…Adding… The executive order Pritzker signed today is here.
* From the governor’s daily COVID-19 press conference at the James R. Thompson Center…
It brings me great pain to announce that we have had three more deaths in Illinois associated with COVID 19.
One was a Will County resident in his 50s. A second, a Cook County resident in her 80s. And the third is a Florida resident who was visiting Sangamon County.
My heart goes out to the family and the friends of these patients. And I feel like I can speak for all of Illinois. When I say, we offer them our collective strength at this time. May their memories be for a blessing.
These moments will not get easier, nor should they. We are fighting this fight for every person in Illinois.
We’ve all lost something today.
Remember I’m using Otter for transcription, so pardon the typos.
* New executive order…
We’re also working hard to ensure that all our residents are able to get as many of the health care services that they need, even from the safety of their own homes. So today I’m signing an executive order significantly expanding telemedicine for both Medicaid and those who are private insured. This order will allow more providers to get reimbursed for these services and allow patients more flexibility and safety in getting the medical guidance and care that they need.
* Small biz…
Our small businesses are already hurting, and the root of that pain isn’t going to go away anytime soon. I’m pleased to announce today that my administration is offering relief to more than 20,000 small and medium sized bars and restaurants, all across Illinois by allowing a two-month delay in sales tax payments to the state, and to local jurisdictions, and we’re waving late filing fees and interest starting tomorrow, Friday, March 20.
* Tests…
As of yesterday we were able to do more than 1000 tests statewide and in just a few days will be increasing that to more than 2000 tests per day.
These tests are only discovering people who already have the virus. I know people are looking at other countries and even cities and jurisdictions around the United States and seeing the numbers rise significantly everywhere. But as we take action, we’re initiating a process that is intended to bend the curve.
* National Guard…
Earlier this week I activated the first members of the Illinois National Guard mission to join the fight against Cova 19. In total the guard is a force of really extraordinary citizens but they would call themselves ordinary citizens, but they’re 13,000 strong committed to amazing work, and they bring to our preparations key capabilities in logistics and transportation and even medical specialties in the short term the guard will be working to support our efforts to set up mobile testing units, allowing us to expand testing while ensuring that those tests can be administered in the safest possible way.
The guard is also doing critical work planning for the weeks and months ahead, including expanding our healthcare capacity by potentially refitting and reopening previously closed hospitals.
US Rep. Bobby Rush called on Pritzker to reopen a South Side hospital that was closed last year.
* Rumors…
I want to address some of the rumors that have been running around, essential services will not close interstates highways and bridges will stay open grocery stores pharmacies gas stations. These sources of fundamental supplies will continue to operate. There is no need to run out and hoard food gas or medicine, by what you need, within reason there is enough to go around as long as people do not hoard. We will never shut these services down.
And please, let’s all remember that these essential institutions don’t run on their own, the cashiers the gas station attendants, the truckers the pharmacists, the delivery workers the sanitation workers. These are all people who keep our state on track. So please take every opportunity that you can to demonstrate your gratitude to them.
* IDPH Director Ngozi Ezike…
Unfortunately we do anticipate additional deaths. Please everyone stay home as much as possible, so we can reduce the number of people who are infected, which will reduce the number of people who get serious illness, which will reduce the number of people who will lose their life.
Overall we have 422 cases in 22 counties across Illinois. The number of cases is rising exponentially with increasing laboratory testing in DPH labs, as well as in the commercial labs and the hospital labs, we did expect to see this rise as you test more, you will identify more
* Testing…
Testing will be performed for individuals who are part of a cluster of confirmed cases or possible cases among those who work or live in a residential congregate setting, such as the nursing homes testing at the IDP h labs will also be prioritized for people for hospitalized patients with unexplained pneumonia or from a residential congregate setting, serving vulnerable populations. Long term care facilities such as nursing homes with confirmed cases will increase the monitoring of those individuals and take aggressive infection control measures.
However testing of all individuals is not indicated.
