October 15, 2026 Evening Edition

FROM ILLINOIS CENTER-LEFT SOURCES

ABC7
— As the upcoming election approaches, efforts to engage young people in the election process are underway through this year’s “Teen Takeover for Democracy” initiative. DD: Will Democrat teens takeover your polling place? What is your municipality doing to stop Democrat teen takeovers?
https://abc7chicago.com/post/teen-takeover-democracy-voter-initiative-turning-suburban-chicago-high-schools-early-voting-locations/19940147/
— Palatine man charged with terrorism offenses in alleged shooting plot targeting Aurora Hindu temple. Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi says he, his family were at Aurora temple when suspect drove into parking lot. DD: Anticipate/expect that Democrat leaders will ever-increasingly blame Trump for Paporakis’ actions. Then again, anticipate/expect that Democrat leaders will ever-increasingly blame Trump for everything that is bad.
https://abc7chicago.com/post/palatine-police-give-update-thwarted-alleged-mass-shooting-plot-aurora-alexandros-paporakis-19-charge/19940093/

NBC5
— Mail-in ballots requested or sent in Illinois: 302,397 – 59% Democrat, 34% Republican, 7% other
https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2026-elections/early-vote
— Katie Zacharia did not pass California bar exam, senior administration official says. A Trump administration official argued that the White House press secretary could technically be considered a “lawyer.” Legal experts have disputed that argument. DD: I passed the CPA examination on my first attempt when I was 30 in 1979. I passed the Certified Internal Auditor examination on my first attempt and became a licensed CPA when I was 32 in 1981. I grandfathered in to become a I became a Certified Fraud Examiner in 1990, Certified Government Financial Manager in 1994, Certified Financial Services Auditor in 1996, and Forensic Accountant in 1997. My critics/opponents have always ignored/dismissed/belittled that.
https://www.nbcchicago.com/news/national-international/katie-zacharia-california-bar-exam-trump-administration-official/4003115/

CBS2
— Palatine teen charged in alleged mass shooting plot worked alone, targeted “known” Aurora Hindu temple.
https://www.cbsnews.com/chicago/news/palatine-il-mass-shooting-plot-aurora-hindu-temple-paporakis/
— Flock cameras removed from Elgin Community College campus. The school said staffers had to put bags over the controversial cameras after Flock refused to cancel their contract. DD: Illegals and other criminals are overjoyed.
https://www.cbsnews.com/chicago/news/flock-cameras-removed-elgin-community-college/
— Amazon launches new “personal AI” devices that can listen to your conversations and take notes. DD: Because my father had brittle type 1 diabetes from childhood, everyone advised him to avoid stress by not seeking a college degree and getting an office job. He took stenography, that is, shorthand, in high school. He worked in the office of a nasty chemical plant on Chicago Heights from 1940 until he died suddenly of heart failure in 1969 when he was 47 and I was 21. In today’s dollars, he never earned more than $76,000/year. After my wife graduated from high school, she worker as stenographer for the FBI for 2 years.
https://www.cbsnews.com/chicago/news/amazon-personal-ai-wearable-devices-bee/

FOX32
— DD: Democrat leaders promote their No Kings events this Saturday, October 17.
https://www.fox32chicago.com/news/no-kings-events-list-oct-17-2026
— DD: Democrat leaders promote Democrats.
https://www.fox32chicago.com/video/fmc-b36nrmz7asvxxxc3

WTTW
— Illinois Medical Debt Relief Program Surpasses $1B Goal in Two Years. DD: What did you do to avoid medical debt? For me, since I was 18 in 1966, and for my wife since 1978, to get 72% payment of our healthcare insurance paid for by the federal government, for almost 30 years, I put up with tremendous efforts by my Democrat Post Office, IRS, and GAO superiors to waste my career and to get rid of me. For Democrat leaders, federal jobs are for Democrats, and especially for Democrats who are minority, female, younger, and/or veteran.
https://news.wttw.com/2026/10/15/illinois-medical-debt-relief-program-surpasses-1b-goal-two-years

