* Get your shots, people…
Full disclosure, I had an indoor contact with Leader McConchie on Wednesday, so I will be tested Saturday and Sunday, and, heck, maybe Monday just to make sure.
…Adding… Statement from Leader McConchie…
Illinois Senate Republican Leader Dan McConchie has confirmed he is experiencing a break-through case of COVID-19. McConchie was vaccinated against the virus earlier this spring, and presently has very mild symptoms.
Additionally, contact tracing in accordance with public health guidelines was implemented immediately upon receiving the positive test result.
“I am very grateful to have been vaccinated and experiencing only mild symptoms,” McConchie said. “I encourage everyone reading these words to be vaccinated and protect themselves and their families agasint the virus. I encourage anyone with whom I have had the most brief contact in the last few days to be tested as a safeguard.”
I’m heading out soon to Springfield Clinic to be tested.
…Adding… I’m feeling great, but will be taking another test tomorrow and one more just before session starts to make extra sure…
* Sunday update…
Going in for one of those U of I saliva tests tomorrow.
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Pritzker signs sex education bills
Friday, Aug 20, 2021 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Friday news dump…
Gov. Pritzker Signs Two Bills Updating Sex Education Standards in K-12 Schools
Voluntary Standards to Emphasize Health, Safety and Inclusivity with Age-Appropriate Education
SPRINGFIELD —Building on efforts to modernize and strengthen Illinois’ education system, Governor JB Pritzker signed two bills today that update the state’s sex education standards in K-12 schools. The voluntary standards will emphasize health, safety, and inclusivity with age-appropriate resources. The standards do not need to be adopted in school districts that do not provide comprehensive sexual health education and parents may choose to opt their children out.
“Modernizing our sex education standards will help keep our children safe and ensure important lessons like consent and internet safety are taught in classrooms,”said Governor JB Pritzker. “By working together, we’ll continue to strengthen our education system and deliver the bright future our kids deserve.”
Senate Bill 818 brings Illinois’ sexual health education into the 21st century by adding new personal health and safety education standards in kindergarten through 5th grade, and making comprehensive health education more inclusive in grades 6 through 12. School districts do not have to adopt the voluntary standards unless they are teaching comprehensive sexual health education, and parents can choose to opt out.
Course material and instruction will help students learn about concepts like consent and will develop self-advocacy skills for effective communication with parents or guardians, health and social service professionals, other trusted adults, and peers about health and relationships.
The Illinois State Board of Education will develop and adopt these new voluntary learning standards in consultation with stakeholders, including parents, sexual health and violence prevention experts, health care providers, and education advocates. They will make these free resources available online no later than August 1, 2022.
SB 818 takes effect immediately.
“No student should feel stigmatized or excluded in the classroom,” said State Senator Ram Villivalam (D-Chicago). “This legislation puts forth guidelines for an inclusive, culturally competent curriculum to keep students safe and healthy.”
“As a legislator, assuring that young people have all the tools to make healthy decisions has been a priority for me,” said State Representative Camille Lilly (D-Chicago). “Seven years ago when we fought to move sexual health education in Illinois beyond abstinence-only education, we knew there was more work to be done. Today marks another step in our efforts to ensure that young people receive a full toolbox of knowledge and skills to reduce harm and support overall health for their entire lives. I thank all those who have worked on the Keeping Youth Safe and Healthy Act as well as all those who voted to pass it. We know that the need of young people evolves, we must keep pace.”
House Bill 24 requires classes that teach sex education to include an age-appropriate discussion regarding sexting. The discussion will include:
• information regarding the possible consequences of sharing or forwarding sexually explicit or suggestive content
• the identification of situations in which bullying or harassment may result as a consequence of sexting
• the potential for long-term legal, social, academic, and other consequences from possessing sexual content,
• the importance of internet safety,
• the identification of people who could be of assistance on this issue to students
• and the development of strategies to resist peer pressure.
HB 24 takes effect immediately.
“Technology has grown a lot in the last decade, and our education needs to adapt as well,” said State Senator Steve Stadelman (D-Rockford). “This new law requires those schools that teach sex education to include a lesson on sexting, so students can learn about the real-life consequences of the virtual act.”
“With the evolution of technology and the increasing access for our children, it is vital that they understand the consequences of sexting. And now they will,” said State Representative Maurice West (D-Rockford). “I want to thank Governor Pritzker and my colleagues in the General Assembly for their support in passing this important legislation.”
…Adding… ACLU…
Earlier today, Governor JB Pritzker signed the Keeping Youth Safe and Healthy Act, which creates age-appropriate learning standards for public schools that decide to teach comprehensive personal health and safety education (grades K-5) and comprehensive sexual health education (grades 6-12).
“Years after changing Illinois law so that sexual health education is not simply abstinence-only, we are pleased that this new law will help students who have been stigmatized and or made invisible in these courses, such as LGBTQIA+ students and pregnant and parenting students, feel affirmed and seen in their classrooms,” said Khadine Bennett, Director of Advocacy and Intergovernmental Affairs for the ACLU of Illinois. “With the Governor’s signature today, students across Illinois can anticipate receiving information and education they need to support informed decision making to lead healthy lives.”
“This is good policy for all students in our state.”
…Adding… Schimpf…
Paul Schimpf, Republican candidate for Governor of Illinois, issued the following statement in response to Pritzker’s signing of SB818:
“By signing SB818, a bill that authorizes sex education as early as kindergarten, Governor Pritzker has shown an unwillingness to listen to the commonsense views of parents who want schools to focus on teaching academics, rather than social engineering. Now, more than ever, we need an Illinois Governor who understands that parents, not the government, should make decisions about their children’s education, healthcare, and maturation into adulthood. With his misguided action today, Governor Pritzker proves once again that he is too extreme to lead our state.”
