According to a WGN-TV/Emerson College poll, Joe Biden is the front runner in Illinois. By a wide-margin voters support Biden over Bernie Sanders. According to the poll, 56.6% of Illinois voters choose Biden, 36.2% support Sanders. […]
In terms of the Cook County State’s Attorney race, the incumbent Kim Foxx came out on top.
Kim Foxx 36.3%
Bill Conway 20.3%
Donna More 4.8%
Bob Fioretti 4.3%
34.2% said they remain undecided
Voters were also asked if they approve or disapprove of Trump’s pardoning of former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich.
71.8% of voters disapprove
28.2% approve.
Maybe the Chicago TV stations will now stop lionizing the disgraced former governor. More results at the link.
…Adding… As somebody pointed out, the undecideds in the state’s attorney race are quite large. Plenty of room for movement, but we’ll see. The spread is definitely big. I would love to see the xtabs to see who is still making up their minds.
…Adding More… The crosstabs are actually online. Click here. 40 percent of white voters, who are pretty much evenly split in this poll between Foxx and Conway, are still undecided. And 32 percent of black voters, who are with Foxx over Conway 59-4, are undecided. About a third of both men and women are undecided, and Foxx leads Conway by 5 points among men and 25 points among women. Just 16 percent of voters 65+ are undecided and Foxx leads Conway by 31 points. 30 percent of voters aged 50-64 are undecided and Foxx leads by 30.
* The governor moved his daily COVID-19 press conference to 5 pm today. Chicago TV stations are airing the event live. Click here for the live feed.
The governor said he’s asked sports team owners to cancel all games or play without spectators until May 1. “All of the owners that I spoke with told me that they completely understood and were more than willing to comply with this guidance.”
* Remember that I use Otter for quick transcriptions, so some typos will appear. More…
I’m asking that all community events that organizers expect will attract 250, or more people be canceled, or postponed until May 1. This includes personal and social events. I’m mandating that events of 1000 or more people be canceled, or postponed immediately.
I do not want to waste precious resources monitoring event cancellations. So I’m appealing to the Civic patriotic and humanitarian character of the residents of Illinois to act on this guidance immediately without any need for official state action.
Even for events that will attract crowds less than 250 people. It is critically important that organizers, think about who is likely to attend. And if likely attendees include individuals in vulnerable populations, such as the elderly, or those who are immunosuppressed, please consider canceling.
* Schools…
With regard to schools here in Chicago and around the state. The mayor will speak to guidance for CPS students and teachers. We are not closing our schools, but we are monitoring the situation on a day to day basis.
…Adding… From the governor’s press secretary…
We obviously are cognizant of the fact that students rely on schools for safety and food. So just shutting them down is not the best option for a lot of students
* JRTC…
I am also announcing tonight, that I am closing the James R Thompson center to people who do not have business with the state effective Monday. The JRTC houses many employees who perform essential functions for the state, and I need to take this extraordinary measure to make sure that they can continue to do their jobs during this challenging time.
* Private companies…
I am also asking every private business to have employees work remotely. And fortunately many can consider making the decision to do so immediately. Those businesses that cannot easily have employees work remotely need to think through plans to promote social distancing at work.
* Election…
I also want to make clear that the election will proceed forward on Tuesday. I’m encouraging all local election authorities to expand the hours of early voting every day until Election Day. […]
For those of you who plan to vote on election day. Please know that local clerks and boards of election are working diligently to ensure that polls operate smoothly and safely, the Illinois Department of Public Health issued a guidance, specifically for polling places to make sure that election judges volunteers and voters are healthy and safe. Free and Open elections are the structural support of our democracy. One of the most important duties that I have as governor is to do everything in my power to make sure elections proceed forward as planned.
* To skeptics…
I know that some people will ask whether these measures are necessary in counties and cities that have seen very few or no positive Corona virus cases, we have seen what works and what doesn’t work from other countries around the world, especially in the earliest days of community spread of this virus. Don’t be fooled into thinking that your community is immune. I’m not going to hesitate to take the most aggressive measures possible to protect the people of our state.
* To the media…
Finally, I want to make an appeal directly to the press, and to our public and our private institutions around the state. Please. Please do not report or act on unconfirmed reports that may be grinding the rumor mill. The work involved in issuing clear and direct guidelines on a day to day basis when new information comes in, literally, by the minute is time consuming and requires consultation with many stakeholders and partners. We are committed to getting it right every step of the way. We established these daily briefings so that the press and the public could get clear and reliable information directly from us.
* To the public…
I wish I could tell you that going about your everyday lives with no adjustments was the best course of action right now. It is not and I owe you honesty. We need to reduce social contact in order to try and control the spread of the virus and prevent our medical infrastructure from dealing with too many cases at one time. We all have responsibilities to the most vulnerable among us, and that means making sacrifices in the immediate term.
We also have responsibilities to the healthcare workers and first responders who rush into danger for us every day. If we can do something to make their jobs easier we owe it to them to do it. I know that for so many people, these sacrifices are difficult. I know that people’s lives and livelihoods are going to be affected in the coming weeks. This state has an incredible group of civic minded communities and leaders. I am asking all of you to find a way to ask your neighbors, and your friends and your family, to help.
I’m appealing to your creativity and your generosity and the deep empathy that runs through every corner of this state, find a way to be a helper.
It’s easy to be overwhelmed by all the news coming at you right now, but the people of this state are an audacious and fearless bunch. Our public institutions are among the best in the country. We have the knowledge, the resources and the talented people to deal with each new challenge that comes our way. A few weeks ago I gave a state of the state address, and I told you that what you want, that when you want to solve problems you focus on the next important thing that needs to get done. That is what all of us are doing. That is what we will continue to do. And that is what you can do to.
And together we’ll find a way to the other side.
* Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot spoke next…
Community events that have more than 1000 people are banned for the next 30 days in the city of Chicago. Period.
Planned events or community events mean planned events that bring together large numbers of people. We’re not talking about airports, train stations, public transit or schools, but we do mean conferences banquets, concerts, and such.
* CPS…
At this time, CPS will remain open.
Now, we would never put our children in danger. And I say that as mayor but also as a mother. At this time CPS will however begin scaling back large scale events, issuing guidance to all school personnel in advance of spring break, instituting a mandatory policy on short term closers for any schools with confirmed cases and ensuring parents and loved ones are frequently updated and CPS will be issuing a specific set of guidance today to the school community.
* Comcast…
I’m proud to announce that effective Monday, Comcast will be nearly doubling internet speeds for low income households nationally. This came after a request from my team here in Chicago to ensure that residents and families who are increasingly encouraged to remain at home, will have access to vital internet service, Comcast will also be providing 60 free days of internet to any low income household starting this coming Monday via their internet essentials program. I’d like to thank Comcast for their leadership and being good corporate citizens, and you are going to see my administration rollout more initiatives to assist our businesses and residents in the coming days.
* Cook County President Toni Preckwinkle…
Today I issued multiple executive orders that will require an include the following meetings of the various boards commissions and advisory boards, created by Cook County ordinance, or resolution will be cancelled, to the extent possible in the month of March and April.
If cancellation is not possible. The meeting agendas should be limited to matters that require immediate action by the relevant board commission or advisory body.
All committee, and subcommittee meetings of the Cook County Board of Commissioners except the finance committee will be canceled for the month of March.
The March 26 Cook County Board of Commissioners meeting, and its agenda will proceed but be limited in scope.
* Election day…
Tuesday is Election Day. Our Cook County Clerk, and the Chicago Board of Elections teams are working very hard to ensure that polling places are clean, safe and secure. Voting is our civic duty. And we should all vote. I encourage you to vote early. If you’re concerned about crowds at the polls.
* Dr. Ngozi Ezike, Director of the Illinois Department of Public Health…
There are seven more individuals in Illinois who have tested positive for the corona virus disease. There are two additional cases in Chicago. A woman in her 40s, and a child.
There is also a new case in Kane County. A gentleman in his 70s, and the case in McHenry County, a gentleman in his 60s.
There are also three new cases in Cook County to women in their 70s, and the gentleman in his 50s, we are investigating the travel history of these individuals, any potential contacts with known cases, public health officials from their respective jurisdictions will identify and contact all people who are considered close contacts of these identified cases.
While older adults appear to be suffering more severe illness, the young child in Chicago is a reminder that anyone can be infected with this virus. Again, each new case involves monitoring and following up with the individual, so that we can ensure that they receive the health care that they need.
But it also means from that one case that dozens, if not hundreds of additional close contacts will need to be identified contacted and have their information gathered, and be monitored. […]
So while you may not have a case in your community now, we anticipate that there will be.
* Back to Lightfoot on not closing schools…
We don’t see a reason at this point to shut down the schools. But keep in mind when you think about shutting down the schools, and particularly with respect to CPS, that has a lot of potential cascading effects. A substantial percentage of our students depend upon the schools for eating. They depend upon the schools for shelter, and in some instances, for where they get the clothing and other needs. So it’s a very big deal to say that we would be shutting down schools. We are not there yet. Obviously, we’re putting a public safety and public health, first and foremost. Should there be a reason for us to do that we will, we won’t hesitate to do that, but we are not there yet based upon the current public health data
The Illinois primary election is scheduled for Tuesday, March 17. We have received no direction from the City or CPS about the school district’s plan to keep students and educators safe from the spread of COVID-19, nor have we received information on plans regarding the care of medically fragile individuals. We believe there are more than 540 separate polling locations in Chicago schools. Given the serious health risks this situation represents, the Chicago Teachers Union hereby demands that schools be closed on March 17, and that CPS schedules overnight deep cleaning at each school that serves as a polling place starting on March 17.
Thursday, Mar 12, 2020 - Posted by Advertising Department
[The following is a paid advertisement.]
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PhRMA’s Medicine Assistance Tool (MAT) is a free online platform that connects eligible patients and caregivers with information about 900+ public and private assistance programs designed to help them afford their medicines. Visit mat.org to see what help might be available.
* Lots of rumors are floating around this afternoon, particularly in the wake of the Ohio governor closing all public schools. So this Illinois Association of School Administrators bulletin is interesting…
Illinois School District Superintendents,
This message is written in a moment like none of us have ever experienced. According to the World Health Organization, we are in a pandemic due to the COVID-19 spread across the globe. That in and of itself is a daunting statement that strikes fear into most people. However, while some start to panic, we, as school leaders have to “settle” to the challenge coming straight at us all. And in “settling,” we have to prepare, organize, and rise to the occasion to meet and manage this health crisis. There is some history regarding how to manage this going back to 1918 when comparing the ways in which Philadelphia and St. Louis reacted to disease spread. You can Google that and read the analysis. Opinion varies widely regarding school closure or not: Singapore, Japan, and Washington State.
When it comes to public schools, we are in a unique situation. We have community safety to consider, which involves our students and staff. As I write, students are going largely unaffected but, of course, that could have changed overnight or may change as more testing becomes available. The concern is mostly what is termed as “community spread.” Primarily mitigating the spread of the COVID-19 virus is the medical goal while recognizing that a spread is going to happen, but stretching that spread out over a longer period of time will allow our medical systems and providers the ability to respond rather than be swamped by a tsunami of cases. This is called flattening the curve.
As you consider your local situation, I would strongly urge you to collaborate and coordinate with community/county leaders – especially the county health departments which will receive guidance from the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH). Just to be clear, decisions to close school districts will remain at the local level in consultation with your local public health department and IDPH, at this point in time. Neither the governor nor the Illinois State Board of Education will be making these decisions. It will remain at the local level.
Meanwhile, work is being done by ISBE to ascertain what flexibilities can be provided around federal mandates, etc. Focus on what makes sense for your community and kids – safe environment, sanitary supplies and access to food and healthcare. E-Learning may not be a cure-all in every district; so keep that in mind. This is an emergency and well-reasoned decisions will be treated as such when the dust eventually settles.
I can attest that the ISBE, IDPH, Terrorism Task Force, Governor Pritzker and his team are doing everything in their power to manage a rapidly developing situation. IASA has and will continue to partner with them and will update information and guidance to you as required. Below is updated guidance and actionable items for you to review.
* Wall Street has been slammed over the past couple of weeks, so I asked Dave Urbanek at the Teachers Retirement System how its portfolio was holding up…
Because the situation has been so volatile, we’re going to wait for a few weeks to see how things shake out before making a conclusion or releasing statistics. We monitor things daily, of course, but our real focus is long-term, not day-by-day or week-to-week. At the end of calendar 2019, our return was a positive 13.4 percent. Our 40-year return is 9.16 percent.
We started 2020 with $54 billion in assets – which is a record high for TRS. And for the last several years, the Board of Trustees and the investment staff have structured the portfolio in a “defensive posture” because of our low funded status.
We have recognized that any severe economic downturn could be bad for us – we have no “reserves” to fall back on. So when deciding how to invest assets, we’ve regularly performed “stress tests” on the portfolio – “what will things look like if X happens” – to help us form the defensive posture. The over-arching goal has been to preserve assets and lower risk as much as possible while making as much money as we can. For instance, we only have 36 percent of the portfolio in stocks, both in the U.S. and internationally. We have 27 percent in bonds, 15 percent in real estate, 11 percent in private equity and about 10 percent in hedge funds and other “diversifying strategies.”
Thursday, Mar 12, 2020 - Posted by Advertising Department
[The following is a paid advertisement.]
More than 100,000 people in the U.S. are awaiting a kidney transplant. In Illinois, the waiting list stands at approximately 3,500. Yet in 2018, only 25% of Illinoisans awaiting a kidney transplant received one. That’s one reason health professionals, advocates, businesses, and community organizations from across the state came together to form the Illinois Kidney Care Alliance (IKCA).
