The Coronavirus outbreak at the state-run LaSalle Veterans’ Home claimed a 36th life earlier this week, though the spread within the home has been in control for weeks after infecting 90% of residents and killing more than a quarter of the facility’s population.
But during the deadliest days of the outbreak in November, some residents were not able to get basic toiletries like soap due to an antiquated policy that’s been changed in recent weeks. The old policy meant that residents at the facility would have to wait up to a week for new supplies once their shampoo, toothpaste or other personal care items ran out.
Just before the New Year last week, the home changed its policy after pressure from the local Veterans’ Assistance Commission, which had organized a toiletry drive in November during the height of the outbreak. But the group later found out that the personal care items that had been donated were not being distributed. The old policy predated Illinois Department of Veterans’ Affairs Director Linda Chapa LaVia, but local VAC Superintendent Steven Kreitzer says she should have stepped in to change it sooner — especially as the outbreak raged.
“God forbid a veteran soiled themselves and had to take him in to take showers,” Kreitzer said. “Those nurses couldn’t get into that supply closet because there’s no one there to open it. And if the veteran is out of shampoo or just had a little bit left, they had to utilize somebody else’s shampoo to make sure somebody is being taken care of.”
Kreitzer said that he and the VAC were told by nursing staff that they were personally buying toiletry items for veterans in order to get around the process. The old policy mandated that when a veteran ran out of a personal care item like toothpaste or shampoo, nursing staff would have to fill out a request form and send it to the facility’s social services division. That staff would then have to contact the veteran’s family to ask if they were willing to buy the resident what was needed. Only if the family was unable to do so would a resident be able to receive one of the donated toiletry items.
*** UPDATE *** Correction and clarification issued…
This story has been corrected and clarified. Veterans were unable to get immediate access to donated name-brand toiletries due to a process that has since been changed, but the Illinois Department of Veterans’ Affairs says residents never went without basic personal care supplies if they ran out. […]
“At no point during the pandemic or any other time has a veteran in one of our homes not had access to soap, toothpaste, or any other basic hygiene product,” Dooley said. “Those items are provided to all veterans in our homes, free of charge, on a regular basis, 24 hours a day. The donation process is used for specialty items that veterans request beyond the standard products they are provided.”
The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) today reported 6,717 new confirmed and probable cases of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in Illinois, including 101 additional deaths. Illinois has now reported more than one million cases since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Bond County: 1 female 70s
Boone County: 1 female 40s
Cook County: 1 female 40s, 3 males 40s, 1 male 50s, 3 females 60s, 4 males 60s, 2 females 70s, 3 males 70s, 3 females 80s, 1 male 80s, 3 females 90s, 1 male 90s
DeKalb County: 1 male 80s, 1 female 90s
DuPage County: 1 male 60s, 1 male 70s, 1 female 80s, 1 male 80s, 1 female 90s
Effingham County: 1 male 80s
Fulton County: 1 male 60s, 1 female 90s
Hamilton County: 1 female 50s
Jefferson County: 1 male 70s
Kane County: 2 males 50s, 1 female 80s, 1 male 80s
Kankakee County: 1 female 70s, 1 male 70s
Lake County: 1 teen, 2 males 70s, 1 female 80s, 1 female 90s
Logan County: 1 male 50s
Macoupin County: 1 male 70s
Madison County: 2 males 70s, 1 male 90s
Marion County: 1 female 70s
Massac County: 1 female 90s
McHenry County: 1 male 70s
McLean County: 2 females 90s, 1 male 90s
Mercer County: 1 female 90s
Monroe County: 1 female 60s
Montgomery County: 1 female 70s, 1 female 90s
Morgan County: 1 female 60s, 1 male 60s
Moultrie County: 1 male 70s
Peoria County: 1 female 90s, 1 male 90s
Perry County: 1 female 90s
Piatt County: 1 male 80s
Pike County: 1 male 80s
Randolph County: 1 male 80s, 1 female 90s
Rock Island County: 1 male 70s, 1 female 80s, 1 male 80s, 1 female 90s
Sangamon County: 1 male 30s
St. Clair County: 1 female 60s, 1 male 60s, 1 female 70s, 1 male 70s, 1 male 80s
Stephenson County: 1 female 60s
Tazewell County: 1 female 80s, 1 male 80s, 1 male 90s
Vermilion County: 1 male 80s
Whiteside County: 1 female 80s
Will County: 1 female 60s, 3 males 70s, 1 male 80s, 2 females 90s, 1 female over 100
Winnebago County: 1 female 50s, 1 male 60s
Currently, IDPH is reporting a total of 1,024,039 cases, including 17,494 deaths, in 102 counties in Illinois. The age of cases ranges from younger than one to older than 100 years. Within the past 24 hours, laboratories have reported 102,903 specimens for a total 14,025,514. As of last night, 3,589 in Illinois were reported to be in the hospital with COVID-19. Of those, 742 patients were in the ICU and 393 patients with COVID-19 were on ventilators.
The preliminary seven-day statewide positivity for cases as a percent of total test from January 2–8, 2021 is 8.3%. The preliminary seven-day statewide test positivity from January 2–8, 2021 is 9.3%.
*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 deaths 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.
States Attorney Foxx Speaks Out in Support of Critical Criminal Justice Reform Legislation, Illinois House Bill 163
“I believe that the spirit of Illinois House Bill 163 is meant to build trust in police departments across Illinois while addressing long-needed problems to alter unfair criminal justice policies rooted in systemic racism that result in our jails and prisons being disproportionately occupied by Black and Brown individuals. And although not perfect, with thoughtful deliberation and collaboration House Bill 163 can be worked to address concerns, which is why I support this critical piece of criminal justice reform legislation.”
* Leader Durkin…
Illinois House Republican Leader Jim Durkin (R-Western Springs) issued the following statement on Cook County State’s Attorney Kim Foxx announcing her support of House Bill 163:
“Cook County State’s Attorney Kim Foxx has formally shown her true intentions today by walking away from victims of crime, neighborhoods desperate for safety and men and women of law enforcement. As a former Assistant State’s Attorney in Cook County, I believe her support of House Bill 163 may be the most disappointing and irreconcilable breach of trust between State’s Attorney Foxx and the citizens of Cook County. Every elected State’s Attorney throughout Illinois strongly opposes House Bill 163 except State’s Attorney Foxx. These anti victim and anti law enforcement proposals have no place in our society. Ms. Foxx should change the name on her door to Office of the Public Defender.”
