September 18 Morning Edition

CBS2
— Chicago Mail Carriers Threaten To Stop Delivering In Some Neighborhoods Following Shooting
https://chicago.cbslocal.com/2020/09/17/chicago-mail-carriers-threaten-to-stop-delivering-in-some-neighborhoods-following-shooting/

WGN TV
— OUTSTANDING: President Trump announces ‘1776 Commission’ to promote ‘patriotic education’
https://wgntv.com/news/president-trump-announces-1776-commission-to-promote-patriotic-education/

CHICAGO SUN-TIMES
— U.S. attorney spells out rules of the road for legislators investigating Madigan: Go, until I tell you to stop Ron Safer — a former federal prosecutor now advising House Republican Leader Jim Durkin — called the letter a “green light to pursue all avenues of the investigation.” – Rachel Hinton
https://chicago.suntimes.com/politics/2020/9/17/21444259/us-attorney-telephone-committee-investigating-madigan-welch-demmer-durkin-comed
— To avoid ‘nightmare’ cuts, state leaders must fight for federal funds while balancing budget (DIERSEN: Instead of fighting Republican-led budget cuts during the 1980s and 1990s, the Democrats who ran GAO used those cuts to get rid of their employees like me who were Republican, White, male, and/or non-veteran who they had not promoted to GS-13 (currently $101,176) by age 25, GS-14 (currently $119,559) by age 30, GS-15 (currently $140,634) by age 35, and Senior Executive Service (currently $170,800) by age 40. Extremely few GAO employees make the aforesaid promotion deadlines.)
https://chicago.suntimes.com/2020/9/17/21443977/federal-stimulus-funding-pandemic-illinois-state-finances-budget-congress

CHICAGO TRIBUNE
— Kids with bulletproof backpacks provide bad but real optics for Chicago – JOHN KASS
https://www.chicagotribune.com/columns/john-kass/ct-bulletproof-backpacks-kass-20200918-72sy5ex3nvef5clnmpxir26zye-story.html
— Digging up unsightly family tree roots can unearth difficult questions, not satisfying answers – JERRY DAVICH
https://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/post-tribune/opinion/ct-ptb-davich-what-to-do-with-unflattering-genealogy-details-st-0920-20200918-66c4jpkptfggzccnctgr5vh3qu-story.html

DAILY HERALD
— Endorsement: Mazzochi for House Dist. 47
https://www.dailyherald.com/discuss/20200918/endorsement-mazzochi-for-house-dist-47

SUBURBAN LIFE
— Racist slur painted in front of NIU’s Center for Black Studies building (DIERSEN: Painting slurs against minorities promotes hatred against Whites, and especially against Whites who are law enforcement officers, Trump supporters, conservative, patriotic, Republican, American, male, older, heterosexual, married, non-poor, gun owners, Christian, Italian American, German American, draft avoiders, and/or those whose ancestors have been in America for a long time.)
https://www.mysuburbanlife.com/2020/09/17/racist-slur-painted-in-front-of-nius-center-for-black-studies-building/alfirl/

CHICAGO PATCH
— After Shooting WIU Needs Student Journalists To Keep Reporting Words of encouragement for the Western Courier, my alma mater’s independent student paper: Keep reporting, WIU needs you. – Mark Konkol (DIERSEN: I should write a book about those who done the most a) to stop me from sending out GOPUSA ILLINOIS emails and b) to stop everyone from reading those emails. Better yet, I should sue them.)
https://patch.com/illinois/chicago/after-shooting-wiu-needs-student-journalists-keep-reporting

ILLINOIS DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH
— Guidance on the Use of Masks by the General Public
https://www.dph.illinois.gov/covid19/community-guidance/mask-use
(FROM THE GUIDANCE: When to Wear a Mask: Everyone over the age of 2 who can medically tolerate a face covering over their nose and mouth must wear one in a public place when unable to maintain a safe distance (6 feet) from others.)