A severe shortage of donated kidneys, financial issues, and a lack of health insurance are only some of the barriers faced by people who need transplants. Kidney failure is a physical, emotional, and financial burden and is especially prevalent in minority communities.
IKCA helps advocate for those who suffer from kidney failure and their families. For more information about our efforts in Illinois, visit our website.
This is huge: Ohio Health Dept. Director Amy Acton is saying that evidence of community spread indicates that 1% of Ohioans are currently carrying coronavirus. That's *117,000* people.
Key: members were floored as they learned that roughly just 11,000 Coronavirus tests TOTAL have been conducted compared to the fact that in South Korea, 10,000 tests are conducted A DAY. https://t.co/vupSFuFevl
* Appointed House member involved in a super-hot Democratic primary race…
Due to pervasive gun violence coupled with schools lacking comprehensive programming to support students whom have experienced trauma, state Rep. Jonathan “Yoni” Pizer, D-Chicago, is sponsoring legislation that would fund such programs through a tax on ammunition sales.
“With growing concern that local schools do not have the funds needed to address the mental health needs of students, we must look at all funding options to empower them with the necessary resources,” Pizer said. “By working with education professionals on the ground, we’re putting forward legislation that will ensure schools develop trauma-informed support systems by taxing the root of the trauma.”
Pizer’s House Bill 5651 would add a $0.02 surcharge on each bullet sold and the revenue will go to the Safe Schools and Healthy Learning Environments Grant. This grant program enables schools to develop restorative interventions and resolution strategies that emotionally, psychologically and socially support the needs of students, rather focusing solely on disciplinary measures. This bill is supported by the National Association of Social Workers (NASW), a group who represents social workers located in many setting, including schools.
“Our members are seeing an increase in trauma-related issues, particularly when it comes to youth in school settings,” Kyle Hillman of NASW said. “Gun violence is too prevalent in our communities yet mental health assistance for children exposed to this violence is not adequate. We cannot expect our children to learn when we are not taking the steps to address their emotional and psychological needs. Rep. Pizer’s bill which would bring more social workers into our schools, increase restorative justice programs and positive interventions as a much needed step toward acquiring funding to support and heal our youth.”
State Senator Steve Stadelman (D-Rockford) is taking action to ensure that local journalism survives in Illinois’ small towns and mid-sized cities.
“As a former journalist and news anchor, I know how important it is to have access to truly local news,” Stadelman said. “People deserve to know what’s happening in their communities, regardless of where they live.”
Senate Bill 3457 would create the Local Journalism Task Force, which would be made up of 10 individuals representing print and broadcast media, journalism schools, and state and local government. They would be charged with conducting a study on communities underserved by local journalism and making recommendations on how to preserve and restore news coverage in these areas.
“Your address should not dictate the quality and type of information you have access to,” Stadelman said. “This measure is meant to start a conversation and provide new ideas to help address shrinking press coverage in local communities.”
Declines in advertising revenue and circulation have meant that nearly half of the newsroom jobs at newspapers that existed in 2004 have since disappeared—and more than 2,000 thousand papers around the country have closed over the past 15 years.
If passed, the task force would be required to submit the findings from its study to the governor’s office, as well as the General Assembly, no later than January 1, 2022.
Illinois politicians would be allowed to use campaign money to pay for child care under legislation being considered in the General Assembly.
The proposal would apply to candidates, officeholders, campaign staff, and volunteers, and would allow campaign money to be spent on child care, as long as the care is necessary for the official to do political, governmental or public policy work.
The legislation came out of the Anti-Harassment, Equality, and Access Panel, which was formed in the wake of #MeToo revelations in and around Illinois government.
State Sen. Melinda Bush, a Democrat from Grayslake, said people told the panel that childcare expenses were preventing them from getting involved in politics.
“Women didn’t run for office many times because they have childcare expenses and were not able to cover those expenses,” Bush said when the measure was debated in the Senate late last month.
Carolyn Schofield, a GOP primary challenger to incumbent IL State Rep Allen Skillicorn (R-East Dundee), evaded a question from 66th District Republican voters, refusing to declare whether she holds pro-life or pro-choice views, according to a video taken during the discussion.
The question from a Dundee Township Republican was, “Do you consider yourself pro-life?”
“I don’t consider myself either, because I am more policy-driven,” Schofield said.
“You have to be one of the other,” another person said. […]
“Abortion is a big issue to voters, and they deserve to know where legislative candidates stand,” Skillicorn said. “Unfortunately, my opponent won’t commit to one position. She can’t have it both ways. The voters deserve to know where she stands on one of the most important issues of our time.”
* Schofield posted a super-long statement on Facebook…
Since many people have recently asked me my stance on abortion I wanted to post it here. I have not used specific verbiage because people are varied in what the words mean to them and I have witnessed first hand legislators use the opposite wording to describe the same position. I feel this is insincere and misleading. This is a topic worthy of heartfelt conversation and not a quick demanding response. I am not posting to spark controversy but to clarify the many lies that have been spread about my position on this issue. I sent a similar message in my questionnaire to the pro life pac. Instead of reading the first line and saying you are not this or you are not that, please read as this is a sincere and truthful response.
I will explain to you my position and you can put me in the category that you think fits. You will see why I am challenged when asked the question as I have thought at length about this issue. As a woman and a mother it is extremely personal and heartfelt of an issue for me. So here you go…
First of all Roe vs Wade is settled law.
Personally I am pro-life. I have 3 children, both planned and unplanned. They are a blessing, the center of my world, and I thank God every day for them. That being said, I could not imagine telling a parent whose young daughter has been raped what they should do. I would hope that the government would stay out of those decisions and let medical professionals and parents make those decisions.
I support parental consent. I oppose state funded abortions and I would support the repeal of the Reproductive Health Act.
As an engineer my brain works to solve problems and this is no different. I do not want to give a two word answer I want to propose a solution.
I think the core issue is stopping abortion all together. In Illinois we had over 40,000 abortions in the latest statistic. That is mind blowing yet no one is talking about this, as they get so caught up in a two word answers. Why are people having abortions and how do we make the other options so acceptable that it is no longer a choice they want to make. What we really should be doing is making it easier and more affordable to adopt and more supportive for single and working women to be pregnant and have young children. Instead of saying to someone “I can’t believe you could give your baby up,” why don’t we say “that takes a lot of courage and selflessness. You are going to be giving the best gift anyone can give to a family”. As a woman running for office people have said to me that I should be home with my kids and not going to Springfield. Why is that? My kids have a wonderful father that can provide for them in my absence. I have put my career on hold for 15 years to give to them and my community and have found a balance that works for my family, yet people feel the need to pass judgement. I feel I am a role model to my daughter and an example for my sons of what support they can offer to their future wives. Mothers offer amazing perspective, experience, leadership, and organizational skills. We should be embracing them at every level yet we judge them. We judge on how they parent, why they parent, why the don’t parent, etc. We make it difficult for women to achieve acceptable balance.
Beyond that we need to look at why are people getting pregnant and not wanting the pregnancy. Do we need more education on birth control, Sex Ed, more substance abuse programs, mental health, etc. What is the root cause? We need to find out and that is what we should be addressing and creating policy to support. That way people will no longer have unwanted pregnancies and this question will be mute.
So put me in any category you would like but I have spent a lot of time and energy and thinking through how we can actually solve this problem. I will not let someone wanting to put two words on me, or a spliced 20 second video clip, discourage what I believe is the right thing to do. I know this is not the quick two words people want, but it is the truth. I think many politicians state whatever two words people want to hear and never have to be held accountable. That solves nothing. Is that really what people want? I want to actually solve the problem that over 40,000 abortions a year are performed in Illinois alone. No matter what side you are on, I will listen to you, work with, and try to solve the core issue of stopping abortions all together. That should not be a partisan issue.
“The safety and wellbeing of employees is the top priority for the Illinois Department of Central Management Services,” spokesperson Marjani Williams said. “CMS is currently working to update the State’s Work from Home policy to ensure that all State agency functions continue working seamlessly in the event that employees can no longer report to their normal work facility.”
The Pritzker administration has been negotiating with AFSCME Council 31, which represents approximately 80,000 state workers in Illinois, regarding the state’s policies surrounding working from home and other COVID-19 responses. But asked about the status of such negotiations Wednesday, Pritzker was brief.
“We’ve had conversations with them and they’re ongoing,” the governor said.
A spokesperson for AFSCME did not return an email or call requesting comment on Wednesday.
Another large state agency — the Department of Human Services — told The Daily Line that the agency already has policies in place for working from home.
“We have a flexible work schedule, telework and sick leave policies,” DHS spokesperson Meghan Powerssaid. “We’re currently consulting with the Illinois Department of Public Health, Illinois Emergency Management Agency, Illinois Central Management Services and having discussions with our public employee unions to determine if we will need to modify them in light of COVID-19.”
The feedback I’ve been receiving from state workers about their agencies has not been great. And AFSCME doesn’t even have any COVID-19 information on its website.
Your own experiences so far?
…Adding… AFSCME has now posted a COVID-19 information page. Click here.
*** UPDATE *** Anders Lindall at AFSCME…
I saw your post and wanted to add some context to all we have been doing on this issue. In addition to meeting with state agencies and CMS, we have been in discussions—dating back more than a month, in some cases—with the 200+ other employers of AFSCME members (cities, counties, school districts, universities, not-for-profit agencies and more) throughout Illinois. We have been working to develop policies that protect employees—whether they deal with the public, work in offices, the field or in 24/7 facilities such as veterans’ homes or nursing homes, residential programs for people with disabilities, prisons or jails—as well as those they serve. Obviously these needs are wide-ranging and this issue is fast-moving. At the same time we’ve made sure that local union leaders of our nearly 300 AFSCME local unions have up-to-date information, drawing on the best resources from our national union, and used social media, email and, as you noted today, our website to keep our rank-and-file membership informed.
* The General Assembly has canceled a week of session, the statehouse is now off-limits to large crowds, the IHSA is limiting the number of event attendees, universities all over the state have extended spring breaks and are moving classes online and numerous towns have canceled their St. Patrick’s Day parades.
The [St. Patrick’s Day] parade starts at Jefferson and Sixth streets with the traditional cannon shot and will have over 100 entries, said Shawn Mayernick of the parade board president. Its theme is “Irish Eyes Are Smiling Down.”
Parade committee members in Springfield huddled Wednesday to make everyone was on the same page, Mayernick said. A joint statement from parade organizers and the city of Springfield pointed out that “multiple activities with large crowds occur in our city each day.
“Right now, each event and venue is operating sensibly and cautiously while individuals assess their own decisions on their participation.”
It’s not just a parade. There’s a huge party before it starts.
Springfield Mayor Jim Langfelder said the public health department will make the decision whether to start canceling events in Springfield and the city will comply if told to do so.
For now, Langfelder said it is all about hygiene and prevention.
“As far as day-to-day activities, it is stated that you should be cautious and use good hygiene,” Langfelder said. “I think people are more cautious. I know for myself, I wash my hands more frequently.”
Shawn Mayernick, president of the parade committee, sounded confident during an interview. “We’re definitely confirmed,” he said, “We would cancel if there was lightning or tornado.”
Asked whether people older than 60 or those with health conditions — including diabetes, immune deficiencies, respiratory conditions or heart disease — that experts say increase vulnerability should attend the parade, Mayernick said he’s not an expert, but volunteer organizers care about the community. “We don’t dismiss all this stuff with health and safety,” he said. “We are a very caring and concerned group of people that enjoy getting together.”
Gail O’Neill, director of the Sangamon County Health Department, said that neither the city nor parade organizers directly consulted her before announcing the parade will go on. And she left room for cancellation – public health authorities, she said, can step in if they believe an event poses an unacceptable risk. She noted that there have been no confirmed coronavirus cases in central Illinois.
“We’re still pretty sure the parade can go on,” O’Neill said. “We don’t have any cases here yet. … It’s a decision that’s day-to-day, pretty much. It’s kind of a decision we make with our medical experts.”
How does O’Neill know there are no cases yet without any real testing?
Remember the mayor in Jaws who refused to close the beach because of a big July 4th holiday? Yeah. Don’t be that guy.
I’m told Gov. Pritzker reached out to Mayor Langfelder today. Hopefully, the governor talked some sense into him.
…Adding… Maybe the governor’s next call should be to the mayor of Plainfield…
The Chicago and South Side Irish Parades may be cancelled over coronavirus concerns, but a local organizer said the Plainfield Hometown Irish Parade is still set to go on as planned.
“As of right now, it’s [not cancelled],” lead parade organizer Jessica said. “The mayor spoke with police this morning, and decided they would go forward with it.”
*Facepalm*
You don’t call the police about a public health question. Sheesh, some people are so dumb.
A Chinatown developer who wore a wire on former Ald. Daniel Solis and helped the FBI break open a sweeping political corruption probe has been charged with fraud related to a South Side condominium project.
See Y. Wong was charged in a seven-page criminal information with wire fraud for allegedly lying to banks and buyers involved with his Canal Crossing building, records show.
A criminal information typically indicates a defendant intends to plead guilty. Wong is scheduled to be arraigned at the Dirksen U.S. Courthouse on Tuesday, records show. […]
Wong began cooperating with the FBI in May 2014 after he was caught up in the fraud scheme and agreed to secretly record Solis in hopes of receiving a reduced sentence once he was charged, according to a federal search warrant affidavit unsealed in 2019.