* Related…
* Kim Foxx sees links between mob action at U.S. Capitol and Jussie Smollett demonstrations outside her office: In 2019, members of the Proud Boys, the American Guard and the American Identity Movement joined a protest outside of her office that was organized by the city’s Fraternal Order of Police after Foxx’s office dropped charges against Smollett, a former actor in “Empire.” Experts said at the time that was part of a plan by the groups to recruit new members. Current FOP President John Catanzara, a frequent foe of Foxx’s, also attended that 2019 rally and has been a vocal supporter of President Donald Trump.
*** UPDATE *** SA Rinehart is a Democrat…
A direct statement from Lake County State’s Attorney Eric F. Rinehart:
House Bill 163 represents important changes to our criminal justice system. I fully support these efforts to make our communities safer and our courthouse fairer. This bill includes reforms that I have been advocating for and discussing for years. But more work needs to be done to ensure these critical reforms also take into account our police officers and survivors of crimes.
Yesterday, the Illinois State’s Attorney’s Association sent a blanket letter opposing the first version of the omnibus bill. The letter the Association sent does not fully reflect my views and should have been formatted to include individual signatories as opposed to purporting to represent the views of all its members.
The following reforms are vital to our State. This bill:
• requires body-worn cameras in every law enforcement agency throughout the State
• creates a duty to aid on the part of law enforcement officers
• connects substance abuse treatment programs with First Responder duties
• creates accountability for officers who knowingly lie in police reports
• prevents destruction of law enforcement misconduct records
• strengthens whistle-blower protection for those who report government misconduct
• increases and improves de-escalation and mental health training for law enforcement
• expands access to the law enforcement misconduct database
• maintains felony-murder rule but narrows its application to individuals with violent intent
• requires police to develop a plan to protect children during search warrant raids
• empowers the Attorney General to investigate deaths occurring in police custody
• bans use of chokeholds and other extreme measures
• establishes statewide use of force standards by 2022
For these reasons, I cannot express blanket opposition or support to HB163. Rather, I will keep working throughout the weekend with legislators and policy advocates to improve the bill and to ensure that it adequately protects victims from their abusers and attackers. It is my sincere hope that we can accomplish these reforms in this legislative session.
The state’s lame-duck legislative session in the Bank of Springfield Center opened Friday with unacceptable restrictions on media members. […]
The restrictions have nothing to do with security. They are in theory pandemic-related. But just as other professionals have been forced to adapt their work efforts to protect the safety of themselves and others, reporters have figured out social distancing, wearing masks while conducting interviews and regular sanitization of equipment used.
Limited access hampered the coverage of sessions in May 2020 as well, to the benefit of no one. In addition, the May sessions allowed for outdoor interviews. Those interviews will be less available in January’s cold.
The main floor of the Bank Of Springfield Center is 40,000 square feet, more than enough room for both legislators and credentialed media. Socially safe seating is essentially already used in the House. The media members’ letter also details ways in which communication and reporters could be allowed to do their jobs without danger or disruption.
When asked, the governor’s office could only provide IDPH guidance that was issued for legislative committee hearings last year. The House has yet to reveal its session guidance source. Another pic of the cavernous space…
Also, the security argument is just totally ridiculous and absolutely insulting to credentialed members of the news media. And to add insult to injury, reporters who need to use the restroom must be escorted from and back to the mezzanine by Illinois State Police troopers.
Wouldn’t letting them on the floor allow for less oversight?
* Also, seeing pics like this of Eastern Bloc Reps. Chris Miller and Brad Halbrook on the convention center floor makes me wonder why the House Speaker is so worried about us…
Reporters ain’t the problem here. (You can caption that pic in comments if you want.)
…Adding… Rep. Miller (no relation) was just called out on the floor for not wearing his mask.
It’s been two months now since it became apparent Illinois House Speaker Mike Madigan would face the strongest challenge ever posed to his leadership, yet no obvious front-runner to replace him has emerged.
If Madigan indeed is to be replaced, that should start to change as House members return to Springfield this weekend to wrap up the business of the outgoing Legislature and get organized for the new one.
Democrats were scheduled to meet privately Saturday for their first (mask-covered) face-to-face discussion about who should lead them.
It’s hard to imagine them making headway quickly.
Until Madigan is ready to step aside — there’s not even a hint of that at this stage — most of the leading potential alternatives are staying on the sidelines.
That last line is right. Nothing can really happen unless and until Speaker Madigan decides to step aside.
Undeterred by his opposition, Madigan methodically maneuvered through the process and continued to persistently persuade his colleagues to support him. In a Friday night candidates’ forum organized by downstate and moderate Democrats, Madigan offered to relax his grip on political power if members let him stay in his role.
According to members who listened to Madigan’s pitch Friday night, he also offered them more input and control in interviewing and hiring their own staffers, and pledged a more collaborative style of leadership.
His challengers, Reps. Kifowit, Ann Williams (D-Chicago), and Kathleen Willis (D-Addison), offered a variety of changes in the House rules and in the way members could move their bills through committees, and laid out their strategies to raise campaign funds in ways that benefit more members.
Willis, the chair of the House Democratic Caucus, highlighted her experience on Madigan’s leadership team, though the Speaker noted it pales in comparison with his own.
Madigan opposes secret balloting in the election of Illinois House speaker within the House Democratic caucus. A member asked about it during a closed caucus meeting yesterday, and Madigan said he believed it should be an open vote, according to a source who heard the exchange.
A 25-year-old, one-page section of an Illinois law governing educational labor that limits the Chicago Teachers Union’s bargaining rights could be repealed as soon as this weekend in Springfield, a move that would mark a celebratory end to a long lobbying fight for the union.