CHICAGO TRIBUNE
— Pritzker tax returns show $8.5 million income for 2025, no blackjack windfall; trust records still secret.
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/10/15/gov-pritzker-tax-returns/
— Editorial: Elizabeth “Liz” Doody Gorman for Cook County Board 17th District
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/10/15/editorial-elizabeth-liz-doody-gorman-cook-county-board-17th-district/
— US Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi and family were at Aurora temple when Palatine man tried to carry out attack. DD: Anticipate/expect that Democrat leaders will ever-increasingly blame Trump for Paporakis’ actions. Then again, anticipate/expect that Democrat leaders will ever-increasingly blame Trump for everything that is bad.
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/10/15/raja-krishnamoorthi-aurora-temple/

CHICAGO SUN-TIMES
— Gov. JB Pritzker reports $9.4 million income on 2025 tax returns — and no gambling winnings. Pritzker, who reported a $1.4 million blackjack windfall in his 2024 tax return, still enjoyed one of his strongest financial years since taking office, along with first lady MK Pritzker.
https://chicago.suntimes.com/illinois-governor/2026/10/15/gov-jb-pritzker-2025-income-tax-returns

DAILY HERALD
— U.S. Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi says he and family were at temple when Palatine man tried to carry out mass shooting. DD: Anticipate/expect that Democrat leaders will ever-increasingly blame Trump for Paporakis’ actions. Then again, anticipate/expect that Democrat leaders will ever-increasingly blame Trump for everything that is bad.
https://www.dailyherald.com/20261015/crime/congressman-says-he-and-family-were-at-temple-when-palatine-man-tried-to-carry-out-mass-shooting/
(FROM THE ARTICLE: U.S. Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi said he and his family were at the Aurora Hindu temple Sunday when authorities allege a 19-year-old Palatine man attempted to carry out a mass shooting there. “I am horrified that a white supremacist attempted to carry out a mass shooting targeting Indian Americans at the Hindu temple in Aurora where my family worships,” the Schaumburg Democrat said in a statement Thursday. Krishnamoorthi, citing information from Cook County prosecutors, said Alexandros Paporakis attempted to open fire on the Sri Venkateswara Swami Balaji Temple before his rifle jammed. Paporakis later told co-workers what happened and shared plans to try again, according to Krishnamoorthi, but the co-workers informed police, who arrested the suspect before he could return. Palatine police said Wednesday they arrested Paporakis Sunday evening as he left his home in the 1300 block of North Baldwin Court. Investigators later found a manifesto attributed to Paporakis entitled “Why I Fought: A.K.A. (Aurora Shooter’s Manifesto)” and containing statements expressing white supremacist and extremist ideologies, police said. Police said officers also discovered weapons, hundreds of rounds of rifle ammunition, tactical equipment, body armor and a patch containing imagery associated with white supremacist extremism at Paporakis’ home. Paporakis is being held in Cook County Jail facing charges of making a terrorist threat and unlawful possession of weapons. He is scheduled to appear in court Oct. 30. At a news conference Thursday, Palatine Police Chief William Nord said investigators identified a red Acura RDX registered to Paporakis entering the parking lot of the temple at about 12:25 p.m. Sunday then leaving 13 minutes later. “Our investigation has revealed, and it can be confirmed as of right now, that he has been alone in this plan,” he said. “He did reveal some details in the manifesto that he has been planning this for some time.” Paporakis has been living in Palatine with his mother for approximately year, but police had no previous contacts with him, Nord said. His mother has been questioned but is not cooperating with the investigation, he added. Authorities gave credit Thursday to the co-worker who tipped off police about the alleged plot. “I want to thank that individual for their bravery,” said Lucas Rothaar, the acting special agent in charge with the FBI’s Chicago Field Office. Krishnamoorthi said the case is an example of “how dangerous anti-Indian hatred and white supremacy have become.” “And we cannot wait until innocent people are killed to take these threats seriously,” he added. The Consulate General of India issued a statement Thursday thanking the “timely action by law enforcement authorities.” “We are in touch with members of the Indian diaspora and are monitoring developments,” the statement reads.)
— Hindu community ‘horrified’ by attempted mass shooting at Aurora temple.
https://www.dailyherald.com/20261015/religion/alderwoman-says-hindu-community-shocked-by-attempted-mass-shooting-at-aurora-temple/
— A jammed gun and Taco Bell workers prevented a possible mass shooting at an Aurora temple.
https://www.dailyherald.com/20261015/crime/congressman-says-he-and-family-were-at-temple-when-palatine-man-tried-to-carry-out-mass-shooting/
— District 128 gender policies questioned as violating rights of parents and students.
https://www.dailyherald.com/20261015/education/district-128-gender-policies-questioned-as-violating-rights-of-parents-and-students/
— Lake County officials warn against voting incentives: ‘We can only thank people with our words or a handshake.’
https://www.dailyherald.com/20261015/local-politics/lake-county-officials-warn-against-voting-incentives-we-can-only-thank-people-with-our-words-or-a/