See Y. Wong made a secret 2014 audio and video recording for the feds of then-Ald. Danny Solis and House Speaker Michael Madigan, according to court records and sources. That recording became part of the investigation that persuaded Solis to then secretly record Burke.
But Wong helped the feds only because he hoped a judge would one day go easy on him for a fraud that had yet to be identified — until Wednesday. That’s when federal prosecutors filed a seven-page charging document known as an information that accused Wong of wire fraud. […]
Wong’s alleged scam revolved around the Canal Crossing condominium development in Chinatown. Wong is accused of lying to buyers and to Cathay Bank. The bank loaned $13.7 million for the project to Emerald Homes, of which Wong was an owner. The feds say the scheme cost the bank $1.8 million and buyers of the condominiums $1 million.
Specifically, the feds pointed to a $170,100 wire transfer Wong made nearly 10 years ago, on May 18, 2010.
* Speaking of recordings…
In the case of Patrick Doherty, chief of staff to Cook County Commissioner Jeff Tobolski, defense attorneys say they need more time to review evidence, including "over 6,000 .WAV audio files." pic.twitter.com/EzkzdPBhdD
Thursday, Mar 12, 2020 - Posted by Advertising Department
[The following is a paid advertisement.]
Across Illinois, communities are struggling to stay above water. Meanwhile, clean energy jobs in our state are growing faster than the rest of our economy. The question now is, who will benefit?
Hundreds of low-income and people of color are already in good-paying jobs because the state is funding training programs that make sure everyone shares in the new clean energy economy. The popularity of these programs and the demand for clean energy jobs continues to grow.
This spring, Gov. Pritzker and the General Assembly can choose to double down on equity in our energy economy by passing transformative legislation that will create good jobs and entrepreneurial opportunities in communities of color and communities too often left behind.
The Clean Energy Jobs Act is the only comprehensive, equitable energy bill that puts Illinois on a path to 100% renewable energy, lowers electricity costs, and reduces transportation pollution.
We need to take bold action on climate and create economic opportunities in communities that need them the most.
It’s time to pass CEJA now! Visit ilcleanjobs.org to learn more.
As a precautionary measure to contain the spread of COVID-19, Southern Illinois University Carbondale is extending spring break for students through March 22, and classes will be offered online or in other alternative formats until further notice, according to SIU Chancellor John Dunn.
Students were expected back on campus this coming Monday, but instead, classes will resume on March 23 in order to “give faculty time to convert courses for delivery in alternative formats,” Dunn wrote in a letter to the campus community on Wednesday.
Loyola University announced Thursday it is suspending all “in-person, face-to-face classes” through the end of the semester and will close all its residence halls next week, joining several other colleges in Illinois that are taking similar measures to contain the coronavirus.
While the campus will remain open, “all university-sponsored events with participation greater than 70 people are prohibited,” the university said in a statement. It added that no decision has been made yet about commencement activities. […]
CME Group is closing its Chicago trading floor after Friday’s session as a precaution to prevent the spread of coronavirus. […]
U. of C. joins Northwestern, Illinois State, U. of I. in moving classes online after spring break, DePaul makes changes in latest attempts to contain coronavirus
More here and a running list of Chicago-area closures is here.
The Illinois High School Association (IHSA) announced on March 12, 2020 that it will significantly limit attendance at the remaining games in the 2020 IHSA Boys Basketball State Series, as well as at other IHSA events, to preemptively reduce the potential spread of COVID-19.
The decision comes after consultation with the Illinois Department of Public Health and the Peoria City/County Health Department, the latter of whom made the recommendation that no more than 60 spectators per school be allowed in the arena for each contest at this weekend’s Class 1A and Class 2A Boys Basketball State Finals. The IHSA currently plans to invoke the 60-spectator per school limitation across all remaining basketball games this season. Competing schools will be provided a protocol for determining who receives tickets.
The coronavirus story became personal for multiple media organizations Wednesday after an unidentified employee of the Prudential Building tested positive for COVID-19. The two-tower downtown complex houses Tribune Publishing (including the Chicago Tribune), Hubbard Radio Chicago and Entercom Chicago, all of which encouraged employees to work from home if possible. Elsewhere a growing number of Chicago area journalists also began working remotely, including much of the staff of Crain’s Chicago Business. As a precautionary test on Thursday, virtually the entire editorial department of the Sun-Times will remain off site too. “Let’s be clear: This is a trial run,” the Sun-Times wrote in an editorial. “We have seen no evidence of COVID-19 in our newsroom or in the places we send reporters.”
Senior Services of Central Illinois is temporarily suspending all gathering activities and congregate meals due to COVID-19 risks.
This includes congregate meals, programs & activities, the Aging Mastery Program, and some transportation services at locations including Springfield Senior Center, Chatham, and Athens.
No formal statewide announcement has been made, but it looks like several senior centers are closing.
Sadly, this post will be updated.
…Adding… From the Illinois Department on Aging…
Please be advised, effective immediately, the Illinois Department on Aging is requesting all Area Agencies on Aging to suspend all gathering activities placing our older adults at heightened risk including the provision of congregate meals and social activities conducted in group settings. Meals will still be available on a daily basis. Clients will be notified by providers or staff to an immediate alternative to the suspension of congregate dining such as box lunch service, pick-up option or home-delivered meals. During this temporary suspension, healthy adults are encouraged to check on their older neighbors. For more information on how to protect yourself and your loved ones, please contact Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) or visit our website at www.illinois.gov/aging.
Spring Break has been extended. NIU is extending Spring Break for students through Sunday, March 22. During this additional week, NIU faculty will work to develop alternate modes of course delivery, as appropriate, to replace face-to-face instruction. We understand that this could be especially challenging for different programs, including those at the graduate level, that require doing clinicals, student-teaching, lab work, artistry, etc. We are prepared to accommodate our students and to find effective and appropriate alternatives.
During the extended Spring Break period, NIU will identify ways that we can offer access to academic support services and continue to provide childcare and health services.
Modified courses (replacing face-to-face instruction) will begin March 23, and run for a period of two weeks through Saturday, April 4. Our goal is to return to face-to-face instruction Monday, April 6. However, if warranted by evolving conditions, we will extend beyond that date and communicate that decision in a timely manner.
Two more events have withdrawn from McCormick Place, bringing its roll call of cancellations to six as organizers skip large gatherings because of the coronavirus.
The National School Boards Association scrapped its 2020 convention, scheduled for April 4-6. Salesforce said it is converting its Connections 2020 event, scheduled for May 4-6, to a virtual setting.
Residence halls will re-open at 10 a.m. Sunday, March 15 as originally scheduled; however, students may choose to remain in their permanent residences until further notice. If students choose to return to their respective residence halls, they must check in via their STARS account when they arrive on campus. Dining services will be available.
University Operations & Faculty/Staff
While classes are canceled next week, the University remains open for regular business. All faculty and staff will resume their normal work schedule the week of March 15. Student employees and graduate assistants should consult with their respective supervisors. Employees and students who feel ill should stay home and contact their health care provider.
University Events
All events on either campus with more than 50 participants that are scheduled between now and April 3, 2020 should be canceled, unless deemed as essential for University operations. We have implemented a mandatory event registration form, which will remain in effect for the remainder of the semester, which can be found at bit.ly/WIUEventRegistration2020.
* Press release…
The Central Illinois Chapter of the American Society for Public Administration has canceled the Rail Splitter Award Banquet and Award Ceremony scheduled for Monday, March 16th at the UIS Student Union Ballroom in response to the COVID-19 threat. The awards ceremony will be rescheduled for a future date to recognize recipient Dr. David Racine.
Democratic congressional candidate Betsy Dirksen Londrigan’s campaign said she has canceled a planned election night gathering that was to begin at 7 p.m. Tuesday. Londrigan is running against Stefanie Smith of Urbana in the Democratic primary for the U.S. House in the 13th Congressional District. The event was to be at Café Moxo downtown Springfield.
· Eastern Illinois University will extend its spring break for students through March 29. No classes will be held during this time.
· Students will have the option of studying remotely from their campus residence or from home after spring break.
· The University and all of its offices will remain open during this time period and will remain open moving forward.
· To the greatest extent possible, when university courses resume March 30, classes will be delivered through online instruction and/or other alternative instructional methods. Online and other alternative learning methods will replace traditional face-to-face instruction and continue until further notice. We understand that some classes will be much more difficult to deliver online and in different formats. We continue to explore different approaches for completing these courses and faculty will communicate with their classes via email during the week of March 23rd. […]
· Residence halls and Greek Court will close throughout the duration of the previously scheduled Spring Break, though students may return on March 23. In short, all residence halls and on-campus dining will be available to all enrolled students with housing and dining contracts.
SPRING BREAK
The University’s Spring Break, which is scheduled to start on Monday, will be extended a second week through March 29. Faculty, staff and administrators should continue their normal work schedule during these two weeks. Also during this time, faculty will develop alternate modes of course delivery, as appropriate, to replace face-to-face instruction. At the current time, the University has no plans to close.
EVENTS
Effective immediately, all events that are scheduled to take place this semester at the University with 50 or more anticipated people are canceled until further notice. This includes today’s Diversity Food Fest that was scheduled to take place this afternoon in Alumni Hall. It is too soon for us to know how we will handle Commencement in May.
The Illinois State Rifle Association said it plans to reschedule the April 1 I-GOLD event to May 13.
* Sen. Sara Feigenholtz…
In an effort to take precautions related to the COVID-19 outbreak, we are cancelling the Saturday, March 14, 2020, REAL ID Info Session + Mobile ID event. It is our intention to reschedule this event in the future.
* Illinois Board of Higher Education…
Out of an abundance of caution regarding matters pertaining to COVID-19, we are cancelling the March board meeting. Details on a rescheduled meeting date will be posted on the IBHE website at www.ibhe.org when they become available.
Former Grateful Dead singer and guitarist Bob Weir has postponed tonight’s concert at the Chicago Theatre with his band Wolf Bros.
* Illinois State Museum…
All ISM programs, events, and school group visits are canceled through April 10;
All official ISM travel is canceled through April 10;
* Sen. Richard Durbin…
In an effort to minimize health risks to him, you and others, we have canceled all of Senator Dick Durbin’s major public events, including his fundraising events. We hope to reschedule them in the near future and will keep you posted.
* Illinois Mathematics and Science Academy…
I am writing to inform you that after the Residence Halls close at 5:00 p.m. on Friday, March 13 and students enjoy their spring break, the IMSA campus will continue to be closed through extended weekend April 13. Spring break will be extended through March 25 and online classes will commence on Thursday, March 26 and will continue until the Halls reopen at 3:00 p.m. on Monday, April 13. Additionally, we are cancelling all events during this closure period. Students should stay at their permanent home. Onsite teaching is expected to resume April 14. However, the outbreak is evolving and this information may change rapidly as warranted.
Students will not be permitted to return to campus during this closure period. Please prepare for this extended time away from campus by bringing home essential personal belongings and items necessary to complete coursework remotely. We will also be sending medication home with students when they depart campus. We will share more information about the remote learning format and expectations via email within the next week.
* I started thinking yesterday that the country needs to get itself on a war footing. By that, I don’t mean draconian government action (frankly, any positive federal government action would be appreciated and soon), or curtailing civil liberties (except for public gatherings). It’s more like changing the mindset among public servants and the public in general.
That means, in part, doing all of our jobs to the very best of our abilities during these trying times.
Think of FDR, sick and in a wheel chair and still presiding over a global war with brilliant determination, day in and day out until it literally killed him.
Amid rising coronavirus-related concerns, the Chicago Board of Elections on Wednesday evening called and then abruptly cancelled a special meeting at which knowledgeable sources say board members were to discuss the possibility of postponing the primary election set for next Tuesday, March 17.
The idea of an election deferral was discussed in extraordinary conference call earlier today involving the board, Cook County Clerk Karen Yarbrough’s office, Illinois Senate President Don Harmon, House Speaker Mike Madigan and legal advisers to Gov. J.B. Pritzker.
State law does not explicitly allow for an election postponement. But since a press conference Tuesday morning during which board officials said things were under control, the situation has deteriorated, with dozens of private landlords canceling plans to host election sites, senior-citizen residences moving to close their doors to outsiders even if they are visiting an election site, and increasing concern about the health of election judges and poll workers, many of them elderly. […]
Where the board this morning was looking for new polling locations for 25 precincts, most of them in nursing homes, another 64 precincts now lack a polling place as private landlords decide they do not want to shoulder any risk. The city has thousands of polling places, but 64 is better than one per ward, a very high figure to replace on short notice.
Oh, those poor bureaucrats. Chicago has well over 2,000 precinct polling places and they lost 64 of them? Horrifying. Cancel the election!
Sheesh.
Ask the aldermen to get on their phones and help out. Call the committeepersons. Combine some polling places. You cannot just cancel an election without a state legislative act and that’s not gonna happen by next Tuesday, so do something positive!
In an email Wednesday night, Chicago Board of Elections spokesman Jim Allen says:
“We’re full speed ahead with the election on March 17. We’re getting cooperation from the city and the state, and we’re going to do everything in our collective parties to make certain that voting moves forward as scheduled on Election Day.”
We write today to share new policies for the University of Illinois System and its universities in Urbana-Champaign, Chicago and Springfield, all designed to protect the health and welfare of our students, faculty and staff amid the global COVID-19 pandemic.
The proactive policies are focused squarely on doing our part to help curb the virus. Fortunately, there have been no confirmed cases among our faculty, staff and students. But such cases have been increasing in Illinois and our experts say early intervention is the best option to limit the spread.