A repeal could have serious short-term implications for Chicago Public Schools’ reopening plans if the bill passes and is signed by Gov. J.B. Pritzker, and a significant long-term impact in the CTU’s relationship with CPS. The repeal bill was passed in the House in March 2019, and it appears likely the Senate will follow suit in the week ahead — though it’s unclear if the governor will immediately sign it. A Pritzker spokeswoman did not respond to requests for comment Friday.
Lightfoot, who campaigned on repealing this part of the law, is now concerned about those prospects. In a letter sent to state senators Friday, she wrote that a repeal “at this critical time would impair our efforts to reopen Chicago Public Schools and jeopardize our fiscal and educational gains.” […]
Section 4.5 of the Illinois Educational Labor Relations Act, passed in 1995, only covers unions negotiating with Chicago Public Schools — all other districts in the state are not affected. The section limits the bargaining power of the CTU — and other unions that represent school support staff — to bread and butter labor issues such as pay and benefits. It allows CPS to avoid negotiations over several school-related topics such as class sizes, staff assignments, charter schools, subcontracting, layoffs and the length of the school day and year. […]
Section 4.5 was cited last month by the Illinois Educational Labor Relations Board as a key reason why an injunction sought by the CTU to stop CPS from resuming in-person classes could not be granted. The issues the union wanted to negotiate over, the board said, weren’t mandatory subjects of bargaining under Section 4.5 — so it wasn’t clear that the CTU’s accusation that CPS violated labor law by failing to negotiate was valid.
* The CTU response is in the story, so here’s the response of Chicago Federation of Labor Bob Reiter…
January 6, 2021
President Don Harmon 329 Capitol Building Springfield, IL 62706
Dear President Harmon:
On behalf of the Chicago Federation of Labor, I write today to express the CFL’s support of HB 2275, sponsored by Senator Cunningham, and to ask that the Senate pass the bill during the upcoming lame duck session.
The right to collectively bargain is fundamental to establishing safe working conditions, fair appropriate compensation, and, as has been increasingly used by labor unions across Illinois, to provide for the common good in our communities. This is particularly important in school settings, as providing real equity to those we serve – increasingly, low-income students and students of color – is vital for both our democracy and our workforce.
HB 2275 is thus an important equity measure for 20% of students in Illinois as well as tens of thousands of workers. HB 2275 overturns a component of the 1995 Chicago School Reform Act that put unacceptable limitations on subjects of collective bargaining for every bargaining unit in the Chicago Public Schools, including limits on negotiating over staffing levels, time and location of work, health and safety standards, and outsourcing work to third-party contractors, all of which have taken on heightened importance during the COVID-19 pandemic. CPS is the only district in the state with this particular provision, and even within CPS, charter school operators are required to negotiate over these crucial issues.
Early in my career as a labor attorney and advocate, I directly represented Chicago Teachers Union members in the workplace. I feel strongly now, as I did then, that the inequity created by the 1995 law is a continuing blight on public sector labor law in our state. Many have pledged over the decades to correct this unjust provision, and the time to act is now.
The right to collectively bargain over these crucial issues is of the utmost importance to us. HB 2275 restores that right for the State’s largest school district and brings fairness and equity to educational collective bargaining in Illinois. We ask that you support the bill and assist in its passage. Thank you in advance for your consideration.
In solidarity,
Robert G. Reiter, Jr.
President, Chicago Federation of Labor
* Sen. Schimpf (R-Waterloo) has confirmed to reporters that he plans to run for governor. And he chose to begin the campaign by opposing a mask mandate…
The Governor’s latest administrative rule once again usurps the authority of the Illinois General Assembly.
Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s administration has refiled an emergency COVID-19 rule similar to one that expired Monday to continue statewide mask and social distancing requirements in Illinois for another 150 days. […]
Karr said the statewide rule filed Monday by the Pritzker administration was an improvement over the expired rule.
“This puts in place that you can hand them something in writing,” Karr said. “So, you could give them a notice that IRMA had produced that said, ‘You know you should be wearing a face mask, we may ask you to leave,’ and that helps the retailer avoid, try to avoid, some of those confrontations.” […]
The updated emergency rule also prohibits gatherings of more than 50 people. […]
Enforcement of the rule will be up to “all local boards of health, health authorities and officers, police officers, sheriffs and all other officers and employees of the state and any locality,” it says.
If a business refuses to comply with a written warning and a subsequent written order to disperse, “that business, service, facility or organization open to the public shall be subject to the penalties set forth in Section 8.1 of the act.” That could lead to a Class A misdemeanor with penalties up to $2,500 fine or up to a year in jail.
…Adding… From comments…
From another story line: “I can think of little that is more important than saving lives and getting to the bottom of this tragedy,” Schimpf said. “We are still waiting to hear from an IDPH official who was actually making decisions when this tragedy began, so we can find out why it took so long to get a team on site to manage this crisis.”
I have news for Sen. Schimpf. Community spread leads to spread in nursing homes. If he really cares about the lives of the folks in our care, why is he so opposed to the most basic of all protections?
At least 50% of new coronavirus infections are spread from people without symptoms, according to a study published this week.
People who are asymptomatic or never experience symptoms made up about 24% of all transmissions, while presymptomatic individuals accounted for 35% for a total of 59%, researchers from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found.
Jay Butler, CDC deputy director for infectious diseases and a lead author of the study, told Business Insider that the findings back up public health guidelines about social distancing and mask wearing.
Attorney General Kwame Raoul today announced legislation to improve the police certification and de-certification process as part of his ongoing effort to advocate for policies that make lasting, systemic change to policing in Illinois.
House Bill 841, sponsored by Sen. Elgie Sims and Rep. Justin Slaughter, was initiated by Raoul and focuses on three key areas for reform: creating uniformity for officers and departments across the state, promoting professionalism in law enforcement, and increasing transparency. Currently, the ways in which law enforcement and state’s attorneys investigate and take action in response to officer misconduct vary from department to department. Currently the Illinois Law Enforcement Training and Standards Board (ILETSB) can de-certify an officer only in the event of a felony conviction and a limited list of misdemeanors.
