It’s called me belligеrent, it’s took me for ignorant
But it ain’t never once made me scared just to be
Could you imagine just constantly worryin’
Kickin’ and fightin’, beggin’ to breathe?
State Rep. Emanuel Chris Welch released the following statement Friday:
“Today, acting on behalf of the Special Investigating Committee, I sent letters to Speaker Madigan, Michael McClain, Anne Pramaggiore, Fidel Marquez, John Hooker, Jay D. Doherty, Michael R. Zalewski, and Commonwealth Edison seeking their appearance before the Special Investigating Committee as requested by the committee’s Republican members. The committee will reconvene on Tuesday, Sept. 29 at 2 p.m. in the Capitol for this hearing.”
The Tribune has identified and interviewed the families of nearly 50 deceased health care workers in Illinois to chronicle the devastating loss of life and acts of heroism.
They include nurses, doctors, medical assistants, technicians, therapists and other support staff who clean rooms, serve food and provide security.
The dead worked in hospitals, nursing homes, private offices or on ambulance crews and in homes as health aides. Most were minorities, including those who were Black and by themselves made up nearly half of the 112 counted. Many had an underlying health condition that made them particularly vulnerable.
Some were near retirement or had delayed it as they refused to leave their careers during a time of such crisis. Relatives compared the dedication of their loved one during the pandemic to that shown by 9/11 rescuers who did not pause when facing danger nearly two decades ago.
My dad was in the Army for 25 years, but this place is my home. The people here are my friends, family and neighbors.
I grew up poor. I know what it’s like to pay for gas with change from the floorboards, wear shoes that are too small, to try so hard and come up against barriers you didn’t even know were there. And I know what it’s like to be trying anyway. So do all of you.
We need jobs and health care and health, and too many of us are struggling. We deserve more than Adam Kinzinger is giving us. I’m Dani Brzozowski and I approve this message.
President Trump won this district by 16 points four years ago. Bruce Rauner won it by 11. Secretary of State Jesse White has won it by double digits every cycle, but AG Lisa Madigan is the only other Democrat to have ever carried it, and that was by just 1.4 percentage points in 2014.
So, this may be a waste of time, but I’m still curious what you think.
Parents and students continue to put pressure on Gov. JB Pritzker to reopen schools and school sports.
Rallies were held Thursday in the northwest and southwest suburbs, including Orland Park. As CBS 2 Investigator Megan Hickey reported, parents said the status quo – rooted in precautions for COVID-19, is doing more harm than good.
Sources said the discussions were continuing Thursday night, and that the Governor’s office is at least reviewing these requests to return fall sports in Illinois.
I asked the governor’s office if the last line of the piece was accurate. “No,” was the answer.
IHSA Executive Director Craig Anderson joined Bloomington radio station WJBC-AM 1320 on Friday and shot down rumors that the IHSA, the Illinois Department of Public Health and Governor JB Pritzker are close to announcing a full return of fall sports, including football, girls volleyball and boys soccer.
“Well, there’s an insider out there that really truly isn’t an insider that’s really providing some false information to the media,” Anderson said. “And it’s quite unfortunate. That’s what I can share right off the top.”
Anderson said there has been a single phone call by Dr. Ngozi Ezike, director of the Illinois Department of Public Health, and Dr. Cynthia LaBella, who heads the IHSA’s Sports Medicine Advisory Committee. Anderson said the phone call was “simply a call for an invitation” and no follow-up has been made this week.
“While we hope in one facet it to be some progress toward us resuming more activities for our students that we’re currently offering at the present time, there is no movement and no further conversation other than that request to join and support IDPH in that communication and how they would return,” Anderson said.
With the U.S. gaining 1.4 million jobs in August and the national unemployment rate at 8.4% compared to the nearly historic high of 14.7% at the peak of the coronavirus pandemic, WalletHub today released updated rankings for the States Whose August Unemployment Rates Are Bouncing Back Most, along with accompanying videos and audio files, to illustrate which areas of the country have had the best recovery so far.
This report examines unemployment rates on a monthly basis, complementing the weekly analysis in WalletHub’s report on the States Whose Weekly Unemployment Claims Are Recovering the Quickest.
In order to identify the states with the best recovery in unemployment, WalletHub compared the 50 states and the District of Columbia based on four key metrics. We looked at the change in each state’s unemployment during the latest month for which we have data (August 2020) compared to August 2019 and January 2020. We also compared not seasonally adjusted continued claims in August 2020 to August 2019. Finally, we considered each state’s overall unemployment rate. Below, you can see highlights from the report, along with a WalletHub Q&A.
Unemployment Recovery in Illinois (1=Most Recovered, 25=Avg.):
• 168.32% Change in Unemployment (August 2020 vs August 2019)
o 691,640 unemployed people in August 2020 vs 257,769 in August 2019;
o 8th worst recovery in the U.S.
• 173.04% Change in Unemployment (August 2020 vs January 2020)
o 691,640 unemployed people in August 2020 vs 253,312 in January 2020;
o 6th worst recovery in the U.S.
• 597.74% Change in Not Seasonally Adjusted Continued Claims (August 2020 vs August 2019)
o 593,305 continued claims in August 2020 vs 85,032 in August 2019
o 19th best recovery in the U.S.
The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) today reported 2,120 new confirmed cases of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in Illinois, including 20 additional confirmed deaths.
• Cook County: 1 male 50s, 1 male 60s, 2 females 70s, 1 male 80s
• DeKalb County: 1 infant
• DuPage County: 1 male 40s
• Edgar County: 1 male 60s, 1 female 70s
• Franklin County: 1 male 50s
• Lake County: 1 male 80s
• McHenry County: 1 male 60s
• St. Clair County: 1 male 70s, 1 male 80s
• Tazewell County: 1 female 30s, 1 female 80s
• Will County: 1 male 70s
• Williamson County: 1 female 80s, 2 females 90s
Currently, IDPH is reporting a total of 270,327 cases, including 8,411 deaths, in 102 counties in Illinois. The age of cases ranges from younger than one to older than 100 years. The preliminary seven-day statewide positivity for cases as a percent of total test from September 11 – September 17 is 3.6%. Within the past 24 hours, laboratories have reported 61,918 specimens for a total of 4,982,856. As of last night, 1,481 people in Illinois were reported to be in the hospital with COVID-19. Of those, 329 patients were in the ICU and 149 patients with COVID-19 were on ventilators.