ILLINOIS POLICY INSTITUTE
— ILLINOISANS 51% MORE LIKELY TO BE LAID OFF, 21% LESS LIKELY TO BE HIRED THAN U.S. AVERAGE – Bryce Hill
https://www.illinoispolicy.org/illinoisans-51-more-likely-to-be-laid-off-21-less-likely-to-be-hired-than-u-s-average/
— ILLINOIS TOLLWAY SHOWS HOW POLITICAL PROMISES ARE EASILY BROKEN – Ben Szalinski
https://www.illinoispolicy.org/illinois-tollway-shows-how-political-promises-are-easily-broken/

ILLINOIS FAMILY ACTION
— The Democrat-Fomented “Color Revolution” – Laurie Higgins
https://illinoisfamilyaction.org/2020/09/the-democrat-fomented-color-revolution/

ILLINOIS FAMILY INSTITUTE
— Jerry Nadler and Kamala Harris Want More Drugs on Our Streets – Kathy Valente
https://illinoisfamily.org/marijuana-2/jerry-nadler-and-kamala-harris-want-more-drugs-on-our-streets/

ILLINOIS REVIEW
— WHERE’S WEYERMULLER? CATCHING UP WITH ILLINOIS CONGRESSMAN DARIN LAHOOD
https://www.illinoisreview.com/illinoisreview/2020/09/wheres-weyermuller-catching-up-with-illinois-congressman-darin-lahood-.html
— DATA SHOWS COVID-19 IS NOT AS DEADLY AS WE THOUGHT
https://www.illinoisreview.com/illinoisreview/2020/09/data-shows-covid-19-is-not-as-deadly-as-we-thought.html

CAPITOL FAX
— House investigative committee coverage roundup
https://capitolfax.com/2020/09/18/house-investigative-committee-coverage-roundup/

WASHINGTON TIMES
— Black conservatives rise to counter Black Lives Matter narrative: ‘Racism is dead, or damn near’ – Valerie Richardson
https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2020/sep/17/black-conservatives-counter-black-lives-matter-sys/
— Thinking twice about law and order: Riots now sway voters – Jennifer Harper (DIERSEN: To vote for Democrats is to diminish public safety.)
https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2020/sep/17/inside-the-beltway-riots-affect-voter-preference/
— Photo of maskless Vermont football players prompts criticism – AP (DIERSEN: Being required to wear a mask at Republican political events discourages Republicans from attending those events.)
https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2020/sep/17/photo-of-maskless-vermont-football-players-prompts/

WASHINGTON EXAMINER
— Biden swipes at critics who pointed out he doesn’t have an Ivy League degree – Naomi Lim (DIERSEN: According to my critics/opponents, their operatives, and their dupes, your degree is worthless if it is not from an Ivy League college.)
https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/biden-swipes-at-critics-who-pointed-out-he-doesnt-have-an-ivy-league-degree
— Trump ‘appeals to the dark side,’ Biden tells Jewish audience – David Mark (DIERSEN: My Democrat superiors in the federal government a) stressed to my many Democrat Jewish supervisors that I was a Republican, b) stressed to my many Democrat Jewish supervisors that I was conservative, c) stressed to my many Democrat Jewish supervisors that I was 100% German national origin, d) stressed to my many Democrat Jewish supervisors that I was a Missouri Synod Lutheran, and e) forced my many Democrat Jewish supervisors to take adverse actions against me.)
https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/trump-appeals-to-the-dark-side-biden-tells-jewish-audience

