Capitol Fax.com - Your Illinois News Radar

Apparently, it’s now the young’s turn in the COVID barrel

Thursday, Oct 8, 2020 - Posted by Rich Miller

Darrel Hickox, a member of the Jasper County Board, disputed the numbers from state public health officials, contending that “nobody” in Jasper County has died from the coronavirus.

He said that members of the media who report on the pandemic are “socialists, liberals and communists.”

“There has been some coronavirus here, but they was dying anyway,” Hickox said.

* Wired…

Common sense! https://t.co/YIXbzMUmVB

— Rep. Allen Skillicorn (@allenskillicorn) October 8, 2020

…Adding… OneMan points out in comments that using just a 40 percent “herd immunity” (which is on the extreme low end of projections) would result in 57,591 additional deaths [updated number].

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Another day, another failed lawsuit

Thursday, Oct 8, 2020 - Posted by Rich Miller

* WTTW…

The possibility for high school students to play all fall sports is again at a standstill.

On Thursday, a DuPage County judge denied a request for a temporary restraining order against the Illinois High School Association that could have allowed more fall sports to be played.

The class action lawsuit, brought on by a group of student-athletes and their parents, was dismissed Monday morning.

* Meanwhile…

Orland Park has dropped a federal lawsuit against Gov. J.B. Pritzker challenging restrictions put in place in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, according to court filings.

The village and other plaintiffs in the case had initially filed the complaint in mid-June, and last month told the judge overseeing the case it planned to file an amended lawsuit by this Thursday.

The short document filed Tuesday did not give an explanation why the village decided to voluntarily dismiss the lawsuit.

…Adding… If past is prologue, these plaintiffs are likely heading for the same conclusion…

Three more DeKalb County restaurant owners are joining in on a lawsuit filed against Gov. JB Pritzker and the Illinois Department of Public Health alleging “unfair” regional mitigations due to COVID-19 resurgences.

Karlsbad Tavern & Grill, 413 W. Main St. in Genoa, Uncle Milty’s Pizza Place, 131 W. Market St. in Somonauk, and Rambo’s Bar & Grill, 140 W. Market St. in Somonauk joined seven other businesses owners across the county suing the the governor and IDPH Director Ngozi Ezike, according to their lawyer, Bradley Melzer, of Sycamore-based Cronauer Law Thursday.

The update comes a week after seven business owners announced they’re suing to appeal to public health officials to designate consequences of COVID-19 resurgences on a county by county basis, not regionally. They’re arguing that the metrics used to designate mitigations — including a positivty rate threshold of 8% — is unfairly skewed because of higher rates in Winnebago and surrounding counties.

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*** UPDATED x1 *** Wilson, spokesperson test positive

Thursday, Oct 8, 2020 - Posted by Rich Miller

* NBC 5…

U.S. Senate candidate Dr. Willie Wilson and his campaign spokesman have tested positive for coronavirus, his campaign confirmed Thursday.

Wilson and spokesman Scott Winslow both tested positive and the rest of his campaign is now being tested, Winslow said Thursday morning.

Wilson is running under the “Willie Wilson Party” against incumbent U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin, a Democrat, and four other candidates.

It remains unclear how Wilson may have contracted the virus or how severe his symptoms are.

…Adding… Meanwhile…

The real victory for Wilson will be if he can get 5 percent of the vote, which would make his Willie Wilson Party a permanent fixture on Illinois ballots, just as the Green and Libertarian parties have.

Scoring 5+ percent does not give parties permanent ballot spots. The Green and Libertarian parties are on the ballot this year because of the coronavirus and a federal judge’s munificence.

*** UPDATE *** From the candidate…

I recently tested positive for COVID-19. Like so many of my fellow Americans, I am not immune from COVID-19. This is a disease that does not discriminate. Since the beginning of this pandemic I have distributed more than 40 million face masks to first responders, senior citizens, churches and individuals.

While we have taken precautions by wearing face masks and social distancing this disease is highly contagious. I join the ranks of the more than 7 million people in America that have tested positive for Coronavirus.

I am experiencing mild symptoms at this time. However, I am confident that we will beat COVID-19. I have begun the 10-day quarantine and will bounce back from this stronger than before. I am suspending all in person campaigning for the United States Senate the next 10 days while I quarantine. I thank God for great doctors and first responders that care for all of us.

I am praying for all of those impacted by COVID-19 in Illinois and our country at this time. I believe in America and our ability to overcome COVID-19.