WBEZ
— Meet Aaron Del Mar, Republican candidate for Lieutenant Governor of Illinois.
https://www.wbez.org/in-the-loop-with-sasha-ann-simons/2026/10/15/meet-aaron-del-mar-republican-candidate-for-lieutenant-governor-of-illinois

MUDDY RIVER NEWS
— U.S. Rep. Mary Miller warns that “Islam is inside the gate.”
https://muddyrivernews.com/politics/u-s-rep-mary-miller-warns-that-islam-is-inside-the-gate/20261012070534/

SPRINGFIELD STATE JOURNAL REGISTER
— Illinois has erased more than $1.4 billion in medical debt for nearly 700,000 residents through a state-funded relief program that has surpassed its original goal by more than $400 million. DD: What did you do to avoid medical debt? For me, since I was 18 in 1966, and for my wife since 1978, to get 72% payment of our healthcare insurance paid for by the federal government, for almost 30 years, I put up with tremendous efforts by my Democrat Post Office, IRS, and GAO superiors to waste my career and to get rid of me.  For Democrat leaders, federal jobs are for Democrats, and especially for Democrats who are minority, female, younger, and/or veteran.
https://www.sj-r.com/story/news/state/2026/10/15/illinois-medical-debt-relief-program-erases-1-4-billion-for-nearly-700000-residents/92261870007/
— Where does Pritzker rank among richest in Illinois? See the top 10. DD: Democrat leaders ever-increasing promote more hatred against wealthy people, except those wealth people who are Democrats.
https://www.sj-r.com/story/news/state/2026/10/15/top-10-richest-people-in-illinois-according-to-forbes/92178115007/

PEORIA JOURNAL STAR
— DD: Under the Democrats, anticipate/expect that ever-increasingly, the reliability of electric service will decrease.
https://www.pjstar.com/story/news/environment/2026/10/15/one-illinois-coal-fired-plant-is-exempt-from-new-rules/92223129007/

ELMHURST PATCH
— DuPage Sheriff James Mendrick Retiring Later This Year, Hints At Another ‘Home Run.’ He has worked for the sheriff’s office for three decades. His second term in the top job is ending.
https://patch.com/illinois/elmhurst/amp/35026035/dupage-sheriff-retiring-later-this-year-hints-at-another-home-run

CAPITOL FAX
— Afternoon roundup
https://capitolfax.com/2026/10/15/isabel%e2%80%99s-afternoon-roundup-615/

FROM ILLINOIS CENTER-RIGHT SOURCES

GOPUSA ILLINOIS
— Speakers at Milton Township Republican Organization’s October 14, 2026 monthly meeting included Stephanie Trussell, Robert Vrankovich, Gary Grasso, Sean Noonan, Carl Schultz, Grant Eckhoff, Isobel Michaud, Jim Zay, and Lisa Forst. – Dave Diersen
http://www.gopillinois.com
— What does your future hold for you in America, Illinois, your county, your township, your municipality, and your precinct? My future in America, Illinois, DuPage County, Milton Township, Wheaton, and my precinct is ever-increasingly bleak. That is because under the Democrats, there are fewer and fewer and few in the aforesaid a) who share my conservative values and b) who share my demographics. But my wife and I are not moving. My wife has relatives in Naperville and Chicago. All my ancestors have lived in northeast Illinois since 1844. My wife and I have lived in Wheaton since 1978. I earned a bachelor’s degree, three master’s degrees, six professional certifications, and a professional license in northeast Illinois. I have been the GOPUSA Illinois Editor since 2000. I have been a Republican Precinct Committeeman since 1999. – Dave Diersen
http://www.gopillinois.com