* Rabine…
Gary Rabine, candidate for Governor, says the fact Governor JB Pritzker chose to sign the controversial sex education bill late on a Friday shows even he knows how insidious this legislation is for the children of this state.
“As Illinoisans across the state were gearing up for Family Day this weekend at the State Fair, our Governor signed legislation to effectively declare war on Illinois families,” Rabine said. “There is no justifiable reason to sexualize kindergartners. Signing this legislation is beyond irresponsible. Our children need to be protected and understand that their privacy is essential. Governor Pritzker should be ashamed of himself.”
The new (SB 818) would require schools to adopt the National Sex Education Standards beginning in kindergarten. Under the latest iteration of the standards, students starting in 6th grade will be taught how to define the meaning of oral and anal sex and third graders will be taught concepts such as masturbation. The bill passed without a single Republican vote.
“No wonder this atrocious bill was dropped late on a Friday afternoon,” Rabine said. “It is not the job of government to parent our children. It is not the job of government to teach third graders about masturbation. It is a sad day for our state.”
Rabine noted that there is an opt-out clause in the legislation that states:
“No student shall be required to take or participate in any class or course in comprehensive personal health and safety and comprehensive sexual health education. A student’s parent or guardian may opt the student out of comprehensive personal health and safety and comprehensive sexual health education by submitting the request in writing. Refusal to take or participate in such a course or program may not be a reason for disciplinary action, academic penalty, suspension, or expulsion or any other sanction of a student.”
“We need new leadership in Illinois, but until we have an election and vote out irresponsible leaders like JB Pritzker, parents must step up and take control of their children’s education,” Rabine said. “I urge every parent in Illinois to exercise this opt out option while it is still an option. My worry is that this bill is the trojan horse that eventually has no opt-out option, and our parents lose more freedoms over their children.”
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I just… I… Oh, wow
Friday, Aug 20, 2021 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Greg goes all-in on State Fair coverage. Definitely not for the squeamish, but kinda hilarious…
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* Earlier today, Illinois State Police Assistant Deputy Director Robin Woolery announced significant progress in the agency’s forensic biology screening and DNA analysis…
The Illinois State Police Division of Forensic services has reduced the backlog. The biology backlog has decreased by 62 percent since its peak in March 2019. The number of pending sexual assault assignments that are more than six months old has gone from over 1,000 cases in January 2019 to 56. Today, the age of pending biology assignments has been reduced from 247 in May of 2019 to 69 days today. The biology section is completing 38 percent more assignments per month this year compared with 2019.
That backlog was egregious and it’s still not great, but at least things are now definitely moving in the right direction.
* Meanwhile, from a press release…
This week, Illinois State Police (ISP), in cooperation with the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) and the Chicago Department of Transportation (CDOT) began installing license plate reading cameras on Chicago area expressways.
Earlier this year, the ISP received a $12.5 million grant for purchase of specialized cameras to read the license plate numbers of vehicles moving in traffic. The installations will also include a communication system to backhaul the video images to a central location where additional software is used to query and match license plates to existing license plate and vehicle databases.
“This investment in expressway cameras further strengthens the Illinois State Police’s ability to hold violent offenders accountable and fulfill our mission to help all Illinois residents live safely,” said Governor JB Pritzker. “Our roadways should be connections between communities, not crime scenes, and the ISP will offer the additional support necessary to local law enforcement in Chicago to protect traveling residents.”
“This is an important step toward expanding force-multiplying technology we have long needed to protect the public traveling on Chicago expressways,” said ISP Director Brendan F. Kelly. “These cameras will be an increasingly important tool for the ISP to collect the evidence we need to detect and deter crime on our interstates.”
As of Thursday, there were 157 reported shootings on Chicago area expressways in 2021.
The ISP continues to work with IDOT and CDOT to assist with the installation of more than 200 license plate reader cameras over the next year. The images from these cameras will not be used for petty offenses, such as speeding.
Increasingly, we’ve seen shootings throughout the Chicagoland expressways, and I am glad that we will now have the access to technology that will aid in the investigation of expressway shootings,” said State Senator Napoleon Harris, III (D-Harvey). “With these innovations, I hope many crimes are solved and brought to justice, so that the victims’ families may know peace.”
“Thank you, Governor Pritzker, for providing comfort and confidence to the victims of expressway shootings. I empathize with the family of Tamara Clayton, her sister Alma Hill, and other family members for enduring the time it took to erect these cameras,” said State Rep. Thaddeus M. Jones (D-Calumet City). “Governor Pritzker, Deputy Governor Christian Mitchell, ISP Director Kelly, and IDOT must be commended for their hard work in making sure that we provide ISP with the tools to capture the individuals who are shooting on our expressways. I would like to invite the public to join forces with ISP, and all law enforcement, and immediately report any person who intentionally targets any human being on our expressways, so we can stop these horrible shootings.”
The Tamara Clayton Expressway Camera Act (Expressway Camera Act) was signed into law on July 12, 2019 and became effective on Jan. 1, 2020. Ms. Clayton was on her way to work on Feb. 4, 2019 when she was tragically shot and killed while driving on Interstate 57 near Cicero Avenue. ISP investigators responded and the investigation into her death remains open and ongoing.
Following the state procurement process, Motorola was selected as the vendor for the camera system.
* The development comes too late to help solve this crime…
Two people arrested after allegedly speeding from the scene of a deadly shooting of a retired school teacher on the Dan Ryan have been released without charges.
There is no one else in custody for the murder of Denise Huguelet, an Illinois State Police spokesperson said Friday morning.
Huguelet, 67, was reportedly struck by crossfire coming from two other cars as she headed home from a White Sox game with her husband. The shooting happened around 10 p.m. Tuesday in the southbound lanes at 63rd Street.
