An alarming news report revealed that Governor JB Pritzker released two murderers early from prison, both who murdered their young children. These tragedies, coupled with Pritzker’s sweeping changes to criminal justice reform, have diminished public safety in Illinois. As a tough on crime former prosecutor, Richard Irvin responded:
“He’s paroled people early. He paroled a man early that beat his 6-year-old child to death,” Irvin said.
Downstater Kwayera Jackson beat his 5-month-old son to death in 1998, later telling a court he considered it “strength training” for the child.
Alma Durr, of Calumet City, shot her 21-month-old son with a .357 revolver, later blaming “stress.”
Pritzker has quietly commuted 17 sentences since 2020, including 7 violent offenders.
A spokeswoman for the governor said Pritzker follows closely the recommendations of the state prisoner review board, which remain confidential. Her written statements said:
“Alma Durr served 24 years … both prosecutors and her adult daughter supported her clemency petition.”
“Kwayera Jackson served 21 years. According to publicly available files, he was 18-years-old at the time of the crime and had no criminal history.”
A spokeswoman for Gov. Pritzker’s campaign said it is Irvin, in his private law practice, who has attempted to free notorious criminals accused of offenses such as domestic abuse and drug dealing.
* And then I received this oppo dump about some of Irvin’s clients…
ROBERT BOOKER
Booker Punched His Girlfriend In The Throat And Pushed Her Head Into The Wall. “[Robert Booker] knowingly caused bodily harm to Elizabeth Medina, the girlfriend of the defendant, in that said defendant pushed her head into the wall and struck her in the throat with a closed fist, causing visible signs of distress and difficulty swallowing.” [People of the State of Illinois v Robert Booker, Count 2, 2/27/17]
Booker Beat Male Victim With A Mop. “Robert L. Booker, while committing a battery… knowingly caused great bodily harm to Jonathan C. Rodarte, in that he struck Jonathan in the head several times with the handle of a mop, causing the mop to break and Jonathan to briefly lose consciousness. Jonathan was admitted to Presence Mercy Hospital with signs of a concussion, chipped teeth, and facial lacerations.” [People of the State of Illinois v Robert Booker, Count 1, 2/27/17]
ANDREW SADLER
Sadler Strangled His Girlfriend. “[Andrew Sadler] knowingly caused bodily harm to Christina Aguilar an intimate partner and household member of the defendant as defined by The Illinois Domestic Violence Act, in that he intentionally strangled Christina Aguilar about the neck area by applying pressure on the throat or neck of Christina Aguilar thereby impeding the normal breathing of Christina Aguilar.” [People of the State of Illinois v Andrew Sadler, Count 1, 12/29/16]
Sadler Strangled And Put Pillow Over His Girlfriend’s Face. “[Andrew Sadler] knowingly caused bodily harm to Christina Aguilar, an intimate partner and household member of the defendant, in that said defendant tackled, strangled and placed a pillow over Christina Aguilar’s face preventing her from breathing normally.” [People of the State of Illinois v Andrew Sadler, Count 2, 12/29/16]
Sadler Choked His Girlfriend And Put Pillow Over Her Face. “[Andrew Sadler] knowingly made physical contact of an insulting nature with Christina Aguilar, an intimate partner and household member of the defendant, in that said defendant tackled, choked and placed a pillow over Christina Aguilar’s face preventing her from breathing normally.” [People of the State of Illinois v Andrew Sadler, Count 3, 12/29/16]
Sadler Took His Girlfriend’s Phones To Stop Her From Calling 911. “[Andrew Sadler] knowingly took Christina Aguilar’s (an intimate partner and household member of the defendant) phones and hid them preventing her from calling 911 to report domestic violence.” [People of the State of Illinois v Andrew Sadler, Count 4, 12/29/16]
Sadler “Strangled Her, Slammed Her Body To The Floor.” “[Andrew Sadler] knowingly caused bodily harm to Christin Aguilar, a family or household member of the defendant, in that the defendant tackled her to the floor, strangled her, slammed her body to the floor, and placed a pillow over her face.” [People of the State of Illinois v Andrew Sadler, Count 2, 1/25/17]
SKYLER ELLIS
Ellis “Punched And Hit” Victim In The Face. “[Skyler Ellis] knowingly caused bodily harm to Jalen R Ellis, a family or household member of the defendant, in that said defendant punched and hit Jalen R Ellis in and about the face.” [People of the State of Illinois v Skyler Ellis, Count 1, 1/21/17]
ALEXANDER NUNEZ
Nunez “Kicked” Police Officer On The Face And Shoulder. “[Alexander Nunez] knowingly caused bodily harm to Ofc. Shettles in that he kicked OFC Shettles on the left shoulder and left side of the face, knowing said victim to be a peace officer, while performing his official duties.” [People of the State of Illinois v Alexander Nunez, Count 1, 7/5/16]
Nunez Punched Victim In The Face. “[Alexander Nunez] knowingly caused bodily harm to Moenkemier, Michal J, a family or household member of the defendant, in that said defendant punch Michael in the face with a closed fist.” [People of the State of Illinois v Alexander Nunez, Count 3, 7/5/16]
* Greg Hinz pressed Irvin on this topic the other day…
Irvin defended his work as the name partner in a family and criminal defense law firm. According to the firm’s website, it represents, among others, people accused of heroin possession, domestic battery and parents who are in danger of losing their children to state custody because of alleged abuse.
“Listen to me,” Irvin said. Under the U.S. Constitution, a bedrock of our institutions, “every person (is) innocent until proven guilty. I represent the Constitution, but I was also a prosecutor.”
Why, though, do you choose to represent these people? “My job always is to represent the Constitution of the United States of America and Illinois, and that’s exactly what I do: ensure they have due process,” he replied.
…Adding… I should’ve posted this ILGOP release here as well…
Pritzker says he supports police by attending their funerals
Last week, reporters asked Gov. JB Pritzker whether he felt responsible for rising crime in Illinois and for the brutal deaths of police officers since his anti-police, pro-criminal legislation became law.
“I attend the funerals of police officers. I talk to family members in the wake of the deaths of their loved one who was a first responder,” Pritzker said. “So, no one needs to tell me about the seriousness of the attack that has taken place on a police officer because I feel it, I talk to those people, unfortunately, too regularly. But it’s also one of the important duties of being governor.”
How outrageous and disgusting. JB Pritzker signs the most anti-police legislation in Illinois history while his Prisoner Review Board lets cop-killers out of prison early – and his response to skyrocketing crime and the murders of police officers is to brag about attending the funerals of police officers?
“Governor Pritzker is responsible for the rise of crime in Illinois and to deflect criticism by bragging about his attendance at police funerals is absolutely reprehensible,” ILGOP Chairman Don Tracy said. “Pritzker thinks attending police funerals is one of the important duties of being governor. Well Governor, do you know what’s more important? Supporting police in jailing violent criminals so no one has to attend another funeral. The Governor turned his back on law enforcement and the law-abiding public by signing that anti-police, pro-criminal legislation.”
Democratic Gov. J.B. Pritzker on Friday defended his support for sweeping criminal justice reforms he signed into law last year and dismissed GOP candidate Richard Irvin’s accusation that it played a role in law enforcement officer deaths as unfounded political exaggeration.
“Richard Irvin is exaggerating because he doesn’t really understand the law. It seems like if you’re running for governor, you ought to understand the law. The law that he’s referring to is one that mostly doesn’t go into effect until next year,” Pritzker said of Irvin, the mayor of Aurora and one of five Republicans running for governor.
“He also misunderstands what that law is about. It would keep people in prison who could otherwise afford to get out of prison. These could be very violent criminals. And it allows people who are nonviolent criminals who may be in jail for a petty offense, and just don’t have $100, to get themselves out of jail,” the first-term governor said.
Leadership in times like these does not dance idly wherever the wind might blow. Leadership in times like these means having the courage to stand on deck while the waves crash around you and you keep the ship pointing toward home.
The din of a crisis is when a carnival barker’s shout becomes a whisper soft enough to find the ears of the sick or worried or grieving or scared…and the poison they worm into the hearts of the vulnerable is that it’s “those people” …the ones who live in that city, the ones who worship at that altar, the ones who were born in that place…who are responsible for the hard times.
It’s a playbook as old as the play. And it’s that kind of thinking I am asking you to reject in this moment.
* Dave Dahl followed up with some real life carneys…
“I’d like to correct the governor, if I may. They’ve always been referred to in the profession as talkers,” said Lee Stevens, past president of the International Independent Showmen’s Association. “Not barkers.”
Adding her voice to the chorus to defend the honor of circus performers and carnival workers is Amancay Kugler of Chicago. She uses the lyra – a hoop strung high in the air, not unlike a trapeze.
Kugler says Pritzker is not the first, nor will he be the last, to try to smear someone with the performers’ good name. “Even (then-President Barack) Obama in 2011 referred to Donald Trump as a carnival barker, which was very distressing for real carnival workers,” she said with a laugh, “to be compared to that man.” […]
“Clowns are very hardworking people,” she said after a pause. “Honestly, I’ve done clowning workshops. It was the hardest thing I’ve ever done, and I routinely hang from one elbow twenty feet in the air.”
In other words, calling a politician a clown is offensive – to clowns.
Heh.
I asked about this over the weekend and was half-jokingly told by a top Pritzker official that they had already decided to move on from “carnival barkers” to “spelunkers of misery”…
Contrary to those folks who spend their time orbiting Illinois politics just spelunking for misery, our state has a lot to be proud of.
On a related note, Pritzker’s press secretary yesterday made her own contribution to excellence in journalism by introducing a new Twitter hashtag to use on critics — #spelunkingformisery. That’s from Jordan Abudayyeh, who was the first appointment to the task force.
What the hell does spelunkingformisery mean, you ask? Well in his Wednesday State of the State speech Pritzker expanded on the usual “carnival barkers” label he uses on us critics. We are “folks who spend their time orbiting Illinois politics just spelunking for misery,” he said. Abudayyeh’s colleagues apparently were impressed with her creativity. Christian Mitchell and Andy Manar, both deputy governors, began using the hashtag.
