almost $37.3 million – ALLY MAROTTI
https://www.chicagotribune.com/business/ct-biz-illinois-april-legal-weed-sales-20200504-iiky2ctxlnhqxldazoerjnqtxm-story.html
— Chicago reaches 1,000 COVID-19 deaths, Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot says – GREGORY PRATT
https://www.chicagotribune.com/coronavirus/ct-coronavirus-chicago-1000-deaths-20200504-tk2ratkf6zefthkrfj6estcby4-story.html

DAILY HERALD
— Hospitalizations, ventilator use dip in Illinois; 46 more have died – Marni Pyke
https://www.dailyherald.com/news/20200504/hospitalizations-ventilator-use-dip-in-illinois-46-more-have-died
— Wheaton cancels Taste, Independence Day ceremonies
https://www.dailyherald.com/news/20200504/wheaton-cancels-taste-independence-day-ceremonies

CRAIN’S CHICAGO BUSINESS
— United plans to cut at least 30% of white-collar staff The layoffs would take effect Oct. 1. “The severe drop in demand and resulting reductions to our schedule mean we have to do everything possible to right-size our workforce in the near-term,” a message to employees said. – JOHN PLETZ
https://www.chicagobusiness.com/transportation/united-plans-cut-least-30-white-collar-staff

NEW CHANNEL 20
— Local schools: 25% of students not engaging in e-learning – Matt Roy
https://newschannel20.com/news/local/local-schools-25-of-students-not-engaging-in-e-learning

NAPERVILLE PATCH
— Safe DuPage to Host Panel Discussion on COVID-19 Community Leaders to Discuss Resources for Those in Need of Help Due to Pandemic – Kevin Coyne
https://patch.com/illinois/naperville/safe-dupage-host-panel-discussion-covid-19

CENTER SQUARE
— Preliminary state budget talks include calls for federal bailout, demands economy open back up – Greg Bishop
https://www.thecentersquare.com/illinois/preliminary-state-budget-talks-include-calls-for-federal-bailout-demands-economy-open-back-up/article_ce5a907c-8e27-11ea-9c04-bf29a2763c11.html
— COVID-19 puts damper on Illinois cannabis dispensaries – for now – Pat Morris
https://www.thecentersquare.com/illinois/covid-19-puts-damper-on-illinois-cannabis-dispensaries—for-now/article_9028121e-8e24-11ea-8c7d-c398274f6e36.html

ILLINOIS LEAKS
— McHenry County Chairman Jack Franks asked to explain his actions by the Attorney General Public Access Counselor – KIRK ALLEN
https://edgarcountywatchdogs.com/2020/05/mchenry-county-chairman-jack-franks-asked-to-explain-his-actions-by-the-attorney-general-pac/

ILLINOIS REVIEW
— ILLINOIS COVID SHUT DOWN PROTESTERS TO GOV PRITZKER: RE-OPEN ILLINOIS
https://www.illinoisreview.com/illinoisreview/2020/05/illinois-covid-shut-down-protesters-to-gov-pritzker-re-open-illinois.html
— WE WRECKED OUR ECONOMY FOR NOTHING
https://www.illinoisreview.com/illinoisreview/2020/05/we-wrecked-our-economy-for-nothing.html
— PANDEMIC SHUTDOWN COSTS FAR MORE THAN BENEFITS
https://www.illinoisreview.com/illinoisreview/2020/05/pandemic-shutdown-costs-far-more-than-benefits.html
— THORNER/INGOLD: PRITZKER SCRUBS HANDS AND CRUCIAL COVID TESTING DATA
https://www.illinoisreview.com/illinoisreview/2020/05/thorneringold-pritzker-scrubs-hands-and-crucial-covid-testing-data.html
— SEN. CRUZ SEEKS TO FLIP THE SCRIPT ON HOLLYWOOD’S KOWTOWING TO CHINESE CENSORS
https://www.illinoisreview.com/illinoisreview/2020/05/sen-cruz-seeks-to-flip-the-script-on-hollywoods-kowtowing-to-chinese-censors.html
— DI LEO: PLAYING THE CORONAVIRUS LOTTERY IN 2020
https://www.illinoisreview.com/illinoisreview/2020/05/playing-the-coronavirus-lottery-in-2020.html