Our policies will adopt best practices endorsed by state and national health officials by minimizing face-to-face exposure in classrooms and other types of large gatherings, and by limiting international and domestic travel. They were developed with guidance from the leading-edge healthcare experts across our universities, who have been consulting daily with a leadership team composed of the president, the chancellors and the provosts from all three universities. We will continue to monitor the outbreak and stay in constant contact with the Governor’s Office, the Illinois Department of Public Health, local health departments, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and other universities around the state and the nation.
The new policies were carefully crafted to safeguard our students, faculty and staff without compromising the world-class education and the groundbreaking research discovery that are synonymous with the U of I System. They are:
Instruction
Courses at each of our three universities will immediately begin migrating to online or alternative delivery mechanisms to provide the social distancing that helps limit transmission of the virus, with a goal of completion by March 23. Classes will be held at their currently scheduled times.
Online and other alternative learning methods will continue until further notice, but our expectation is that it will be temporary and students will be updated regularly via email and updates on system and university websites.
Students have the option of studying remotely from home or from their campus residence after spring break.
Our campuses will remain open and ready to serve students, including residence and dining halls.
Each university will provide specific guidance for their students regarding both academic and housing arrangements.
Faculty and staff will continue their work on campus, including research, and human resources offices will provide guidance for work conditions that foster safety and for employees who suspect exposure or infection and must self-quarantine.
Events
Events with more than 50 attendees that are university-sponsored or hosted by registered student organizations will be suspended indefinitely, effective Friday, March 13.
Events may occur via livestream or other telecommunications, or be postponed to a future date.
Please check with each university for specific guidance.
Travel
All university-sponsored international travel is prohibited, along with non-essential domestic travel until further notice.
Personal international travel is strongly discouraged, and we urge caution and the exercise of good judgment for personal domestic travel.
Leaders of our three universities will share further information for how these policies will be implemented to address the specific educational and safety needs of their campus communities. UI Hospital and clinics will provide additional protocols to address the unique needs in providing care for their patients.
We recognize the many challenges this will create for our students, faculty and staff. We pledge to do everything in our power to support you during this temporary move to safeguard your health and the health of people in the communities we call home.
Our policies are rooted in our expert scientific knowledge base and exhibit an abundance of caution to take care of each other until the COVID-19 outbreak eases. We are all in this together, and appreciate your support and understanding.
Sincerely,
Tim Killeen, President, University of Illinois System
Barbara J. Wilson, Executive Vice President and Vice President for Academic Affairs, University of Illinois System
Robert J. Jones, Chancellor, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Michael D. Amiridis, Chancellor, University of Illinois at Chicago
Susan J. Koch, Chancellor, University of Illinois at Springfield
Illinois State University is extending its spring break for students until Monday, March 23.
All faculty, staff members, and graduate assistants will resume their normal work schedule the week of March 15. There will be no classes in any format that week to allow faculty, staff members, and graduate assistants involved in instruction to make the adjustment to alternative instruction.
When instructional activities resume March 23, the University will transition from face-to-face teaching to online instruction and/or other instructional modalities through at least April 12. That timeframe may be subject to change depending on evolving circumstances. […]
University-operated housing is currently closed. ISU students should remain at their permanent home residences until further notice, and students now living in residence halls, Cardinal Court Apartments, or University-owned apartments should return to their permanent home residences. Accommodations for those who cannot return home will be addressed on a case-by-case basis. Students will be informed regarding procedures for retrieving needed items from their University housing rooms. […]
Throughout this pandemic, Illinois State is attempting to contain or limit any spread by recommending, whenever possible, following the CDC’s social distancing guidelines, which include not being within six feet of someone for longer than 10 minutes.
Effective March 23, events at Illinois State with 50 or more anticipated attendees are postponed through at least April 12. All gatherings should practice social distancing guidelines. More information will be provided regarding the status of specific events.
…Adding… Meanwhile…
BREAKING: CME will close its Chicago trading floor at the end of the day Friday “as a precaution” due to coronavirus. The company will evaluate when to reopen it as “more medical guidance on the coronavirus becomes available.” https://t.co/vpyWbVRRy9
* The governor has been talking about this for a couple days or so, and now here’s the press release…
Today, Governor Pritzker and the Illinois Department of Employment Security (IDES) announced they are taking additional steps to support workers and families impacted by COVID-19. The administration will file emergency rules this week to clarify that individuals unemployed due to COVID-19 can generally qualify for unemployment benefits to the full extent permitted by federal law.
“The state of Illinois faces unique challenges as we work to mitigate the impacts of COVID-19,” said Gov. Pritzker. “To protect people across the state, it’s imperative that all workers stay home if they’re feeling sick or have come in contact with someone who has COVID-19. In order to overcome the unique challenges we’re facing, we’ve had to come up with innovative solutions and hope the federal government will support this endeavor as we continue to grapple with this public health crisis.”
If an individual is off work through no fault of their own, they can seek unemployment insurance benefits from IDES. The emergency rules, once filed, will provide assistance to individuals who may be restricted in the type of work they can perform due to COVID-19. The administration is also asking Congress to waive interest on any federal loans that Illinois and other state Unemployment Trust Fund accounts might require due to added strain from the outbreak, as well as maintaining the full federal unemployment tax credit for employers in states that may require those loans.
These measures accompany those Governor Pritzker has already taken to help ensure the health and safety of communities across the state, including the declaration of a state of emergency earlier this week that will release State Disaster Relief Fund assistance and ongoing requests for additional COVID-19 testing kits from the federal government.
* Secretary of State Jesse White’s spokesperson Dave Druker just called to say all Statehouse tours have been canceled. This includes the traditional school trips to the state capital. Tour guides won’t be laid off, he said.
Druker said the office has “put a hold on lobbying days, association gatherings, rallies.” He said they’re reaching out to lobbyists to ask them to ask their clients to limit or even eliminate their gatherings.
“We’re not closing the building,” Druker said. “I want to stress that. It’s large groups we want to limit.”
Druker said has office has consulted IDPH and the General Assembly and they’re both “comfortable with this.”
The SoS is also doing a deep-cleaning of the building, by the way.
…Adding… Press release…
The Illinois Secretary of State’s office is taking a number of precautionary measures to limit the possibilities for the exposure of 2019 Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) at the State Capitol.
Permits for all scheduled tours of the Illinois State Capitol Building and all events scheduled to take place at the Capitol Building have been canceled. In addition, lobbyists who have lobby days or other events at the Capitol Building are being encouraged to alert them to these cancellations.
…Adding… Press release…
After careful consideration due the COVID-19 virus the following events hosted by nursing organizations have been cancelled: Illinois Association of Nurse Anesthetist Lobby Day on March 24th, ANA-ILlinois annual Student Nurse Political Action Day on March 30th, the Illinois Coalition of Nursing Organization’s legislator reception scheduled for the evening of March 30th, and Illinois Society for Advanced Practice Nursing and ANA-Illinois Nurses Lobby Day on April 1st.
…Adding… Press release…
The Illinois Gaming Board meeting at the Bilandic Building in Chicago scheduled for March 12, 2020 at 9AM is postponed. More information regarding rescheduling will be forthcoming.
* Gov. JB Pritzker said today at his now-daily news conference that 6 new novel coronavirus cases have been discovered, bringing the total to 25, although some have recovered.
The governor asked Illinoisans to vote by mail instead of voting in-person.
And Pritzker said the CDC released guidance yesterday recommending against events of 250 or more. He said he urged people to “think critically” before attending any large gathering.
This post will be updated.
…Adding… The new cases include a Lake County resident in his 50s. The other five cases are in Chicago and Cook County. They are all in isolation, either at a hospital or at home.
…Adding… The governor said his office has been talking to sports team owners and has reached out to the various leagues to see what they were doing. He also said this…
We’re considering all options here. I think if you look back at previous epidemics or outbreaks, that’s always been something that’s considered. So we’re taking a very serious look at that. I mean, as you know, the million people that would have gathered for St Patrick’s Day was something that had to be addressed right away. We have the opening days of various teams coming up in the next couple of weeks. And so we want to make sure that we’re not only considering all of the options here, but considering what those opening dates are and how it might affect those teams and leagues and the public, most important to me, of course, is the safety of the people of our state and their health. And so I’m continuing to have these conversations and decisions are being made.
…Adding… He was also asked about the Thompson Center…
We’re also looking at not just the Thompson center, but other state facilities. For the time being, we haven’t issued guidance around that. I do think it’s worthwhile for us all to pay attention to the the guidance by the CDC in the concentrations issue, buildings that have hundreds and even thousands of people in them, aren’t necessarily buildings that need to close. It’s really a question of proximity of people to one another. As you know there’s this rule of six feet and 10 minutes. And so we’re looking at what that would look like for the Thompson center and evaluating that we’ll make some decisions around that and and all the other facilities that we operate.
IDPH Director Dr. Ngozi Ezike was also asked about the Thompson Center…
I don’t think the space itself is the problem it’s just they are communal gatherings where there are large numbers of people in the very small space at the same time, that could promote transmission. That’s what we’ll be looking at, people in their cubicles, you know, those are appropriately spaced away that they’re not in direct contact with their employees. … If you had a meeting that assembled, you know, 250 or 300 people. That’s what we’re concerned about not so much people in their, in their offices.
…Adding… Asked if he will support a bill in the hopper to mandate paid leave, the governor said…
Well I am supportive of paid sick leave in general, but I will say that we’re looking right now, because waiting for action by legislature is perhaps waiting too long. And so, when people run out of their sick time. What we’re looking at is emergency rules through JCAR to activate and delve into our unemployment benefits in the state. We’re also seeking from the federal government, the ability to get a waiver from the ‘able and available’ rule in our unemployment insurance. I think they should be doing that for the entire country. But we’re seeking it for the state of Illinois and also asking them to perhaps consider declaring a state of emergency or disaster for the nation around coronavirus which would open up that ability, building on that.
…Adding… Pritzker went off again on the federal government’s response…
I’ve spoken with other governors who are deeply concerned about this. Here’s what’s happening. We’re not getting enough tests. We’re not getting enough test kits, we’re not getting enough RNA extraction kits which is part of the process of doing a test or the reagent there is a nationwide shortage of this reagent. There is one producer of the reagent. Now this is a result of the CDC having made a decision early on to not let the best research, hospitals and institutions around the United States, develop their own tests, they decided, essentially to reject the ability. Early on, they’re now loosening that up because they realize they created a problem. But as a result of the early decision. There was dependence upon this one reagent this one test method. And the result is that we have a limited number of tests now we’re using them appropriately. As you know, we test people when they come in with symptoms, they get tested for flu, and for other things before we resort to if they test negative on these other items, but still have the respiratory challenges and the fever. Then we’ll go to testing them for COVID-19.
But, the fact that we only have a few of these and need more is indicative of a behavior on the federal government level that is unacceptable to me. So, we’re pressing hard. I believe the federal government is hearing it. But I haven’t yet seen a reaction here’s one of the frustrations for me. Last week, they said to us in response to this question that I posed that by Friday of last week that one of the commercial laboratories, would be starting to issue and produce provide perhaps millions of tests and make those available commercially. And then on Monday. Another of the major testing companies would be doing the same. Well it’s now Wednesday. And as far as I can tell it in the state of Illinois, we have none of that. It’s not being seen across the nation.
We need a lot more help and you hear very little yesterday, I put in calls to people at the federal government level. And I made sure they understood what my call was about. And I got no return phone call from at least two major officials that I reached out to. Now, I know they’re busy and you know I often have heard well, someone’s in the Situation Room, or someone’s in an important meeting and they can’t call the Governor of Illinois back on this subject, but I’m being as loud as I can on the subject and I think that they are going to be reactive to it. I know that many other governors are speaking the same language that I am.
…Adding… He was asked about President Trump…
Well number one that he’s taking this seriously because I have not heard that from the President of the United States. There are other people at the federal level who are taking it seriously. And in fact when you go to levels down, you know you talk to the people are actually doing the work. They understand.
But when the President, you know, wears his, you know, red hat in a CDC facility and talks about his own brilliance around being able to do research to determine an answer to this problem. I mean he’s not taking it seriously and you see what he tweets about this. His people in his administration have called this a hoax.
We need people to take this seriously. I hope that when he gives an address… that he speaks to the concerns that people all across this nation have, and especially to those of us who are trying to provide the care and take care of the health and safety of the people of our states. Tell us what you are going to do to make the situation better.
This rush transcription is done by Otter, by the way. Sorry for any errors. Moving quickly.
* Meanwhile, you may have seen this graphic online…
The ideal goal in fighting an epidemic or pandemic is to completely halt the spread. But merely slowing it — mitigation — is critical. This reduces the number of cases that are active at any given time, which in turn gives doctors, hospitals, police, schools and vaccine-manufacturers time to prepare and respond, without becoming overwhelmed. Most hospitals can function with 10 percent reduction in staff, but not with half their people out at once.
Some commentators have argued for getting the outbreak over with quickly. That is a recipe for panic, unnecessary suffering and death. Slowing and spreading out the tidal wave of cases will save lives. Flattening the curve keeps society going.
Both curves add up the number of new cases over time. The more people reporting with the virus on a given day, the higher the curve; a high curve means the virus is spreading fast. A low curve shows that the virus is spreading slower — fewer people are diagnosed with the disease on any given day. Keeping the curve down — diminishing the rate at which new cases occur — prevents overtaxing the finite resources (represented by the dotted line) available to treat it.