FROM NATIONAL CENTER-RIGHT SOURCES

WASHINGTON TIMES
— Feds sue to stop California from counting ballots of 20,000 suspected noncitizens.
https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2026/oct/15/feds-sue-stop-california-counting-ballots-20000-suspected-noncitizens/
— Ilhan Omar’s citizenship, marriages and finances give feds plenty of avenues to probe.
https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2026/oct/15/ilhan-omars-citizenship-marriages-finances-give-feds-plenty-avenues/
— Deport Ilhan Omar. Feds are closing in.
https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2026/oct/15/deport-ilhan-omar/

WASHINGTON EXAMINER
— AOC says Trump administration doesn’t want women attending college. DD: According to Google AI: “Approximately 54.5% to 58% of college students in the United States are female.”
https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/policy/education/4767993/aoc-trump-administration-women-college/

FROM NATIONAL CENTER-LEFT SOURCES

WASHINGTON POST
— Illinois congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi says he was at a Hindu temple during attempted shooting.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2026/10/15/illinois-congressman-says-he-was-hindu-temple-during-an-attempted-white-supremacist-shooting/

USA TODAY
— The press. DD: I have been the GOPUSA Illinois Editor since 2000. My critics/opponents have ever-increasingly done everything that they can to stop me from sending out GOPUSA ILLINOIS newsletters. Failing that, they have done everything that they can to stop everyone from reading my newsletters. I should write about my critics/opponents who have had their operatives and their dupes take the most/biggest adverse actions against me since 2000. I would focus on past and present a) leaders of the Illinois Republican Party, DuPage County Republican Central Committee, and Milton Township Republican Organization, b) Republican leaders of Illinois, DuPage County, Milton Township, and Wheaton, c) Republican candidates on ballots in my precinct, d) conservative leaders, e) religious leaders, and f) major Republican donors.
https://www.usatoday.com/story/opinion/2018/10/30/donald-trump-hatred-press-enemy-people-pittsburgh-shooting-synagogue-column/1817515002/

WALL STREET JOURNAL
— White House Press Secretary Katie Zacharia Didn’t Pass Bar Exam. Zacharia has previously referred to herself as lawyer in public appearances.
https://www.wsj.com/business/media/white-house-press-secretary-katie-zacharia-didnt-pass-bar-exam-714a484e?mod=hp_lead_pos5

SPLC
— DD: SPLC exists to promote more hatred against Republicans, and especially against Republicans who are conservative, White, male, older, Protestant, German American, and/or have ancestors who have been in America for a long time.
https://www.splcenter.org/resources/hopewatch/america-250-future-lessons-podcast/
https://www.splcenter.org/resources/hopewatch/young-latine-voters-midterms-florida-georgia/

FROM FOREIGN SOURCES

OUTLOOK INDIA
— ‘Deeply Concerned’: India Flags Anti-Hindu Hate After US Temple Shooting Plot Arrest. DD: Anticipate/expect that Democrat leaders will ever-increasingly blame Trump for Paporakis’ actions. Then again, anticipate/expect that Democrat leaders will ever-increasingly blame Trump for everything that is bad.
https://www.outlookindia.com/international/deeply-concerned-india-flags-anti-hindu-hate-after-us-temple-shooting-plot-arrest
(FROM THE ARTICLE: India flagged growing anti-Hindu hate in the US after a 19-year-old was arrested over an alleged temple shooting plot in Illinois. The MEA described the reported plot as racist and anti-Hindu, citing references to violence against people of Indian origin. New Delhi called for a thorough investigation, accountability and stronger measures to protect the Indian community in the US.)

AL JAZEERA
— US teen held over Hindu temple attack plot: Is anti-Indian racism rising? Illinois teen who allegedly said he ‘couldn’t wait’ to kill Indians is arrested over a Hindu temple attack plot. DD: Anticipate/expect that Democrat leaders will ever-increasingly blame Trump for Paporakis’ actions. Then again, anticipate/expect that Democrat leaders will ever-increasingly blame Trump for everything that is bad.
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2026/10/15/us-teen-held-over-hindu-temple-attack-plot-is-anti-indian-racism-rising

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.