Following guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, IDPH is now reporting separately both confirmed and probable cases and deaths on its website. Reporting probable cases will help show the potential burden of COVID-19 illness and efficacy of population-based non-pharmaceutical interventions. IDPH will update these data once a week.
*All data are provisional and will change. In order to rapidly report COVID-19 information to the public, data are being reported in real-time. Information is constantly being entered into an electronic system and the number of cases and deaths can change as additional information is gathered. Information for a death previously reported has changed, therefore, today’s numbers have been adjusted. For health questions about COVID-19, call the hotline at 1-800-889-3931 or email dph.sick@illinois.gov.
* Press release…
The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) today reported 24 counties in Illinois are considered to be at a warning level for novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19). A county enters a warning level when two or more COVID-19 risk indicators that measure the amount of COVID-19 increase.
Twenty-four counties are currently reported at a warning level – Bond, Bureau, Cass, Clinton, Coles, Crawford, Cumberland, DeWitt, Edwards, Effingham, Greene, Jasper, Jo Daviess, Lawrence, Madison, Marion, Rock Island, St. Clair, Shelby, Washington, Wayne, Williamson, Wabash, and Union.
Although the reasons for counties reaching a warning level varies, some of the common factors for an increase in cases and outbreaks are associated with university and college parties as well as college sports teams, large gatherings and events, bars and clubs, weddings and funerals, long-term care facilities, correctional centers, manufacturing plants, schools, and cases among the community at large. General transmission of the virus in the community is also increasing.
Public health officials are observing people not social distancing, gathering in large groups, and not using face coverings. Some communities lack access to convenient testing before people become symptomatic. In some counties, local law enforcement and states’ attorneys are not enforcing important mitigation measures like social distancing and the wearing of face coverings. Additionally, some people refuse to participate in contact tracing and are not providing information on close contacts or answering the phone.
Several counties are taking swift action and implementing mitigation measures to help slow spread of the virus, including increasing testing opportunities, stressing the importance of testing to providers, hiring additional contact tracers, working with schools, meeting with local leaders, and educating businesses and large venues about the importance of mitigation measures.
IDPH uses numerous indicators when determining if a county is experiencing stable COVID-19 activity, or if there are warning signs of increased COVID-19 risk in the county. A county is considered at the warning level when at least two of the following metrics triggers a warning.
New cases per 100,000 people. If there are more than 50 new cases per 100,000 people in the county, this triggers a warning.
Number of deaths. This metric indicates a warning when the weekly number of deaths increases more than 20% for two consecutive weeks.
Weekly test positivity. This metric indicates a warning when the 7-day test positivity rate rises above 8%.
ICU availability. If there are fewer than 20% of intensive care units available in the region, this triggers a warning.
Weekly emergency department visits. This metric indicates a warning when the weekly percent of COVID-19-like-illness emergency department visits increase by more than 20% for two consecutive weeks.
Weekly hospital admissions. A warning is triggered when the weekly number of hospital admissions for COVID-19-like-illness increases by more than 20% for two consecutive weeks.
Tests performed. This metric is used to provide context and indicate if more testing is needed in the county.
Clusters. This metric looks at the percent of COVID-19 cases associated with clusters or outbreaks and is used to understand large increase in cases.
These metrics are intended to be used for local level awareness to help local leaders, businesses, local health departments, and the public make informed decisions about personal and family gatherings, as well as what activities they choose to do. The metrics are updated weekly, from the Sunday-Saturday of the prior week.
A map and information of each county’s status can be found on the IDPH website at https://www.dph.illinois.gov/countymetrics.
* Press release…
Governor Pritzker and the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) are announcing that Region 7, which includes the greater Will and Kankakee County areas, will return to Phase 4 of the Restore Illinois Plan today, September 18, 2020 at 5 p.m. This announcement follows weeks of close coordination between IDPH and local health departments, as well as a concerted effort by community leaders and residents to follow the additional mitigation measures implemented on August 26, 2020.
Region 7 moved to stricter mitigations following three consecutive days of a rolling positivity rate above 8 percent. As of today, Region 7 has reached the threshold to lift mitigations of three consecutive days of a rolling positivity rate below 6.5 percent, with today’s rate at 5.6 percent. This means that as of 5 p.m. today, indoor dining and bar service can resume along with larger gathering sizes as outlined in Phase 4 of the Restore Illinois plan.
“Today, Region 7 – Will and Kankakee Counties – will return to the standard Phase 4 of the Restore Illinois plan because residents chose to be all in for each other, for their small businesses, for their bars and restaurants, for their kids, for their neighbors,” said Governor JB Pritzker. “Let that be a testament to the power of a community that embraces doctor-recommended mitigations proven to reduce risk and slow the spread. We can’t outrun this virus, but with the tools we know to work – masks, distancing, handwashing, and respect for public health and each other – we can beat it back enough to keep our businesses open and our neighborhoods safer all at once. Don’t let up now, Region 7 – let’s keep this success going.”
“I want to commend and thank those in Region 7 for working together to reduce the spread of COVID-19 in their communities,” said IDPH Director Dr. Ngozi Ezike. “Moving from a greater than 8 percent rolling positivity rate to below 6.5 percent in a matter of weeks demonstrates how concerted efforts to reduce exposure risks through limiting large gatherings, increased masking and other mitigation measures can truly make a difference. It also shows how quickly the positivity rate can move, in either direction. Because of the speed in which the rate can change, we must continue to wear our masks, watch our distance, and follow the guidance in Phase 4 of Restore Illinois. It will take all of us working together to get through this.”
Over the last few weeks, IDPH has worked closely with elected officials and community leaders in Region 7 to slow the spread of COVID-19 and bring down the number of positive cases in the area, helping bring the region from a rolling positivity rate above 8 percent to 5.6 percent. IDPH will continue working closely with the region to ensure residents continue to follow the mitigations that remain in place and wear face covering to will help prevent another spike in cases.
* I’m taking the morning off to run some errands. I think I told you before that as part of being a responsible adult (first time for everything) I took Dr. Ezike’s summertime advice and am having literally everything checked out in case this awful virus comes back with a vengeance and we can’t make doctor’s appointments for non-emergency issues. What I didn’t realize is how long it takes to schedule some appointments. You can’t just bunch them up all at once. And it’s not just doctors. I also have like a half-dozen factory recalls on my truck that I never dealt with (oops), and my service appointment date is finally here.