Think of the health care system capacity as a subway car that can only hold so many people at once. During rush hour, that capacity is not enough to handle the demand, so people must wait on the platform for their turn to ride. Staggering work hours diminishes the rush hour and increases the likelihood that you will get on the train and maybe even get a seat. Avoiding a surge of coronavirus cases can ensure that anyone who needs care will find it at the hospital. […]
The difference between seasonal flu and coronavirus is that many people have full or partial immunity to the flu virus because they have had it before or were vaccinated against it. Far more people are vulnerable to coronavirus, so it has many more targets of opportunity to spread. Keeping people apart in time and space with social distancing measures, self-isolation and actual quarantine decreases opportunities for transmission.
* And here’s how it worked in real time more than a hundred years ago…
There is a reason for canceling public gatherings. In a pandemic, don't be Philadelphia (held a parade in 1918 when cases started to come up, downplayed cases), be St. Louis (canceled gatherings). More here: https://t.co/KE7RYbxDGM@mlipsitchpic.twitter.com/wyrHx0nOLA
* Pru Plaza coronavirus case confirmed - Tenants at One Two Pru have been told a worker at the massive complex is ill with the virus. It’s believed to be Chicago’s first confirmed case at a major downtown office building.
The GA was scheduled to come back for three weeks and then take two weeks off for spring break. They ought to just cancel everything until May, do a budget and some cleanup legislation on cannabis and infrastructure and whatever else and get outta town.
…Adding… As expected…
Illinois Senate President Don Harmon today announced the cancellation of next week’s Senate session days as part of a public health initiative to limit exposure and hopefully slow the spread of the COVID-19 virus.
Senate President Harmon’s statement:
“When the state association for emergency doctors cancels its Capitol visit citing public health concerns, it should give us all reason to re-examine our schedules and priorities.
Given the recommendations for social distancing as a safeguard to slow the spread of this virus, the Illinois Senate is going to do its part. The Friday, March 20 session day had already been cancelled. The Senate will also cancel the March 18 and 19 session days.
We will constantly monitor the situation and make future decisions based on best practices and advice from the state’s public health and emergency preparedness professionals.”
The buy is a little over 400 points plus some cable. The buy is likely to be increased by the end of the week.
Script…
Michael Cabonargi and Richard Boykin. Two politicians out for themselves.
On the Cook County Board of Review, Cabonargi gave nearly a billion dollars in property tax breaks to powerful insiders. He got corrupt contributions and you got higher property taxes. Boykin helped Mitch McConnell try to keep the Senate Republican.
Iris Martinez, a progressive fighting for women’s health, raising the minimum wage and coverage for pre-existing conditions. Iris Martinez for Cook County Clerk, a woman standing up to corruption.
You may have heard about the incident at the University of Chicago that has gone viral.
Former Congressman Sean Duffy’s daughter Evita Duffy participated in a voter participation initiative. She was photographed with a whiteboard on which she wrote, “I vote because the coronavirus won’t destroy America, but socialism will.”
The backlash against her was swift. She’s received threats and personal attacks, just for declaring that she was a conservative on a college campus.
Please make a donation today to stop this kind of hatred from the radical left.
They attacked Evita and they will come after me and my family. But we are ready. Like Evita, and the Ives Family is All In for this fight. It is a small price to pay to preserve the rule of law and equal protection before it; the freedom to choose our professional pursuits and how we pursue them.
My opponent Sean Casten uses hate to direct people’s attention away from his assaults on our freedoms and free enterprise system.
Casten tweeted that the GOP was the party of pedophiles. And when asked to identify a leader he looks to for guidance, Sean Casten selected a virulent, profane bigot named Dan Savage who has called evangelical Christians “pieces of sh*t” and said of Republicans, “I wish they were all f**king dead.”
Sean Casten doesn’t disavow such language, he doubles down on it as he did when he compared the President of the United States to Osama bin Laden.
Casten doesn’t want to make American better. He wants to make it bitter.
If Evita Duffy can stand up, so can we. Stand with Evita and Jeanne against Sean Casten, Nancy Pelosi and the viciousness of the radical Left.
* On to the presidential…
This raises questions about whether Biden will still hold his campaign rally that was scheduled for Chicago this Friday night. No location was announced when the rally notice went out. Any update @kbeds? https://t.co/5wTHO70DYc
Wednesday, Mar 11, 2020 - Posted by Advertising Department
[The following is a paid advertisement.]
Across Illinois, communities are struggling to stay above water. Meanwhile, clean energy jobs in our state are growing faster than the rest of our economy. The question now is, who will benefit?
Hundreds of low-income and people of color are already in good-paying jobs because the state is funding training programs that make sure everyone shares in the new clean energy economy. The popularity of these programs and the demand for clean energy jobs continues to grow.
This spring, Gov. Pritzker and the General Assembly can choose to double down on equity in our energy economy by passing transformative legislation that will create good jobs and entrepreneurial opportunities in communities of color and communities too often left behind.
The Clean Energy Jobs Act is the only comprehensive, equitable energy bill that puts Illinois on a path to 100% renewable energy, lowers electricity costs, and reduces transportation pollution.
We need to take bold action on climate and create economic opportunities in communities that need them the most.
It’s time to pass CEJA now! Visit ilcleanjobs.org to learn more.
The Illinois Civil Justice League (ICJL) is warning voters to be wary of judicial candidates with Irish surnames who are otherwise unqualified for office. An analysis of candidates running in the March 17th Illinois Primary Election, which falls on St. Patrick’s Day, reveals two judicial candidates of Irish descent playing the role of a stalking horse, trying to siphon votes from other candidates.
“Candidates with Irish surnames have long had a political advantage in cities with large Irish-American populations like Chicago, Boston and New York. You don’t have to look further than names like Daley, Kennedy, and Moynihan to prove the point,” said John Pastuovic, president of the Illinois Civil Justice League. “While those running at the top of the ticket are usually established and well vetted, many running at the bottom of the ticket, particularly those running for judge, are unknown. It is in these campaigns for judge that political bosses or others attempt to use the anonymity of these bottom of the ticket races combined with a candidate’s Irish American heritage to game the system to either benefit or block another candidate,” he continued.
In an effort to better educate voters about choices for judge, the ICJL today released the ratings of judges running for election in the March 17 Primary Election. The ICJL retention recommendations are a part of the most complete and comprehensive voter education initiative of its kind, designed to assist voters in making informed decisions about the judicial candidates on their ballot. The initiative called Judges: Good and Bad-You Can’t Afford to be Indifferent can be found at illinoisjudges.net.
During its analysis, the ICJL has revealed that a good number of judges have earned the voters’ trust and vote. “That good news, however, is mitigated by the fact that two judicial candidates appear to be stalking horse candidates, using their Irish surnames to siphon votes from other credible Irish-American candidates to benefit the candidacies of Cook County Democratic Party insiders,” Pastuovic stated.
Maureen O’Leary is running for the Neville Illinois Appellate Court vacancy against Cook County Circuit Court Judge Carolyn Gallagher and the Democratic Party chosen candidate Cook County Circuit Court Judge Michael Hyman. Circuit Court Judge Sandra Gisela Ramos is also in the race.
Bonnie McGrath is running for Mary Anne Mason’s Cook County Circuit Court vacancy against Jennifer Callahan and the Democratic Party chosen candidate Chris Stacey. Three other candidates are also in the race.
“The O’Leary and McGrath campaigns have much in common. Both used many of the same paid circulators to gather signatures for their nominating petitions and both have reported zero campaign expenditures or fundraising as of earlier this month. Additionally, news reports suggest that their opponents haven’t seen either O’Leary or McGrath at campaign events and neither has campaign websites,” Pastuovic said.
Judge Carolyn Gallagher recently said she sees Maureen O’Leary as a likely sham candidate given her Irish name, her complete lack of qualifications for appellate court, that she’s never attended any candidate functions and that she didn’t disclose payments for her 13,000-plus petition signatures.
“While the actions of Maureen O’Leary and Bonnie McGrath aren’t necessarily illegal, their actions are clearly unethical and for those reasons, both candidates are Not Recommended for Judge by the ICJL,” Pastuovic concluded.
Two candidates for state representative on Chicago’s Northwest Side say they - one a survivor of domestic abuse and the other of sexual violence - have been subjected to false and deeply personal attacks from their opponent that they’ve found to be far more hurtful than just “politics as usual.”
Joe Duplechin and Patti Vasquez are both running in the Democratic primary for state representative in Illinois’ 19th District, which encompasses parts of the Jefferson Park, Portage Park and Dunning neighborhoods, plus portions of the surrounding suburbs.
They’re challenging incumbent state Rep. Lindsey LaPointe, who was appointed to the office in July 2019 in a sort of musical chairs common to Chicago politics. LaPointe is now seeking her first full term, running a campaign that has sent several pieces of direct mail to voters in the district - four of which claim Duplechin and Vasquez are “backed by extremists.”
* It’s not the “extremist” part that’s particularly egregious, though. It’s this…
Duplechin is a Chicago police officer who most recently unsuccessfully ran for 39th Ward alderman. He said the mailers were particularly difficult for him because both his biological father and stepfather physically and verbally abused his mother for years when he was young - culminating in a traumatic altercation with the latter when he was 10 years old.
“Finally at 10, I stood up and I ended up getting beaten and my brother and I ended up getting knocked out a window,” Duplechin said. “It was my stepfather, and he ended up going to jail for six months for it.” […]
“It’s shocking that with everything we know now, with the Me Too movement, with everything that women have endured, sexual violence, workplace harassment and abuse - that she is willing to attack a victim,” Vasquez said in an interview on Tuesday, calling LaPointe “not fit to lead.”
The COVID-19 viral disease that has swept into at least 114 countries and killed more than 4,000 people is now officially a pandemic, the World Health Organization announced Wednesday.
“This is the first pandemic caused by coronavirus,” said WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
Eight countries — including the U.S. — are now each reporting more than 1,000 cases of COVID-19, caused by the virus that has infected more than 120,000 people worldwide.
“In the past two weeks, the number of cases of COVID-19 outside China has increased 13-fold, and the number of affected countries has tripled,” Tedros said.
As Washington state grapples with what may be the country’s worst outbreak of novel coronavirus, the absence of a COVID-19 emergency declaration from President Trump has hamstrung its ability to respond to the crisis.
The state would like to apply for a Medicaid waiver that would let Washington give people more options for where to receive care, so that it can lessen the pressure on its already overtaxed health system.
The problem for the state is that one of the types of waivers currently under discussion — a waiver known as 1135 — can be triggered only by the President declaring an emergency or a disaster under the Stafford Act, something he has notably failed to do, despite all signs indicating that the coronavirus outbreak stands to be a major public health crisis. […]
In past emergencies, Medicaid waivers, which could also be issued under 1115, have been useful tools for helping states to react to evolving situations.
The Bush administration approved Medicaid waivers to expand health coverage for New Yorkers after the 9/11 attacks and, after Hurricane Katrina, to streamline the process for Gulf coast states to cover people who had to evacuate from Louisiana.
Senate Democrats lead by Minority Leader Chuck Schumer are preparing a letter formally calling for President Donald Trump to issue an emergency declaration to make more than $40 billion available to assist state and local governments’ coronavirus response, according to a Senate Democratic aide.
A prison watchdog said the Illinois Department of Corrections needs to make its plans for addressing COVID-19 public.
“Prison health is problematic on a good day,” the John Howard Association said. “In Illinois, ongoing litigation has both exposed and is working to remedy the unfortunate quality of and limited access to medical care available to people in our prisons. Court-appointed experts have submitted detailed reports pointing to the many inhumane and constitutionally violative practices around the medical care provided inside Illinois prisons.”
The statement included data from a poll done by the association from those who are in state custody and of 12,780 people who responded from 21 facilities between April 2018 and May 2019, 65 percent expressed dissatisfaction with medical care and 78 percent were dissatisfied with IDOC’s provisions of hygiene items such as soap and hand sanitizer.
“We are not medical experts and do not offer specific advice on disease prevention and treatment,” the statement said. “But as a prison watchdog and advocacy organization, we are concerned that the health of prisoners in the face of this new pandemic will not rank as a public health priority. […]
The Illinois Department of Corrections said Tuesday that no cases of COVID-19 have been confirmed in prisons.
“The Department is modifying its current Pandemic Influenza and Continuity of Operations plans to ensure we are prepared for a potential outbreak of COVID-19,” IDOC spokesperson Lindsey Hess said. “People who are experiencing symptoms of the coronavirus, or who may have been exposed to the illness, may not be permitted to visit an IDOC correctional facility.”
Public health quarantine and isolation are legal authorities that may be, but rarely are, implemented to prevent the spread of communicable diseases. Ill people may be isolated to protect the public by preventing exposure to infected people. Quarantine may be used to restrict the movement of well people who may have been exposed to a communicable disease until it can be determined if they are ill. This could include people who have a communicable disease but do not know it or those who may have the disease because of close contact with ill people but do not show symptoms.
State and local governments are primarily responsible for maintaining public health and controlling the spread of diseases within state borders. Among other state public health emergency preparedness powers, every state, the District of Columbia and most territories have laws authorizing quarantine and isolation, usually through the state’s health authority. The federal government has authority as well, through the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), to monitor and respond to the spread of communicable diseases across national or state borders, or if the state government is unwilling or unable to effectively respond.
The CDC’s authority to exercise quarantine and isolation powers for specific diseases derives from the federal Public Health Service Act and most recently, a series of presidential executive orders. Under these orders, federal quarantine and isolation powers currently apply to the following diseases: cholera; diphtheria; infectious tuberculosis; plague; smallpox; yellow fever; viral hemorrhagic fevers; influenza caused by new or reemergent flu viruses that are causing, or have the potential to cause, a pandemic; and severe acute respiratory syndromes (which may include COVID-19). On Jan. 31, 2020, President Donald Trump released a proclamation in response to the COVID-19 outbreaks suspending certain entry into the United States, specifically outlining medical screening and quarantine where appropriate.