…Adding… Press release…
The Illinois State Police (ISP) announce three upcoming Cadet Classes and encourage applicants from all of Illinois’ diverse communities to join the ranks of the ISP as we continue to build toward our next 100 years. Two of the new classes will be traditional classes while one will be a fast track class, providing certified police officers an opportunity to become Illinois State Troopers through participation in an accelerated training program
These new classes build on significant efforts to bolster the ranks of the Illinois State Police under the Pritzker Administration. Since 2019, Illinois has fielded 235 Troopers with three cadet classes – Cadet Class (CC) 129, CC 130, and CC 131 – and these three additional cadet classes will sustain the effort to rebuild the Illinois State Police.
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Question of the day
Friday, Aug 20, 2021 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Cover letter…
A Message from Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul
It has been an honor to serve the people of the State of Illinois as the 42nd Attorney General for the past two years. Our office has consistently advocated on behalf of Illinois and its people by protecting consumers, defending our rights, and collaborating with the law enforcement community to help keep our communities and children safe.
The responsibilities of the Attorney General, to defend and advocate for the state and its people, were brought into sharp focus with the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. Despite the unprecedented nature of the pandemic, our staff immediately moved into action to adapt our operations to meet the needs of Illinois residents, while also keeping our employees safe. Our attorneys and staff answered thousands of calls from consumers about price gouging and from workers concerned about COVID-19 safety practices in their workplaces. Our attorneys also fought to uphold the Governor’s actions to keep Illinois residents safe in accordance with public health guidance.
While the COVID-19 pandemic has created unique challenges to serving as the Attorney General, our office continues to provide ongoing support and services to the people and communities across Illinois. This report reflects the hard work and dedication of the attorneys and staff of the Attorney General’s office. I could not be more thankful for their dedication and service, and I look forward to continuing to build on our accomplishments.
Skim through the report by clicking here. AG Raoul announced his reelection bid on Governor’s Day.
* The Question: On a 1-10 scale, with 1 being the best and 10 the worst, how would you rate Attorney General Raoul’s performance to date? Take the poll and then explain your answer in comments, please…
online survey
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New laws
Friday, Aug 20, 2021 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Another Peters bill-signing press release…
A new law sponsored by State Senator Robert Peters (D-Chicago) expands the rights of victims and survivors of violent crimes to take unpaid time off work.
“Trauma can often be a life-changing experience, so victims and survivors of violent crimes and their families should be able to deal with that trauma on their own time without having to risk losing their jobs,” Peters said. “Otherwise, we’re creating a situation where a person might experience serious trauma and then suffer loss of livelihood as a result.”
House Bill 3582 extends the Victims Economic and Safety Act, which entitles victims and survivors and families of victims and survivors of domestic, sexual or gender violence to various amounts of unpaid leave from work to deal with the trauma caused by the experience. The new law extends the act to include victims of any other type of violent crime and provides protections against discriminatory acts from employers.
“Trauma should never beget more trauma,” Peters said.
The legislation received bipartisan support from both chambers of the General Assembly. Gov. JB Pritzker signed it into law Friday, and it is effective immediately.
His comms person better get a nice holiday bonus. [They accidentally sent the wrong release, so content has been changed.]
* WCIA…
Governor Pritzker signed a package of legislation to expand protection for immigrants and refugee communities in Illinois on Thursday.
Governor JB Pritzker signed House Bill 709 and House Bill 2790 into law. Officials said the new laws provide residents in Cook County with legal representation and launches information campaigns to help immigrants and refugees in Illinois understand their rights.
“The legislation I’m signing today builds on our nation-leading efforts to make Illinois a welcoming state for immigrants and refugees,” said Gov. Pritzker. “I’m proud that these critical protections advance our mission to give our immigrant neighbors the equitable representation that they deserve. Everyone should feel safe and secure in the place they call home and I remain committed to ensuring that our efforts to protect immigrants define what it means to live, work, and thrive in Illinois.”
* ISMS press release…
[Yesterday’s] action by Governor Pritzker to sign into law the Prior Authorization Reform Act (House Bill 711) is a major victory for reducing the bureaucratic barriers for Illinois patients to receive the medical treatment they need in a timely manner.
“The misuse of prior authorization has caused delays and denials to patients who may need potentially life-saving care. Our hope is that by enacting this law, patients will get the medical care they deserve and need without unnecessary delays,” said Regan Thomas, MD, President, Illinois State Medical Society (ISMS).
With bipartisan support in both chambers, the Illinois General Assembly unanimously approved ISMS’ top initiative during the Spring legislative session.
The law requires important, substantive changes to health insurer prior authorization practices. These require that:
• Health insurance companies respond to prior authorization requests within well-defined shortened and more immediate timelines for urgent and non-urgent care; no one will have to wait longer than one week for an answer from their health insurance company
• Insurers use medical professionals with relevant experience in the appropriate specialty to make prior authorization decisions
• Clear and definite time frames be in place for how long a prior authorization approval is valid for acute and chronic conditions to avoid disruptions in medical care for patients who are stable on a prescribed treatment
• Prior authorization requirements are transparent and follow evidence-based guidelines
ISMS has been leading this fight for reform along with many other healthcare and patient advocacy organizations as part of the Your Care Can’t Wait Coalition.
“The issues with prior authorization became so cumbersome that when we conducted a survey of Illinois physicians, more than 95% reported that this process had caused harm to their patients,” Dr. Thomas noted. “The physicians of Illinois appreciate that the Governor and the General Assembly have supported this legislation to make sure patients receive the medical care and treatment they deserve without delays.”
The new law takes effect Jan. 1, 2022. It applies to state-regulated insurance plans, including Medicaid. It does not apply to federally regulated ERISA plans or Medicare.