“Now more than ever, meaningful law enforcement reform is essential to restore the public’s trust in law enforcement and to hold officers accountable for egregious misconduct that should render them unworthy of being a police officer anywhere in the state,” Raoul said. “This is a product of months of collaborative discussion with law enforcement partners and is just one component of what must be a multifaceted approach to improving accountability, transparency, and professionalism among officers. I am committed to continuing to collaborate with our law enforcement partners and reform advocates to improve policing in communities throughout Illinois, and I encourage members of the General Assembly to pass this legislation to help achieve this goal.”
“I am gratified that Attorney General Raoul has shown support and leadership on this issue,” Sims said. “These reforms seek greater protections not just for the community, but for police officers. Justice is served when it is applied with consistency and due process. Trust is established when the public knows that authority figures are held to account. Inconsistent standards and a lack of transparency create distrust toward officers, and that in turn endangers not only them, but all of us.”
“As we address police accountability, it is critical that Illinois strengthen its oversight and enforcement policies for law enforcement,” Slaughter said. “This measure puts forth a robust certification and de-certification process that will increase public safety and comprehensively improve policing in Illinois.”
HB 841 will make the following improvements to the police certification and de-certification process in Illinois:
• Creating uniformity during the review process: Currently, the ILETSB must automatically de-certify an officer only if he or she is convicted of a felony or a limited number of serious misdemeanors. The bill empowers the ILETSB to investigate allegations of serious misconduct that may not automatically lead to de-certification, but conduct that warrants a review of the officer’s actions, such as excessive use of force, failure to intervene when another officer uses excessive force, tampering with a body or dash camera, or dishonesty in the reporting of a crime. Following an investigation and hearing in front of an administrative law judge, if the officer is found to have engaged in misconduct then a Certification Review Panel may issue a determination to de-certify the officer. The Certification Review Panel would be composed of representatives from law enforcement, prosecutors, community activists and crime victims’ advocates.
• Promoting professionalism: A mandatory reporting system would be created in which an officer would report to the ILETSB that they have completed their mandatory in-service training, are still employed by a department, and have not engaged in conduct worthy of de-certification. Frequent reporting and the ability for the ILETSB to audit the training reports helps ensure that officers are in compliance with Illinois’ professionalism standards, and that officers in communities are consistently equipped with the current training mandated by the state.
• Increasing transparency: The bill would improve upon three areas of information sharing: information shared between hiring departments; information shared between departments and prosecutors; and information shared between the ILETSB and the public. Raoul’s proposal includes an expansion of the Officer Professional Conduct database to include relevant disciplinary information, including reports of dishonesty, misconduct, and the results of an officer’s de-certification. Expanding the information included in the database means personnel decisions would no longer rely on word-of-mouth recommendations. Additionally, prosecutors will have access to the information needed to make necessary disclosures about officers involved in criminal cases. The expanded and publicly-available database is an important tool that would add greater transparency and accountability to improve public trust in law enforcement.
As part of Attorney General Raoul’s calls for comprehensive policing and criminal justice reform, he has advocated for broader pattern and practice authority for state attorneys general and improved crime victim compensation. Raoul worked with the Illinois Black Caucus to include language in House Bill 163 that would give the Illinois Attorney General’s office clear authority under state law to investigate and resolve patterns or practices of unconstitutional policing by local and state agencies. Additionally, as recommended by Raoul, HB 163 would improve the Crime Victim Compensation Program. The bill would allow the Attorney General’s office to more efficiently administer benefits in order to make resources more accessible to survivors. Modernizing the program will not only allow the Attorney General’s office to better meet crime victims’ immediate needs, but will also contribute to breaking the cycle of community violence.
George Floyd’s murder convinced him to revive his proposal from when he was in the state Senate to license police officers.
The idea came from then-Sen. Tim Bivins, a Republican and former Lee County sheriff. Sheriffs and police chiefs often complain that even when they do try to remove an officer from duty, union contracts and arbitrators often wind up forcing them to put the officers back on the public payroll.
Licensing could solve that problem by making bad cops ineligible for police work statewide. The idea has some support among police leaders, but the Fraternal Order of Police hates it.
Durkin said the Pritzker administration should start with 4% across the board cuts to the state budget. After that, Durkin said Republicans are willing to negotiate with the administration to make additional cuts that could be made.
Illinois House Republicans say they’re still waiting on Gov. JB Pritzker to propose specific spending cuts to the state’s current year state budget, which is $4 billion out of balance.
There were other, similar demands, but you get the idea.
Gov. J.B. Pritzker announced Friday he’s freezing the implementation of new business tax credits and calling for legislators to stop changes to the state’s income tax framework to save coronavirus-ravaged Illinois just over half a billion dollars.
Outraged Republicans called it “just one more hit” for struggling business owners.
The new, expanded state tax credits would have cost the state $20 million annually, according to the governor’s news release announcing the freeze and proposal. They were authorized in 2019 as part of a series of tax changes that were scheduled to take effect at the start of this year. […]
“We have businesses contacting us every day, asking for more and more relief, and for the governor to decide that the state’s bottom line is more important than these businesses’ bottom line is something that we’re really outraged by,” said state Rep. Avery Bourne, R-Morrisonville, knocking Pritzker for unveiling the proposal in a news release rather than discussing it with the Legislature.
There will be yet another hearing on the LaSalle COVID-19 outbreak this afternoon during pandemic session. @RepThapedi initiated a rare investigation from the Judiciary - Civil Committee last month (https://t.co/HowoHKX3Zt); we may hear some new info at this afternoon's hearing.
To residents, families or responsible parties, and staff of the Illinois Veterans Home at Quincy:
Since our last COVID-19 update there has been zero (0) additional case of COVID-19 among residents at our home, for a total of one hundred and thirty-four (134) COVID-19 cases among residents since the start of the pandemic. To date, ninety-nine (99) residents have recovered from COVID-19. Sadly, five (5) residents who tested positive for COVID-19 have passed away since our last update, with seventeen (17) residents total having passed away due to COVID-19 since the start of the pandemic.
Additionally, since our last COVID-19 update there have been two (2) additional case of COVID-19 among employees at our home, for a total of one hundred sixty-two (162) COVID- 19 cases among employees since the start of the pandemic. To date, one-hundred and forty- six (146) employees have recovered from COVID-19.