Anyway, I’ll be back after lunch.
In the meantime, did you hear that the White Sox clinched a playoff spot yesterday?
* Whatever you talk about, please be nice to each other and keep the discussion Illinois-centric. You can use this thread to talk about any breaking news as well. Talk to you soonish.
Federal prosecutors gave the state House committee investigating Speaker Michael Madigan’s dealings with ComEd the “green light” to proceed on Thursday — but not without flashing a cautionary yellow light.
U.S. Attorney John Lausch wrote to the top state representatives on the panel — Democratic chair Emanuel “Chris” Welch of Hillside and Republican Tom Demmer of Dixon, telling them his office did not “have a general objection” to the House Special Investigative Committee seeking documents or testimony related to the federal probe of the utility company during the course of its proceedings.
But Lausch also set some parameters. The six-member panel can’t ask witnesses about their participation in grand jury proceedings or request they produce materials disclosing grand jury activity.
In the letter released by Republicans, Lausch also objected to the committee asking witnesses about any contact they’ve had with prosecutors or federal law enforcement related to the criminal investigation into the utility or to share information learned from the feds during the investigation.
And, should the committee steer too close to his own ongoing investigation into ComEd, Lausch said his office “might raise objections to particular testimony or document requests” as the two parallel probes go forward. Lausch said he was not currently raising that objection.
The Special Investigating Committee was formed after House Republican Leader Jim Durkin, of Western Springs, and two other Republican House members filed a petition Aug. 31 to commence disciplinary proceedings against Madigan, a Chicago Democrat and the longest-serving state legislative speaker in U.S. history.
Madigan was implicated in a bribery scheme when ComEd officials entered a deferred prosecution agreement with Lausch’s office in which they admitted that, from 2011 through 2019, they awarded no-work jobs and lobbying contracts to close associates of Madigan in an effort to win his favor for legislation that benefitted the company.
Madigan so far has not been charged with any crime and has staunchly denied any wrongdoing.
The legislative probe, however, is not focused on whether he committed a crime, but whether he “engaged in conduct which is unbecoming to a legislator or which constitutes a breach of public trust.” If his fellow lawmakers find that he did, disciplinary action could range from a reprimand or censure to expulsion from the House.
The partisan jockeying continued after Lausch’s letter came out Thursday. Welch issued a statement that said the letter “confirms our understanding that while this committee can call individuals to voluntarily appear, they would be limited in what they can discuss.” […]
“We also see clearly that Republican members of this committee attempted to go beyond what has originally been discussed with the U.S. attorney,” Welch said, adding that he won’t allow it to be “used as a stage for political theater.”
Ron Safer, the attorney representing Durkin through the process, said in a statement that Lausch’s office gave the testimony “the green light to pursue all avenues of the investigation, including testimony and documents, that were articulated in the petition.”
The six-person special investigating committee has an equal number of Democrats and Republicans. Authorizing a charge against Madigan would require a majority vote.
But there remain very different — and partisan — takeaways from Lausch’s guidance that will affect the tenacity with which the House panel will conduct its investigation into Madigan, who also chairs the state’s Democratic Party. The committee is evenly split between three Democrats and three Republicans.
State Rep. Chris Welch, D-Hillside, chairs the House panel and has accused Republicans of “using the committee as a political stunt.”
“Lausch’s letter today confirms our understanding that while this committee can call individuals to voluntarily appear, they would be limited in what they can discuss,” Welch said in a statement. “In particular, information underlying the deferred prosecution agreement beyond what is already public could be met with objection by federal investigators, and any further information collected by the federal government that informed that agreement is explicitly off limits.”
But that appears to contradict what Lausch wrote in his own letter Thursday.
“[If] a witness explained certain facts to prosecutors or federal law enforcement agents, we do not object generally to the witness explaining those same facts to the [committee],” he wrote. “We object, however, to questions about whether the witness shared those (or any other) facts with prosecutors or federal law enforcement agents, as such questions could reveal confidential information about the course of our investigation and could deter cooperation with our investigation by that witness and others.”
However, Lausch’s letter never stated that witnesses could not repeat the facts of their testimony or their recollection of events, only that they could not reveal whether or not they had already shared that same information with federal investigators, and also could not reveal what information federal investigators may have shared with them.
“We do not object generally to the witness explaining those same facts to the SIC,” Lausch wrote. “We object, however, to questions about whether the witness shared those (or any other) facts with prosecutors or federal law enforcement agents, as such questions could reveal confidential information about the course of our investigation and could deter cooperation with our investigation by that witness and others.”
After Lausch clarified his position in a letter on Thursday, Rep. Grant Wehrli (R-Naperville), who sits on the committee, said, “This is exactly how we interpreted the phone call. It is clear we can call witnesses and have testimony regarding the [deferred prosecution agreement]. The things [Lausch] requested we not ask about are things we have no intention of asking about.”
House Republicans said they intend to call Madigan, former ComEd lobbyists Mike McClain, Fidel Marquez, John Hooker, Jay Doherty, Michael Zalewski, and former ComEd CEO Anne Prammagiore to testify before the committee.
An Evanston resident for more than a decade, Daniel Biss has announced that he is planning to run for Mayor of the City of Evanston. He is currently a consultant for the Energy Foundation.
The RoundTable asked Mr. Biss five questions about his candidacy. His answers appear below.
Asked why he wishes to be Mayor of Evanston, Mr. Biss said, “We’re experiencing a long-overdue national reckoning on issues of racial justice, policing, and segregation — and Evanston is a progressive community that wants to be at the forefront of addressing these subjects. It would be an honor to spend the next four years helping our community make critical but difficult strides toward justice, and to lead our neighbors down that same path.” […]
The Mayor’s foremost duty, Mr. Biss said, “is to bring all of Evanston together. This means bringing in all voices to formulate a bold vision for our city, and then working relentlessly in pursuit of that vision. The Mayor must also lead the City Council to ensure that it is both a highly functioning legislative body and an effective instrument to transmit concerns from all nine wards. Finally, the Mayor must communicate very clearly and transparently with residents to ensure that when the City acts, everyone has a clear understanding of what is happening and why it’s happening — and this has to be done in a timely manner so that residents can weigh in when it still matters.”
* The Question: Daniel Biss’ mayoral campaign slogan?