FOX NEWS
— Minneapolis City Council’s ‘hypocrisy’ amid crime uptick ‘astounding,’ GOP congressional candidate says ‘It just shows you how out of touch our City Council is,’ said Lacy Johnson and Joshua Nelson (DIERSEN: To vote for Democrats is to diminish public safety.)
https://www.foxnews.com/us/mn-congressional-candidate-city-council-police-crime-uptick
— Biden town hall on CNN blasted for too many ‘softball’ questions (DIERSEN: According to my critics/opponents, questions that I have asked RINO candidates in press conferences have caused those RINO candidates to lose elections. I should write a book about my critics/opponents, their RINO candidates, and why their RINO candidates lost elections.)
https://www.foxnews.com/us/biden-town-hall-on-cnn-blasted-for-too-many-softball-questions
— Black Lives Matter support slides 12% this summer, poll shows BLM had its broadest support right after the death of George Floyd while in police custody in late May – Bradford Betz
https://www.foxnews.com/us/black-lives-matter-support-slides

GOPUSA
— Facebook To Censor Groups That Violate Community Standards (DIERSEN: What about secrete Facebook groups that in your precinct, in your municipal district, in your municipality, in your township, in your county district, in your county, and in Illinois that promote hatred against those who are law enforcement officers, Trump supporters, conservative, patriotic, Republican, American, White, male, older, heterosexual, married, non-poor, gun owners, Christian, Protestant, Italian American, German Americans, draft avoiders (except Joe Biden and Bill Clinton), and/or those whose ancestors have been in America for a long time?)
https://www.gopusa.com/?p=95111

BREITBART
— Joe Biden: ‘No Deportations’ for Illegal Aliens Until They Commit a Felony – JOHN BINDER
https://www.breitbart.com/politics/2020/09/17/joe-biden-deportations-first-100-days/
— Joe Biden Falsely Claims Trump Never Condemned White Supremacists – JOEL B. POLLAK (DIERSEN: Ever-increasingly, hate-filled Trump-hating Trump-haters call you White supremacist, and even worse things, if you do not promote hatred against Whites who are Trump supporters, conservative, patriotic, Republican, American, male, older, heterosexual, married, non-poor, gun owners, Christian, Italian American, German American, and/or those whose ancestors have been in America for a long time. I should write a book about those who promote hatred against the aforesaid Whites.)
https://www.breitbart.com/2020-election/2020/09/17/fact-check-joe-biden-falsely-claims-trump-never-condemned-white-supremacists/

BLAZE
— Students at Skidmore College demand professor be fired for attending a ‘Back the Blue’ rally ‘Mob mentality’ – Phil Shiver (DIERSEN: I attended a July 4, 1996 Bob Dole rally in Wheaton and that made my Democrat GAO superiors, supervisors, coworkers, and subordinates furious. SEE: https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/politics/1996/07/05/dole-takes-pulse-of-the-heartland/913b56e4-dd07-4491-9bb3-7de45ad54d5f/ )
https://www.theblaze.com/news/skidmore-students-demand-professor-be-fired

CNS NEWS
— Biden Would Instruct Governors, Mayors to Mandate Mask-Wearing: ‘We Could Have a Fine’ – Susan Jones (DIERSEN: Being required to wear a mask at Republican political events discourages Republicans from attending those events.)
https://www.cnsnews.com/article/national/susan-jones/biden-would-instruct-governors-mayors-mandate-mask-wearing-we-could

NEWSMAX
— Cancel Culture Selective in Its Hypocrisy – Christine Flowers (DIERSEN: I should write a book about those who focus on canceling those like me who they cannot manipulate/dominate. I would focus on present and past leaders of Milton Township Republican Organization, DuPage County Republican Central Committee, Illinois Republican Party, Wheaton, Milton Township, DuPage County, Illinois, Wheaton Chamber of Commerce, TAPROOT Republicans of Illinois, Illinois Center Right Coalition, American Association of Political Consultants Midwest Chapter, etc.)
https://www.newsmax.com/christineflowers/surgeon-tumor/2020/09/17/id/987358/

LIFE SITE NEWS
— Undercover pro-life journalist Daleiden fights Planned Parenthood with Federal defamation lawsuit – Thomas More Society
https://www.lifesitenews.com/news/breaking-undercover-pro-life-journalist-daleiden-fights-planned-parenthood-with-federal-defamation-lawsuit