Authority. The Department of Public Health has supreme authority over declaring new or modifying existing quarantines. A county board of health should be created with responsibility for control of contagious diseases, including the use of quarantine for areas within the county not incorporated. Corporate authorities of municipalities have jurisdiction for quarantine extending one-half mile beyond corporate limits. Local health authorities shall establish quarantine of contacts of someone suspected of carrying a disease that requires this action.
Penalties. Whoever violates or refuses to obey any rule or regulation of the Department of Public Health shall be deemed guilty of a Class A misdemeanor.
Police Power & Limitations. Persons who are or are about to be ordered to be isolated or quarantined and owners of places that are or are about to be closed and made off limits to the public shall have the right to counsel. If a person or owner is indigent, the court shall appoint counsel for that person or owner. Persons who are ordered to be isolated or quarantined or who are owners of places that are ordered to be closed and made off limits to the public, shall be given a written notice of such order.
* Roundup…
* Meet the two women leading Illinois’ coronavirus response - A former general and a former medical director of the largest juvenile detention center in the country have one of the most important tasks in Illinois right now: dealing with coronavirus.
* UI exploring online classes in wake of coronavirus: Indiana University, Harvard, Ohio State, Columbia, Princeton and colleges in hard-hit California and Washington state have already announced shifts to online classes.
* Local leaders take coronavirus fight into own hands absent federal direction: New York officials moved Tuesday to seal off a region where a growing cluster of cases posed a heightened risk of transmitting the virus, with Gov. Andrew Cuomo saying the fast-changing situation merited “a special public health strategy for New Rochelle.” In Massachusetts, a blue state with a Republican executive, Gov. Charlie Baker declared a state of emergency and legislative leaders said they plan to allocate $15 million for containment efforts. While some blue state governors have conspicuously avoided criticizing Trump, Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker didn’t hold back Tuesday. Pritzker assailed vague Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidance about avoiding large crowds, complained about the U.S. not using tests that were released by the World Health Organization and cautioned that Trump is downplaying the seriousness of the virus. “I am very frustrated with the federal government,” he said. “We have not received enough tests. We’ve been told for days and that the commercial labs will be coming on line. Just again today I was told they’d be coming on line in a matter of days and we haven’t seen it.”
* MSNBC: Illinois gov. frustrated by government response to coronavirus
* Stocks fall with Trump stimulus missing: “Every day we get whipsawed back and forth, and what we’re seeing today is general disappointment that fiscal policy is not at all clear in how it’s going to stimulate the economy.”
* Email crash impeded HHS response to coronavirus: The episode has exacerbated tensions inside a department that’s already been split by intense fights between HHS Secretary Alex Azar and CMS chief Seema Verma while it strains to coordinate the government’s response to the viral outbreak.
* True number of U.S. coronavirus cases is far above official tally, scientists say: Researchers estimate that by March 1, the virus had already infected about 1,000 to 10,000 people who have not yet been accounted for. At the start of this month, about 80 U.S. cases had been confirmed and officials were still expressing confidence they could contain the new virus.
* Trump’s former pandemic adviser: ‘We are 10 days from our hospitals getting creamed’: Washington Gov. Jay Inslee (D), who is overseeing one of the country’s largest clusters, said “if you do the math” there could be 64,000 cases of COVID-19 in the Evergreen State by May, while New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio said the positive cases in the city are “coming in so intensely now” that public officials are struggling to keep up with them. He said he wasn’t in a position to give the media a “detailed case breakdown” because of the rapidly changing number.
* ADDED: ‘It’s Just Everywhere Already’: How Delays in Testing Set Back the U.S. Coronavirus Response: Later that day, the investigators and Seattle health officials gathered with representatives of the C.D.C. and the F.D.A. to discuss what happened. The message from the federal government was blunt. “What they said on that phone call very clearly was cease and desist to [Dr. Helen Y. Chu, an infectious disease expert in Seattle],” Dr. Lindquist remembered. “Stop testing.”
In the latest gaffe in the state’s voter rolls, 1,151 Illinois residents were improperly classified as not registered to vote in next week’s primary before officials caught the mistake. […]
A spokesman for the Illinois State Board of Elections said he doesn’t think anyone who was mistakenly listed as not registered was inappropriately turned away during early voting, which began last week, since anyone not registered to vote has the option to do so on the spot and election judges are trained to tell people about that option.
White’s office could not shed any light on the exact cause of the problem. […]
[Jesse White spokesperson Dave Druker] said the error, which was first reported by WCIA-TV in Downstate Illinois, is not due to a “computer glitch” and could be a clerical error that may have multiple causes.
Secretary of State spokesperson Dave Druker told The Daily Line that the error was discovered during regular monitoring of applications records, and said the issue began in January. Druker said the errors likely occurred because people gave officials “conflicting” about whether they wanted to be automatically registered.
In some cases, Druker said a person may have gone to a driver’s services facility twice in an attempt to receive a driver’s license or state ID card with sophisticated security features that requires more documentation to obtain.
“Somebody indicated at one point where they did want to be in [AVR] and at another point said they didn’t,” Druker said. “We review these by hand and gave the applications to the Board of Elections. We’re sorry for any confusion that occurred here.”
Chicago Board of Elections spokesperson Jim Allen told The Daily Line he was unsure of the number of individuals affected within the city of Chicago, but said it was “not a grave concern,” since same-day voter registration is available on both Election Day and during early voting, which began last week.
*** UPDATE *** Press release…
In light of yet another “programming error” related to Illinois’ Automatic Voter Registration (AVR) system, State Representatives Tim Butler (R-Springfield) and Avery Bourne (R-Morrisonville) are calling for a thorough audit and suspension of the system until problems are resolved. The latest problem with the system while on the Secretary of State’s watch has caused more than 1,100 valid voter registrations to be wrongly coded as opting-out instead of being registered.
“It started with non-citizens being registered, then minors being registered, and now actual citizens of legal voting age not being registered. How much more evidence do we need that AVR has to be put on hold and a thorough audit conducted?” said Rep. Butler. “These exact concerns were expressed back in 2017 during the discussions of instituting an AVR program in our state and these revelations underscore that those concerns were well-founded. With the primary election happening in a week and the presidential election in November, these egregious mistakes have to be corrected before AVR is allowed to continue.”
Butler, Bourne and House Republicans first called for action at the end of January when the first revelation that 574 self-identified non-citizens were mistakenly registered to vote. U.S. Congressman Rodney Davis joined House Republicans in that call and several public hearings have since been held, but no action to put the AVR program on hold has been taken by the Governor or the Democrat led General Assembly. In February, Butler and Bourne filed House Bill 5224 to suspend the AVR program until the problems with the system are corrected. Now, House Resolution 827 has been filed to call for a thorough audit to be conducted by an outside, independent auditor.
“It has been over a month since I first called for suspension of the Automatic Voter Registration system. With the revelation of this latest error within Illinois’ AVR system, it’s past time for lawmakers to take definitive steps to protect the integrity of our elections,” said Rep. Bourne. “The wrongful rejection of 1,152 valid voter registrations is unacceptable, and the latest in a series of problems that warrant the temporary suspension of AVR until all issues are resolved. Access to fair and free elections is a fundamental right, and there should be zero margin for error. The rollout of AVR has been plagued with problems and it’s time for the General Assembly to intervene.”
Besides the most recent revelation about the improperly coded 1,152 valid voter registrations, the Secretary of State’s Office also forwarded the information of some 4,700 16-year-olds through the AVR system to the State Board of Elections for pre-registration. Fortunately, the Board of Elections rejected most of those before they were registered.
Wednesday, Mar 11, 2020 - Posted by Advertising Department
[The following is a paid advertisement.]
In Illinois, more than 30,000 people suffer from kidney failure; nationwide, more than 100,000 Americans await a kidney transplant. Organizations from across the state have come together to create the Illinois Kidney Care Alliance (IKCA). IKCA is a coalition of community and patient groups, health advocates and professionals, providers, and businesses focused on raising awareness of the needs of people who suffer from kidney failure.
IKCA is proud to count American Renal Associates (ARA) as a founding member. As one of the largest dialysis service providers in the United States, ARA cares for patients suffering from chronic kidney failure in its most advanced stage.
IKCA’s goal is to protect and highlight the needs of some of our society’s most vulnerable people – those currently on dialysis and their families. For more information about the Illinois Kidney Care Alliance please visit our website.
Many other state legislatures are scheduled to continue their sessions in the months ahead, even as the disease is expected to spread throughout the country.
According to the National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL), lawmakers in Oregon and Wisconsin can hold electronic meetings and votes in an emergency, and Colorado’s legislature allows for “new or streamlined methods of operations” and may suspend rules in order to “function effectively during the disaster emergency.”
NCSL wasn’t sure about other states, and said it was still compiling information related to continuity of government during public health emergencies.
Some local officials are asking similar questions. Paul Feiner, town supervisor in Greenburgh, New York, recently asked the New York legislature to amend state meetings law to allow local governments to vote by Skype.
Thoughts?
…Adding… This just went out to legislators…
With the health and safety of all in mind, the Illinois College of Emergency Physicians regrets to inform all members of the 101st General Assembly and staff that our evening reception scheduled for Wednesday, March 18 has been cancelled due to concerns about the spread of COVID-19.
*** UPDATE 1 *** Kyle Hillman at the National Association of Social Workers, Illinois Chapter…
The NASW-Illinois Chapter (NASW-IL) has been closely following news and updates regarding the COVID-19 virus (coronavirus), particularly as it impacts large gatherings and events in the state.
After much consideration and the wavering levels of uncertainty around COVID-19 spreading in Illinois, as well as the many health risks involved in holding large events like our advocacy day which has consistently passed 1000 attendees, the NASW-Illinois Chapter has decided to cancel our 2020 Advocacy Day on Thursday, April 2, 2020, and the lobby leaders training the previous day on Wednesday, April 1, 2020.
While we are hopefully being overly cautious regarding this decision, we have reached a point where we could no longer wait to let participants know if the event would continue or not.
We will be developing and suggesting alternatives to the event—these may include encouraging participants to participate in online action alerts, or additional online actions regarding current evolving NASW-IL–supported legislation.
Again, it was not an easy decision to cancel our most effective advocacy event of the year, but the health and safety of the hundreds of workers in the state capital, all participants, and the populations they serve is paramount.
*** UPDATE 2 *** Hannah…
Tomorrow afternoon’s Senate State Govt committee hearing is cancelled for tomorrow, and just got word the special joint hearing on red light cameras has also been postponed. Public safety cmte Chair @RobertJPeters said they wanted to “look out for health and safety of everyone” pic.twitter.com/ioOj1uMNfn
Yes I am canceling the hearing on Friday. While access to ABA therapy for autism is of great importance a public subject matter hearing at this time is not appropriate. The health and safety of all of our communities must be are focus.
Chicago’s popular downtown St. Patrick’s Day parade set for Saturday is being called off due to coronavirus concerns. The parade’s website announced the decision this morning. There’s no word, yet, on whether the annual South Side parade will go ahead as planned Sunday. Both parades were in doubt after Gov. JB Pritzker said Tuesday that officials were taking a hard look at large public gatherings as the number of COVID-19 virus cases in Illinois rose to 19. Pritzker and Mayor Lori Lightfoot have scheduled a news conference this morning to give an update on the virus situation.
…Adding… The city has three parades and the Tribune story uses the plural…
The coronavirus claimed its first major events in Chicago’s civic life Wednesday, as Mayor Lori Lightfoot canceled the city’s massive St. Patrick’s Day parades because of fears the disease would spread through the dense crowds. […]
But in the end, Lightfoot had to know she would be judged more harshly if Chicago got hit especially hard by the COVID-19 virus and the outbreak was traced back to the decision to go ahead with the parades. Health officials have been warning for weeks that the best way to avoid contracting the respiratory ailment is to avoid close contact with people who are infected.
Other major cities across the globe have canceled their St. Patrick’s Day parades; they include Boston and Dublin.
Even Ald. Matt O’Shea [19th], whose Beverly ward hosts the South Side Irish Parade, has said both events should be canceled.
…Adding… Mary Ann…
Southside Irish Parade: also will not take place Sunday@chicagosmayor would like to see a postponement, but no future date given, more to come at 9:15a newser at OEMC Southside sources say there will still be celebrations, even without a parade #coronavirus
Mayor Lori E. Lightfoot, Governor JB Pritzker, and officials from the Chicago Department of Public Health (CDPH) and Office of Emergency Management and Communications (OEMC)today announced the City will postpone this weekend’s St. Patrick’s Day parades as a precautionary measure to prevent further spread of the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19). The City will continue working with organizers from Chicago’s downtown, South Side, and Northwest Side parades, as well as the annual Dyeing of the Chicago River to reschedule these events to a later date and ensure the health and safety of Chicago’s residents and visitors.
The decision to postpone the official St. Patrick’s Day parades follows guidance and information from public health experts, including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and counterparts in other jurisdictions experiencing similar impacts from COVID-19. The St. Patrick’s Day parades and associated activities present very unique circumstances for Chicago, drawing over a million attendees, many from outside of the city and across the country, and offering few opportunities for attendees to practice social distancing – a key recommendation by health experts to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
“The health and safety of Chicago’s residents will always be our highest priority and like many other cities across the nation and globe, we are postponing this year’s parades as a precautionary measure to prevent any additional spread of COVID-19,” said Mayor Lightfoot. “I want everyone to rest assured that your City and State continue to work around the clock to stay ahead of this issue and ensure everyone remains protected, informed, and safe.”