Maggie Crotty is stepping down from her elected post as supervisor of Bremen Township for health reasons, officials said Wednesday.
Mary Margaret “Maggie” Crotty, 71, of Oak Forest, has been township supervisor since 2005. She previously held elected positions as a state senator, state representative and Democratic Party committeeman for Bremen Township.
“Right now Maggie doesn’t feel like she can continue,” said Rondal Jones, who serves as office manager and deputy clerk for Bremen Township and as an elected alderman in Markham. “We pray for her health.” […]
Crotty is credited with leveraging her political connections and influence in Springfield to benefit local communities after she retired from the General Assembly. Crotty helped secure $2.5 million in grants that helped pay for a new Metra station that opened in Oak Forest days before Christmas in 2013. […]
Crotty served 16 years in the state legislature. She served three terms in the House, from 1997 to 2002. She represented the 19th District in the Illinois Senate from 2002 to 2012. She was known for her work on health care and education legislation.
I knew her when she was in the legislature and covered her first race. She was part of the south suburban group that helped put the House Democrats back into the majority.
Unlike a lot of politicians, her smile comes from a real place. She was ambitious, but was also like everyone’s favorite aunt. Sometimes, I’d drop by her office just because I needed to cheer myself up. Maggie was the type of legislator who gave you hope for what that body could be. I sure hope this is a temporary setback. We need more people like her in this world.
Amid a flurry of complaints that the marijuana licensing process is flawed, Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s office announced Wednesday that his team will meet with those affected to address the issue.
“The Governor’s office is currently working to schedule meetings with interested stakeholders, however, meeting dates and times have not been finalized,” Pritzker’s press office wrote in response to a Tribune inquiry. “The goal of the Governor and the administration is to take time to ensure that the process is fair and equitable.”
Just 21 of some 700 applicants qualified for a lottery to determine who will get 75 new recreational marijuana retail licenses. Since the finalists were revealed early this month, state regulators said they have indefinitely delayed the lottery to review objections.
State Rep. La Shawn Ford said the governor’s office will meet with lawmakers who’ve objected to the process, including members of the Black and Latino caucuses. Many of the finalist companies involve politically connected or big-money businessmen, including former Chicago police Superintendent Terrence Hillard, and restaurant owner Phil Stefani, which critics say flies in the face of the program’s goal of adding marginalized newcomers to the largely white-owned industry.
A federal judge on Thursday rejected a bid by the Cook County Republican Party to block the state’s enhanced vote-by-mail program, rejecting as conjecture allegations that the program was a scheme aimed at disenfranchising GOP voters.
U.S. District Judge Robert Dow ruled the Cook County GOP also was tardy in filing its lawsuit in August seeking a preliminary injunction over the law approved in May as an effort to deal with the COVID-19 pandemic by offering an alternative to traditional in-person voting.
Dow’s ruling also noted existing state statute is aimed at preventing so-called ballot harvesting by political operatives, requiring a voter authorization signed on the exterior of vote-by-mail ballots that are dropped off to election authorities or at drop boxes as an alternative. […]
“Looking at the record compiled to date in this litigation, however, Plaintiff (the Cook County GOP) has provided no basis for concluding that its alleged harms are anything but speculative and therefore fails to demonstrate that ‘irreparable injury is likely in the absence of an injunction,’” Dow wrote.
The disputed measures include expanded use of secure ballot drop boxes and requiring officials to accept ballots without enough postage, among others. Republicans cited news articles and isolated cases of election fraud to back their claim.
But the allegations “rest primarily on unsupported speculation and secondarily on isolated instances of voter fraud in other states and historical examples from Illinois during the prior century,” the judge wrote. “Plaintiff cannot demonstrate either that it is likely to suffer irreparable harm or that it has some chance of success on the merits.” — Erik Larson
Illinois State Police (ISP) troopers responded to two separate Move Over (Scott’s Law) crashes in less than a 12-hour period. The first incident occurred on Sept. 16, 2020, at approximately 1:24 p.m. It involved an ISP squad car and multiple vehicles. The second incident occurred on Sept. 17, 2020, at approximately 12:37 a.m. It involved an ISP squad, an Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) truck and multiple vehicles.
On Sept. 16, 2020, at approximately 1:24 p.m., an ISP Trooper was blocking traffic for a commercial motor vehicle stalled ahead in the left lane on Interstate 55 northbound at milepost 257.5 (south of US Route 30) in Will County. The Trooper was seated inside of his fully marked stationary squad car with the emergency lights activated, when it was struck by a 2003 white Toyota pickup truck. The pickup truck vehicle failed to yield to the authorized emergency vehicle and struck the rear of the Trooper’s squad car. The third vehicle, a 2016 white Ford Econoline Van, traveling in the same location then struck both the pickup truck and the squad car. This impact then caused the squad car to be pushed into the left concrete median barrier before it came to rest in the left lane. The Ford van came to rest in the right ditch. The driver’s side of the squad car was then struck by a forth vehicle, a 2011 Blue Subaru SUV, as it attempted to avoid the crash.
The Trooper sustained serious, but non-life-threatening, injuries and was airlifted by helicopter to a local area hospital. The driver(s) of the Toyota pickup truck (serious injuries) and the Ford van (non-life-threatening injuries) were also transported to local area hospitals. The driver of the Toyota pickup truck, Alexis Magallanes, 19-year-old male of Berwyn, Illinois, was cited for a violation of the Move Over (Scott’s) Law, as well as the failure to reduce speed to avoid an accident.
On Sept. 17, 2020, at approximately 12:37 a.m., ISP District Chicago units and IDOT units were on the scene providing traffic control for a traffic crash that occurred on Interstate 290 eastbound at Austin Boulevard. While investigating the initial crash, a 2009 maroon Acura drove through the crash scene at a high rate of speed and failed to yield right of way to the stationary emergency vehicles. The passenger side of the maroon Acura struck the driver’s side of the ISP squad car and the IDOT truck. The maroon Acura also struck multiple vehicles and three pedestrians, one of which was an IDOT maintenance truck operator. The impact from the crash with the IDOT vehicle caused the vehicle to strike the IDOT operator who was standing on the roadway at the time of the crash.