Now, I happen to know some actual spelunkers. They are swell people. I can’t imagine the pain they must feel seeing spelunking used as part of an insult. So, on their behalf, I hereby demand addition to the Local Journalism Task Force of one member of the Illinois Spelunkers Association.
That piece was probably the wittiest thing the pointy wires guy has ever written.
…Adding… The BGA’S David Greising has been eagerly inviting Illinoisans into Ken Griffin’s anti-tax carnival tent for years and is a noted misery spelunker, yet professes ignorance and throws in what looks like a fat joke in his own op-ed…
Such truths, he claimed, were not seen by “those folks who spend their time orbiting Illinois politics just spelunking for misery.”
I’m not sure who those people are, or what caves they crawled out of. But they must have spurned deep-fried Twinkies at the state fair to get Pritzker so ticked.
I’d say that was clownish behavior on Greising’s part, but I’ve taken Ms. Kugler’s comments to heart. /s
February 7, 2022
Leader Jim Durkin
316 State House
Springfield, Illinois 62706
Leader Durkin,
I was recently asked in a public radio interview if I was worried about the future of our democracy. While I truly believe our great American experiment will prevail, I am growing increasingly worried about the incivility and disrespect that has become near commonplace in political discourse.
Less than 5 hours after I answered that question about our democracy, another one of our Democratic colleagues was forced to close her office due to repeated death threats against her and her family after a radical and dangerous disinformation campaign seized on yet another chance to further divide our citizens. The situation was made worse when a member of your Republican caucus issued a statement fanning the flames of this vitriol with the same inaccurate information. I sincerely hope the representative is merely misinformed, in which I will call on you to set the record straight, because purposefully mischaracterizing the intentions of our colleagues for political gain must stop. If we are to restore public trust and faith in government, we must do it together with honesty, decency and respect for one another.
At least four of our Democratic colleagues have received threats against their lives, their loved ones or their place of worship in recent months. I know your caucus is no stranger to this unacceptable behavior, as we witnessed those who voted to end the Rauner budget impasse suffer a similar fate. We also saw this on full display at the national level when Republican Congressman Adam Kinzinger was not only censured by his party for rightfully holding former President Donald Trump accountable for a deadly insurrection on our U.S. Capitol, but was also shunned by his family and met with hostility from far-right constituents. We’ve all watched this intolerant partisanship worsen each year poisoning our politics, and it is now seeping into the crevasses of our daily lives.
I write to you not to blame a single ideology or political party; we all share responsibility to ensure civility remains in our politics. But, it is time we take an active role in finding and being a part of the solution. If we are to restore common courtesy and civil disagreements that the very fabric of our democracy relies upon, it must start with us as leaders.
I say often, Illinois’ great strength is our diversity. But, it’s our unity that helps us forge a brighter path for tomorrow. I hope you can work with me to help heal our increasingly divided state by standing firm for our democratic values and always operating with mutual respect for all people. There are times when we will fundamentally disagree, but it’s our right and our responsibility to find solutions, areas of compromise and a common purpose in government.
Let’s make a conscious effort to bring civility back to Springfield. I hope you’ll join me. Sincerely,
Emanuel “Chris” Welch
Speaker of the House
I have asked Leader Durkin’s spokesperson for a response.
*** UPDATE *** Leader Durkin’s response…
February 7, 2022
House Speaker Emanuel Chris Welch
Room 300 Illinois State Capitol
Springfield, IL 62706
Speaker Welch,
As I reflect on the state of politics today, I firmly believe we are a better General Assembly and a better state when respectful voices are heard. As elected officials, we all share a great passion for the direction of Illinois, but when words and actions cross the line from disagreement to threats, I will always speak up as I have done on this issue. No one in a free society should ever be tolerant of threats.
I am not immune to the constant barrage of threats and harassment, nor are members of my caucus, but we can never let the fringe elements that neither party is immune from control the narrative. In an effort to be part of the solution, I encourage you to allow the voices of the minority party to be heard and not continue to be disregarded. Cooperation and civility is a two-way street. I will always commit to intellectual integrity, honesty and fair play – a better approach.
Smash-and-grab organized retail theft has clobbered stores throughout the Chicago area—and new draft legislation designed to crack down on it, to be unveiled later today, appears to have a pretty good head of steam behind it.
At a mid-morning press conference, the Illinois Retail Merchants Association and Attorney General Kwame Raoul are scheduled to talk about a pending package that would create a new criminal offense—organized retail crime—and make it much easier for prosecutors to pursue cases of so-called flash mob theft.
The agreement in principle has not yet been filed as an actual bill, but according to IRMA chief Rob Karr has received “very positive feedback” from legislative leaders in private briefings in recent days. “I’m optimistic about getting their support,” Karr told me in a phone call.
* Press release…
With organized retail crime plaguing neighborhoods across Chicago and communities throughout the state, the Illinois Retail Merchants Association in partnership with Attorney General Kwame Raoul today announced a sweeping proposal to combat these criminal rings, prevent illicit trade and provide retailers additional tools to protect the safety of employees and customers.
The proposal represents one of the most comprehensive efforts in the nation to combat organized retail crime by addressing the problem from multiple angles. This includes providing prosecutors with more tools to hold criminals accountable, dedicating state funds to investigate and prosecute the criminal rings carrying out these brazen thefts, requiring more oversight of third-party marketplaces where stolen goods are sold, stronger rights for victims of organized retail crime and the creation of statewide intelligence gathering and sharing platform to allow retailers and law enforcement agencies to better coordinate.
“The impact of organized retail crime reaches far and wide, threatening the safety of employees and customers and putting our communities at risk of further crime including illegal firearm purchases, human trafficking and even terrorism,” said Rob Karr, president & CEO, IRMA. “We are proud to stand with Attorney General Raoul to propose real changes that will aid retailers, protect our employees and consumers and provide for safer communities across the state. We look forward to working with the leaders and legislators in the House and Senate to implement these important changes.”
The proposal calls for the creation of the Organized Retail Crime Act, providing the emphasis and focus required to combat this dangerous form of retail theft, which is usually performed by criminal groups with the goal of reselling stolen items to fund illicit activities. Those participating in smash and grab robberies as well as the looting of supply chain vehicles could be prosecuted for organized retail crime. Prosecutors would be given wider discretion to bring charges regardless of where the crime takes place. For instance, if the conspiracy, theft, and selling all occurred in different jurisdictions, each jurisdiction would have the ability to prosecute the whole crime.
In addition, those participating in organized retail crime could be prosecuted by the Attorney General via the Statewide Grand Jury. This would give law enforcement officials another avenue by which to hold leaders of criminal rings accountable. Further, victims of organized retail crime must be given at least seven days’ notice of all court proceedings, which must be sent to the establishment where the crime occurred as well as any persons the victims designate.
To support these efforts, the proposal calls for earmarking state funds on an annual basis to create new positions in the Attorney General’s office and various State’s Attorneys offices across the state solely dedicated to investigating and prosecuting retail theft and illicit trade. To qualify for funding, officials must agree to prosecute offenders and seek state-imposed penalties, as well as meet annual reporting requirements that includes but is not limited to information about arrest and conviction rates, sentencing information and value of goods recovered.
“We cannot make the mistake of looking at organized retail crimes as being isolated events if we are to fully address the problem,” said Attorney General Kwame Raoul. “I established an Organized Retail Crime Task Force because collaborations between law enforcement, the retail industry and government are critical to interrupting the criminal enterprise behind these crimes, which are frequently connected to drug and human trafficking. I appreciate the partnership of the Illinois Retail Merchants Association as we continue working to protect communities from organized retail crime and the criminal organizations behind it.”
The proposal builds on the work of the Attorney General’s Organized Retail Crime Task Force, which is designed to investigate these crimes and trace them to their source. In December, the task force and the Chicago Police Department Force recovered stolen good worth millions of dollars during a sting operation. IRMA also works with the United to Safeguard American from Illicit Trade (USA-IT) Coalition, which aims to address organized retail crime at the national level.
Increasingly, goods stolen during the execution of organized retail crime are often sold on third party electronic marketplaces. The proposal would require these online marketplaces to verify the identity of high-volume sellers using bank account numbers, taxpayer IDs or other information. Those sellers would be required to provide valid contact information, and marketplaces would be required to suspend the activity of third-party sellers for non-compliance. This is a vital public safety component as these sales are used to fund illegal activity including drug trade, weapons smuggling, human trafficking and terrorism. The proposal is identical to the agreed proposal being sponsored in Washington, D.C. by U.S. Senator Dick Durbin and Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky.
Organized retail crime has increased 60 percent in the last five years and is carried out by organized criminal rings that steal products and resell them, often online. A recent study by the Retail Industry Leaders Association found that as much as $68.9 billion in products were stolen from retailers nationwide in 2019, with retail crime resulting in $125.7 billion in lost economic activity and 658,375 fewer jobs. It’s estimated that retail theft costs federal and state governments nearly $15 billion in personal and business tax revenues, not including sales tax losses. These are conservative estimates as some jurisdictions discourage organized retail theft complaints and prosecutions.
The online sales thing seems more like a federal issue, but what do you think of it all?
…Adding… Steve Kim campaign…
Attorney General Candidate Steve Kim released the following statement on today’s news.
“JB Pritzker and Kwame Raoul’s anti-law enforcement bill provided an out for criminals who take part in flash mob theft, and now they are trying to cover up for themselves. Crime is out of control in Chicago and across the state. Small and family owned businesses are faced with the fear that they may be the next target, and now those offenders could be back on the street instead of serving time for impacting the livelihoods of business owners and community residents. This one party rule has led to rising crime, economic downturn, and needs to change.”
Students attending one of the 145 schools across Illinois who are part of a sweeping lawsuit won’t have to wear a mask if they don’t want to, unless they’re given due process. Same goes for certain school staff who don’t want to take weekly COVID-19 tests for not being vaccinated. They must also have due process.
In a 30-page ruling late Friday, Sangamon County Circuit Court Judge Raylene Grischow “deemed null and void” the governor’s emergency rules through the Illinois Department of Public Health concerning COVID-19 mitigations for schools.