As part of today’s measures, the City will continue to work with state and county agencies on an ongoing basis to review all future non-essential, large gatherings and provide recommendations to the appropriate parties as needed. As it relates to other large planned events, the City’s guidance and protocol for large events will be reviewed on an ongoing basis.
“We all know what the St. Patrick’s Day celebrations mean to us in the city of Chicago — but as elected leaders, we can’t take any chances with the health of our residents,” said Governor JB Pritzker. “Because of what we’ve seen nationally and across the world of the increased risk of large gatherings, this was the right call and I thank Mayor Lightfoot for her leadership in this difficult situation. Now that we’ve reached the stage where we’re seeing regular new cases—reflecting additional spread within our communities—we have to make every effort to minimize further spread.”
For anyone celebrating St. Patrick Day this weekend, the City’s public health officials recommend practicing common sense health safety tips and social distancing, including:
Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, or use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands.
Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
Stay home when you are sick.
Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash.
Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces. At this time, no special sanitizing processes beyond routine cleaning are necessary or recommended to slow the spread of respiratory illness.
Vulnerable populations – consisting of those 60 years or older or with underlying health conditions –may be more susceptible to COVID-19. The City encourages members of vulnerable populations and anyone who is sick to remain home and not attend large gatherings.
“Protecting the health and wellness of both Chicago’s residents and visitors is our top priority as we continue to learn more about the nature of COVID-19,” said Dr. Allison Arwady, M.D., Commissioner of CDPH. “We want to be sure that everyone understands the daily measures they can take to keep themselves safe such as social distancing, routine handwashing and avoiding touching the eyes, nose and mouth. We remain in constant communication with the CDC as well as federal, state and local officials to determine the best protocol moving forward in this ever-evolving situation.”
To ensure the safety of residents celebrating Chicago St. Patrick’s Day this weekend, OEMC will activate the City’s Emergency Operations Center (EOC) as part of an effort to monitor any activities and crowds as well as coordinate resource requests and responses to individual situations. Additionally, OEMC has established the COVID-19 Task Force in partnership with the Mayor’s Office and CDPH to address essential areas of operations and collaborate with departments and sister agencies on preparedness and preventive measures.
“Ensuring that City’s robust response plan is both efficient and effective for residents is our top priority, said Rich Guidice, Executive Director at OEMC. “To ensure that our City remains prepared in the wake of this fast-moving and evolving situation, OEMC has created the COVID-19 Task Force with 12 unique subcommittees to continuously address and update our response tactics.”
The number of confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Illinois is increasing. and current information suggests that person-to-person spread will continue to occur and more cases will be identified in the United States and in Chicago. CDPH’s goal is to reduce the impact of COVID-19 in Chicago by detecting new cases quickly, minimizing transmission and developing guidance to prepare communities to respond.
“Chicago’s South Side Irish Parade is one of the community’s most anticipated and celebrated traditions,” said Alderman Matt O’Shea, 19th Ward. “While this decision will be disappointing to many, minimizing the potential for COVID-19’s spread must be our top priority.”
More information and updates on COVID-19 can be found on the IDPH website, the CDPH website, and the CDC website. You can also contact the Chicago Department of Public Health at coronavirus@chicago.gov.
…Adding… South Side Irish St. Patrick’s Day Parade Committee…
Out of an abundance of caution to contain the spread of COVID-19, the City of Chicago has made the decision to postpone many of the St. Patrick’s Day events this weekend, including our Parade. While we are disappointed in this development, we well understand the City of Chicago Department of Public Health’s prudent concerns and the recommendations of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC) that prompts this decision to help keep citizens safe and healthy.
The South Side Irish Parade Committee hopes everyone will celebrate St. Patrick’s Day and Irish heritage in a safe and family-friendly way this year and we look forward to March 14, 2021, when the largest community celebration of St. Patrick’s Day outside of Dublin will step off once again.
One week before a presidential primary election, Secretary of State Jesse White’s office sent a letter to the State Board of Elections acknowledging a third “programming error” that, left undetected, could have created confusion at polling places and could have denied valid voters from casting their ballots.
Instead, local election officials are scrambling to update their voter rolls with the names of more than a thousand valid voters who were denied their registration through the state’s new automatic voter registration program, which is facilitated at DMV sites and other state locations throughout the state.
In a letter to county clerks, the State Board of Elections said White’s office, “had identified a batch of records for REAL ID applicants which were erroneously categorized as having opted out of registration, due to a programming error. The records that were identified should have been categorized as valid AVR applications.” […]
According to a spokesman at the State Board of Elections, the error resulted in errant denials of 1,152 valid voter registrations in 87 of the state’s 108 election jurisdictions. However, in Sangamon County, where the state only counted 20 affected voters, the local clerk found 102.
“They also had an error in displaying the application date,” Sangamon County Clerk Don Gray said. “We identified 19 that were wrongly categorized as ‘opted out’ and 83 that displayed the wrong application date.”
Thank goodness they caught this error, so all’s well that ends well. But, man, they really need to get their act together over there.
Secretary White is famous for giving people second chances. This is strike three.
Companies who do business with the state risk having their $50,000 or larger contracts automatically voided and be barred from bidding on state projects if a firm makes three or more campaign contributions to Illinois’ executive officers within a 36-month period.
But the specific language of Illinois’ procurement code does not prevent a company from getting around the statute — either by donating money from a company official’s personal account or having their spouse make the contribution rather than the business itself, Illinois’ Chief Procurement Officer for General Services Ellen Daley told members of the Joint Commission on Ethics and Lobbying Reform.
The commission has three weeks to deliver a report containing suggested changes to Illinois’ laws in response to the newest crisis of confidence in Illinois politics.
Daley told the commission that her effort to cancel a state contract because of what she determined were improper campaign contributions was thwarted. Daley said she relied on a clause of the Illinois’ procurement code to make the decision.
“Last year I relied on this clause and attempted to bar a vendor from having a state contract since affiliated persons and affiliated entities of the company had made prohibited political contributions,” Daley said. “However, the enforcement clause is specifically worded so that a business’ entity contracts are voidable only when the business entity violates the prohibition on making contributions.”
A bill that would give a state tax credit of up to $1,000 a year to foster families has bipartisan support in Illinois, but the cost of such a credit isn’t yet known.
State Rep. Darren Bailey, R-Xenia, filed House Bill 5119 and members of both parties signed up in support.
State Rep. Mark Batinick, R-Plainview, signed on to the bill and said such an incentive could help encourage more people to become foster parents.
“When you look at all the issues going on at the state level, we’ve heard about the deaths of people that are in state care, we need more good people doing this and so we need to incentivize good practice, good behavior,” Batinick said.
* Press release…
State Senator Robert Peters (D-Chicago) advanced a bill that would help youth in foster care apply for college financial aid.
“The state needs to be proactive at helping foster kids build a strong future during their final years of care,” Peters said. “We need to do all we can to ensure that they have access to education or job training before they have to live on their own.”
Senator Peters’ measure requires the Department of Child and Family Services to assist all youth in their care with completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) during their final year of high school. The legislation is an initiative of the National Association of Social Workers.
In addition, Senator Peters pledges to support legislation that would make college more accessible to Illinois students.
“Education should lead people to prosperity, not inescapable debt to student loan sharks,” Peters said. “We should not be punishing people with fines and fees for wanting to expand their education and contribute more to society.”
Senate Bill 3718 awaits consideration before the Senate Human Services Committee.
As the number of local law enforcement agencies joining forces with video doorbell company Ring grows, two Illinois Democrats urged lawmakers to act to prevent what they called “warrantless searches.”
State Rep. Ann Williams (D-Chicago) and State Sen. Cristina Castro (D-Elgin) on Monday touted SB 3414 as a way to keep companies like Ring, which is owned by tech giant Amazon, and other smart device manufacturers in check and to preserve civil liberties. The legislation, mirrored in HB 5495, is also supported by the American Civil Liberties Union Illinois chapter.
The bill, dubbed the Protecting Household Privacy Act, would ensure law enforcement agencies don’t skirt the existing requirement that they get a search warrant signed by a judge in order to access audio or video recordings without the permission of the device’s owner. In addition, the measure would order any data obtained by law enforcement to be destroyed within 30 days, unless it was being used for an ongoing investigation or pending criminal trial.
Manufacturers of devices like the Ring Doorbell would have to disclose the law enforcement agencies with whom they have entered into agreements. The city of Chicago, for example, entered into an agreement with Ring in September. The best available data pegs the number of municipalities in Illinois that have entered into agreements with Ring in the dozens, according to an independent data project tallying such agreements.
* The governor is holding a press conference on the COVID-19 topic right now. Click here to watch it. This post will be updated.
*** UPDATE 1 *** IDPH director says the state response “may include cancelling large events.”
*** UPDATE 2 *** Gov. Pritzker said he’s been in close communications with the mayor about St. Patrick’s Day and the mayor is talking with parade organizers. Pritzker said they may be making announcements tomorrow “about any decision that could be made.” Full text…
Pritzker was asked about Chicago's two planned St. Patrick's Day parades this weekend. It sure sounds like people should have contingency plans. pic.twitter.com/ADF4SqnZs0
*** UPDATE 3 *** Pritzker: “I am very frustrated with the federal government. We have not received enough tests.” Complained about how the federal government “passed up the opportunity that was already developed” overseas, where countries are testing. “We could have been using that weeks ago in the United States.”
[ *** End Of Updates *** ]
Press release…
The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH), Kane County Health Department (KCHD), and the McHenry County Department of Health (MCDH) today announced the first Illinois residents outside of Chicago and Cook County to test positive at the IDPH laboratory for coronavirus disease (COVID-19). The cases include a Kane County woman in her 60s and a McHenry County teen, neither of whom had a history of travel to an affected area and no connection to a known case of COVID-19. Public health officials are identifying and contacting all close contacts.
“As we anticipated, the number of cases in Illinois is increasing and now includes the first cases outside of Chicago and Cook County,” said IDPH Director Dr. Ngozi Ezike. “The State of Illinois continues to take action to reduce spread of COVID-19 in Illinois and we again want to encourage people to start thinking and preparing now in the event they are not able to go to work, if schools are closed, if public transportation is not available, and how else their lives will be disrupted by this outbreak.”
Currently, there are 19 individuals in Illinois who have tested positive for COVID-19. At least one case acquired the virus in the community, but probably more. As IDPH continues to conduct surveillance testing, additional cases will be identified, and we will have a better understanding about the amount of virus circulating in Illinois communities.
In addition to the cases in Kane and McHenry counties, new cases include individuals in:
Cook County:
• 70s – male
• 60s – female
• 40s – female
• 40s – male
Chicago:
• 40s – male
• 40s – male
Public health officials are still investigating the travel history of these individuals and any potential contact with a known COVID-19 case. These most recent cases are in isolation and are doing well.
…Adding… Press release…
The Health Care Council of Illinois and nursing homes throughout the state are working in close coordination with Gov. Pritzker and the Illinois Department of Public Health to follow all coronavirus guidelines to protect the health and safety of skilled nursing facility residents and staff.
Since our residents are at heightened risk for complications because of their age and underlying health conditions, nursing homes in Illinois are always vigilant in protecting our residents from communicable diseases.
Following the IDPH recommendations, our nursing home employees are being monitored for potential symptoms prior to starting their shifts and encouraged to stay home if they are sick. We have put in place visitor restrictions, with few exceptions, and those allowed to entered will be screened. Finally, we are reinforcing already stringent standards of hand hygiene.
Our residents and staff our always our highest priority and we are steadfast in our commitment to their health and safety.
Attorney General Kwame Raoul today urged Illinois residents to be on alert for possible email and social media scams tied to the COVID-19 outbreak.
Raoul’s office is cautioning Illinois residents about products that are marketed as cures or total preventatives to COVID-19. According to Raoul’s office, individuals should be cautious of any advice or claims being made that certain products can “cure” COVID-19 or prevent the contraction of COVID-19. Products such as chlorine dioxide, hydroxycholroquine, essential oils, silver, elderberry and garlic are being advertised as “cures” for COVID-19. Raoul urges Illinoisans to not purchase any product promoted online on social media or via email that is being touted as a cure to COVID-19.
Raoul also is urging people to be wary of emails claiming to be from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) or other entities claiming to have information about COVID-19, or offering treatments or cures. According to the CDC, there is no vaccine to protect against COVID-19 and no medications approved to treat it. Attorney General Raoul encourages Illinoisans to delete emails promoting treatments or cures and report the correspondence to the Attorney General’s office.
“According to the CDC, there is currently no known treatment for COVID-19. People should be aware that any email or website offering a ‘cure’ is a scam that should be avoided,” Raoul said. “I encourage Illinois residents to delete any email offer, and do not pay for any alleged COVID-19 ‘cure’ or ‘treatment.’ People should instead follow the guidance of expert agencies such as the Illinois Department of Public Health, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, or the World Health Organization, and report COVID-19 scams to the Attorney General’s office.” […]
Attorney General Raoul is also encouraging people to exercise caution when donating to charitable causes connected to the COVID-19 outbreak.
* The Question: Have you seen any of these scams online or had to talk a friend or family member out of falling for them? If so, tell us about it.
Attached is a summary of the results of a statewide poll CHANGE Illinois commissioned which found that an overwhelming 75 percent of voters support the creation of an independent commission to draw political maps.
The poll of 603 likely Illinois voters was conducted by Fako Research and Margin of Era Opinion Research.