The driver of the maroon Acura, Terrance K. Barber, a 33-year-old male of Chicago, IL, fled the scene of the crash on foot and was apprehended a short time later. The operator of the IDOT maintenance truck, a 46-year-old male, was transported to a local area hospital with serious, but non-life-threatening, injuries. Barber was transported to a local area hospital with minor injuries and later released. Barber was arrested and charged with aggravated driving under the influence, leaving the scene of a personal injury crash, failure to give information/render aid, driving while license suspended, failure to reduce speed to avoid an accident, operating an uninsured motor vehicle, improper lane usage, improper passing of an emergency vehicle, improper passing of an emergency vehicle causing injury to another, and improper passing of an emergency vehicle causing property damage to another.
“Our officers protect and assist the people of Illinois every day, just like these Troopers and IDOT worker were doing when these crashes occurred,” said ISP Director Brendan F. Kelly. “We will continue to pursue these offenders, but it hasn’t even been a week since I last stood by a trooper’s hospital bedside. And now we have two Move Over (Scott’s Law) crashes that occurred within less than a 12-hour period. I am relieved these troopers and IDOT worker were not killed, but I am sick and tired of our troopers getting hurt for doing their jobs because some people just don’t care. Everyone should pause and think for a moment about these selfless men and women, first responders and highway maintainers because they think about you and your safety every day.”
“Our workers are first responders who put their lives on the line making our highways safer and keeping the public out of harm’s way. At the end of the day, they want to get home safely just like everybody else,” said Acting Illinois Transportation Secretary Omer Osman. “These types of incidents are entirely avoidable if drivers practice basic common sense. Slow down when approaching first responders and work zones. Give them distance. Put down the phone. Don’t drive if you’re impaired. You could save a life – including your own.”
The ISP would like to remind the public of the requirements of the “Move Over” (Scott’s) Law, when approaching an emergency vehicle, or any vehicle with their hazard lights activated, drivers are required to slow down, and move over and change lanes if possible. In all cases drivers should proceed with due caution. The minimum fine for a violation is $250. A second or subsequent violation of this offense ranges from $750 to $10,000.
Lawmakers pay a political price when they raise everyone’s taxes, as happened in 2017 when resignations and voter backlash cleared out the General Assembly.
Giving the General Assembly a progressive income tax would be equivalent to handing them a blank check. They will be able to spend however much they want and selectively target different segments of the population for more taxes, reducing the number of angry taxpayers at any one time.
Emphasis added because, politically, that’s a main feature of this tax. Confining the anger to three percent of the population is more politically palpable than angering everyone. That’s why the top earners want to stop this from happening. I don’t blame them for guarding their own self-interest, but it is what it is.
The U.S. Attorney for the Northern District has responded to both letters from Rep. Demmer and Rep. Welch about the parameters of the Special Investigating Committee. Ron Safer, special counsel for the petitioner Leader Jim Durkin, released the following statement:
“The US Attorney’s Office has given the Special Investigating Committee the green light to pursue all avenues of the investigation, including testimony and documents, that were articulated in the petition. We are grateful that US Attorney John Lausch told the Committee that his office recognizes the SIC’s ‘separate and independent obligation to conduct its inquiry.’ We look forward to the Committee convening promptly to do this important work.”
Ron Safer is managing partner at Riley, Safer, Holmes and Cancila specializing in complex, high-stakes cases with a focus in white collar and civil litigation. In 1989, Ron joined the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Chicago and rose to Chief of Criminal Division, successfully prosecuting more than one hundreds defendants during his tenure.
Rep. Demmer’s letter, as well as the USAO’s response, are attached to this email.
To be clear, we intend to seek information – testimony and documents – from the following witnesses either through voluntary requests or subpoenas:
1. The testimony of Rep. Michael Madigan, about, among other things, the events described in the DPA
2. The testimony of Michael McClain before the SIC regarding, among other things, the events described in the DPA.
3. The testimony of Anne Prammagiore before the SIC regarding the events described in the DPA.
4. The testimony of Fidel Marquez before the SIC regarding the events described in the DPA.
5. The testimony of John Hooker before the SIC regarding the events described in the DPA.
6. The testimony of Jay D. Doherty before the SIC regarding, among other things, the events described in the DPA.
7. The testimony of Michael R. Zalewski before the SIC regarding, among other things, the events described in the DPA.
8. Testimony of current or former employees of ComEd or Exelon before the SIC regarding the events described in the DPA.
9. Document production of relevant materials by the individuals and entities listed in items #1-8 above regarding the admissions of ComEd contained in the DPA.
10. The issuance of document preservation letters to the individuals listed in items #1-8 above, or any other relevant individuals or entities.
* Your office has no objection to requesting certain identified witnesses voluntarily testify or produce documents. However, it was stipulated there would be an objection to any witness disclosing material information or documents related to the federal investigation or grand jury deliberations. Thus, your office would object to the Committee requesting testimony or documents provided to your office in connection with your investigation.
* Your office would object to requests for documents, information, or testimony from your office, as well as other federal agencies, regarding the facts and circumstances underlying the DPA. This includes confirmation of the names of individuals or entities who are identified only by descriptive titles in the DPA and its attachments.
* Your office requested that the Committee consult with your office prior to seeking testimony or documents from any individuals, other than those that have been identified.
*** UPDATE 1 *** From Chairman Welch…
State Rep. Emanuel Chris Welch released the following statement Thursday:
“The charge of the Special Investigating Committee is to investigate a petition brought by leader Durkin, which is based entirely in the federal government’s deferred prosecution agreement with Commonwealth Edison. U.S. Attorney Lausch’s letter today confirms our understanding that while this committee can call individuals to voluntarily appear, they would be limited in what they can discuss. In particular, information underlying the deferred prosecution agreement beyond what is already public could be met with objection by federal investigators, and any further information collected by the federal government that informed that agreement is explicitly off limits.
“We also see clearly that Republican members of this committee attempted to go beyond what has originally been discussed with the U.S. attorney. Once again, I will not allow this committee to inappropriately interfere with the work of the U.S. attorney, and I will not allow it to be used as a stage for political theater.”
*** UPDATE 2 *** Rep. Welch says he’s “looking at September 28, 2020 at 9am for the next meeting in Springfield.”
…Adding… More from Welch…
Working on invites now to all the witnesses on the list.
All i wanted was written guidance as has been done in the past. I got it. I think it’s clear. We will proceed.
