ABC7
— $100k-a-year Chicago tree trimmers – BGA (DIERSEN: When did you start earning $100,000-a-year in to today’s dollars? I did in 1988 when I was 40 years old. By then, I had worked for GAO for almost 9 years, I had worked for IRS for almost 9 years, I had become a licensed CPA in 1981, I had passed the Certified Internal Auditor examination on my first attempt in 1981, I had earned a master’s degree in accounting from DePaul in 1980, I had passed the CPA examination on my first attempt in 1979, and I had earned an MBA from Loyola in 1976.)
http://abc7chicago.com/politics/weekend-watch-$100k-a-year-chicago-tree-trimmers/3429335/
NBC5
— Illinois Nightclub Institutes Criminal Background Checks at Door
https://www.nbcchicago.com/news/local/peoria-nightclub-institutes-criminal-background-checks-at-door-481839911.html
FOX NEWS CHICAGO
— Trump promotes ‘America First’ in Ohio ahead of primaries – AP
http://www.fox32chicago.com/news/trump-meets-ohio-supporters-highlights-tax-law
CHICAGO TRIBUNE
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: Those who encourage people to come to America illegally, to stay in America illegally, and to bring others to America illegally rally in Aurora.
http://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/aurora-beacon-news/news/ct-abn-immigration-rally-st-0506-story.html
DAILY HERALD
— Illinois legislators snub voters on fair maps again – Editorial
http://www.dailyherald.com/discuss/20180505/editorial-illinois-legislators-snub-voters-on-fair-maps-again
— Trump suggests US ‘close up’ to stop immigrants – AP
http://www.dailyherald.com/article/20180505/news/305059930/
SPRINGFIELD STATE JOURNAL REGISTER
— Illinois’ dilemma: Billions in capital needs, but prospects dim for funding plan – Doug Finke
http://www.sj-r.com/news/20180505/illinois-dilemma-billions-in-capital-needs-but-prospects-dim-for-funding-plan
— Legionnaires’ outbreaks prompt bills to mandate faster notifications – Maximilian Kwiatkowski
http://www.sj-r.com/news/20180505/legionnaires-outbreaks-prompt-bills-to-mandate-faster-notifications
PEORIA JOURNAL STAR
— Sorry, no amendments this year – Doug Finke
http://www.pjstar.com/news/20180505/statehouse-insider-sorry-no-amendments-this-year
KANKAKEE DAILY JOURNAL
— Neighboring towns subsidize Bradley – David Giuliani
http://www.daily-journal.com/news/local/david-giuliani-neighboring-towns-subsidize-bradley/article_3761e278-39ca-11e8-af16-4f248bf95341.html
NPR ILLINOIS
— Iowa Bans Most Abortions As Governor Signs ‘Heartbeat’ Bill – SASHA INGBER
http://nprillinois.org/post/iowa-bans-most-abortions-governor-signs-heartbeat-bill#stream/0
COLUMBIA CHRONICLE
— Immigrant workers protest on May Day, insist policy change – Savannah Eadens
http://www.columbiachronicle.com/metro/article_f77c1aaa-4ff1-11e8-8e55-2705b1a02d1d.html
WILLIAM J KELLY
— Flashback: Kelly exposes Rauner’s sanctuary state bill
http://www.williamjkelly.org/news/flashback-kelly-exposes-rauners-sanctuary-state-bill
JEFF BERKOWITZ
— JANUARY 2005 FLASHBACK: DIERSEN HEADLINE: Report on the January 15, 2005 Illinois Republican Party chairman election. (DIERSEN: I attended this event and I organized a candidate forum in the hotel the evening before the election.)
http://jeffberkowitz.blogspot.com/2005/01/
(FROM THE ARTICLE: During Chicago Left in Review’s episode a week before the Republican State Central Committee (“SCC”) election of a new Republican State GOP Chairman in Springfield on January 15, 2005 and during its shows that followed over the last two weeks after the election—the host and his panel chose to ignore the event. Not a mention– nothing, nada, zero, zip. The event attracted about 500 Republican activists, operatives, party functionaries, office holders and wannabees– including more than 150 County, Ward and Township Committeemen; State GOP Chairman candidates Andy McKenna, Jr., Steve McGlynn, Jim Oberweis, John Cox and Jim Nalepa. Andy McKenna, Jr., who is known for his father’s and perhaps his own fundraising prowess and business contacts and who ran in the Republican U. S. Senate Primary in 2004, garnering 14% and a 4th out of 7 candidates finish, won the State GOP chairmanship vote, primarily because of the backing of the Illinois Republican Party Finance Committee, i.e., in large part the Chicago Metropolitan Republican Business Interests and Donors. McGlynn, who had campaigned vigorously for the position, withdrew prior to the vote when he saw he could not get a majority of the SCC weighted vote. Nalepa, who drew acclaim and cheers from the assembled for his stirring speech, came in a very distant second to McKenna– who, in addition to the aforementioned money interests, had the New Republican Establishment behind him– Lahood-Kirk, for sure, and most likely Cross. Of course, the New Republican Establishment and money interests go together like ham and cheese.)