* Press release…
Governor JB Pritzker signed legislation today that creates a path for the compassionate release of medically incapacitated individuals by the Prison Review Board (PRB). House Bill 3665, also known as the Joe Coleman Medical Release Act, reflects the administration’s commitment to bringing about true, meaningful reform in the justice system.
“By signing the Joe Coleman Medical Release Act into law, it’s my intention to honor Joe Coleman’s legacy as a father, as a veteran, as a man who spent his days raising funds for charity from behind bars,” said Governor JB Pritzker. “Thanks to the many advocates and General Assembly sponsors Senator John Connor and Representative Will Guzzardi, more families will get to say goodbye to their loved ones the way we all hope to get to when the time comes: together. This is another step toward the world, the Illinois, our families deserve. And I’m proud to turn it into law today.”
To provide dignity for all Illinois residents in their final days, HB 3665 allows for the discretionary early release of those who are medically incapacitated or terminally ill and serving time in an Illinois Department of Corrections (IDOC) facility.
“This bill creates policy that honors people’s humanity while at the same time prioritizing public safety,” said Lt. Governor Juliana Stratton. “I am proud that Illinois is leading with compassion and bringing a restorative justice lens to criminal justice policy making.”
…Adding… Press release…
Joined by state lawmakers and survivors of domestic violence, today Governor JB Pritzker signed seven pieces of legislation into law to address domestic violence and remove some of the obstacles survivors face.
“Every difficult choice and obstacle we eliminate for victims of domestic violence unlocks an opportunity for them to prioritize their safety,” said Governor JB Pritzker. “While our work to make Illinois a safer and more compassionate state for survivors is not done, I am heartened by the steps we have taken today.”
“As chair of the Illinois Council on Women and Girls, we have been focused on preventing gender-based violence and supporting survivors,” said Lt. Governor Juliana Stratton. “I am thankful that Governor Pritzker is prioritizing gender-based violence and his signature on these bills is just one more example of how we are working to make Illinois safer, more equitable, and empowering for women and girls.”
“A permanent Illinois Forensic Science Commission will drive improvements in the collection and analysis of forensic evidence,” said ISP Assistant Deputy Director of Division of Forensic Services Robin Woolery. “An Illinois Forensic Science Commission will be a forum for discussions between forensic science stakeholders to improve communication and coordination and ultimately empower them to monitor and address the important issues. By taking a strong systems-based approach, Illinois can further address the inefficiencies that contribute to backlogs.”
More at the link.
…Adding… Press release…
Building on efforts to fully support workers and their families, Governor JB Pritzker signed legislation that lowers employee contributions to the CTA’s Retiree Health Care Trust while maintaining 100% funding. The law allows workers to take home every hard-earned dollar possible, while protecting their full benefits and healthcare they earned upon retirement.
“This is progress made possible because this promise is properly funded. It’s proof that, with patience, determination and commitment, Illinois is a state where commitments to our retirees can be responsibly fulfilled,” said Governor JB Pritzker. “I’ve been proud to put Springfield back on the side of working families throughout the state. In partnership with the General Assembly, this is yet another step we’re taking to build back our state after years of neglecting our workers.” ”
…Adding… Press release…
Building on efforts to expand mental health services, Governor JB Pritzker today signed House Bill 1778 into law, helping to prevent teen suicide in high schools, colleges and universities by combatting mental health crises. The legislation was championed by students from Naperville Central, who formed the nonprofit Beyond Charity, to raise mental health awareness.
“As many students have spent more time isolated from friends, teachers, and even family, it is more important than ever they have resources to remind them they are not alone,” said Governor JB Pritzker. “Thanks to the legislation I am signing today, next year, all middle school, high school, and public university student IDs will feature the numbers for crisis hotlines. Every student – regardless of their grade, school, and struggles – will carry an affirmation that mental health matters – with a life-saving resource in their back pocket.”
Named after the Naperville nonprofit, the Beyond Charity Law requires public high schools and institutions of higher education to add contact information for suicide prevention on school IDs. The legislation will ensure that students in sixth through 12th grade, as well as colleges and universities have contact information for the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, the Crisis Text Line, and either the Safe2Help Illinois or a local suicide prevention hotline on their ID cards.
…Adding… Press release…
Governor JB Pritzker today signed legislation that establishes the Childhood Anaphylactic Policy, creating added safety measures for students with life-threatening allergies. House Bill 102 provides guidance to school districts and daycares regarding anaphylactic reactions, furthering the administration’s commitment to making Illinois’ educational systems safe and inclusive for all students.
“I’m glad that the Childhood Anaphylactic Policy will not only provide comfort to parents of children with severe allergies, but it will better equip daycares and K-12 schools with the expertise to help these kids,” said Governor JB Pritzker. “As a parent myself, I’m intent upon making Illinois the best state in the nation to raise a young family. Thanks to this bill, we’re locking in another piece of the puzzle today.”
In an effort to better help schools protect all students, House Bill 102 requires the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) to establish anaphylaxis policies and procedures for school districts and daycare settings.
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* You’ll undoubtedly recall this story from yesterday…
State investigators who grant and revoke medical licenses have opened an investigation into a sports doctor at Carle Hospital because of his personal stance opposing a mask mandate in schools, according to emails he says he received from the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR).
Dr. Jeremy Henrichs, a team physician for the University of Illinois’ Athletic Department, is also an elected member of the Mahomet-Seymour school board. Despite his opposition to mandatory mask rules in classrooms, the school district will still enforce the Governor’s new statewide school mask mandate and require all students to wear masks in class, according to documents posted on its website.
* Well, Sen. Chapin Rose called me today to say that an IDFPR attorney has reached out to Dr. Hendrix’s attorney and “formally apologized.”