COLLEGE FIX
— As critics slam UChicago for black studies-only commitment, campus spokesman defends it – JACKSON WALKER
https://www.thecollegefix.com/as-critics-slam-uchicago-for-black-studies-only-commitment-campus-spokesman-defends-it/

THE HILL
— Trump announces commission to further ‘patriotic education’ – MORGAN CHALFANT AND BRETT SAMUELS (DIERSEN: Overwhelmingly, those who are anti-patriotic are also anti-law enforcement, anti-Trump, anti-conservative, anti-Republican, anti-American, anti-White, anti-male, anti-older people, anti-heterosexuals, anti-married people, anti-non-poor people, anti-gun owners, anti-draft avoiders (except Joe Biden and Bill Clinton), anti-Christian, anti-Italian American, anti-German American, and/or anti-those whose ancestors have been in America for a long time.)
https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/516941-trump-announces-commission-to-further-patriotic-education
— Biden says in CNN town hall that he has benefited from white privilege – MAX GREENWOOD (DIERSEN: According to my critics/opponents, their operatives, and their dupes, because of discrimination against minorities and because of discrimination against females, if I had been a minority or a female, a) UIC, NIU, Loyola, DePaul, and IIT would not have admitted me in 1966, 1969, 1972, 1976, and 1992 respectively, b) the Post Office, Firestone Stores, Oldsmobile, IRS, and GAO would not have offered me jobs in 1966, 1970, 1971, 1971, and 1980 respectively, c) I would not have passed the CPA and Certified Internal Auditor examinations on my first attempt in 1979 and 1981 respectively, d) IRS would not have promoted me in 1972, 1973, and 1974 and GAO would not have promoted me in 1986, and e) I would not have become a licensed CPA, Certified Fraud Examiner, Certified Government Financial Manager, Certified Financial Services Auditor, or Forensic Accountant in 1981, 1990, 1994, 1996, and 1997 respectively.)
https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/517005-biden-says-in-cnn-town-hall-that-he-has-benefited-from-white-privilege

ASSOCIATED PRESS
— Gulf between White House’s words, Trump’s actions on masks – DARLENE SUPERVILLE and AAMER MADHANI (DIERSEN: Being required to wear a mask at Republican political events discourages Republicans from attending those events.)
https://apnews.com/41dc3fc8f146db80754c8f5b2a474c98

CBS NEWS
— Barr compares coronavirus stay-at-home orders to slavery, dismisses Black Lives Matter – GRACE SEGERS
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/william-barr-coronavirus-stay-at-home-orders-slavery-black-lives-matter/

NBC NEWS
— Kroger sued for allegedly firing workers who refused to wear rainbow symbol The suit says the ex-employees hold a “religious belief that homosexuality is a sin” and accuses the supermarket chain of religious discrimination. – Sakshi Venkatraman (DIERSEN: How soon, if not already, will you be forced to wear BLM and LGBTQ symbols?)
https://www.nbcnews.com/feature/nbc-out/kroger-sued-allegedly-firing-workers-who-refused-wear-rainbow-symbol-n1240252
— Trump calls for ‘patriotic education,’ says anti-racism teachings are ‘child abuse’ “Our youth will be taught to love America with all of their heart and all of their souls,” the president said. (DIERSEN: Ever-increasingly, hate-filled Trump-hating Trump-haters promote hatred of America.)
https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/white-house/trump-calls-patriotic-eduction-says-anti-racism-teachings-are-child-n1240372