CAPITOL FAX
— 2,341 new cases, 46 additional deaths
https://capitolfax.com/2020/05/04/2341-new-cases-46-additional-deaths/
— Pritzker defers to local law enforcement, mayors about policing EO – Promises more IDES details later this week – Discourages people from traveling to Indiana, but “people are free to to do what they want” – Explains regionalization approach – “As things are coming down more things can be opened up” – Repeats need for federal aid to local governments – Talks McCormick Place – Dr. Ezike had “a family matter” and couldn’t make it – “We’re headed in the right direction” – Hasn’t seen rent control bill – Could be civil liability for businesses defying EO – Businesses could risk insurance coverage for defying EO – Has privacy questions about Apple and Google contact tracing – Avoids question on special session – Need a lot more testing capacity to test all prisoners – One-day total isn’t a pattern – Hopes they won’t have to send in teams to test defiant parishioners – Chicago casino maybe this year – No data on store occupancy, mask wearing
https://capitolfax.com/2020/05/04/pritzker-defers-to-local-law-enforcement-mayors-about-policing-eo/
— COVID-19 roundup
https://capitolfax.com/2020/05/04/covid-19-roundup-31/

GOPUSA
— Why Democrats Love Voting By Mail: It’s Easier To Cheat
https://www.gopusa.com/why-democrats-love-voting-by-mail-its-easier-to-cheat/

BREITBART
— Conservative Jeanne Ives Takes a Shot at Illinois’ 6th District – JOEL B. POLLAK
https://www.breitbart.com/politics/2020/05/04/conservative-jeanne-ives-takes-a-shot-at-illinois-6th-district/

NEWSMAX
— Amb. Ron Gidwitz to Replace Sondland as Acting Rep to EU – Solange Reyner
https://www.newsmax.com/newsfront/ronald-gidwitz-gordon-sondland-european-union-ambassador/2020/05/04/id/966058/

CONSERVATIVE HQ
— Civil Disobedience Against Unconstitutional Lockdowns Spreading – George Rasley
http://www.conservativehq.com/node/32441

THE HILL
— Trump administration projecting 3K daily coronavirus deaths by June
https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/495971-trump-administration-projecting-3k-daily-coronavirus-deaths-by-june

CNN
— Key coronavirus model will revise projections to nearly 135,000 US deaths – Arman Azad
https://www.cnn.com/us/live-news/us-coronavirus-update-05-04-20/h_18a3fa30e62fa417f6402308aaf3c55b

NEW YORK TIMES
— Trump Administration Models Predict Near Doubling of Daily Death Toll by June
https://www.nytimes.com/2020/05/04/us/coronavirus-updates.html

WASHINGTON POST
— Treasury plans to borrow $3 trillion from April through June as enormous coronavirus costs pile up Low interest rates make the borrowing cheaper, but the new debt shows how much new spending outpaces falling revenue – Rachel Siegel
https://www.washingtonpost.com/us-policy/2020/05/04/treasury-coronavirus-debt-borrowing/

FORBES
— We’re Not All Going To Get COVID-19, But We Are All Going To Pay For It – Leon LaBrecque
https://www.forbes.com/sites/leonlabrecque/2020/05/04/were-not-all-going-to-get-covid-19-but-we-are-all-going-to-pay-for-it/
— The Truth About Post-Corona Retirement: We Simply Don’t Know – Elizabeth Bauer
https://www.forbes.com/sites/ebauer/2020/05/04/the-truth-about-post-corona-retirement-we-simply-dont-know/

RASMUSSEN REPORTS
— More Are Ready to Return to Work, Less Fearful of COVID-19 Risk
https://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/current_events/disease/more_are_ready_to_return_to_work_less_fearful_of_covid_19_risk

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.