“The arbitrary method as to contact tracing and masking in general continue to raise fair questions as to the legality of the Executive Orders in light of violations of healthy children’s substantive due process rights,” Grischow wrote. “Statutory rights have attempted to be bypassed through the issuance of Executive Orders and Emergency Rules … This type of evil is exactly what the law was intended to constrain.”
Schools impacted by litigation brought by more than 700 parents and dozens of school staff are temporarily restrained from enforcing Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s COVID-19 mask and vaccine mandates.
Pritzker’s mandates for masks and exclusion policies in schools and vaccines or testing for teachers have been in place since last fall.
The Illinois General Assembly had foresight when it created certain provisions limiting the authority of administrative agencies. When the Legislature created our laws, they did so knowing individuals have a fundamental right to due process when one’s liberty and freedom is taken away by forcing them to do something not otherwise required of all other citizens. Illinois law prohibits ISBE from making policies affecting school districts which have the effect of rules without following the procedures of the IAPA. Absent this statutory provision, ISBE would be able to on impulse, and depending on who held the Executive Branch, mandate whatever it felt necessary in the most arbitrary and capricious manner without having to follow any due process under the IAPA. As for the matters at hand, it is clear IDPH/ISBE were attempting to force local school districts to comply with this guidance without any compliance with rulemaking. This type of evil is exactly what the law was intended to constrain.
Moreover, the Joint Guidance is attempting to cloak the local school districts with the authority to mandate masks and require vaccination or testing without compliance with any due process under the IDPH Act. The Court has already ruled masks are a device intended to stop the spread of an infectious/contagious disease, and thus are a type of quarantine, and vaccination and testing are specifically covered under the IDPH Act, and as such any attempt to circumvent the statutory due process rights of the Plaintiffs by this Joint Guidance is void. Under no circumstances can guidance be issued which violates a statute. […]
The Court is told by the Defendants, should this Court grant relief to the Plaintiffs, the students in the districts, and the public as a whole, will be harmed by the further spread of COVID. While the Defendants offer no direct evidence of such a proposition, attached to their pleadings were affidavits of medical professionals who opined that masking, vaccination or testing, and other mitigations are the best chance of controlling the spread of COVID. It is worth noting the Plaintiffs do not seek any order of this Court dismantling masking, vaccination or testing policies in their totality. Only that due process under the law be afforded to them should they choose to object to being quarantined, which by definition includes masks, as well as being subjected to vaccination or testing. These Plaintiffs are not asking for anything other than what the Legislature said they were entitled. […]
Given the Legislature has changed the law and has chosen not change these relevant provisions, this Court must conclude the laws which have long been in place to protect the competing interests of individual liberty and public health satisfactorily balance these interest in the eyes of the Legislative branch of government. While the Defendants would seemingly ask this Court to second guess the Legislature’s adopted measures to prevent the spread of an infectious disease, which measures include due process of law, it will not do so.
Section 690 of Title 77 of the Illinois Administrative Code has been around since 1977. All State actors and citizens have operated under those set standards up to and including a time period when our State (and Nation) was faced with another highly contagious disease. In 2014, Ebola reared its ugly head and caused a number of public health challenges. As a result, the IDPH passed Emergency Rules that added new definitions for “quarantine, modified” and “quarantine, isolated” and amended the definitions of quarantine and isolation to include those new concepts. The IDPH, at that time, believed exclusion from school, due to a highly infectious or contagious disease (such as Ebola), was a form of quarantine, subject to the due process procedures as found in the IDPH Act. Those emergency amendments noted that IDPH and local health departments needed to have clear authority to monitor and restrict persons who were potentially at risk.
Since 2014 and prior to the recent 2021 Emergency Rules, tests and vaccines were also considered a form of “modified quarantine” because they were a procedures “intended to limit disease transmission.” Under the IDPH Act, individuals had the right to object to these procedures. If they objected, they were afforded due process of law. Likewise, “exclusion from school” was also a form of “modified quarantine” because it was considered a partial limitation on freedom of movement for those who may have been exposed to a contagious disease. At no time did the 2014 emergency amendments take away a person’s due process rights.
On September 17, 2021, under the guise of an emergency, the Emergency Rules deleted or modified these terms and definitions. Subsection (d) was added pertaining to schools and added a new provision which delegated authority to the local school districts to require vaccination, masking, and testing of school personnel, in addition to masking for all students regardless of vaccine status, exclusion from school, and testing for unvaccinated, healthy students who were deemed “close contacts” by the school. The question before this Court is whether the Governor, under his executive authority, can require his agencies to promulgate emergency rules that go beyond what the Legislature intended or without utilizing the legislative branch of government.
1) The IDPH Emergency Rules enacted on September 17, 2021 changing sections 690.10 (Definitions); 690.361(d) (Schools), 690.1380 (Physical Examination; Testing and Collection of Laboratory Specimens), and 690.1385 (Vaccinations, Medications, or Other Treatments) of Title 77 of the Illinois Administrative Code is deemed null and void;
2) ISBE Emergency Rule enacted on September 17, 2021, Part 6, Mandatory Vaccinations for School Personnel is deemed null and void;4
3) Defendants are temporarily restrained from:
a. Enforcement of EO18, EO24, EO25 as they pertain to the issue before the Court and the Emergency Rules issued by the IDPH and ISBE;
b. Ordering school districts require the use of masks for students and teachers who occupy their buildings, if they object, except during the terms of lawful order of quarantine issued from their respective health department, in accordance with the IDPH Act;
c. Ordering school districts to require persons who are both unvaccinated and work in Illinois schools to provide weekly negative results of an approved COVID-19 test or be vaccinated if they object in order to occupy the school building without first providing them due process of law; and
d. Ordering school districts to refuse admittance to their buildings for teachers and students for specified periods of time if the teacher or student is deemed a “close contact” of a confirmed probable COVID-19 case without providing due process to that individual if they object, unless the local health department has deemed the individual a close contact after following the procedures outlined in 20 ILCS 2305 and 77 Ill. Adm. Code 690.1330.
4) This temporary restraining order shall remain in full force and effect pending trial on the merits unless sooner modified or dissolved.
[Footnote] Although this Court denied Plaintiffs’ request for Class Certification in Case No: 2021 -CH-500002, this Court has declared IDPH’s Emergency Rules void. Any non-named Plaintiffs and School Districts throughout this State may govern themselves accordingly.
So, the judge believes that her TRO applies statewide?
*** UPDATE 1 *** Press release…
Governor Pritzker has asked the Illinois Attorney General’s office for an immediate appeal of Judge Grischow’s decision to restrain the State from enforcing the safety measures aimed at protecting teachers, school personnel, students and communities from COVID-19.
The Attorney General is seeking an expedited appeal from the Fourth District Illinois Appellate Court.
“The grave consequence of this misguided decision is that schools in these districts no longer have sufficient tools to keep students and staff safe while COVID-19 continues to threaten our communities – and this may force schools to go remote,” said Governor JB Pritzker. “This shows yet again that the mask mandate and school exclusion protocols are essential tools to keep schools open and everyone safe. As we have from the beginning of the pandemic, the administration will keep working to ensure every Illinoisan has the tools needed to keep themselves and their loved ones safe.”
“We remain committed to defending Gov. Pritzker’s actions to mitigate the spread of COVID-19 and will appeal this decision in the Illinois Appellate Court for the 4th District in Springfield,” said Attorney General Kwame Raoul. “This decision sends the message that all students do not have the same right to safely access schools and classrooms in Illinois, particularly if they have disabilities or other health concerns. The court’s misguided decision is wrong on the law, demonstrates a misunderstanding of Illinois emergency injunction proceedings and has no relation to the record that was before the court. It prioritizes a relatively small group of plaintiffs who refuse to follow widely-accepted science over the rights of other students, faculty and staff to enter schools without the fear of contracting a virus that has claimed the lives of more than 31,000 Illinois residents – or taking that virus home to their loved ones.”
Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Pritzker administration has implemented mitigations and programming to protect the health and safety of students, teachers, and staff in schools. To facilitate safe in-person learning, the administration has provided schools across the state with 3.8 million masks for students, teachers, and staff as of January 12th. The State has completed over 2 million COVID-19 tests in schools through the SHIELD program and sent more than a million rapid tests into schools outside of the City of Chicago. Recently, the State provided 350,000 rapid tests to Chicago Public Schools to facilitate a return to in person learning.
To increase access to the lifesaving COVID-19 vaccination, the State has held 1,767 on-site vaccination clinics in schools and day camps with an additional 470 clinics already scheduled. Vaccinations, boosters, mask-wearing and testing are the key to keeping schools open and to maintaining safety standards for staff and students alike.
*** UPDATE 2 *** IEA…
The Illinois Education Association (IEA) President Kathi Griffin released the following statement after a ruling by Sangamon County Judge Raylene Grischow on the temporary restraining order (TRO) that would prohibit enforcement of face masks, vaccination, and Covid testing mandates.
“This decision has the potential to shut our schools down, effectively closing our school buildings and perhaps being potent enough to stop in person learning altogether. We’ve been able to have students in classrooms all over the state for this school year and last and that’s because public health safety measures have been taken that follow the advice of scientists and health care professionals. Without those safety measures in place, we risk forcing thousands of teachers, education employees and students to be out sick or forced into quarantine.
The teacher and education employee shortage is at a crisis level. Schools are shutting down because they do not have enough healthy employees to safely hold classes even though staff continue to give up their plan time and lunches to cover classes. The science is there: masking, along with vaccines, testing, social distancing and quarantining, are the best ways to protect against the virus. Removing any of these protections would be detrimental to our students and staff safety and will almost certainly force schools across the state to close because of a staffing shortage. Omicron is proof to us that though we may be done with the virus, the virus is not done with us.
Keeping students in the classroom is so important, but only if the environment is safe. The judge’s ruling today calls into question the safety of schools across the state and we will support all efforts to stop its immediate implementation while state and district defendants pursue an appeal. Keeping learning and working conditions safe inside schools is imperative to keep our communities safe and our school buildings open for in person learning. ”
* IFT…
Illinois Federation of Teachers (IFT) President Dan Montgomery issued this statement today following the ruling by Sangamon County Judge Raylene Grischow on the temporary restraining order (TRO) that would prohibit enforcement of face masks, vaccination, and Covid testing mandates.