The COVID-19 outbreak at the LaSalle Veterans home continues to claim lives, with 36 residents lost to the disease so far. As the Illinois Senate is set to convene over the weekend, State Senators Paul Schimpf (R-Waterloo) and Sue Rezin (R-Morris) are asking for an additional Veterans Affairs hearing to be held on the ongoing crisis.
“The Senate is going to be in Springfield for the lame-duck session to deal with issues of great importance, and I can think of little that is more important than saving lives and getting to the bottom of this tragedy,” Schimpf said. “We are still waiting to hear from an IDPH official who was actually making decisions when this tragedy began, so we can find out why it took so long to get a team on site to manage this crisis.”
“It has been over two months since the deadly outbreak at the LaSalle Veterans’ Home, and we have had only two legislative hearings on the subject,” said Sen. Rezin. “The people of Illinois deserve to know how this virus was able to run rampant through the home. The Illinois Department of Public Health must tell us why it took them 12 days to conduct a site visit. There is no good reason for us not to have a hearing during lame-duck session and certainly no acceptable excuse for IDPH to refuse to testify.”
The large criminal justice plan could also eliminate cash bail. This is a major piece of the legislation, including language from the “Pretrial Fairness Act” previously filed by Sims’ colleagues in the Black Caucus.
[Ed Wojcicki, Executive Director of the Illinois Association of Chiefs of Police] is concerned lawmakers aren’t paying attention to whether individuals are too dangerous to leave jail before trial.
“They’re gonna wreak havoc,” Wojcicki said. “We’re always encouraging women to call the police if they’re victims of domestic or sexual abuse. If these people are arrested and just let go like a traffic ticket, that’s very dangerous for women. So, we’re not just saying these things are dangerous for law enforcement.”
* Um, the Illinois Coalition Against Domestic Violence is for the bill…
The Illinois Coalition Against Domestic Violence (ICADV) is invested in working to improve the justice system, however, ensuring the safety of survivors has to be included in any reform effort. Our mission has always been to advance statewide policies and practices that transform societal attitudes and institutions to eliminate and prevent domestic abuse. As such, ICADV is supportive of the concept of eliminating money bond as the current system is harmful, especially to people of color.
Working with the Coalition to End Money Bond, ICADV supports ending money bond through the Pretrial Fairness Act as a key criminal justice reform effort. ICADV along with many other survivor-based organizations worked tirelessly with the Coalition to End Money Bond to include provisions that support survivor safety and creates a process that ICADV can support. ICADV is grateful to the Coalition to End Money Bond and Senator Robert Peters for hearing the concerns of the service provider and survivor community and working to address those concerns. This is an example of how criminal justice reform can happen while supporting survivor safety. ICADV is hopeful that future criminal justice reform efforts have the same interest in addressing survivor safety.
Detention only shall be imposed when it is determined that the defendant poses a danger to a specific, identifiable person or persons, or has a high likelihood of willful flight.
In other words, while the chiefs may have a decent argument about other topics, they are wrong about this one and ought to drop that line of attack.
* The General Assembly will be in session all weekend and I just realized that I didn’t need to find a play-out tune. But if I had closed comments today, this would’ve been the one. Turn it up…
* I told subscribers about some of this earlier today…
Due to the budget crisis caused by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, Governor JB Pritzker is freezing the implementation of a new set of state business tax credits and calling for a decoupling of Illinois tax law from recently enacted federal business tax changes that would cost Illinois in excess of $500 million.
The expanded state tax credits were authorized in 2019 as part of a series of tax changes contained in PA 101-9 and were scheduled to take effect January 1, 2021. The new, expanded credits are estimated to cost the state an additional $20 million annually.
The proposed decoupling would keep the Illinois income tax framework the same as it was before Congress amended the federal income tax law in March 2020 as part of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act. The amendments substantially changed federal tax treatment of net operating losses and excess business losses, automatically causing the same change in Illinois tax treatment. Without decoupling, these federal tax changes could reduce Illinois income tax revenue by more than $500 million.
“My administration recognizes the many challenges facing businesses during this unique time, which is why we are going above and beyond the federal support program by providing hundreds of millions of dollars in support to our small businesses, our best job creators who have been impacted severely by COVID-19,” said Governor JB Pritzker. “Unfortunately, COVID also hit our state budget, requiring tough choices about what we can and cannot afford. Right now, we cannot afford to expand tax breaks to businesses that already receive tax breaks. As we recover from the pandemic, we must focus on job creation and balancing our state budget. I am confident in our ability to grow our economy and put our state on firmer fiscal footing.”
The state business incentives in PA 101-9 allow companies that already receive tax credits for relocating or expanding in Illinois through the State’s Enterprise Zone, River’s Edge Redevelopment Zone, Economic Development for a Growing Economy (EDGE), or High Impact Business tax credit programs, to qualify for even more credits based on wages paid to workers for construction associated with that relocation or expansion. Companies would be eligible for up to $20 million in credits across these four programs. These new credits will not be implemented while the state is working to overcome its current fiscal challenges.
The CARES Act repealed the federal tax law provision that limited net operating losses to 80% of taxable income and added another provision allowing a 5-year carryback of losses incurred after December 31, 2017 and before January 1, 2021. As a result, instead of the previous practice of limiting immediate deductibility and permitting deduction of such business losses gradually over a period of years using loss carryforwards, taxpayers are permitted to deduct such business losses immediately in tax year 2020. The decoupling will affect the tax treatment of such losses for owners of pass-through entities such as partnerships and limited liability companies.
The CARES Act also deferred until 2021 the federal tax law provision limiting the immediate deductibility of excess business losses for noncorporate taxpayers. Decoupling will reinstitute the previous limits.
The Governor said the two actions were necessary given Illinois’ current fiscal challenges and are part of the Pritzker Administration’s ongoing budget review. In December, the Governor announced $700 million in spending reductions for fiscal year 2021 that included a hiring freeze, grant reductions and operational savings. Today’s announcement will get the state another step closer to balancing the budget.
“The recently announced budget cuts along with these new roll backs of corporate tax breaks are just the first steps in this budget process. More will be necessary. We will need to scrutinize and potentially roll back other corporate tax breaks – including those that have been on the books for many years. We hope to hear from members of the General Assembly on both sides of the aisle about their best ideas for progress in this regard.”