IDFPR admitted, Rose said, “that the line of inquiry was inappropriate and said that nothing further is required, as far as the statement goes, of Dr. Hendrix. We’re trying to confirm that that means that this is being dismissed and that there’s no further action.”
* From IDFPR Acting Secretary Mario Treto, Jr…
Our preliminary review of this complaint has concluded and the strong recommendation to the Medical Disciplinary Board will be that this complaint be closed. Under current law, only the Medical Disciplinary Board can close a complaint. We are pleased that Governor Pritzker signed Public Act 102-0020 into law, which becomes effective January 1, 2022, and will allow the Department to be able to review and close medical complaints that do not have merit related to a violation of the Medical Practice Act.
Kudos to Sen. Rose for pushing this issue.
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*** UPDATED x2 *** COVID-19 roundup
Friday, Aug 20, 2021 - Posted by Rich Miller
*** UPDATE 1 *** Press release…
The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) today reported 24,682 new confirmed and probable cases of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in Illinois, including 126 additional deaths since reporting last Friday, August 13, 2021. More than 77% of Illinois adults have received at least one COVID-19 vaccine dose and more than 60% of Illinois adults are fully vaccinated, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Currently, IDPH is reporting a total of 1,482,369 cases, including 23,717 deaths, in 102 counties in Illinois. The age of cases ranges from younger than one to older than 100 years. Since reporting on Friday, August 13, 2021, laboratories have reported 462,916 specimens for a total of 28,072,697. As of last night, 2,000 individuals in Illinois were reported to be in the hospital with COVID-19. Of those, 468 patients were in the ICU and 234 patients with COVID-19 were on ventilators.
The preliminary seven-day statewide positivity for cases as a percent of total test from August 13-19, 2021 is 5.3%. The preliminary seven-day statewide test positivity from August 13-19, 2021 is 6.1%. However, regional 7-day test positivity averages range from 4.2% to 10.4%. http://www.dph.illinois.gov/regionmetrics?regionID=11.
A total of 13,745,822 vaccines have been administered in Illinois as of last midnight. The seven-day rolling average of vaccines administered daily is 33,564 doses. Since reporting on Friday, August 13, 2021, 234,949 doses were reported administered in Illinois.
*All data are provisional and will change. Additional information and COVID-19 data can be found at http://www.dph.illinois.gov/covid19.
Vaccination is the key to ending this pandemic. To find a COVID-19 vaccination location near you, go to www.vaccines.gov.
For perspective, the spring spike peaked at 2,288 hospitalizations on April 19.
*** UPDATE 2 *** I know Nancy Werden and she’s a conscientious person who did the right things and stuff still went wrong…
Staunton, Illinois schools shut down after one week because of COVID-19 spread
After opening for one week of classes, schools in Staunton, Illinois, moved to virtual learning Thursday due to an increase in cases of COVID-19, district officials said.
The first day of school in the Macoupin County district was Aug. 11.
Staunton schools will reopen Aug. 30 for anyone not under a quarantine order, reads a message from Nancy Werden, interim superintendent.
Gonna be rough for a while. Get your shots, people.
…Adding… This guy, man…
* Mary Ann Ahern peppered the governor with mask mandate questions at this morning’s media availability…
MAA: Where do you stand on a statewide mask mandate as the city of Chicago puts theirs in place today? Certainly there are a high number of counties with a high transmission.
JBP: Well, as you know, I have not been reticent to act when I think it’s appropriate to do so on mitigations. And we’re always considering every day what next we need to do. I applaud the city of Chicago and taking proactive efforts here. I encourage other local governments, whether they be cities or townships or counties, to also take proactive steps and we will look at the state level, whether that’s an appropriate thing at some moment. And again, every day I’m looking at these numbers and talking to Dr. Ezike.
MAA: But what else would it take? It’s almost [garbled] political governor, now.
JBP: No, you would like to say that. This is not political. This is every day, [crosstalk]. As you know, listen, if it was political, we wouldn’t have any mitigations. It would be much easier not to have mitigations. [Crosstalk] The truth, the truth of the matter is that I have acted, every time I have believed and the doctors have advised me that we need to put mitigations in place, we have done it. And so I’m not reticent to do that. We know now that we have vaccines available, and masks work. People should follow the science. If you wear a mask and you get vaccinated, you’re pretty safe. And I hope that everybody will do that and I will take action, if we see that the numbers can move up in an exponential fashion, which they’re not there, But in an exponential fashion, that’s something that we’ll look very closely at. And again, I talk every day or text or have communication with Dr. Ezike or with her senior staff to try to determine what we need to do on any given day. Also to be helpful, I’ll just add this to the hospitals, especially in Southern Illinois. And in areas where there are a limited number of ICU beds that are yet still available, how we can provide more staffing, how we can provide support for those hospitals. […]
MAA: If you can’t give us the metric on the masks, it makes folks think, wow, the city of Chicago has to wear a mask but boy if you go out to, you know, I don’t know, pick a town in the suburbs, you don’t have to.
JBP: It’s always been the case, Mary Ann that local communities and cities have decisions that they can make that are more stringent on mitigations than what the state, that’s always been the case. And there have been moments throughout the last year and a half that you’ve seen, not just the city of Chicago, but other places that have taken proactive actions that they believe would work in their communities. So I encourage those local community leaders to do so. Indeed, I have celebrated those people throughout the last year and a half, because very few, frankly, local leaders, very few elected leaders have been willing to stand up and make tough decisions for their communities. I mean, it’s about time for some of them, but I want to congratulate folks who actually already do that.
Please pardon all transcription errors.