“The Illinois Federation of Teachers is greatly distressed at the judge’s temporary restraining order (TRO) in this case. Hundreds of thousands of students, teachers, and staff across Illinois are doing their best to remain healthy and keep schools open. We believe what the judge ordered today is legally faulty and a threat to public health and, most importantly, a threat to keeping Illinois schools open for in-person learning. Our children and their families need certainty and some normalcy at school, not legal wrangling managed by a small minority of citizens.
“We urge the judge to stay her ruling and the state to appeal it as soon as possible. In the meantime, we will continue to advise our members on how to remain safe and healthy at work. We insist that school districts statewide abide by existing agreements on health and safety. In fact, the safety mitigations encompassed by the State’s guidance, as well as vaccinations for children and adults, are the best ways to keep schools open and everyone healthy. And we will stand with our local unions to protect our members and the students they serve.”
This ruling also states that collectively bargained agreements are still enforceable. Our January 2022 agreement with Chicago Public Schools, which guarantees masking, will keep schools open and safe.
CTU members made real sacrifices in January to bargain for an enforceable safety agreement with Mayor Lightfoot’s CPS team, and today that agreement guarantees masking and other critical protections that will allow us to protect our school communities.
While responsible school districts and community groups prepare to challenge this decision on appeal, we expect the mayor and CPS to act responsibly and uphold our agreement to require masks — providing KN95 masks for every adult and child in our schools. This is what the overwhelming majority of Chicago parents and families support.
We should not have to fight every inch for basic protection, but such are the times in which we live, where the few can trump the safety of the many. So we will continue to fight for the right to recovery for all of our students and school communities.
*** UPDATE 3 *** Let’s look at some coverage. Tribune…
The judge’s ruling means that any school district that attempts to enforce the mask requirement against any student whose parents joined the lawsuit would be held in contempt of court, according to DeVore, who said parents who want the ruling to apply to their children can join the lawsuit.
DeVore, an outspoken critic of Pritzker’s handling of the COVID-19 pandemic, has long argued that the school mask mandate and other mitigation strategies the governor has declared by executive order could not be enforced unless they were formally approved by the General Assembly.
“I don’t pretend to understand the political complexities at Chicago Public Schools, but I do know the law can’t be disregarded, and you’ve got a judge who upheld the law as it’s written,” DeVore said shortly after Judge Grischow issued the ruling.
CPS officials were not immediately available for comment Friday.
But in a recent parent message, CPS CEO Pedro Martinez said if the temporary restraining order was granted, it “would require that CPS stop the enforcement of certain current health and safety protocols, including the wearing of masks.”
“The Plaintiffs have due process rights under the law which provide them a meaningful opportunity to object to any such mitigations being levied against them, and it is these due process rights which are being continually violated.”
“The Governor, IDPH, and ISBE all attempted to remove the judiciary from oversight in matters related to all forms of “quarantine” through the issuance of the Executive Orders and Emergency Rules in question, which fail to maintain the separate branches of government clearly intended by the Legislature in the implementation of the IDPH Act!” […]
Jacksonville School District #117 Superintendent Steve Ptacek alerted families to the ruling via social media Friday night. Jacksonville is one of the districts named in the lawsuit. […]
“I just received notification that the defendants have filed a “Stay” of the TRO and this will be heard over the weekend. Therefore, we have no clue what the legal ruling will be before Monday morning. It is going to be a long, interesting weekend,” Ptacek wrote.
First, the Court should stay its TRO because the anticipated duration of the stay pending appeal is short, and will not prejudice any party. Under Ill. S. Ct. R. 307, briefing an appeal of a temporary restraining order must be completed within four business days of the issuance of the order being appealed, and the Appellate Court will rule on that appeal within five business days thereafter. Accordingly, any appeal will be resolved within two weeks. A stay for such a short period will not prejudice Plaintiffs. Indeed, given that Plaintiffs waited months after filing this case to pursue a TRO, they can hardly claim that a two week stay will cause them undue prejudice or harm.
Second, the Court should stay its TRO because the record in the form of declarations of public health experts, Dr. Susan Bleasdale and Dr. Allison Arwady, unrebutted by any evidence presented by Plaintiffs, is that the Court’s TRO is likely to (a) disrupt the ability of schools to continue in-person instruction, and (b) cause an increase in sickness, and possibly death. … Conversely, Plaintiffs face the minimal inconvenience associated with wearing a mask, or the possibility of a brief exclusion from school premises during the pendency of an appeal.
Third, the State Parties incorporate by reference their arguments in opposition to Plaintiffs’ motions for emergency relief. From those submissions, and from the record in its entirety, Plaintiffs have not met their burden of showing a right in need of protection, a likelihood of success on the merits, irreparable harm, no adequate remedy at law, and that the balance of harms favors the issuance of an injunction to a degree sufficient to suggest that a stay pending appeal would be inappropriate.
*** UPDATE 5 *** CPS…
Chicago Public Schools (CPS) has made the health, safety, and well being of our students and staff a top priority since the onset of the pandemic. The court’s current ruling does not prohibit CPS from exercising its authority to continue its COVID-19 mitigation policies and procedures, including universal masking by students and staff and vaccination and testing requirements for staff members. We are confident that masking and vaccination have been key parts of keeping the virus transmission low in our classrooms this school year and successfully allowed our faculty and students to safely teach and learn in person. Our caseload is declining and the number of vaccinated students and staff continues to increase. We will stay the course.
Background
Nearly 53 percent of CPS students across the District ages 12 and up are now fully vaccinated.
Almost 1 in 3 students, ages 5 - 11, have received at least one vaccine dose.
More than 91 percent of CPS staff members are fully vaccinated.
* IPHA…
The following statement is attributable to Tom Hughes, Executive Director of the Illinois Public Health Association (IPHA), in response to the Seventh Judicial Circuit Court ruling regarding COVID-19 vaccination and masking expectations in Illinois schools:
“Everyone is vulnerable to the damaging effects of COVID-19 and every bit of protection helps. While people are growing weary of the pandemic, the threat remains real for communities across Illinois who are still facing substantial transmission, causing far-reaching challenges to our most vital health resources.
Vaccination and well-fitting masks are proven and critical tools to reduce the spread of COVID-19. With these essential public health practices in place, we are helping protect the most vulnerable around us, while allowing our schools to operate safely.
As coordinators of the Pandemic Health Navigator Program, IPHA continues to partner with community leaders to promote health and safety measures, such as mask wearing, quarantining, and vaccination. We will also continue educating residents so they can make informed decisions about vaccination.”
The attorney at the center of the school mask mandate case in which a 7th Judicial Circuit Court judge Friday granted a temporary restraining order against Gov. JB Pritzker’s executive order said school districts like Springfield’s are “on notice” about enforcing such policies.
“To the extent that the Springfield school district wants to continue forcing these mask and vaccination policies, they’re doing it at their own peril because the judge has said it’s illegal,” said attorney Thomas DeVore of Greenville, who represented the plaintiffs in several cases against the state. “If they wanted to continue in their illegal behavior, even if there’s no injunction stopping them, they’re exposing themselves to significant financial liability.” […]
Absent any further legal rulings over the weekend, DeVore said if a student showed up to school in Springfield without a mask on, “that school district has a decision to make. Are we going to continue to enforce this and say put your mask on knowing that the judge says they don’t have the authority to do so?
“That’s the spot these school districts are at. I think children and parents are well within their rights to say it doesn’t matter that this case doesn’t directly involve me. The judge says as a whole, none of you have this authority. So my kid’s walking in, and if you’re going to try to force him to wear a mask merely because they’re not on this case, I’m letting you know right now I’m going to sue you. They could.”
*** UPDATE 7 *** Edwardsville superintendent…
Dear District #7 staff,
On Friday, January 4, 2022, Judge Grischow issued a ruling which granted a temporary restraining order (TRO) in the litigation in which Edwardsville was a defendant. An appeal related to this case has already been filed, and future decisions will likely have an impact on the District #7 community.
As a result, District #7 will be taking the following steps beginning on Monday, February 7:
The individuals named as plaintiffs in the litigation will be able to attend school unmasked and will not be excluded as close contacts.
Each of the individuals/families will receive correspondence from their building principal prior to the start of school on Monday.
· Masks will continue to be required for all students and staff unless an individual has been impacted by court ruling or has an approved medical exemption for masking;
· Beginning immediately, we have secured KN95 masks for any staff member who wishes to have one. If you would like to have a KN95 mask, you may pick one up from the school office.
· Masking will continue to be required during Kid Zone (not for named plaintiffs), for athletic events (not for named plaintiffs), andon buses. The federal law still requires masks on buses. The court decision does not change this, and students who ride buses will still be required to wear masks.
· We will continue to implement other mitigating strategies in all our schools, including opportunities for vaccinations, social distancing to the greatest extent possible, district-wide testing, incorporating fresh air into the school environment, and cleaning and sanitizing on a regular basis.
I know many of you may have questions which specifically relate to your situation, your classroom, or other areas within District #7.
Highland, Waterloo and Red Bud students will not be required to wear masks when they return to classes on Monday. School leaders say they are following a temporary restraining order issued by a judge on Friday regarding mask and vaccine mandates.
Highland School District 5 Superintendent Mike Sutton said in a statement on Saturday that legal advice indicates that District 5 is “clearly instructed” to not enforce Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s executive orders requiring masks, quarantines when individuals do not have symptoms, and vaccine and testing mandates for employees.
“I am confident in saying that the district will not be enforcing the mask requirement and identifying close contacts for purposes of quarantine starting Monday morning per the judge’s ruling,” Sutton said in the statement posted on the district’s website.
* Carterville schools…
Dear Students and Parents,
Due to a written ruling from Judge Raylene Grischow of Sangamon County, Illinois on Friday, February 4th, Governor Pritzker’s executive orders and IDPH/ISBE requirements regarding masking, testing, and tracing are “null and void.” Masks are no longer required in our schools; however, masks are still recommended to be worn inside the schools as well as the continuance of all other layered mitigations in accordance with our Return to Learning Plan. Federal Transportation guidelines still require masks to be worn while on school transportation.