National Federation of Independent Business Illinois State Director Mark Grant said from what he’s hearing the change the governor characterized as “technical” would have consequences for some small businesses in Illinois hit the hardest by the pandemic and the government’s restrictions to slow the spread of the disease.
“It just takes away an avenue for our small businesses, sole proprietors, to be able to recover from this incredible economic damage that’s been done to them over the last year,” Grant said. “It takes away avenue the federal government thought was a good idea, and would help our small businesses recover, and this would take away that ability to help with that.”
* I’ve been telling subscribers about this bill for days…
A new, controversial bill is set to come before Illinois lawmakers, which they could then vote on in the next five days. The bill includes major police reforms, and it’s sparking controversy amongst our local officials. […]
“It’s necessary to empower our community,” Democratic State Representative Maurice West says. “How else will we bring back trust [between] law enforcement and everyone.” […]
“There’s so many bad parts about this legislation that it will pretty much put law enforcement out of business in Illinois,” [Republican Senator Dave Syverson] explains. […]
Here are just some of the bill’s reforms:
• New procedures for reporting in-custody deaths
• Mandated statewide use of force policy
• Eliminate qualified immunity for police officers
• Reduce officer’s collective bargaining rights
• End cash bail
• Ensure disciplinary records of police officers are never erased
• Mandate crisis intervention training
• Scale back no-knock orders
The bill has seen intense pushback from Republican lawmakers and groups representing law enforcement. The Illinois Fraternal Order of Police called it “the worst thing to happen to our profession” and “the end of the law enforcement profession as we know it” in a statement released Tuesday.
In a Wednesday notice, the Chicago Fraternal Order of Police wrote “it might as well be a crime to be a law enforcement officer in Illinois.” […]
In response, the Senate Black Caucus distributed their own release Wednesday, saying “From our perspective, our communities know what they need in order to be kept safe. We come from the communities we represent. Our experiences, combined with our understanding of policy, have shaped our legislative approach, and they cannot be dismissed when it comes to determining what our communities need.”
A key piece of the caucus’s criminal justice reform plan is eliminating cash bail, which proponents argue disproportionately affects low-income people of color who are awaiting trial.
Sen. Elgie Sims, a Chicago Democrat, is sponsoring a measure that would eliminate the term “bail” from state statute. Judges would still have discretion to keep people awaiting trial in custody if it’s determined they pose a risk to the public or have violated the conditions of their pretrial release. But people could no longer be kept in jail solely based on their inability to make bail.
Gov. J.B. Pritzker backs eliminating cash bail and made it a legislative priority before the General Assembly’s spring session was truncated by the coronavirus pandemic.
The proposal from Sims also would place strict limitations on the collective bargaining rights of police unions. Future contract negotiations would be limited to subjects directly related to wages and benefits, and discipline policies would no longer be subject to bargaining.
New polling on pretrial release: “The old-school default of keeping people who are presumed innocent in jail unless they can afford bail has always been unfair, destructive, and dangerous, and that is especially true amid a pandemic that poses a unique threat to incarcerated people. When informed that other jurisdictions have safely reduced jail populations through bail reform, 57 percent of Illinois voters support reforming the cash bail system and creating a presumption of pretrial release for most people, while only 29 percent oppose,” according to new polling from Data for Progress and The Lab, a policy vertical of The Appeal.
If you click here, you’ll see the full poll. The pre-informed response, which isn’t in the press release, is what you should pay more attention to.
The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) today reported 9,277 new confirmed and probable cases of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in Illinois, including 126 additional deaths. Illinois has now reported more than one million cases since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Adams County: 1 male 70s
Boone County: 1 female 80s
Cook County: 1 female 40s, 1 male 40s, 3 females 50s, 2 females 60s, 4 males 60s, 3 females 70s, 7 males 70s, 7 females 80s, 7 males 80s, 3 females 90s, 7 males 90s
DeKalb County: 1 female 60s
DuPage County: 1 female 40s, 1 female 90s, 1 male 90s
Edwards County: 1 male 80s
Effingham County: 1 male 80s
Fayette County: 1 female 80s
Fulton County: 1 female 50s, 1 female 80s, 1 female 90s
Henry County: 1 male 90s
Iroquois County: 1 male 60s
Jackson County: 1 male 60s
Jefferson County: 1 female 90s
Kane County: 1 male 50s, 1 male 70s, 1 male 80s
Kankakee County: 1 female 80s
Knox County: 1 male 50s
Lake County: 1 female 50s, 1 male 60s, 3 females 90s
LaSalle County: 1 male 80s
Livingston County: 1 female 70s, 1 female 90s
Madison County: 1 male 80s, 1 female 90s
Marion County: 1 female 70s, 1 male 80s
Marshall County: 1 female 50s
McLean County: 1 male 70s, 1 female 90s
Montgomery County: 1 male 70s, 1 male 80s
Morgan County: 1 male 70s
Peoria County: 1 female 60s, 1 female 70s, 1 male 80s
Perry County: 1 female 60s
Randolph County: 1 female 90s
Richland County: 1 female 70s
Rock Island County: 2 males 60s, 1 female 70s, 2 females 80s, 1 male 80s, 2 females 90
Saline County: 1 male 70s, 1 female 90s
Sangamon County: 1 male 90s
St. Clair County: 1 female 70s, 1 male 90s
Stark County: 1 male 80s
Stephenson County: 1 female 60s, 1 male 70s
Tazewell County: 1 male 40s, 4 males 70s
Vermilion County: 1 female 80s, 1 male 80s
Whiteside County: 1 male 60s
Will County: 1 female 50s, 1 female 60s, 3 females 70s, 2 males 70s, 1 female 80s
Williamson County: 1 male 70s
Winnebago County: 2 females 90s
Woodford County: 1 female 90s
Currently, IDPH is reporting a total of 1,017,322 cases, including 17,395 deaths, in 102 counties in Illinois. The age of cases ranges from younger than one to older than 100 years. Within the past 24 hours, laboratories have reported 118,665 specimens for a total 13,922,611. As of last night, 3,777 in Illinois were reported to be in the hospital with COVID-19. Of those, 780 patients were in the ICU and 422 patients with COVID-19 were on ventilators.