…Adding… MAA’s story…
Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker on Friday declined to give a specific metric at which the state might impose another indoor masking mandate, leaving the door open for further mitigations but deferring to local authorities to take action, even as he called the current COVID-19 surge fueled by the delta variant a “very dangerous moment.”
* Crain’s…
The Archdiocese of Chicago this week announced that all employees and clergy will be required to get vaccinated against COVID-19. While people will have an opportunity to request a medical exemption, religious objections will not be considered.
The Archdiocese of Chicago and its agencies, including Catholic Charities and Misericordia, join a growing list of organizations mandating COVID-19 shots for workers and patrons as the delta variant surges.
“We have made this decision convinced that this is the best way to stop the spread of this deadly illness,” Cardinal Blase J. Cupich, archbishop of Chicago, said in a Thursday email to clergy and staff. “Following the lead of Pope Francis, we encourage everyone to be vaccinated as an act of charity. … Religious exemptions to vaccination cannot be supported by Catholic teaching and I have instructed our pastors not to grant them.” [Emphasis added.]
Cupich claims that more than 90 percent of staff and clergy are already vaccinated.
* More…
* Editorial: Americans need a better vaccination ID than a flimsy piece of paper
* CTU negotiations with CPS over COVID-19 precautions drag with start of school year days away
* Why the NEA Refuses to Support Vaccine Mandates
* Three private schools in the suburbs punished for defiance on masks
* Some McHenry County families have started home schooling because of COVID-19 mask mandate
* Long-term care facilities are using the pandemic as a shield, even in lawsuits unrelated to covid-19
* COVID-19 in Southern Illinois: Additional deaths reported in Johnson, Massac, and Pulaski Counties on Thursday
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* A House Democratic spokesperson just confirmed to me that the chamber is returning for session on Tuesday, August 31. A one-day special session is scheduled so far. More in a bit.
…Adding… Email to members from Speaker Chris Welch’s chief of staff Tiffany Moy…
Hi, Members:
The Speaker and Senate President are convening a special session on Tuesday, August 31 at 12 pm, for the purpose of considering legislative measures related to the legislative redistricting plan, pursuant to a Joint Proclamation that will be filed shortly.
We will also have a Caucus meeting on Monday. I will follow up with further details including the exact time later this afternoon.
Thank you!
Tiffany
*** UPDATE *** Press release…
House Speaker and Senate President Statements on Return for Special Session
The Speaker and Senate President are convening a special session on Tuesday, August 31 at 12 pm, for the purpose of considering legislative measures related to the legislative redistricting plan, pursuant to a Joint Proclamation.
“Following the recent release of 2020 census data from the U.S. Census Bureau, the House will be returning for a one-day special session on August 31 to amend the legislative map enacted in June to incorporate the latest census data,” said House Speaker Emanuel “Chris” Welch. “As we have said since the beginning of this process, we want to make sure every voice is heard and represented. We invite the public to participate at the open hearings we will be holding prior to the return of the legislature.”
“Our goal has always been to implement a map that is fair and represents the diversity of the population of Illinois,” said Senate President Don Harmon. “With census data now available, we will take any necessary legislative action with that same goal in mind.”
Information on the legislative map can be found at ilhousedems.com/redistricting. Details on the public hearings will be forthcoming.
…Adding… The proclamation is here. The Senate is also working on the climate/energy bill, but they can adjourn to regular session to deal with that. Members, however, won’t receive their extra travel stipend for regular session if this goes beyond one day.
…Adding… August 31 happens to be Republican Day at the DuQuoin State Fair.
…Adding… I wouldn’t bet too much money on this happening since special session was announced…
Following the publication of the U.S. Census Bureau’s 2020 census data last week, which confirmed Illinois Democrats’ map included district populations three times the maximum range allowed by law, Senate Republican Leader Dan McConchie (R-Hawthorn Woods) and House Republican Leader Jim Durkin (R-Western Springs) filed a motion for summary judgment in federal court.
“This was quite possibly the most secretive, non-transparent process in the history of Springfield politics,” said McConchie. “The proclamation for a special session is admission that the Democrats’ enacted map was unconstitutional. Instead of ensuring the protection of Illinoisans’ voting rights, Governor Pritzker and his Democratic insiders drafted an unconstitutional map that sought to ensure their absolute power for another decade. With the data on the people’s side, we are confident the court will see through the Democrats’ charade and agree with our motion to void this map.”
The motion for summary judgment outlines that the facts and evidence presented in the case are so overwhelming that no real dispute still exists and requests an immediate ruling because a trial is no longer necessary to determine the case.
“A motion for summary judgment is filed when there is no longer a dispute over the law and the facts,” Durkin said. “The release of the Census data is game-set-match against the Illinois Democrats. Now knowing that their original map is unconstitutional, the Democrats are now scrambling to draw a new backroom map on short notice. There is no way to ‘put the toothpaste back into the tube’ as discussed in our summary judgment motion.”
If the motion is granted by the court, the current plan, HB 2777, will be declared unconstitutional and void without a lengthy trial and provide an opportunity for the process to go to a bipartisan commission.
And I also wouldn’t bet on a bipartisan commission. Also, the Democrats were scheduled to file a motion to dismiss.
…Adding… I meant to post this Sun-Times article and forgot…
The number of home solar panel installations in Illinois has plummeted as state consumer incentives dried up amid a standoff in Springfield that’s seen lawmakers unable to agree on major energy legislation.
After a state incentive program ran out of money late last year, just 313 small rooftop solar projects were completed statewide in the three-month period ending June 30, compared with 2,908 a year earlier, Illinois Power Agency records show. Those numbers account for most of the rooftop solar projects done in Illinois.