NEW YORK TIMES
— Trump Calls for ‘Patriotic Education’ to Defend American History From the Left At the National Archives Museum, the president warned against a “radical movement” that has emerged from “decades of left-wing indoctrination in our schools.” – Michael Crowley (DIERSEN: Ever-increasingly, hate-filled Trump-hating Trump-haters promote hatred of America.)
https://www.nytimes.com/2020/09/17/us/politics/trump-patriotic-education.html
— Princeton Admitted Past Racism. Now It Is Under Investigation. The Trump administration opened a civil rights investigation into the university after its president acknowledged the role of systemic racism at the school. – Anemona Hartocollis (DIERSEN: During the 1980s and 1990s, even though no minority or female had charged GAO’s Chicago office with discrimination, the Democrats who ran the office used Affirmative Action, Diversity, Inclusion, subjectivity in job assignments and performance appraisal, up-or-out, budget cuts, etc. to get rid of its employees who were Republican, White, male, and/or non-veteran who they had not promoted to GS-13 (currently $101,176) by age 25, GS-14 (currently $119,559) by age 30, GS-15 (currently $140,634) by age 35, and Senior Executive Service (currently $170,800) by age 40.)
https://www.nytimes.com/2020/09/17/us/princeton-racism-federal-investigation.html

WASHINGTON POST
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: Ever-increasingly, Democrats unite the following to defeat Republicans: individuals, organizations, companies, governments, and countries that are anti-law enforcement, anti-Trump, anti-conservative, anti-patriotic, anti-Republican, anti-American, anti-White, anti-male, anti-older people, anti-heterosexuals, anti-married people, anti-non-poor people, anti-gun owners, anti-Christian, anti-Italian American, anti-German American, anti-draft avoiders (except Joe Biden and Bill Clinton), and anti-those whose ancestors have been in America for a long time.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2020/09/17/identity-politics-can-help-biden-win-november/

NEW YORK POST
— Joe Biden says legal team thinks mask mandate is constitutional – Emily Jacobs (DIERSEN: Being required to wear a mask at Republican political events discourages Republicans from attending those events.)
https://nypost.com/2020/09/17/joe-biden-says-legal-team-thinks-mask-mandate-is-constitutional/
— Joe Biden makes multiple dubious claims at CNN town hall – Joshua Rhett Miller
https://nypost.com/2020/09/18/joe-biden-makes-multiple-dubious-claims-at-cnn-town-hall/

CINCINNATI
— Gov. Mike DeWine: Masks urged – but not required – for Trump rally, other political events – Jackie Borchardt (DIERSEN: Being required to wear a mask at Republican political events discourages Republicans from attending those events.)
https://www.cincinnati.com/story/news/politics/2020/09/17/masks-urged-but-not-required-trump-rally-other-political-events/3485784001/

ARIZONA CENTRAL
— Biden: ‘I’ve benefited’ from being white, offers stark contrast to Trump on race – Savannah Behrmann (DIERSEN: According to my critics/opponents, their operatives, and their dupes, because of discrimination against minorities and because of discrimination against females, if I had been a minority or a female, a) UIC, NIU, Loyola, DePaul, and IIT would not have admitted me in 1966, 1969, 1972, 1976, and 1992 respectively, b) the Post Office, Firestone Stores, Oldsmobile, IRS, and GAO would not have offered me jobs in 1966, 1970, 1971, 1971, and 1980 respectively, c) I would not have passed the CPA and Certified Internal Auditor examinations on my first attempt in 1979 and 1981 respectively, d) IRS would not have promoted me in 1972, 1973, and 1974 and GAO would not have promoted me in 1986, and e) I would not have become a licensed CPA, Certified Fraud Examiner, Certified Government Financial Manager, Certified Financial Services Auditor, or Forensic Accountant in 1981, 1990, 1994, 1996, and 1997 respectively.)
https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/politics/elections/2020/09/17/biden-says-cnn-town-hall-he-has-benefited-being-white/3489141001/

UNION JOURNAL
— Pennsylvania: Bill introduced to punish those who don’t wear a mask in public – Carlos Christian (DIERSEN: Being required to wear a mask at Republican political events discourages Republicans from attending those events.)
https://theunionjournal.com/bill-introduced-to-punish-those-who-dont-wear-a-mask-in-public/