* During an international pandemic, mass unemployment, often violent racial division, rising drug abuse, child abuse and suicides and God only knows what else, Rep. Allen Skillicorn (R-East Dundee) was asked this question by the Daily Herald…
Q. What is the biggest challenge facing your district and how do you propose tackling it in the legislature?
A. Lobbyists, patronage political workers, and significant Madigan funded special interests are already operating in McHenry and Kane Counties. The people of the 66th Legislative District need their local newspapers to report how much money has been spent by Speaker Madigan on my opponent.
* The Question: What would your answer be to the Daily Herald’s question?
Chicago attorney Carol Oshana represents landlords who mostly “own just one building” to supplement their income.
These small landlords, which Oshana called “mom-and-pop shops,” also known as single-family rentals, make up about 34% of the estimated 45 million renter households in America, according to the Joint Center for Housing Studies at Harvard University.
In the Chicago metropolitan area, as of 2018, single family rentals make up about 20% of the 1.3 million rental units, according to Joint Center for Housing Studies.
“My landlords are very desperate. They have [renters who] are working but don’t want to pay,” Oshana said. […]
“Tenants know big landlords will go after them and their credit. Small landlords can’t even afford lawyers,” Oshana said. “Also, big landlords don’t live in the building. Smaller landlords are harassed by their tenants who refuse to pay.”
..Adding… NBOA…
The Neighborhood Building Owners Alliance (NBOA) has been pointing out that we don’t ask grocery stores to provide free food, or pharmacies to provide free medication. We cannot ask the small businesses that provide neighborhood housing to provide free homes. That is jeopardizing their ability to continue providing stable housing, which is important for their residents and surrounding communities.
In other news, at [yesterday’s] briefing, Pritzker extended the state’s moratorium on evictions for another 30 days, citing the COVID-weakened local economy.
Illinois’ Black lawmakers are demanding reforms to the state’s education system they say is failing Black children.
The Legislative Black Caucus hosted a news conference at Chicago State University on Wednesday to discuss historical inequities in education that members said have unjustly held back Black children for generations.
“Changes needed for our students are happening too slowly,” said state Sen. Kimberly Lightford, D-Maywood. “We cannot afford to have another generation of students to be on the school-to-prison pipeline. We need to leverage this moment in time to identify bold measures that will reimagine our school system beyond the limitations of the programs we have tried in the past.”
In Illinois, 22 percent of Black students are ready for kindergarten, 15 percent can read by fourth grade, and Black students have a 75 percent graduation rate, Lightford said. Each of those metrics falls behind children of different races. […]
The members would later meet for a subject matter hearing on early childhood education.
Caucus members spoke in the Gwendolyn Brooks Library at Chicago State University. Rep. Nicholas Smith (D-Chicago) rode his bike around the campus as a kid and also graduated from CSU. Smith noted Chicago State was once the top local college for aspiring teachers, but that has since changed. Illinois has also dealt with a significant teacher shortage for several years.
“We’re taking a closer look at who’s teaching our children, and why our teachers don’t look like the children in the classroom,” Smith added. “So, when we think about the teacher shortage, we have to think about new and innovative ways to attract people to the teaching profession.”
[Rep. Will Davis] says it’s unfortunate recent events in the national spotlight led the caucus to this opportunity for change. However, he notes Black lawmakers are here and ready to deliver.
“The objective is not to just simply walk through the door, but to kick it wide open and really do what’s necessary to make sure that the education systems from early childhood to K-12, high school and secondary education…do everything possible to make sure that the education of Black people is acknowledged, recognized and put at the forefront.”
Advocates testified that income, health outcomes and crime rates of a given area can all be tied to the availability and access to quality education, as well as other factors such as accessible and affordable child care and after-school services. In Illinois, [Robin Steans, president of Advance Illinois] said, census tracts with a high percentage of Black residents tended to have schools that received fewer resources, had more vacant teacher positions and fewer counselors than other communities.
Potential actions to reverse these trends include, according to advocates, significant financial investment to provide affordable child care, pre-kindergarten education, literacy programs and other measures focused to give preference to low-income students and families that need resources the most. […]
During the news conference, [Rep. Will Davis, D-Hazel Crest] said the potentially expensive measures will need the support of his colleagues outside of the Black Caucus.
“While they’re saying they’re with us now, when the rubber hits the road we’ll see exactly where they are,” he said, without naming any specific colleagues. “They just have no desire to see the equity that needs to come about by assisting the black community.”
* WGN’s Ben Bradley interviewed former Gov. George Ryan about the death penalty and other things…
Ryan spent months meeting with death penalty opponents as well as the families of crime victims. They were on a collision course.
And there was a dark cloud hanging over the governor’s deliberations: A scandal from his days as Secretary of State called “Licenses for Bribes.”
“That was always the message I got from a lot of people during the investigation that I did it for a reason. I think I put a big X on my back as far as prosecutors and the government was concerned. They sure didn’t like what I did,” Ryan said,
Ryan is convinced his opposition to the death penalty inspired prosecutors to throw the book at him but Ryan’s own book includes a forward by author, lawyer and capital punishment opponent Scott Turow that reads in part: “To get the unpleasantries out of the way, despite my affection for Governor Ryan, I believe the evidence supported his conviction on corruption charges.” […]
Ryan talks about his time in prison.
“It was an absolutely waste of time,” he said. “Six-and-a-half or seven years. They could’ve put me on the street. They could’ve put me in some kind of public service, raise money for some kind,” he said.
The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) today 2,056 new confirmed cases of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in Illinois, including 25 additional confirmed deaths.
• Cook County: 1male 70s
• DeKalb County: 1 male 30s
• DuPage County: 1 male 30s
• Green County: 1 male 90s
• Kane County: 1 female 90s
• Kankakee County: 2 males 80s, 1 female 90s
• Lawrence County: 1 female 90s
• Madison County: 1 male 50s, 2 males 80s, 1 female 90s
• McLean County: 1 female 80s
• Randolph County: 1 male 70s
• Sangamon County: 1 male 50s, 1 female 60s
• Shelby County: 1 male 70s
• Tazewell County: 1 male 60s
• Will County: 1 female 80s
• Williamson County: 1 female 60s, 1 female 80s, 1 female 90s
• Winnebago County: 1 male 90s
• Woodford County: 1 male 90s
Currently, IDPH is reporting a total of 268,207 cases, including 8,392 deaths, in 102 counties in Illinois. The age of cases ranges from younger than one to older than 100 years. The preliminary seven-day statewide positivity for cases as a percent of total test from September 10 – September 16 is 3.6%. Within the past 24 hours, laboratories have reported 57,800 specimens for a total of 4,920,938. As of last night, 1,558 people in Illinois were reported to be in the hospital with COVID-19. Of those, 359 patients were in the ICU and 144 patients with COVID-19 were on ventilators.