The poll also found voters strongly agree — 74 percent — that Gov. J.B. Pritzker should work to help push for getting a question about the creation of such a commission on the November general election ballot.
Additionally, survey results show that in our current polarized political environment, a third of likely voters would have a more favorable view of the Governor if he were to actively engage in pushing for the question to be placed on the November ballot.
The poll has a margin of error of +/- 3.99 percent.
CHANGE Illinois leads a coalition of 30 diverse organizations statewide that support the Fair Maps Amendment.
Please also find attached a collection of some of the governor’s actions and statements supporting an independent redistricting commission during his campaign and since taking office.
The poll results have been shared with the Governor’s office. We have asked to meet with the Governor to persuade him to fulfill his previous pledges and statements and to help us actively advocate for votes on the Fair Maps Amendment.
The executive summary is here. And click here for collected Pritzker statements on the topic.
The poll was conducted over a month ago, February 4-6. Mobile phone users accounted for 67 percent of weighted respondents.
* Fako is the goods, so I give his results some credence. According to this poll, Pritzker could use the boost that would come from backing Fair Maps…
JB Pritzker
Substantive Recognition: 95%
Rated Positively: 39% (14% Very Positive)
Rated Neutral: 19%
Rated Negatively: 36% (25% Very Negative)
The Governor is universally known. His most favorable ratings arrive out of Chicago (58% Total Positive, 22% Very Positive) and Suburban Cook County (46%, 11%). Pritzker is rated more critically in Southern Illinois (54% Total Negative, 43% Very Negative) and Northern Illinois (47%, 34%).
The State’s Independent voters are net negative about Pritzker (29% Total Positive to 39% Total Negative), with Independent men being more critical of the Governor than Independent Women.
Donald Trump
Substantive Recognition: 99%
Rated Positively: 38% (29% Very Positive)
Rated Neutral: 5%
Rated Negatively: 56% (51% Very Negative)
Donald Trump is universally recognized . His ratings are significantly more positive in Southern (56% Total Positive) and Northern (52%) Illinois. His most negative ratings arrive from Chicago (83% Total Negative) and Suburban Cook County (64%).
Trump’s ratings diverge by gender, with men being more positive about him (46% Total Positive, 37% Very Positive) and women more negative about him (66% Total Negative, 60% Very Negative).
The State’s Independent voters are net negative on Trump (31% Total Positive to 57% Total Negative).
Whew, those southern Illinois numbers are bad for the governor.
The amendment plan recently introduced in the state Senate by Sen. Melissa Bush, D-Grayslake, has picked up 31 sponsors, enough to pass if it’s called for a vote. Identical language has been introduced in the House.
But Doubek conceded that the Senate’s new president, Don Harmon, has not promised to bring the matter up for a vote and has not yet agreed to meet with her group.
Harmon’s spokesman said the request is “under review.” […]
Doubek said she’s been seeking a meeting with the governor since last fall but has heard nothing. Pritzker “isn’t living up to his promises and pledges,” she said, a remark that may not help her secure that meeting.
Um, 31 is not 36, which is the actual number required to pass the Senate.
And Greg’s probably right about that meeting. As I wrote recently in Crain’s, the activists need to remember they’re trying to pass legislation, not agitating on a street corner.
“I am very concerned about many people who either have to self-isolate, or have become ill and who have to take lots of time off work. Fourteen days is a long time for many people who live paycheck-to-paycheck,” he said.
* Employee memo today from the Illinois Department of Public Health, which is overseeing the state’s COVID-19 response. Click the pic for a larger image…
That’s gonna do wonders for employee morale. /s
*** UPDATE *** Governor’s office responding to HR director’s email…
That email is not an appropriate, correct version of policies and it will be clarified for employees today.
I’m told the actual policies were outlined in a memo last week where employees who were experiencing symptoms or are quarantined can take advance sick time. “We’ve been working with the unions and various state agencies,” on setting up policies.
The plaintiff whose 2018 case led to a Supreme Court ruling that mandatory public union agency fees for nonmembers were unconstitutional is now asking the high court to force the union that represented him to return a portion of the money it collected before that decision.
In this most recent case, Janus v. AFSCME III, plaintiff Mark Janus is asking for the union to pay back fees it took from his paycheck before the landmark ruling in his 2018 case. He claims that the Supreme Court’s ruling should be retroactive, echoing other claims that have been made in federal court, including a sweeping class action that was filed in California last year. […]
“Mark Janus is just one of many public employees whose money was illegally taken by government unions,” said Patrick Hughes, Liberty Justice Center president and co-founder. Liberty Justice Center is the other group working on Janus’ case. […]
“The Supreme Court agreed that the union taking money from nonmembers was wrong but the union still has the money it illegally garnished from my paycheck,” Janus said in a press release through the National Right to Work Legal Defense Foundation, one of the organizations handling his case. […]
“Until [the Janus decision] said otherwise, AFSCME had a legal right to receive and spend fair-share fees collected from nonmembers as long as it complied with state law … It did not demonstrate bad faith when it followed these rules,” the Seventh Circuit said in its opinion.
* Response…
AFSCME General Counsel Judith Rivlin: “Working people have won every single case thrown at them by these special interest groups, and if judges continue to weigh these cases on the facts and merits, the corporate interests behind them will continue to fail in their efforts to further rig the system in their favor.”
AFSCME Council 31 Executive Director Roberta Lynch: “Courts have repeatedly ruled in this and similar cases that in setting fees for representation provided to non-members, the unions involved acted in good faith based on a US Supreme Court ruling in place since 1977 and repeatedly affirmed in the ensuing decades. Mark Janus received wage increases, health insurance coverage, vacation time and other benefits that AFSCME negotiated during his tenure in state government. He never once failed to accept such improvements in his working conditions, nor did he ever object to paying the related fees—until he became the plaintiff in Bruce Rauner’s court case against AFSCME. This prolonged litigation is nothing but another political attack on working people, and on Janus’s part, a greedy grab for more.”
In a $30 billion deal, Aon is buying Willis Towers Watson, a rival in business insurance and risk consulting, but it raises one question in the mind of most Chicagoans: What will happen to the Willis Tower name now that we’ve gotten used to calling it that?
The deal between the two London-based companies was announced Monday. Executives said the combined operation will use the Aon name, not Willis.
As for the name on Chicago’s 110-story tower, Aon wouldn’t comment. A Willis Tower Watson spokesman did not reply to an email. An executive at Willis Tower — that’s the building, not the insurance company — wouldn’t comment, said a spokesman.
The former Sears Tower was rechristened in 2009 in a move that outraged some Chicagoans and even tenants of the building. The naming rights deal, arranged by what was then called Willis Group Holdings, reportedly expires in 2025.
Roeder goes on to speculate that tenant United Airlines might bid for naming rights.
* Victory Research (Rod McCulloch) poll of 1,000 likely voters in the Democratic primary for Illinois Supreme Court. Sun-Times…
Statistically tied for first place were Appellate Court Justice Sheldon “Shelly” Harris, with 15.2%, lawyer Daniel Epstein — whose campaign commissioned the poll —with 12.9% and Appellate Court Justice Jesse Reyes with 12.1%.
Harris and Epstein are white. If he is elected, Reyes would the first Hispanic justice on the state’s top court.
Appellate Court Justice Margaret Stanton McBride, who is also white, came next with 11.2%, followed by state Supreme Court Justice P. Scott Neville Jr., an African American jurist who was appointed to Freeman’s seat, with 9.5%. Both McBride and Neville were also within the margin of error for first place.
Just a few percentage points behind were the other two African American candidates —Appellate Court Justices Nathaniel Howse Jr. and Cynthia Cobbs, with 8.1% and 6.1%, respectively.
MoE of +/- 3.1 percent. No disclosure in the story if this was a robocall to landlines or if it included mobile phones. 25 percent were undecided.
Two polls conducted this past weekend show Illinois Democratic voters are all-in for Joe Biden and that if “undecided isn’t an option” for voters in the Cook County State’s Attorney race, they’d stick with incumbent Kim Foxx, who still falls short of a majority. […]
Ogden & Fry surveyed 466 voters for the state’s attorney poll, which has a margin of error of plus of 4.63 percent.
Primary candidates with multiple opponents don’t need a majority to win. Also, as with the other poll, there is no disclosure about whether this was conducted on ancient and increasingly rare landlines or whether it included mobile phone responses.
Boston’s historic and beloved St. Patrick’s Day Parade and the political breakfast that precedes it have both been canceled due to fears of spreading coronavirus at mass events.
“In collaboration with Congressman (Stephen) Lynch, Councilors (Michael) Flaherty and (Ed) Flynn, Senator (Nick) Collins, Representative (David) Biele, and David Falvey from the South Boston Allied War Veterans Council, the St. Patrick’s Day Parade is being canceled,” Mayor Martin Walsh announced in a statement Monday, just six days before the parade was due to step off on Sunday. “This decision is being made out of an abundance of caution to ensure that we are doing what is needed to keep the residents of Boston safe and healthy.”
Both Walsh and Gov. Charlie Baker — who is cutting short a Utah ski trip to return to the state — had resisted canceling events for weeks, and there was no word Monday on whether the Boston Marathon set for mid-April will go ahead. Several other major races worldwide have been scaled back or canceled.
The St. Pat’s decision came as the number of presumptive coronavirus cases in Massachusetts jumped to 41 cases on Monday, essentially doubling over Saturday night and then again Sunday night. The virus has sickened more than 100,000 worldwide and killed thousands prompting cancellations of the St. Patrick’s Day parades in Ireland’s two biggest cities of Dublin and Cork, according to reports.
Students will be asked not to return to Harvard University after spring break and instead continue classes remotely, according to an announcement Tuesday morning.
The decision was announced in an email this morning by Harvard University President Lawrence S. Bacow.
The coronavirus toll linked to a Biogen management meeting in Boston has now jumped to 32 people infected in Massachusetts — with an investment bank in New York City alerting hundreds more about the viral risk.
Cambridge-based Biogen confirmed Monday they have warned both Manhattan investment bank Cowen & Co. and Boston’s State Room venue about company managers who have COVID-19 who may have come in contact with others.
About 175 Biogen managers coming from all over the world — “Yes, from Italy,” a company spokesman confirmed — gathered for a major meeting of the biotech giant held at the Boston Marriott Long Wharf hotel Feb. 26-27. Italy, at that time, was beginning to see the virus spread.
Chicago is also known for its conventions, its numerous institutions of higher learning and its St. Patrick’s Day celebrations.
Even as Boston canceled its St. Patrick’s Day parade, Ireland announced festivities across the island would be halted to try to curtail the spread of the COVID-19 virus and Gov. J.B. Pritzker issued a disaster proclamation for Illinois because of the disease, Chicago officials said Monday they currently have no plans to call off the two major mid-March parades that draw massive crowds of revelers downtown and to the Southwest Side.
The city’s official parade is set to kick off at noon Saturday. The South Side Irish Parade takes place on Sunday along Western Avenue in the Far Southwest Side Beverly neighborhood. Each can draw crowds well into the hundreds of thousands if the weather’s nice. […]
“While there are currently no plans to cancel St. Patrick’s Day activities or other large events planned at this time, the City of Chicago is actively monitoring conditions and will recommend additional strategies as needed to prevent the spread of the virus,” Stratton said in a statement. “We continue to refine our citywide COVID-19 response plan in consultation with partners at the CDC, IDPH, CDPH as well as the parade organizers to ensure an operational plan is in place to protect the health and safety of our residents and visitors.”
Asked whether there’s talk of halting the South Side parade, Ald. Matt O’Shea, 19th, responded: “Absolutely not! The 42nd annual South Side Irish St. Patrick’s Day Parade will step off on Sunday March 15th at 12 p.m. #WashYourHands.”
The Department of Public Health shall investigate the causes of dangerously contagious or infectious diseases, especially when existing in epidemic form, and take means to restrict and suppress the same, and whenever such disease becomes, or threatens to become epidemic, in any locality and the local board of health or local authorities neglect or refuse to enforce efficient measures for its restriction or suppression or to act with sufficient promptness or efficiency, or whenever the local board of health or local authorities neglect or refuse to promptly enforce efficient measures for the restriction or suppression of dangerously contagious or infectious diseases, the Department of Public Health may enforce such measures as it deems necessary to protect the public health, and all necessary expenses so incurred shall be paid by the locality for which services are rendered.
I didn’t realize until last night that Illinois had such strong epidemic laws. IDPH could shut down the parades if Mayor Lightfoot refuses to pull their permits.
When the influenza epidemic of 1918 infected a quarter of the U.S. population, killing tens of millions of people, seemingly small choices made the difference between life and death.
As the disease was spreading, Wilmer Krusen, Philadelphia’s health commissioner, allowed a huge parade to take place on September 28th; some 200,000 people marched. In the following days and weeks, the bodies piled up in the city’s morgues. By the end of the season, 12,000 residents had died.
In St. Louis, a public health commissioner named Max Starkloff decided to shut the city down. Ignoring the objections of influential businessmen, he closed the city’s schools, bars, cinemas, and sporting events. Thanks to his bold and unpopular actions, the per capita fatality rate in St. Louis was half that of Philadelphia. (In total roughly 1,700 people died from influenza in St Louis.)
In the coming days, thousands of people across the country will face the choice between becoming a Wilmer Krusen or a Max Starkloff.
Your thoughts?
*** UPDATE *** Hmm…
NEW: After teleconference with city and parade organizers this morning,sources say: #SouthsideIrishParade: “Parade is still on as of now. Will make a decision by Friday if things get worse.” (Not 💯 if that’s the case for downtown parade, but likely)