NEWSMAX
— Local Illinois Pension Funding Woes Raise Credit Concerns
https://www.newsmax.com/finance/economy/illinois-pension-funding-credit/2018/05/05/id/858532/
ONE NEWS NOW
— 39% of colleges have 0 Republican professors – Michael F. Haverluck
https://www.onenewsnow.com/education/2018/05/05/39-of-colleges-have-0-republican-professors
HUMAN EVENTS
— JANUARY 2005 FLASHBACK: DIERSEN HEADLINE: John Gizzi report on the January 15, 2005 Illinois Republican Party chairman election. (DIERSEN: I attended this event and I organized a candidate forum in the hotel the evening before the election.)
http://humanevents.com/2005/01/28/politics-2005-week-of-january-31/
(FROM THE ARTICLE: McKenna Takes ‘The Titanic’ There really was no surprise when the State Central Committee of the Illinois Republican Party met in Springfield January (15) to elect a new party chairman. Although more than 500 county party leaders, GOP activists, and reporters jammed the Renaissance Hotel, the chairmanship was being decided by just the 19 SCC members–all of whom had weighted votes–in executive session. Thus, while Chicago businessman and onetime GOP U.S. House hopeful Jim Nalepa held the crowd spellbound with his presentation and his call for beginning the meeting with the under-attack Pledge of Allegiance, the SCC gave 86% of its votes to rival Andy McKenna, Jr. and made him chairman. (Two other contenders, state Vice Chairman Steve McGlynn and Cook County GOP Chairman Gary Skoien, withdrew before the vote). The chief executive officer of the Schwarz Paper Co. and third-place finisher in the Republican Senate primary last year, McKenna is considered a strong conservative who makes no bones about his pro-life stance. His position is in sharp contrast to that of the outgoing chairman (and lone GOPer in statewide office), Treasurer Judy Baar Topinka, long criticized by party conservatives. A successful businessman and proven fund-raiser (he raised more than $2 million for his Senate bid), McKenna is also light years removed from the old statehouse gang of Republicans who are presently targets of corruption probes. Asked by reporters about how the Illinois GOP–which lost both a Senate and U.S. House seat last fall as well as the state’s electoral votes–could withstand the racketeering trial of former Republican Gov. (1998-2002) George Ryan, the chairman-elect replied: “The people in the Ryan trial are not part of this party.” Although many conservatives praised McKenna as a fresh leader, others were critical of his failure so far to denounce the Democratic machine of Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley or to hint that he would fire any of the Topinka staff at state party headquarters. Many conservatives do not like the selective, back-room mechanism for choosing a chairman, convinced that had a new state convention been called with delegates more representative of the party grass-roots, Nalepa and his magnetic speaking style would have carried the day. Jack Roeser, head of the conservative Renew Illinois group, led a delegation to Springfield to demand that the SCC refuse to elect a chairman and that a new convention be called for this task. Prior to the vote, Roeser hinted to me that he and his allies on the right might well pursue a change of the party rules to permit such a convention and a vote on party officers–especially on Roeser’s longtime arch-enemy, Republican National Committeeman Robert Kjellander. As for Nalepa, Chicago political strategist Bill Pascoe told me that Nalepa’s remarks “wowed the crowd” and that his “moving around the room with a microphone, Elizabeth Dole-style, was visually riveting.” Pascoe noted that the former U.S. Army ranger was unrecognized by most Republicans two months ago. “But after this campaign for chairman,” he added, “there are a number of leading Republicans trying to figure out how to put Jim Nalepa to good use for a party in desperate need of new leadership.” Hinting strongly that the runner-up would yet have his day in the sun, Illinois political blogger par excellence Jeff Berkowitz concluded: “Andy McKenna, Jr., was elected this afternoon. … Jim Nalepa, who won the hearts and minds of many in the one hour or so public portion of the Republican State Central Committee meeting, came in second. …”)
THE HILL
— Younger lawmakers ignite new push for term limits – MELANIE ZANONA (DIERSEN: Term limits are similar to “up-or-out.” Were you faced with “up-or-out?” Non-veteran White male federal employees are “out” if they do not make GS-13 (currently $96,403) by age 25, GS-14 (currently $113,920) by age 30, GS-15 (currently $134,000) by age 35, and Senior Executive Service (currently $164,200) by age 40.)
http://thehill.com/homenews/house/386283-younger-lawmakers-ignite-new-push-for-term-limits
WALL STREET JOURNAL
— Trump Turns to Outsiders, Not White House Staff, for Key Advice – Michael C. Bender and Peter Nicholas
https://www.wsj.com/articles/trump-turns-to-outsiders-not-white-house-staff-for-key-advice-1525476592
FORBES
— Sure, Unemployment Went Down – Because More People Left The Workforce, Erik Sherman
https://www.forbes.com/sites/eriksherman/2018/05/05/sure-unemployment-went-down-because-the-number-of-people-working-did/#24af27af408b