The preliminary seven-day statewide positivity for cases as a percent of total test from January 1–7, 2021 is 8.5%. The preliminary seven-day statewide test positivity from January 1–7, 2021 is 9.5%.
*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 deaths 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.
Illinois’ top education official is recommending school districts consider extending classes into the summer, a proposition that Chicago Teachers Union leaders for the first time have suggested could be amenable if it would put off mandatory in-person teaching until educators are vaccinated for the coronavirus.
Though an extended school year would come with potentially massive costs, including additional compensation for teachers and staff, State Superintendent of Education Carmen Ayala wrote in a letter to administrators this week that $2.25 billion in coronavirus relief that Illinois is getting from the feds should help make it possible. Chicago Public Schools is set to receive $720 million.
Ayala said the funds should primarily be used to “close the digital divide for good” and mitigate learning loss by offering more educational opportunities.
* Press release…
Governor JB Pritzker, Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz and Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers sent a letter to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, demanding that the federal government begin distributing reserved COVID-19 vaccines to states immediately.
“In each of our states, vaccine delivery has been much slower than we anticipated, so it is imperative that the federal government distribute the vaccines it is holding on reserve. These vaccines will save millions of Americans from the unnecessary danger and hardship of contracting COVID-19,” said Governor JB Pritzker. “Up to now, this vaccine has only been offered to a very specific group of people at very specific location. Our states are ready to work alongside the federal government to expand vaccine distribution so that we can protect the wellbeing of all our residents, families, small businesses and our economy.”
According to publicly reported information, the federal government currently has more than 50 percent of currently produced vaccines held back by the presidential administration for unknown reasons. At the same time, the country is losing over 2,600 Americans each day, according to the latest seven-day average.
Earlier this week, Governor JB Pritzker announced guidelines for the next stage of COVID-19 vaccine distribution across Illinois, Phase 1B. Phase 1B prioritizes equity and lowers the vaccine age to 65 from 75 because black and brown Illinoisans with COVID-19 die at a much younger age than their white counterparts. Distribution of the reserved vaccines by the federal government would accelerate the completion of Phase 1A.
Today, the Illinois Department of Professional and Financial Regulation (IDFPR) announced they have worked with the banks to provide services for unbanked Illinoisans seeking to cash their stimulus checks without incurring check cashing fees. The banks provided this service during the first round of stimulus checks and IDFPR secured the same agreement for the second round of stimulus checks.
The FDIC estimates that over 22% of Illinois households are under or unbanked. Many of these Illinois households will once again be receiving paper stimulus checks and will have few check cashing options that won’t incur fees. IDFPR is proud to announce a number of banking institutions that are able to work with non-customers on cashing their stimulus checks for free. Thanks to Bank of America, First Midwest, Fifth Third, Huntington, Wells Fargo, JP Morgan Chase and U.S. Bank, Illinoisans will be able to cash their stimulus checks without incurring fees in order to ensure these funds go toward the food, housing, and necessities that people need during this difficult time.
* Press release…
Governor JB Pritzker and the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) today announced more than $275 million in nearly 9,000 emergency assistance grants have been made to small businesses in over 600 cities and towns statewide through the Business Interruption Grants (BIG) program. Through this historic program – the largest of its kind in the nation - grants have been made available to a wide range of small businesses– with a focus on the industries and communities hardest hit by the COVID-19 crisis, and with the majority of funding going to smaller and minority-owned businesses.
Today’s announcement marks the conclusion of the BIG program, which was created by Governor Pritzker and the General Assembly to assist Illinois’ hardest hit businesses with making ends meet during the pandemic. A full list of awards made can be found on DCEO’s website.
* My COVID-19 test results came back today. I tested negative. Many thanks to Springfield Clinic for running such a tight ship.
Four Springfield residents traveled more than 787 miles from one capital city to another for a protest that turned into a breach of the U.S. Capitol.
Sarah Smith says she wanted to take it all in firsthand.
The group arrived in Washington, D.C. at 8 a.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 6.
“We met many people from different backgrounds to different states — I’m talking from Alaska to California,” Smith said.
Jake Carroll’s view showed him a glimpse of what he thinks people want in the future.
“Multiple races, ethnicities, people of color there, standing shoulder to shoulder to be heard, wanting the government to hear them that we can no longer stand divided, that we have to come together as a country,” Carroll said.
They make it sound like wholesome, all-American fun for the entire family.
The Illinois General Assembly’s lame duck session begins on Friday in Springfield.
However, riots at state capitols around the country on Wednesday have some lawmakers feeling uneasy.
After pro-Trump insurrectionists breached the U.S. Capitol, statehouses across the country are stepping up security.
In Illinois, lawmakers are set to return for a lame duck session on Friday, Jan. 8, after over 200 days away.
“We’re not going to be intimidated,” Rep. Tim Butler, R-Springfield, said. “We’re not going to allow these thugs to overturn our government and create some sort of coup across the United States.”
* Riots in Congress bring state Capitol security concerns into focus: The Illinois State Police has increased security around the state Capitol and the Bank of Springfield Center, at Gov. JB Pritzker’s request, and will be coordinating efforts with the Secretary of State police and the Springfield Police Department, an ISP spokesperson wrote in an emailed statement Thursday.
Congresswoman Mary Miller (R-IL) issues a statement on her remarks at the recent Moms for America event in Washington, D.C.
“Earlier this week, I spoke to a group of mothers about the importance of faith and guarding our youth from destructive influences. I sincerely apologize for any harm my words caused and regret using a reference to one of the most evil dictators in history to illustrate the dangers that outside influences can have on our youth. This dark history should never be repeated and parents should be proactive to instill what is good, true, right, and noble into their children’s hearts and minds. While some are trying to intentionally twist my words to mean something antithetical to my beliefs, let me be clear: I’m passionately pro-Israel and I will always be a strong advocate and ally of the Jewish community. I’ve been in discussion with Jewish leaders across the country and am grateful to them for their kindness and forthrightness.”
As your President, I showed a lapse in judgement yesterday during an interview. For that I am sorry. I brought negative attention to our Lodge, the FOP family and law enforcement in general.