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Republican Day coverage roundup
Friday, Aug 20, 2021 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Center Square…
Illinois Republican Party Chairman Don Tracy said Thursday during Republican Day at the Illinois State Fair that the Democratic Party in Illinois is making the state “woke and weak” and the state is falling behind many states run by Republican governors. He called Gov. J.B. Pritzker a “king.”
One of his main goals was plastered on campaign signs throughout the GOP event.
“You wanna know what my biggest priority is in 2022, if you haven’t guessed, look at the banner, let’s fire Pritzker,” Tracy said.
* SJ-R…
As expected, Illinois Republicans spent the majority of their Thursday rally at the Illinois State Fair attacking Gov. JB Pritzker, a Democrat, with the rally’s emcee resorting to criticism of Pritzker’s weight.
Though the rally didn’t feature any of the three Republican candidates confirmed to be running for governor, Grand Old Party lawmakers and committee members attacked the governor during their Republicans Day rally for his executive orders during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, among other issues.
Republicans also called on Pritzker to veto a controversial ethics bill passed by the Illinois General Assembly this spring that Republicans have argued does not do enough to address corruption in state politics. […]
“Illinois Republicans have more enthusiasm than I’ve seen at this state fair in a very long time,” said U.S. Rep. Rodney Davis, R-Taylorville, beckoning to the couple hundred attendees at the Director’s Lawn. “And I want (the media) to report on it, too.”
Just saying that meant Davis got his desired reporting into the SJ-R and elsewhere. But the quote didn’t really match the reality. Most folks were far away from the stage and talking amongst themselves throughout the program. The few folks up front were beaten down by the sun, heat and humidity and were relatively sedate as a result. It wasn’t much different than the previous day’s Democratic rally…
* Capitol News Illinois…
“I’ve spent a lot of time in blue states this year and I like what I’ve seen,” RNC Co-Chairman Tommy Hicks, of Texas, said at the rally. “I’ve been in the state of Washington, Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Connecticut, New Jersey and now Illinois. Every event is packed. The excitement is real. And the enthusiasm is firmly on the Republican side.”
* Brenden Moore…
But throughout the day, which began with a joint meeting of the Illinois GOP State Central Committee and Illinois Republican County Chairs Association in downtown Springfield before the festivities moved to the fairgrounds in the afternoon, it was clear that internal divisions remain between conservatives and moderates on how the party wins back the voters it needs to win statewide again. […]
[Kirk Dillard], the chairman of the Chicago Regional Transportation Authority, said he’s “not looking to run for governor,” but has been approached by some business leaders about the prospect.
“If the election were held today, I think JB Pritzker would win against the current field,” Dillard said, speaking with reporters after the rally. “But it’s early, and I’m here as an observer just to see what what these candidates are like, but I worry that the Republicans, if they run somebody, they’ll run somebody that’s unelectable. And you’ll want to win the general election and govern when you get there.”
Some of these concerns were on display Thursday, with Bailey, a supporter of former President Donald Trump, refusing to say whether President Joe Biden legally won the 2020 election.
* Amanda Vinicky…
U.S. Rep. Darin LaHood of the Peoria-area laid out his vision for what would happen in Washington if the White House and Congress were in GOP hands:
Ban race theory, implement patriotic education to teach children to “love American,” continue building a wall at the Southern U.S. border and hire 100,000 police officers “to support law and order.”
“And we have an obligation to go after big tech,” he said. ‘How ironic is it that the leader of the Taliban has a Twitter account and President Trump doesn’t? Absolutely irresponsible to let these tech companies continue what they’re doing.”
Local control for masks, but Orwellian federal teaching mandates on history and social studies classes. Gotcha.
* Back to CNI…
Among them is Paul Schimpf, a former GOP state senator from Waterloo who is one of the three announced Republican candidates for governor. He was the Republican nominee for attorney general in 2014.
Speaking to reporters at an event earlier in the day, Schimpf recalled his 2016 Illinois Senate race against former Democratic Lt. Gov. Sheila Simon.
“We won that race by almost 22 points, and the reason we won that race is because we talked about the issues that unite us,” he said. “And we also ran a campaign where it wasn’t toxic. The people of Illinois are tired, really, of toxic politics I think at this point.”
* Hannah Meisel…
Many speeches Thursday criticized Pritzker’s latest mask mandate for schools, implemented earlier this month after COVID’s more transmissible Delta variant set off an uptick in new cases and hospitalizations in Illinois, and has also filled up hospitals and children’s ICU beds in other states. Appeals to the crowd steered clear of vaccine talk, but earlier in the day, the candidates addressed that issue with reporters.
Schimpf is the only candidate who has gotten his COVID shots, though he said he isn’t in favor of government mandates for the vaccine. Bailey refused to say whether he is vaccinated, incorrectly claiming HIPAA laws protect him from having to answer. Earlier this summer, he told a closed-door crowd of Republicans he was not vaccinated.
Rabine repeated falsehoods about the vaccine killing “thousands of people” and contended that because he already had COVID, he believed getting the vaccine would weaken his natural immunity, which is not true.
“The CDC can say what they want,” Rabine replied when told the Centers for Disease Control has advised the opposite. “I listen to scientists all over the world…We shouldn’t demand a vaccine in anybody, in my opinion. It’s my body. It’s my choice.”
* Tribune…
“This is a do-or-die election,” GOP Co-chair Mark Shaw of Lake County said of the 2022 races. “You can’t beat somebody with nobody on the ballot. We have to have candidates everywhere up and down the ballot for everything from governor to dogcatcher.”
While seeking to recapture areas where it once dominated, the state GOP is burdened by candidates who take hard-right stands on issues that have divided the state and nation. Republican candidates for governor include hopefuls who won’t say if they think Biden legally defeated President Donald Trump, won’t reveal their COVID-19 vaccination status and won’t back down from repeating misinformation that the vaccine has caused deaths.