Students who test positive for COVID-19 will still have to isolate and we still want anyone that is sick to stay home. Close contacts of students and staff will not need to continue to quarantine unless directed by the local health department.
Keep in mind, this entire change of status is the result of a Temporary Restraining Order (TRO) and has already been appealed by the Governor’s Office to the Fourth Appellate Court of Illinois for a decision. We will keep you apprised as the fluid situation continues to evolve.
Free testing and masks will still be available for those that are interested.
PLEASE TAKE NOTICE that Defendants Jay Robert Pritzker, Illinois State Board of Education, Dr. Carmen I. Ayaka, Illinois Department of Public Health, and Dr. Ngozi Ezike, by their attorney, Kwame Raoul, Attorney General of the State of Illinois, hereby appeal to the Illinois Appellate Court, Fourth Judicial District, based on Illinois Supreme Court Rule 307(d), from the interlocutory order entered by the Honorable Judge Raylene Grishow of the Circuit Court for the Seventh Judicial Circuit, Sangamon County, Illinois, on February 4, 2022, which granted plaintiffs’ motion for a temporary restraining order. […]
By this appeal, Defendants Jay Robert Pritzker, Illinois State Board of Education, Dr. Carmen I. Ayaka, Illinois Department of Public Health, and Dr. Ngozi Ezike respectfully request that the appellate court reverse and vacate the circuit court’s order, dissolve the temporary restraining order, and grant any other appropriate relief.
When you liken the work of legislators to the deeds of the Nazis, you cheapen not only the memory of those murdered in the Holocaust, but those who fought to end the Nazi scourge. https://t.co/BC2ibzrdZjpic.twitter.com/2En4OQmI56
* OK, this is not recommended listening at all, but I feel strongly that at least some of the voicemails left for Rep. Deb Conroy about her innocuous bill ought to be shared. But I don’t think I’ve ever heard anything like this in all my years. They are profanity-laden, disgusting, misogynistic messages from hateful and violent-sounding people. You’ve been duly warned…
There’s more, but that’s all I could stomach posting for one day.
* The same strong admonition above applies to a sampling of the emails and social media posts directed at Rep. Conroy. Click here for the emails and click here for the social media posts.
* And these people helped gin up that ignorant hate. All decent DuPage County Republicans should forcefully denounce this despicable behavior being done in their names…
2)HB4244 calls for involuntary vaccine registry & HB4640 allows Dpt of Health to "isolate/quarantine ppl whose refusal to undergo observation/monitoring results in uncertainty regarding whether he/she has been exposed or is infected w/a dangerously contagious infectious disease"
Democratic Party of Illinois Chair Rep. Robin Kelly released the following statement regarding the threats against State Rep. Deb Conroy:
“The vile, disgusting, and disgraceful threats against Rep. Conroy are deeply disturbing. No one in Illinois should condone this type of violent rhetoric and no one should be subjected to it. However, it is clear that the flames of political hatred are not just being spread by anonymous extremists, but also by a county Republican party and a Republican candidate for governor. This news comes on the same day the RNC describes the violent Jan. 6 insurrection as ‘legitimate political discourse.’ Republicans who disagree with this dangerous, misinformed rhetoric have a responsibility to speak out and demand an end to political threats and harassment.”
…Adding… Couple of Republicans…
There is NO plan for “concentration camps for the unvaxxed” but a false report has lead to multiple death threats for State Rep. Deb Conroy. Reactionfrom Minority Leader Jim Durkin: “there is not place in our political discourse for threats of violence.”
Important article. @StateRepDeb46 I’ve received many calls and emails about HB 4640. The bill’s intent is being misunderstood. Please don’t take the policy discussion to these dark places. https://t.co/FOKo2d4NC2.
State Representative Seth Lewis’ Response to Fellow DuPage County State Representive Deb Conroy’s Controversy
Stop! The threats, abusive language, and derogatory comments directed to Representative Deb Conroy are unacceptable! I disagree with my colleagues bill, but I have no problem stepping up to defend her and her staff against threatening abuse. It is not right! Abuse and bullying behavior towards anyone is NEVER acceptable!
* House Republican Leader Jim Durkin’s response to the governor’s budget address earlier this week…
The governor’s budget address is always a wish-list, and this year it’s clear that the governor wishes to be reelected. The budget laid out by Governor Pritzker today is packed with gimmicks and one-time tricks, but no structural reforms.
* That’s pretty funny. On November 23rd of last year, two members of Durkin’s leadership team proposed a one-time tax relief plan. From Center Square’s coverage…
“We may not be able to address at the state level the root causes of inflation, we can and we think it is our responsibility to provide relief,” [Assistant Republican Leader Avery Bourne] said. “And that’s why today we’re proposing inflation tax relief for Illinois families.”
State Rep. Tom Demmer, R-Dixon, wants to give up to $400 of tax credits to taxpayers under certain income thresholds.
Single tax filers up to $75,000 would get $200 back, joint filers up to $150,000 would get $400 and head of household filers up to $112,500 in income to get $200.
“Four hundred dollars won’t make all the problems go away, but it could have a positive impact,” Demmer said. “It could be an extra week or two of groceries, it could be an extra few utility bills, it could be the difference between being able to buy new shoes or winter coats for your kids.”
To pay for the $1.4 billion plan, Demmer suggested reprioritizing state spending to be offset by some of the $8 billion in federal COVID-19 relief funds.
* Deputy Republican Leader Demmer was asked at that press conference if the tax break was temporary or permanent…
We’re proposing it today as a one-time tax credit to address some of the acute problems that we’re seeing in family budgets today.
Leader Demmer said he’d consider making it permanent, “but what we’re focused on right now is delivering relief as quickly as we can and I think this is one of the ways to do it.” He said the idea was to implement it in the current fiscal year.
* Demmer also said that he and Bourne fully understood that their plan wouldn’t solve the problems caused by inflation, but it would help…
This would be just a small token of what we can do to provide relief for taxpayers. $400 won’t make all the problems go away. But it could have a positive impact to be an extra week or two of groceries. It could be an extra few utility bills. It could be the difference between being able to buy new shoes or a new winter coat for your kids
* At the time the HGOP plan was announced, the governor’s office didn’t directly comment on its substance (likely because they were developing their own $1 billion tax cut plan which was unveiled this week), but the governor’s press secretary did unleash a full-on snark bomb…
For the entirety of the pandemic Republicans have refused to engage on meaningful solutions aimed at helping working families deal with the resulting economic challenges. While Republicans now try and weigh in 18 months too late, this administration is hard at work putting billions of dollars of rental and mortgage assistance, small business grants, and utility assistance into the hands of working families, all of which passed without help from the GOP caucuses.
Adding to the irony is the fact that Republicans staunchly opposed the fair tax which would have provided tax relief to 97 percent of Illinoisans. Since Republicans in Illinois now support providing direct relief for the costs that are weighing on working families, we look forward to their support of President Biden’s Build Back Better agenda and would urge them to share their views on this with their counterparts in Washington.
* So, now what? Maybe everyone could swallow their mutual disdain and sheathe their campaign swords long enough to put together a one-year tax cut plan to help the people of Illinois? Wouldn’t that be great?
…Adding… I should’ve noted that while Richard Irvin’s running mate Avery Bourne proposed a temporary one-year tax break paid for with pandemic relief, Irvin has been saying since the budget address that a one-year tax break based on temporarily increased revenues is an “election-year gimmick” and has said “It’s almost like he’s looking to buy votes.” I’m now curious what he thinks of his running-mate’s proposal.
* More than three weeks after petition circulation season started, Jesse Sullivan finally finds a willing running mate. Her name may be familiar to some of you…
BIG NEWS.. I'm proud to introduce the next Lt. Gov of Illinois, @KMurphyIL!
A working mom, activist, and advocate for children & families, she's ready to take the fight to JB Pritzker. I’m excited to team up with Kathleen to offer a new generation of outsider leadership. #SaveILpic.twitter.com/4yonnszXEw
Kathleen Murphy was the Director of Communication and Spokeswoman for Jeanne Ives’ primary race for Illinois Governor against Bruce Rauner.
She is also the creator and host of Upstream Idea’s Follow the Logic, a man-on-street segment that challenges interviewees’ principles and fixed ideas on policies and politics. Kathleen has served as a co-host on 560-AM’s Illinois Rising. She additionally writes and produces Heart of the Matter, Dollars and Sense and Two-Minute Warning for Upstream Ideas.
She is also a political communication expert, with strong media background and extensive experience in research, analysis and messaging in the political arena.
As Director of Communication for Illinois Opportunity Project, Kathleen oversees the organization’s messaging and communication strategy; leads their media strategy; interprets and explains the politics behind state policies; and helps to advance center-right leaders and free-market policy solutions. She is a trusted advisor to many liberty-principled legislators, candidates, advocates and community leaders.
Additionally, Kathleen is member of the Ladies of Liberty Alliance Speakers Bureau. The national organization includes many notable women in the liberty movement, such as Amity Shlaes, Tammy Bruce, Katherine Timpf, Michelle Fields and Christina Hoff-Sommers.
Prior to joining the Illinois Opportunity Project, Kathleen served as Legislative Aide in the Illinois House of Representatives.
…Adding… Murphy does have TV advertising experience. She was featured in a gob of Dan Proft ads a half-dozen years ago…
…Adding… Press release…
Mom, activist, and Breakthrough Ideas president and co-founder Kathleen Murphy will join Republican candidate for governor Jesse Sullivan as his running mate for lieutenant governor:
“The working families of Illinois deserve a leader and advocate like Kathleen,” Sullivan said. “She is a devoted mother of two, a passionate advocate for the rights of children and parents, and a free thinker who will fight relentlessly for parents and families at a time when they are under attack. From helping to rebuild her church to assisting victims of domestic violence, Kathleen lives the values of faith, family, and service.”
“Kathleen represents the next generation of leaders we need to Save Illinois. She is no stranger to hard work, and like me, she is an outsider who is not beholden to the failed political system that has delivered high taxes and corrupt leaders.”