WCJB
— Bradford Co. Middle School student told to take off “I can’t breathe” mask (DIERSEN: Being required to wear a mask at Republican political events discourages Republicans from attending those events.)
https://www.wcjb.com/2020/09/17/bradford-co-middle-school-student-told-to-take-off-i-cant-breath-mask/

DIGITAL MARKET NEWS
— Use Google Alerts To Build Your Links – Julia Delong (DIERSEN: Ever-increasingly, Google Alerts are to non-credible articles on non-credible websites written by non-credible authors a) who promote the Democrat Party, Libertarian Party, and/or Green Party platforms and b) who are anti-law enforcement, anti-Trump, anti-conservative, anti-patriotic, anti-Republican, anti-American, anti-White, anti-male, anti-older people, anti-heterosexuals, anti-married people, anti-non-poor people, anti-gun owners, anti-Christian, anti-Italian American, anti-German American, anti-draft avoiders (except Joe Biden and Bill Clinton), and/or anti-those whose ancestors have been in America for a long time.)
https://www.digitalmarketnews.com/use-google-alerts-to-build-your-links/

FORBES
— Trump’s $100 Million Mistake: How Retaining Ownership Of His Hotels Cost The President A Fortune – Dan Alexander
https://www.forbes.com/sites/danalexander/2020/09/18/trumps-100-million-mistake-how-retaining-ownership-of-his-hotels-cost-the-president-a-fortune/#9dfd70c5d7eb

GOVERNMENT EXECUTIVE
— OPM Isn’t Doing Enough to Prevent Political Meddling in Reassignments of Senior Executives, Watchdog Finds GAO reports that several agencies have made efforts to ensure that they comply with rules designed to prevent capricious reassignment of senior executives by political appointees, but gaps remain and OPM is unwilling to conduct oversight. – ERICH WAGNER (DIERSEN: My Democrat GAO superiors wasted my knowledge of IRS. In 1980, when I was 31 years old, after working for IRS for almost 9 years, the last 5 1/2 years of which at the GS-12 Step 1-5 levels, currently $85,084-$96,431/year, I transferred to GAO. My Democrat GAO superiors refused to assign me to audits of IRS except for 3 of the almost 18 years that I worked for GAO. They would not have done that if I had been a Democrat, minority, female, and/or veteran.)
https://www.govexec.com/oversight/2020/09/gao-calls-opm-conduct-oversight-ses-reassignments/168589/

NEWSWEEK
— Is the University of Chicago Requiring Loyalty Oaths from its Faculty? – ALAN DERSHOWITZ (DIERSEN: All my critics/opponents demand blind loyalty to them personally. They focus on destroying those like me who they cannot manipulate/dominate, who refuse to glorify and praise them, who refuse to pander to them, who refuse to serve as one of their operatives or dupes, and/or who refuse to give them money.)
https://www.newsweek.com/university-chicago-requiring-loyalty-oaths-its-faculty-opinion-1532685
— Want a Graduate English Degree from University of Chicago? This Year You’ll Be in Black Studies, Too – ANDREW WHALEN
https://www.newsweek.com/university-chicago-black-studies-english-ted-cruz-1532732

PBS
— Trump calls 1619 Project, critical race theory ‘propaganda’
https://www.pbs.org/newshour/show/what-trump-is-saying-about-1619-project-teaching-u-s-history

WASHINGTON MONTHLY
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: Ever-increasingly, since the Civil War, hate-filled America-hating America-haters, that is, Democrats, make it clear that Democrats hate America.
https://washingtonmonthly.com/2020/09/18/is-america-strong-enough-to-confront-our-racist-past/

METRO
— Police to patrol supermarkets and shops to ‘shame’ shoppers into wearing masks – Sam Corbishley (DIERSEN: Being required to wear a mask at Republican political events discourages Republicans from attending those events.)
https://metro.co.uk/2020/09/18/police-to-patrol-supermarkets-and-shops-to-shame-shoppers-into-wearing-masks-13289539/

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.