Following guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, IDPH is now reporting separately both confirmed and probable cases and deaths on its website. Reporting probable cases will help show the potential burden of COVID-19 illness and efficacy of population-based non-pharmaceutical interventions. IDPH will update these data once a week.
*All data are provisional and will change. In order to rapidly report COVID-19 information to the public, data are being reported in real-time. Information is constantly being entered into an electronic system and the number of cases and deaths can change as additional information is gathered. For health questions about COVID-19, call the hotline at 1-800-889-3931 or email dph.sick@illinois.gov.
“Like so many, I’ve been reflecting on the injustices our communities of color, especially within the Black community, have faced for generations and thinking about ways in which we can address these issues and ways we can do better in Illinois to improve the quality of life of Black America.
“We are at a turning point, and it’s past time to take action. We know there isn’t one single source that has contributed to issues of inequality in our country and our state. We must evaluate all of our institutions to finally bring about the change that will make a difference. We must revisit issues with our criminal justice system, policing tactics, education system, workforce and economic opportunities and access to healthcare, among others, to bring about equity in the lives of Black Illinoisans.
“I thank the Illinois Legislative Black Caucus (ILBC) for advancing these difficult but necessary discussions. I believe it’s time we build on the legislature’s past efforts to meaningfully explore the issues outlined in the Illinois Legislative Black Caucus’ Policy Agenda, and I will continue to work closely with the ILBC to support their efforts to end systemic racism throughout Illinois.
“Along with my staff, I have had many conversations with Black Caucus members, community leaders, other elected officials and residents across the state to understand the pain, concerns and ideas for moving forward. I am committed to working with everyone seeking changes to address those recommendations and enact policies that finally start to provide equal justice under the constitution.”
* Recent news…
* Mayoral allies back out of ‘Back the Blue’ rally: Catanzara was incensed. “I can guarantee you we are going to find people to run against these aldermen. Enough is enough,” Catanzara said. “They listened to the squeaky wheels. They got a couple phone calls from their constituents [saying], ‘You can’t possibly go.’ Now, they’re gonna be cowards and … back out. Shame on them. Every single member of that committee should be at that rally. Every single one of ’em. We are gonna be paying attention to see who shows up and who doesn’t.”
The labor market’s recovery is showing fresh signs of losing momentum as persistently elevated applications for unemployment benefits show layoffs remain historically high despite summer hiring.
Weekly initial claims for jobless benefits fell by 33,000 to a seasonally adjusted 860,000 in the week ended Sept. 12, the Labor Department said Thursday. The number of people collecting unemployment benefits through regular state programs, which cover most workers, decreased by 916,000 to about 12.6 million for the week ended Sept. 5.
The coronavirus pandemic and related shutdowns caused both unemployment applications and payments to rise to the highest levels on record back to the 1960s this spring.
After sharply falling later in the spring and early summer, new applications have largely held steady since early August. The declining number of people receiving state benefits likely reflects that workers are finding new jobs, or are being recalled to old ones. But it also shows some workers who applied for benefits in March have hit the six-month limit set in many states.
The U.S. Department of Labor estimates 23,339 new unemployment claims were filed during the week of Sept. 7 in Illinois, according to the DOL’s weekly claims report released Thursday. […]
The Illinois Department of Employment Security reported 25,478 new unemployment claims were filed during the week of August 24 in Illinois.
IDES reported 22,406 new unemployment claims were filed during the week of August 10 in Illinois.
*** UPDATE *** IDES…
The Illinois Department of Employment Security (IDES) announced today that the unemployment rate fell -0.5 percentage points to 11.0 percent, while nonfarm payrolls added +66,000 jobs in August, based on preliminary data provided by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) and released by IDES. The July monthly change in payrolls was revised upward from the preliminary report, from +93,200 to +105,000 jobs. The July unemployment rate was revised upward from the preliminary report, from 11.3 percent to 11.5 percent.
The August payroll jobs estimate and unemployment rate reflects activity for the week including the 12th. The BLS has published FAQs for the August payroll jobs and the unemployment rate.
The state’s unemployment rate was +2.6 percentage points higher than the national unemployment rate reported for August, which was 8.4 percent, down -1.8 percentage points from the previous month. The Illinois unemployment rate was up +7.2 percentage points from a year ago when it was 3.8 percent.
The number of unemployed workers declined from the prior month, a -2.9 percent decrease to 695,000 but was up +182.6 percent over the same month for the prior year. The labor force was up +1.6 percent over-the-month and down -1.5 percent over-the-year. Confidence in the Illinois economy has grown in recent months. From January 2020 to April 2020, the Illinois labor force declined -4.6% (-294,000 individuals) and, yet, from April 2020 to August 2020, the labor force has rebounded 3.6% (nearly 224,000 individuals).
In August, the three industry sectors with the largest over-the-month gains in employment were: Leisure and Hospitality (+16,400), Government (+15,900), and Professional and Business Services (+9,900). Only one industry sector reported a payroll decline: Information (-1,400).
“As the unemployment rate steadily declines and confidence in the economy increases as more people return to the workforce, IDES remains committed to assisting those individuals still impacted by this pandemic and in need of unemployment services,” said Acting Director Kristin Richards. “In addition to providing unemployment benefits, the Department is also prepared to assist individuals with job training and matching workers with hiring employers to help as many Illinoisans as possible return to work to provide for their families and basic needs.”
“While it’s encouraging to see a continued month over month decline in Illinois’ unemployment rate, there remains much to do to bring more Illinoisans safely back to work and to rebuild our economy,” said Erin Guthrie, Director of the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO). “That’s why the Pritzker administration continues to prioritize critical investments that support our hardest hit communities and small businesses, like our recent $220 million expansion of the Business Interruption Grants (BIG) program, and hundreds of millions in additional ongoing assistance for our communities and our community employers. These investments will help stabilize our small businesses, enable our economy to continue to safely reopen, return more Illinoisans to work, and provide our economy the boost it needs.”