“I am proud to join Jesse Sullivan in this fight,” Murphy said. “He brings the kind of outsider energy, focused leadership, and an optimistic vision that our state so desperately needs.”
“I know what it’s like to wonder if you’re going to be able to make ends meet, and I am eager to represent working moms across the state in Springfield. Like most Illinoisans, I am sick and tired of watching a man who has had everything handed to him tell us how to live our lives.”
“Our children are hurting. I’ve seen it firsthand. Our school system is failing our kids, our economy is lagging behind our neighbors, and Illinois simply cannot afford four more years of JB Pritzker,” Murphy said.
“With Kathleen’s leadership, we will end Pritzker’s harmful mandates for our kids on Day 1,” Sullivan said.
…Adding… Jeanne Ives was all-in for Ted Cruz back in 2016, so this sort of thing is not surprise. Click the pic for more search results…
* Mike Flannery of Fox 32 interviewed Richard Irvin. It didn’t end well…
Irvin: I’m pro-life.
Flannery: Any exceptions for rape, incest, the life of the mother?
Irvin: You know, there are always exceptions, rape, incest, life of the mother.
Flannery: You would allow abortion in those circumstances? [Irvin looks to his right.] You would allow abortion in those circumstances?
Irvin: I think we’re done.
…Adding… He was being signaled that the allotted time had long expired, I’m told. But, man, that didn’t come off well.
…Adding… Now I’m being told by a top Irvin operative that he would’ve answered “Yes” to Flannery’s question. And they’re also saying he already answered the question before Flannery asked him point blank.
…Adding… The full interview (with higher quality) is here.
…Adding… He dodged another Trump question when talking to Greg Hinz…
But asked if he voted for Trump in 2020, Irvin wouldn’t say. “Joe Biden’s the president,” Irvin replied. Pritzker is just prompting such questions to change the subject from the fact that “crime’s out of control, taxing and spending is out of control, corruption is out of control.”
…Adding… Terry Cosgrove at Personal PAC…
When asked if he supported exceptions to abortion for rape and incest victims, Richard Irvin declined to answer and nervously looked to his handler for help. His silence speaks volumes and women across Illinois are listening. This question should be a no-brainer for anyone seeking our state’s highest office and is a reminder that everything is on the line this November. Richard Irvin has revealed himself to be another out of touch, right-wing extremist who would seek to take our state backwards, and we must do everything we can to ensure that he doesn’t get anywhere near the governor’s office.
Empower Local Health Departments Through Data
State Legislative Proposal HB 4640/ SB 3131
Background: Data Matters
Local health departments (LHDs) need timely access to health data, from hospital admissions to opioid prescriptions to death certificates. This is how LHDs learn patterns of disease activity and develop fast, robust responses. COVID-19 is a prime example. If health departments know what’s leading people to go to the hospital, for instance—or if they know what’s causing maternal mortality—they can identify causes and intervene. The CDC says this process is “essential” to public health.
Problem: Missing Data
State agencies such as IDPH are frequently the direct recipients and keepers of data from healthcare providers. All too often, however, LHDs are unable to access this data—or they receive subsets of it only after years have passed. Voluntary data use agreements generally don’t resolve this problem since they are often years in the making. The result is a lack of current data, which hinders local jurisdictions from carrying out their core public health functions.
Proposal: Improve Data Sharing
Our bill would ensure State agencies share public health data with LHDs upon request, with safeguards for privacy and security. Important data—some of which is shared with LHDs to varying degrees today—includes but is not limited to:
• Hospital and emergency department data, including admissions, discharge, and patient information.
• Vital records data, including birth, death, and maternal health data.
• Illinois Comprehensive Automated Immunization Registry Exchange (I-CARE), the State’s immunization data registry.
• Illinois Prescription Monitoring Program, which collects data on controlled substances.
• Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System, an ongoing survey of women who have recently given birth.
• Illinois Cancer Registry, a source for cancer incidence information.
• Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program data about people living with HIV and the services they receive.
• List of individual healthcare providers.
• Illinois Medicaid and Medicare datasets of various kinds, such as client-level data for syphilis and HIV, including enrollment in prenatal services.
• Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) data about people’s health conditions, access to care, and demographics.
Proposed amendments to the proposal are welcome as stakeholders work together to determine a path that is doable while empowering local health departments through needed data. [Emphasis added.]
Seems basic. The data already exists, but much of it isn’t shared in a timely manner, making it almost useless.
* But some amateur morons who can’t read legislation looked at the bill because it mentions immunizations and concluded that it will lead to concentration camps. I am not making this up. Here’s Fran Eaton’s Illinois Review…
Villa Park State Rep. Deb Conroy (Democrat) wants to “isolate or quarantine persons who are unable or unwilling to receive vaccines, medications, or other treatments.”
HB 4640 is scheduled to be heard in the Illinois House Human Services Committee February 2 at 9:00 AM.
If HB 4640 were to become law, persons exposed to an infectious disease could be placed under Public Health Department observation, only possible in a contained atmosphere with Department watch guards, some suggest such as a concentration camp.
The bill says:
To prevent the spread of a dangerously contagious or infectious disease, the [Public Health] Department may, pursuant to the provisions of subsection (c) of this Section, isolate or quarantine persons whose refusal to undergo observation and monitoring results in uncertainty regarding whether he or she has been exposed to or is infected with a dangerously contagious or infectious disease or otherwise poses a danger to the public’s health.
HB 4640 would also set up a state network data collection system for persons that have received mandated vaccines, medications, or otherwise.
Ridiculous. The quarantine language is part of existing state law. People are either too stupid, lazy and/or ignorant to realize that, before they threaten someone’s life, maybe they ought to check to see if only the underlined sections of bills are new language.
* Rep. Conroy sent Illinois Review a letter. Excerpt…
I am writing to let you know that your flagrantly false post about HB4640 has resulted in dozens of death threats aimed at my staff and me. It would have taken no more than 5 minutes to verify what the bill did and where it was coming from, but instead you chose to publish false information, I assume with the intention of enraging people in the hopes they would further spread your misinformation.
Your analysis of the HB4640 is foolish at best and maliciously false at worst. It does none of the things you claim. It allows local health departments the ability to employ local health solutions to share data. It does not give any local body the authority to violate someone’s privacy rights and certainly does not allow for anyone to be detained.
“Any rules necessary:” Villa Park Democrat Conroy bill would create Illinois concentration camps for non Covid-vaxxed
State Rep. Deborah Conroy (D-Villa Park) wants to create concentration camps for Illinois residents who refuse to take COVID-19 vaccines.
Her bill would allow the state to “isolate or quarantine persons who are unable or unwilling to receive vaccines, medications, or other treatments.”
That could include segregating non-COVID vaccinated Illinoisans from COVID vaccinated residents, and more.
Conroy’s bill would give local health departments and state politicians formal legal authority to fully control the behavior of any individuals who don’t follow their COVID-19 restrictions and rules, including keeping people isolated and under police guard.
…Adding… Emily Bitter at the governor’s office responded to the DuPage Policy Journal article…
This lying propaganda hits all the high notes for the conspiracy-theory-loving crowd. It equates Covid-19 to the Holocaust, peddles misinformation and attempts to provoke hysteria – a true fringe-element hat trick. This is no surprise; this site is part of a network of extreme right wing sites that consistently try to deceive the people of Illinois.
The governor will continue to deploy proven and lawful mitigations as needed, as he listens to scientists and doctors about how to fight this pandemic.
* Not hyperbolic at all…
JB Pritzker’s Democratic Party wants to mandate you into quarantine if you don’t get a COVID vaccine. THIS IS NOT A JOKE - PRITZKER WANTS COVID JAIL. The Bill, HB4640, will be heard in Committee tomorrow. The Democrats have lost their minds. Retweet this and get the word out.
Republican candidate for DuPage County Chairman Greg Hart released the following statement in response to Democratic State Representative and candidate for DuPage County Chairman Deb Conroy’s new legislation, HB 4640: “Deb Conroy’s bill- HB 4640- presents a serious breach of the public’s trust. There has already been considerable opposition to this bill - over 12,000 opposing witness slips so far. But if that is not enough to communicate the public’s sentiments, then I am happy to express on behalf of all Illinoisans my strong opposition to Deb Conroy’s legislation and the blatant overreach it permits. I call on Representative Conroy to listen to her constituents instead of special interests and pull her bill.”
* Rep. Mazzochi was her usual reserved self…
State Representative Deanne Mazzochi (R-Elmhurst) issued the following statement regarding HB 4640, legislation that State Representative Deb Conroy (D-Villa Park) has recently started pushing:
“State Representative Bob Morgan (D-Highwood) tried to modify the Immunization Data Registry Act by forcing physicians to disclose to the Illinois Department of Public Health sensitive vaccine medical records without patient notice or consent. His efforts were widely condemned by Illinois doctors and residents across the state, and he reluctantly withdrew the bill.
Now Deb Conroy wants to move HB 4640, which will have the effect of doing covertly and dishonestly, what Rep. Morgan tried to do overtly and honestly–expand the power of IDPH, and any local public health authority, to attain peoples’ private medical records to create the registry, without patient knowledge or consent, so long as it created under the guise of “research.”
After the people of Illinois spoke so strongly on this issue, it is an insult to try to achieve the same results through a sneaky back door approach. I call on Rep. Conroy to table the bill, and for Illinois residents to yet again explain to Rep. Conroy that they do not appreciate this cynical effort to have their private medical records targeted in this way, and for this purpose.”
Oh, for crying out loud.
Rep. Conroy told me she had to close down her office because of all the threats to herself and to staff. She’s also reported numerous threats to the Illinois State Police and is also turning over information to the local state’s attorney.
* Mary Ann Ahern sat down with Republican gubernatorial candidate Richard Irvin for a few questions. Here he is on his Democratic primary voting record…
I voted in some down-ballot local races to make sure in this Democratic stronghold I’m in, as a Republican and a conservative, that we continue our conservative values here. Let me tell you who who agrees that I’m a Republican, Barack Obama, when he came here to campaign against me in 2005.
Listen, what we’re talking about here is the state of Illinois. And the state of Illinois, once I become the Republican governor, I’ll be the head of the Republican Party here in the state of Illinois.