I was in no way condoning the violence in DC yesterday. My statements were poorly worded. I certainly would never justify any attacks on law enforcement. After seeing more video and the full aftermath, my comments would have been different.
I ask that you consider the totality of my comments yesterday. What is almost totally overlooked was the fact I said the President needs to accept responsibility for yesterday’s events and that he should formally concede the race to put everything to bed once and for all.
Lastly, I commit to doing better each day. I will never be too big to admit when I am wrong. Stay safe and healthy.
John J. Catanzara Jr.
President
FOP Lodge 7 Chicago
*** UPDATE *** Ouch…
Chicago Fraternal Order of Police President John Catanzara is getting ripped by the national FOP for his comments about the Capitol insurrection, even after he tried to apologize and take his comments back. https://t.co/GoKjYCfpS3
Attorney General Kwame Raoul today announced his office is partnering with the FBI to establish the Attorney General’s Task Force on Unemployment Insurance Benefits Fraud. The task force will for the first time allow state and federal resources to be deployed on a large scale to combat unemployment insurance benefits fraud.
Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, Raoul’s office has received and investigated complaints related to unemployment insurance benefits fraud. The aim of the task force is to enhance collaboration among state and federal agencies investigating and prosecuting forms of unemployment benefits fraud. In addition to the Illinois Attorney General’s office and the FBI, the task force will be made up of the Illinois Department of Employment Security, the Illinois State Police, the U.S. Department of Labor Office of Inspector General, the Illinois Department of Revenue, the Internal Revenue Service, as well as the Illinois Association of Chiefs of Police and the Illinois State’s Attorneys Association.
“The Task Force on Unemployment Insurance Benefits Fraud will for the first time allow a broad coalition of federal, state and local law enforcement to collaborate and share resources and address widespread unemployment insurance benefits fraud,” Raoul said. “I appreciate the FBI dedicating the needed resources and look forward to working with our partner agencies to investigate and hold accountable those who steal federal funding that is intended to help residents during the COVID-19 pandemic.”
“While the citizens of Illinois have worked to regain financial stability after last year’s tumultuous job market, criminals have sought to do them harm,” FBI Special Agent in Charge Emmerson Buie Jr said. “With today’s announcement of a joint unemployment task force, we commit to working with our local, state, and federal partners to ensure that those who would steal resources from our most vulnerable are brought to swift justice.”
“Bad actors have taken advantage of a global pandemic that has pushed desperate people to unemployment insurance agencies for economic relief,” IDES Acting Director Kristin Richards said. “While this massive fraud scheme has redirected the valuable man-hours and resources the Department would be better served to use assisting claimants, IDES remains committed to detecting and shutting these claims down and will continue to support law enforcement’s efforts to find the fraudsters behind these crimes.”
“The Illinois State Police are here to coordinate, facilitate and share intelligence on fraudulent activity,” Illinois State Police Director Brendan F. Kelly said. “It is through multi-jurisdictional partnerships such as these that will allow us to better combat and contain this criminal conduct.”
“An important mission of the Office of Inspector General is to investigate allegations relating to unemployment insurance fraud. We will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to investigate these types of allegations,” Irene Lindow, Special Agent-in-Charge, Chicago Region, U.S. Department of Labor Office of Inspector General said.
“As the 2021 tax filing season nears, the Illinois Department of Revenue remains focused on preventing fraudulent income tax refunds, including those perpetrated through unemployment insurance claims.” Illinois Department of Revenue Director David Harris said. “We look forward to working with our state and federal partners on Attorney General Raoul’s Task Force to end this criminal activity and assist victims of fraudulent claims.”
According to the Illinois Department of Employment Security (IDES), the increase in identity theft unemployment fraud can likely be attributed to large corporate data breaches and is not the result of any state system breaches. These breaches compromised personal information including Social Security numbers, driver’s license numbers, names, dates of birth, credit card numbers and addresses – information individuals must provide when applying for loans or lines of credit, or during other interactions.
Currently, state unemployment agencies throughout the nation are battling widespread fraud by individuals seeking to steal federal money. Using personal information obtained as a result of data breaches, thieves are applying for unemployment insurance benefits for which they are not eligible. The IDES strongly encourages anyone who has received notice that an unemployment insurance claim has been fraudulently filed in their name to immediately report the claim to the department via its website or by calling 800-814-0513. To date, the IDES has stopped more than 350,000 fraudulent claims.
Attorney General Raoul encourages individuals who think their personal or financial information has been compromised to take steps to protect themselves. People should closely monitor credit reports, consider requesting a fraud alert by contacting one of the three nationwide credit bureaus, consider placing a freeze on credit reports, and closely review and monitor all financial accounts for any unauthorized charges.
Additional information on how to protect yourself from potential identity theft is available free of charge on the Illinois Attorney General’s website. Residents can also call the Attorney General’s Identity Theft Hotline at 1-866-999-5630 for assistance.
* The House has decreed that it will not allow reporters on the floor of the 40,000 square foot BOS Center because of public health and security concerns. When I’ve objected, I’ve been asked why I wanted to be on the floor if I was going to have to remain at least six feet away from everyone else anyway.
But adding a relative handful of reporters to a huge hall like that shouldn’t significantly increase viral load. House press credentials are not easily available, so the security concerns are unfounded and even insulting. And folks who are wearing masks are allowed to be closer together than six feet, as should be abundantly clear from these photos taken during the May special session…
* And, again, look at all the empty space behind the members in that 40,000 square foot hall…
* I’ve been tested for COVID-19 and won’t be venturing forth until the results come back and would be happy to provide testing documentation. I never go anywhere in public without wearing a mask, I don’t go to indoor restaurants and bars and nobody comes into my house without wearing a mask.
I’m more than willing to take what will hopefully be a relatively moderate risk to do my job, and most other reporters I know agree. We’re essential workers who do necessary work. And the next several days could be the most momentous in Illinois government since I do not know when.
Let us in.
*** UPDATE *** Earlier today…
Illinois House Republican Leader Jim Durkin officially requests Speaker Madigan lift the unnecessary restrictions that block the press corps from their regular access to members along the perimeter of the House chamber floor. pic.twitter.com/G1IEgFPbE7