Compared to a year ago, nonfarm payroll employment decreased by -428,700 jobs, with losses across all major industries. The industry groups with the largest jobs decreases were: Leisure and Hospitality (-143,700), Professional and Business Services (-72,500) and Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (-53,400). Illinois nonfarm payrolls were down -7.0 percent over-the-year as compared to the nation’s -6.8 percent over-the-year decline in August.
The unemployment rate identifies those individuals who are out of work and seeking employment. An individual who exhausts or is ineligible for benefits is still reflected in the unemployment rate if they actively seek work.
* Will and Kankakee counties make up Region 7. From IDPH…
IDPH will track the positivity rate in Region 7 over a 14-day monitoring period to determine if mitigations can be relaxed, if additional mitigations are required, or if current mitigation should remain in place. If the positivity rate averages less than or equal to 6.5 percent after 3 days, the region will return to Phase 4 mitigations under the Restore Illinois Plan. If the positivity rate averages between 6.5 percent and 8 percent, IDPH will continue to monitor the region to determine if additional mitigations are needed. If the positivity rate averages greater than or equal to 8 percent after 14 days, more stringent mitigations will be applied to further reduce spread of the virus.
Region 7’s average positivity rate was 6.4 percent yesterday - the first time it’s been below 6.5 percent in a while.
“Masks, distance, hand-washing, enforcement — it all works, and Will and Kankakee counties are, so far, getting the job done. And we’re all rooting for them,” the Democratic governor said during a Loop news conference.
“Last week, I said that I was hopeful that region 7, that is Will and Kankakee counties, might become a testament to a community’s ability to turn their ship around,” Gov. J.B. Pritzker said in a news conference Wednesday. “I’m very happy to say my hopefulness hasn’t been unwarranted. Yesterday, region 7 brought its rolling 7-day average below 7.0 for the first times in weeks. Today, that number sits at 6.4 percent; the first day below our 6.5 percent benchmark, indicating a reduced severity of community spread.” […]
The mitigations were first put in place on Aug. 26, when the region hit 8 percent for its test positivity rate. If mitigations are lifted, indoor dining in Will and Kankakee counties could resume.
Will County was also removed from “warning level,” after being at that level from IDPH for several weeks.
The seven-county Metro East region has also improved of late, after being the first region in the state to have stricter rules put in place. That region surpassed the state-set 8% positivity rate threshold Aug. 11, and climbed to over 10% at one point, but sat at 8.9%, according to the most recently available data from the state public health agency.
Pritzker called that a “testament to the fact that these doctor-recommended mitigations can work if they are followed.”
The most recently-available state data showed suburban Cook County’s positivity rate at 5.5%, down from 6.3% days earlier, while Chicago’s rate stood at 5.1%.
Some of the other suburban areas were higher than the city, though they’ve seen decreases recently. The region that includes DuPage and Kane counties was at 5.7% and the region to its northeast including Lake and McHenry counties had a 6.2% positivity rate, down from 7% last week.
Safety precautions for the COVID-19 pandemic will be in full use during September Term, including time-specific entrances for visitors, temperature checks, floor markings indicating six- foot distances, limiting the number of individuals in each room, and regular cleaning of surfaces.
Six tempered glass dividers have been placed between each of the seven Supreme Court Justices’ chairs at the bench. Face masks will be required when moving from one location in the building to another, but once safely seated six-feet apart or on the bench with the dividers in place, Justices may remove their masks. Counsel may remove their face mask or covering once socially distanced and masks are not required at the podium during oral argument.
Lake County Republican Party Chairman Mark Shaw today called on former Democrat State Representative Lauren Beth Gash to resign as Acting Lake County Democrat Party Chairman for her role orchestrating the resignation of disgraced State Senator Terry Link. Link resigned one day after the deadline under Illinois election law that would have permitted Lake County voters, not party bosses, to elect his replacement on November 3, 2020.
“While the rest of the nation was honoring the victims and heroes of 9/11, Terry Link and Lauren Beth Gash presumably were plotting with their fellow Democrats to abuse Illinois State election law loopholes and deny Lake County voters the right to choose our next State Senator, opting instead to let Madigan’s “made men”, not the voters, make that choice,” said Shaw.
“The Federal Prosecutor should investigate as a potential violation of the federal law–Deprivation of Rights Under Color of Law. Illinois politicians have been playing these slimy games to prevent voters from choosing their elected representatives for far too long. There’s nothing like a flurry of Federal subpoenas to help the Democrats understand the difference between right and wrong,” he continued.
Shaw explained that Terry Link resigned exactly 27 months and 29 days before the end of his term to avoid triggering a special election for the State Senate seat. Had Link resigned a mere 24 hours later, Lake County voters, not Mike Madigan, would have been able to elect his replacement at the November 3, 2020 general election (source: 10 ILCS 5/25-6). Madigan’s, Link’s and Gash’s presumed plot with other local Democrat leaders prevents that.
“The last thing Terry Link needs is more heat from Federal prosecutors,” said Shaw. “Any deal he has in the works to lighten his federal sentence undoubtedly requires him not to commit any new crimes. That means when he is asked if he conspired with Acting Democrat Party Chairman Lauren Beth Gash, Democrat Party Chairman Mike Madigan, and/or Senate President Don Harmon to orchestrate a scheme denying the voters the right to elect his successor, he either answers truthfully or faces additional Federal charges,” said Shaw.
“It also means that the Federal Prosecutor can subpoena all of the discussions, phone calls, emails and/or text messages with Terry Link on this matter by and between him, Madigan, Gash and other Democrats in on this presumed plot. Watch for more forced resignations from the Illinois Democrat Party, the ‘gift that keeps on giving’ for Illinois voters,” concluded Shaw.
The statute says if “the vacancy occurs with more than 28 months remaining in the term” the seat is up for election in the upcoming general, so I think he meant to write “Had Link resigned a mere 24 hours earlier,” but whatever.
Gash described Shaw’s comments as “baseless, wacky and unhinged,” specifically calling the 9/11 reference offensive, untrue and a “desperate attempt to score cheap political points.” […]
Gash insisted Link’s resignation surprised her. She said she found out when a reporter texted her Friday afternoon.
“(I had) no idea it was coming,” said Gash, who became party chair in August when Link quit that post.
Democratic Party leaders wanted Link to withdraw from the Senate earlier in the summer, Gash said, but Link wouldn’t oblige.