Nice dodge, but I’m not sure he can keep that up as the question begins to change.
…Adding… DPI…
As the positive reviews roll in for Gov. JB Pritzker’s State of the State Address, Rauner Reboot centerpiece Richard Irvin tip toed out from hiding for his first television interview. The results were…not great. Irvin admitted to voting in several Democratic presidential primaries, admitted it was in fact the governor who has the power to dispatch the National Guard, and was conveniently mum about Ken Griffin’s support of his campaign.
But Irvin’s most uncomfortable moment may have been when he danced around a straightforward question about whether Donald Trump represents the Republican Party. Instead of answering, Irvin desperately tried to pivot away from Trump and declared himself the “head of the Republican Party in the state of Illinois.” Irvin’s uncomfortable answer was reminiscent Bruce Rauner’s infamous “focus, Amanda, focus” debacle when the failed governor nervously tried to dodge questions about Trump.
We’ll see if Irvin can step his game up once he feels ready to hold a press conference or talk to actual voters, but if the first interview was any indication, he’s got a lot of work to do before he’s ready for prime time.
* Since only the governor can call out the National Guard, why did he take credit for doing so in his TV ad?…
JB Pritzker doesn’t know to come to Aurora and address the crime and what was going on in our riots and our looting, pillage and plunder unless I called. I had to call for them. So absolutely I called out the National Guard
He also said he is vaccinated, but opposes mandates.
Despite an influx of cash from wealthy donors, Aurora Mayor and Republican gubernatorial candidate Richard Irvin said “I am nobody’s pushover” when asked about the contributions during an exclusive interview Wednesday with the Daily Herald.
“I’m a combat veteran of the United States Army,” Irvin said. “I’m a former prosecutor, a person who put violent criminals behind bars. I’m the mayor of the second-largest city in Illinois with a proven record of results getting things done. […]
Regarding Griffin, “I think we’d all agree he’s done a lot for the state of Illinois,” Irvin said. But “it’s just one person, one vote, and I look forward to listening to all the residents of Illinois about what we can do to take the state back.” […]
“As a community-based prosecutor, I worked side by side with police officers to root out crime — arresting drug dealers, gangbangers, wife beaters,” Irvin said, “addressing quality-of-life issues in neighborhoods, just like the one I grew up in … where there wasn’t a whole lot of hope and (there was) a whole lot of drugs and gangs in my community.”
Griffin may have just one vote, but he also has $20+ billion.
* And while Irvin undoubtedly did all those things when he was a prosecutor, he’s now a criminal defense attorney with his own firm. From his firm’s website…
Abuse and neglect: We represent parents who have a petition to terminate parental rights for abuse or neglect brought against them by the state of Illinois. We work extensively with Catholic charities and the Illinois Department of Family Services to reunite families.
It’s the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services, and it’ll be interesting to see if he’s defended any really bad parents.
Possession of heroin, in any amount, is a felony. If you face felony charges for possessing heroin in Illinois, you need an experienced criminal defense attorney to protect you from harsh consequences such as lengthy jail sentences. The Law Office of Richard C. Irvin & Associates represents clients charged with heroin possession in the Aurora area.
Everyone deserves effective counsel and that’s probably OK in a general election, but it’s definitely not so good in a Republican primary.
Felonies. At The Law Office of Richard C. Irvin & Associates, we represent clients charged with felonies such as burglary, forgery, reckless homicide and many others.
Aurora / Elgin – Drug Possession With Intent Attorney
Whether you were arrested for allegedly selling drugs to an undercover police officer or following a traffic stop, our lawyers will take aggressive steps to mitigate the charges against you. If the police officer who arrested you did not have probable cause to do so, we will pursue a motion to suppress, which could lead to a dismissal of the charges against you.
If the office did have probable cause, we are prepared to negotiate with prosecutors to reduce the charges to a lesser offense. As a former prosecutor, attorney Irvin understands how prosecutors view a case. This experience makes him an effective negotiator. He is prepared to defend your constitutional rights and your freedom. The sooner you reach out to an Aurora possession with intent to distribute attorney, the better your chances for a fair and favorable outcome will be.
Ibid., Primary. See also: “arresting drug dealers, gangbangers.”
If you are charged with battery, you can face devastating consequences following a conviction. It is important to have a knowledgeable lawyer on your side to increase your chances of a successful outcome.
At the Law Office of Richard C. Irvin & Associates, we understand that emotions can run hot in many relationships. Whether it is a dating relationship, a marriage or a relationship with a shared child, tempers can flare. When those tempers or arguments lead to threats, or physical violence, legal consequences can soon follow. If you have been charged with battery, our Aurora domestic violence attorneys will zealously defend your rights.
There are several circumstances in which a domestic battery charge can be successfully defended, including:
• If the victim is the only other person present when the battery occurs, and the victim does not appear in court, the state cannot prevail in the case.
• Most individuals will claim that the battery occurred in self-defense.
A charge of domestic battery can be considered a felony under certain circumstances. If an individual is charged with domestic battery and has a prior domestic battery charge on his or her record, or if the victim received an injury that can be considered harmful or egregious, the battery charge can be a felony. If an individual is convicted of the felony charge, the consequences can include prison time. It is important to consult with an experienced attorney to begin your defense immediately.
Defending that work in a general could be challenging. See also his above comment about “wife beaters.”
*** UPDATE *** Irvin was also interviewed by Craig Dellimore…
Dellimore: What would Richard Irvin say to voters in Illinois who supported Donald Trump?
Irvin: And that’s exactly what JB Pritzker wants us to be talking about, anything other than his record in the state. You know, we got to look at my record, my record, as mayor of the city of Aurora is one of success. I grew up in Aurora, I grew up in public housing and raised by a mother, 16 years old, and in an environment where it seemed like there was no hope. And I served my country and got out of that environment, went to the military. I joined when I was only 18 years old, served my country in time of war, came home, became a prosecutor putting criminals behind bars. And then I became the mayor, the second largest city in the state, first African American mayor, as I pointed out, in 180 years. I’ve got a record of success. The minute I became mayor, I added more police officers to our police department to drive down crime. The minute I became mayor, we started to do economic development. We did more economic development in the last four years, my first four years as mayor than the city has seen in 40 years. And I don’t just say that tooting my horn, there have been buildings that have sat empty in the city, running and ruin and dilapidated for 20 years, 30 years, one 40 years. A building that hadn’t seen its lights turned on in 70 years. All of that is being redeveloped as we speak. There’s not an empty building left in the city of Aurora. All that happened in the first four years and because of it, we’ve created excitement. And we’re now doing new development. There’s not a portion or quadrant of the city that’s not seeing new development right now. What I’ll bring to the state is proven success and will do that and more for the state of Illinois. We will take our state back.
* Greg Hinz talked to Taxpayers’ Federation of Illinois President Carol Portman and Civic Federation President Laurence Msall about yesterday’s budget proposal…
“The governor’s budget proposal is good news,” said Portman. “I’m sure lots of folks, including us, can find things they wish were in there, or weren’t, but overall it is a refreshing change from what we’ve seen too often in the past. Shoring up the state’s rainy day fund, contributing more than the required minimum to the pension system, and paying down the remainder of the state’s bill backlog are all straight out of the ‘good fiscal policy’ playbook.”
Msall used the same phrase: Good news. If the General Assembly follows Pritzker’s lead and enacts those plus dedicating much of the $3.5 billion the state has left in federal COVID relief to pay off debts in the state’s unemployment insurance trust fund, “That would be a really positive thing.”
Msall even went a little farther, lauding Pritzker for using state revenues that have been surprisingly strong of late to pay off debt first, rather than spending more. That, in part, is due to Pritzker’s decision last year to balance his budget without assuming he’d get lots of federal relief. When that relief came in, the state to some extent had extra money, Msall said. […]
Portman said that while the governor may have balanced his budget without direct federal aid, the rosy news is a direct result of a growing state economy, an economy that was kicked into high gear by enormous pump-priming at the federal level.
That last bit is true. All states benefited from federal spending designed to boost the nation’s economy.
* Meanwhile, the Tribune editorial board appears to be relying on the Illinois Policy Institute’s website, because the board parroted the IPI’s line about the state receiving $14 billion from the feds. Here’s IPI…
After receiving $14 billion in one-time federal aid, Illinois could see a balanced budget for the first time in 22 years
And it’s worth noting that the federal aid hardly was limited to that $14 billion.
The state received a bit over $8 billion for itself and, by federal law, local governments were given the rest. The state was a pass-through entity. If this goof had happened a year ago, I’d think it was deliberate. Now, I just think the board is too lazy and/or ignorant to check facts.
…Adding… From the Illinois Policy Institute…
Illinois received additional funds from CARES as well as an increase in Medicaid matching funds. When you add it all up, its $14 B. If you include all aid to local governments, the number is approx. $32B. Wanted to pass along. Source: https://www.covidmoneytracker.org/.
* Here’s your roundup. I tried to include info that we didn’t cover much yesterday…
* Gov. J.B. Pritzker proposes more money for anti-violence programs, state troopers and nearly $1 billion in temporary tax relief in reelection year budget proposal: Recognizing the GOP message could take hold among critical suburban swing voters, Pritzker proposed allocating $240 million, largely from federal pandemic relief funds, toward community-based violence prevention. That’s close to the total of $250 million he pledged to spend over three years when signing violence prevention legislation last fall. … Pritzker also is proposing an $18.6 million increase to the Illinois State Police budget to hire and train an additional 300 troopers, an additional $10 million in grants for local law enforcement agencies to purchase body cameras as required under the criminal justice overhaul he signed last year, and $20 million to fund a new protection program for witnesses of gang crime. “Crime is a complex and multifaceted problem to tackle, and it’s cynical and counterproductive to simply shout ‘Lock them up’ while providing fewer resources to the people and programs that prevent crime in the first place,” Pritzker said in his speech. “A truly effective approach to tackling crime involves both short-term and long-term investments and a commitment to see those investments through,” he said.