The misinformation on COVID-19 carried over to Illinois history on Thursday. Shaw touted Republican events at the upcoming DuQuoin State Fair and referred to the Southern Illinois town as “a former state capitol of Illinois.” Kaskaskia, Vandalia and Springfield, but not DuQuoin, have served as Illinois’ seat of government.
There was a time in this state when a geography flub like that would be news.
* Rachel Hinton…
Others addressing the party at the hotel included state Rep. Tom Demmer, a Dixon Republican who said he’s still “exploring” a run for Illinois secretary of state, and state Rep. Dan Brady of Bloomington, who may also seek the party’s nomination to succeed outgoing Democrat Jesse White.
Republicans who’ve said they want a shot at the top of the ticket include Bobby Piton, a portfolio manager who bills himself as a “Conservative Patriot committed to preserving our Freedom and Republic,” and Allison Salinas, whose Facebook page says she stands up “for the unborn, backing our 2nd Amendment and standing up for our law enforcement agencies.”
Others include Peggy Hubbard, a Navy veteran and former police officer, and Tim Arview, who bills himself as a “conservative Republican” on his Facebook page.
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Please listen to Rep. Tim Butler
Friday, Aug 20, 2021 - Posted by Rich Miller
* WMAY…
A local lawmaker is taking some of his colleagues to task over their refusal to say whether they’ve been vaccinated against COVID-19.
Republican Representative Tim Butler says it’s important for people in public positions to share the message that the vaccine is safe and effective, and is the fastest way to bring the pandemic to an end once and for all.
Butler says vaccine misinformation remains a problem, but he says the medical and public health professionals who are encouraging vaccination do not have an agenda other than trying to keep people healthy.
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Today’s quotable
Friday, Aug 20, 2021 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Shot…
* Chaser…
* Transcript…
The material, if anything, is based on what Bob Hope would have done 20-30 years ago. If we believe that Bob Hope is cancelable, I’m really concerned about our country. Bob Hope was a comedian who was able to gently rib, you know, all parties and all people, whether it was Lyndon Johnson, or Richard Nixon or John F Kennedy, or George HW Bush. Bob Hope was an American first, and he gently ribbed those who were in power.
73 Comments
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TRS touts gains
Friday, Aug 20, 2021 - Posted by Rich Miller
* From the Teachers Retirement System…
ITRS Investments Soar
ITRS investments closed out FY 2021 with more than $10 billion in investment income, an extremely strong rate of return and record assets under management, despite the worldwide economic upheaval caused by the pandemic.
On June 30, 2021, ITRS managed assets totaling approximately $62.7 billion – a record for the System and a 20 percent increase in assets during the year. ITRS closed fiscal year 2020 with $52.3 billion.
Through June 30, 2021 the preliminary fiscal year to-date investment return is expected to exceed 23.1 percent, net of fees. The ITRS long-term investment return exceeded the System’s long-term assumed investment return of 7 percent with a 40-year return during FY 2021 of 9.3 percent.
Through forethought and careful planning, the ITRS Investment Department successfully navigated the perils of COVID-19’s attack on the economy. All public pension systems lost money during the early weeks of the pandemic, but compared to similar public pension systems, ITRS was among the nation’s leaders in protecting member assets. During the first three months of the pandemic, ITRS assets fell from $54.2 billion to $48.5 billion. However, within eight months, dedicated work by the System reclaimed all of the losses, rebuilt the value of the portfolio to $55.7 billion and added another $6.8 billion by the end of the fiscal year.
Dedicated to Equality and Inclusion
The trustees and staff are re-doubling their efforts for the System’s long-standing commitment to increase diversity, equity and inclusion within the ITRS investment program. First, it enlarged the size of a 15-year-old program designed to mentor smaller, “emerging” money managers from a commitment of $750 million to $1 billion.
Along with an increase in funding, the re-doubled effort also focuses on an increase in diversity hiring across asset classes; updated diversity selection metrics; and the development of a standardized evaluation tool to measure diversity, equity and inclusion practices within money management firms.
The total assets in the ITRS portfolio managed by Minority and Women Business Enterprises has increased from $8.2 billion to $13 billion in the last five years. In FY 2021 ITRS continued to exceed its annual aspirational goal to have 20 percent of total assets managed by MWBE firms. Currently, ITRS commitments to MWBE firms total $13 billion, or 21 percent of the System’s portfolio.
Taken together, all of these accomplishments affirm the commitment of the ITRS staff and the entire Board of Trustees to the goal of building one of the premier public pension systems in the United States.
We envision a system that is innovative, transparent, hard-working and responsive to all stakeholders. Above all, we see a system that fulfills its mission – ensure a stable retirement for Illinois educators who dedicated their careers to helping others succeed.
Reaching our goal will take time. The renaissance at ITRS is underway. We look forward to the future and together we are more than ready to conquer new challenges.
Thoughts?
36 Comments
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Because… Madigan!
Friday, Aug 20, 2021 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Sun-Times editorial on the climate/energy bill negotiations…
Talks have reached such a low that some negotiators are longing for the days of former House Speaker Michael Madigan. Whenever negotiations on a crucial piece of legislation hit an impasse back then, one negotiator quietly said, Madigan would call everybody together and essentially say, “You get this, you get this and you get this” — and a bill would get passed.
* NPR Illinois…
Both sides in the energy fight allege the other has injected new issues into negotiations, and leaders in both groups privately say their fight would not have reached such a fever pitch if Madigan were still around to call balls and strikes.
They are not wrong. I’ve heard the same things many, many times. But Big Daddy is gone. He’s not coming back, kids. Deal with it.
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Open thread
Friday, Aug 20, 2021 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Anything state-related you’d like to discuss? Have at it.
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