* Pritzker outlines $45.4 billion budget proposal, calling out his critics: Included in the budget are initiatives aimed at expanding the state’s health care workforce. Among those is a $25 million program called the Pipeline for the Advancement of Healthcare, or PATH, workforce program to help community colleges train nurses, technicians and other high-demand health care personnel. It also includes a $180 million Healthcare Workforce Initiative directed at hospitals, clinics and other providers to pay for staff bonuses, continuing education, training and staff retention and recruitment. Some other highlights of the budget proposal include increased funding for all levels of education – early childhood, K-12 and higher education – as well as increased funding for human services like foster care, mental health and disability services; and funding to train and hire 300 new Illinois State Police officers.
* What’s in Pritzker’s proposed budget?: Approximately 21 percent of the budget is dedicated to Pre-K-12 education, an increase of $498 million from one year ago. That includes $350 million for the evidence-based funding formula for K-12 schools, which prioritizes new money toward the schools furthest from their “adequacy” target, which takes into account class sizes, a local district’s property values and other factors. The budget asks for another $54.4 million to provide early childhood education services to another 7,100 children, and another $96 million in transportation and special education grants for schools. Another $12 million would be added to the Regional Offices of Education budget to address truancy and chronic absenteeism, and agriculture education funding would increase by $2 million.
* Gov. JB Pritzker’s $45.4 billion budget plan includes $1 billion in tax cuts: The governor celebrated several financial wins that have happened since he took office. During his tenure, Illinois has received two credit upgrades and reduced a backlog to pay bills. At its worst, the state had $16.7 billion in unpaid bills, with some being unpaid for more than 500 days. He said the average bill now sits unpaid for about 15 days. … The budget plan includes $4 billion in debt paydowns, which the governor’s office said will repay all COVID-19 related borrowing, pay $900 million in delayed health insurance bills and $392 million to other bills, among other things. … The governor’s proposed budget projects decreases from last year in both money coming into the state, down about 4.2%, and money being spent, down about 3.5%.
* Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker offers a $45.4 billion spending plan for 2023, with tax relief taking center stage: Beyond stressing those financial improvements, Pritzker used his speech to also emphasize the physical and economic struggles Illinoisans have faced during the pandemic and repeatedly invoked the teachings of the famed, late anthropologist, Margaret Mead, who taught the importance of caring for others. “Maybe it’s time we remember what Margaret Mead was trying to teach…long ago: that who we are is measured by how we care for those who need us. And that we wouldn’t be standing here today if that simple ancient value wasn’t deeply ingrained in our very existence,” Pritzker said, delivering some of the final lines of his more than 45-minute speech.
* Black and Latino caucuses voice support for proposed budget: The proposed budget includes funding for the Illinois Supreme Court’s requested $26 million to establish comprehensive pretrial services in the 63 counties that lack such services. It includes another $10 million in new appropriations from the Law Enforcement Training and Standards Board to pay for the obligations associated with the SAFE-T Act. … “One of the things I like is we will be addressing healthcare disparities, ensuring economic viability by retaining and creating jobs, investing in small businesses, which is the backbone of our local economies, supporting education,” said Rep. Nick Smith, D-Chicago.
* Gov. J.B. Pritzker Details Temporary Tax Relief Plan in Budget Address Kicking Off Reelection Year: “I urge the governor to release the $30 million from the American Rescue Plan funding for safety net hospitals and hospital transformations,” State Sen. Emil Jones III, D-Chicago, said in a statement. “The safety net grants must be restored back into the budget so that our most vulnerable communities are properly equipped to combat this pandemic and other health disparities. For years, many of our safety nets haven’t seen a dime of their much needed funding. Let’s deliver on the promises we already made before we commit to new ones.”
* ‘The proof’s in the details’: Suburban mayors, business leaders react to Pritzker budget: In Hanover Park, the village’s annual share of the grocery tax is about $690,600, Mayor Rod Craig said. Pritzker said the state will reimburse municipalities for any revenues lost, but “we collect those receipts quarterly. How’s the state going to process that? The proof’s in the details,” Craig said. Likewise with tweaks to motor fuel tax revenues, “for us, we use a lot of that for road resurfacing,” Grayslake Mayor Rhett Taylor said. “The details are important.”
On February 2, 2022, Illinois State Police (ISP) officials investigated three separate traffic crashes involving ISP squad cars. Two Troopers were struck in ISP District 9 – Springfield and one in ISP District 10 – Pesotum. The two crashes in ISP District 9 were both Move Over Law related.
On Wednesday, February 2, 2022, at approximately 7:40 a.m., an ISP District 9 Trooper was on the left shoulder of Interstate 72 westbound at mile post 122, near Illiopolis, assisting a stranded motorist who had slid off the roadway due to weather conditions. The squad car was stationary with all of its emergency lights activated. A gray Chevrolet Impala traveling westbound failed to yield to the stationary emergency vehicle, slid on the roadway and struck the rear end of the ISP squad car. The driver of the Chevrolet, 29-year-old Anthony L. Newman of Springfield, IL, was uninjured. The Trooper was transported to a local hospital for non-life-threatening injuries and has since been treated and released. While this crash remains under investigation, a violation of the Move Over Law was a contributing factor.
On Wednesday, February 2, 2022, at approximately 12:36 p.m., a Trooper working in ISP District 10 was traveling on Interstate 57 southbound at milepost 181, south of Mattoon in the right lane, without emergency lights activated. A black 2016 Chevrolet Trax driven by Dalton M. McCarthy, a 20-year-old male of Maryland Heights, MO., was traveling in the left lane. As McCarthy passed the Trooper’s squad car, McCarthy lost control on the slick pavement and struck the rear of the squad car. Neither McCarthy nor the Trooper were injured in the crash. McCarthy was cited for Following Too Closely. (No photo available.)
On Wednesday, February 2, 2022, at approximately 3:22 p.m., a Trooper working in ISP District 9 was on the right shoulder of the ramp from southbound Veterans Parkway to Interstate 72 eastbound, in the southwest corner of Springfield, handling a crash. The fully marked squad car was stationary with its emergency lights activated. A vehicle traveling on the ramp lost control on the ice, struck the rear bumper of the squad car, and pushed the squad into the initial wrecked vehicle. The driver of the offending vehicle was uninjured; however, the Trooper was transported to a local hospital with non-life-threatening injuries and is expected to make a full recovery. While this crash remains under investigation, a violation of the Move Over Law was a contributing factor.
“The brave men and women of the Illinois State Police (ISP) have placed themselves in harm’s way throughout the day today, will continue to do so throughout the night and will be there long after this winter storm has passed,” stated ISP Director Brendan F. Kelly. He continued, “If there is one thing those courageous souls understand it is the fragility of life, yet they continue to do the work of the people, protecting and serving. Please, everyone, stay at home. If you absolutely have to get out, move over and slow down upon approach of first responders. Give them the room they need to assist other motorists and get home safely to their families.”
So far this year, there have been three ISP squad cars struck in relation to the Move Over Law and two Troopers have sustained injuries from Move Over Law-related crashes. The ISP would like to remind the public of the requirements of the Move Over Law, otherwise known as the “Scott’s Law”. When approaching an emergency vehicle, or any vehicle with their emergency or hazard lights activated, drivers are required to slow down AND move over. A person who violates Scott’s Law, commits a business offense and faces a fine of no less than $250 or more than $10,000 for a first offense. If the violation results in injury to another person, the violator’s driver’s license will be suspended for a mandatory period of anywhere between six months and two years.
* Photos…
“The brave men & women of the ISP have placed themselves in harm’s way throughout the day today, will continue to do so throughout the night & will be there long after this winter storm has passed…they continue to do the work of the people, protecting & serving.” -Director Kelly pic.twitter.com/uqMFCjzLCa
On February 3, 2022, Illinois State Police (ISP) officials investigated three separate traffic crashes involving ISP squad cars. Two Troopers were struck in ISP District 10 – Pesotum and one in ISP District 5 – Lockport. The crash in ISP District 5 was Move Over Law related.
On Thursday, February 3, 2022, at approximately 2:00 a.m., an ISP District 10 Trooper was handling a crash on the right shoulder of Interstate 74 eastbound at mile post 188 near Urbana. The squad car was stationary with all of its emergency lights activated. A Truck Tractor Semi-Trailer driven by Leonard A. Smith, a 30-year-old male of Trenton, NJ, sideswiped the ISP squad car. Neither Smith nor the Trooper were injured in the crash. Smith was cited for Driving Too Fast for Conditions.
On Thursday, February 3, 2022, at approximately 5:19 a.m., an ISP District 5 Trooper was in the right lane of Interstate 80 westbound at mile post 139 near New Lenox, conducting traffic control for a tow truck. The marked squad car was stationary with all of its lights activated. A red Mazda traveling westbound failed to yield to the stationary emergency vehicle, slid on the roadway and struck the rear end of the ISP squad car. Neither the driver of the Mazda nor the Trooper were injured in the crash. The driver of the Mazda was cited for Driving Too Fast for Conditions, Improper Lane Usage, and Scott’s Law Violation.
On Thursday, February 3, 2022, at approximately 10:00 a.m., an ISP District 10 Trooper was traveling westbound on Interstate 74 at mile post 203 near Muncie. A blue Volkswagen Passat traveling westbound struck the rear end of the ISP squad car. Neither the driver of the Volkswagen nor the Trooper were injured in the crash. This crash is still pending further investigation. (No photo available.)
“During inclement weather, obeying Scott’s Law is even more important,” stated ISP Director Brendan F. Kelly. He continued, “As the officers of the Illinois State Police (ISP) continue to put their lives on the line, we ask you, the motoring public, to help them out by Slowing Down and Moving Over while they do their jobs.”
So far this year, there have been four ISP squad cars struck in relation to the Move Over Law and two Troopers have sustained injuries from Move Over Law-related crashes. The ISP would like to remind the public of the requirements of the Move Over Law, otherwise known as the “Scott’s Law”. When approaching an emergency vehicle, or any vehicle with their emergency or hazard lights activated, drivers are required to slow down AND move over. A person who violates Scott’s Law, commits a business offense and faces a fine of no less than $250 or more than $10,000 for a first offense. If the violation results in injury to another person, the violator’s driver’s license will be suspended for a mandatory period of anywhere between six months and two years.