We will not recommend test for every single resident or staff of an of a long term care facility rather we will take all the precautions necessary and as soon as any staff or resident develops symptoms, they will be isolated and treated. If they’re showing symptoms whether they’ve been tested or not, they will get the same treatments and the same appropriate measures will be taken to care for them.
Patients who do not fall into one of these categories for testing can seek care for their healthcare provider who can then move on forward with a testing at a commercial or a hospital laboratory.
* Press release…
There are 136 new cases of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) across Illinois. Five additional counties are now reporting cases; Jackson, Kankakee, LaSalle, Washington, and Williamson counties.
Currently, IDPH is reporting a total of 422 cases in 22 counties in Illinois. Cases have occurred in ages 9 to 99.
* Today’s graph…
None of the fatalities were in nursing homes.
* On to questions for the governor. How long will school closings last…
We’ve set a deadline, a date by which we think that students would go back but I also think that parents should be contemplating the possibility that that might be extended.
* What is the threshold for a shelter in place order…
Look, my expertise is not as a scientist or as a doctor, and so epidemiologists as well as those who are experts in public health, are those who I rely upon both here in Illinois and there are we have some of the best in the world here in Illinois. And I’ve also called others around the nation, so that I can better understand what are the things that they’re looking at. Many of the people in this field are very very concerned that the United States is not doing enough. I think you’ve heard that on television and we you know we’ve when we talk about bending the curve we say it like everybody understands but what we’re talking about is making sure that we don’t end up in the situation that Italy is in.
So when I make decisions about this this is about how do we operate faster and better than Italy, and then other countries that have seen this, you know, grow exponentially for a very long period of time. […]
Suffice to say that we’re evaluating every day.
Graph…
* IRMA has a list on their website that will include all grocery stores adopting special shopping hours for senior citizens and other vulnerable populations. This will be updated frequently. Click here.
* Pritzker was asked about reopening closed hospitals and expanding beds…
There are two types of hospital beds that we’re looking for. One is the NIC badge I mean rooms. I, and the ability to serve the people that are in those rooms. So two types one is those who are COVID-19 positive, who need to be treated for COVID-19. And then there are those who have some other illness that they’re in the hospital for, and they will need a bed, and we’re trying hard to stand up more of both of those types of beds, the more that we can alleviate the existing infrastructure of non COVID-19, the more likely we are to be able to serve the vastly increasing population of those who are tested positive for COVID-19. So we are, as I say we’re reopening hospitals. We’re looking at all the hospitals right now inventorying how to reopen them so we’ve got people on site in many cases, looking at you know remember there’s plant and equipment that you have to turn on it isn’t just as easy as turning the lights on. And then we’ve also got to have the healthcare personnel to move into those hospitals to make sure that we’re serving people properly. And then there are existing surgery centers and other places that have the potential to provide beds for for people that that aren’t normally places that would just accept a COVID-19 or other kind of a patient so we’re again outfitting those folks but but they also have nurses and doctors that are on staff and so they have a little more capability to begin with. All together so we’re, we’re working hard with all the hospitals to and you know that you know we we no longer have elective surgeries, going into our hospitals so that alleviates many of the beds, and also frankly puts a financial burden on the hospitals themselves who, you know, subsidize other care by doing elective surgeries often so anyway that’s that’s a lot of what we’re looking at. And we’re going to continue to look at, even more expansion that may include things like literally building a field hospital in Illinois and in various places. We’re also looking at how do you alleviate some of the intake that goes on at a hospital for people who really don’t need a bed sometimes they are put in a bed anyway to, you know, or were a month ago or two months ago, how do we alleviate some of that who could really convalesce for example at home, and not be in the hospital, and just evaluating, you know what, what does that look like how do we encourage that.
* A front group for the anti-graduated tax forces demanded today that Pritzker pull the proposal off the ballot. Pritzker’s response…
I would just say this is not a time for politics. We have too much to do to save people’s lives. We’re not focusing on, you know, legislative initiatives, other than focus right now on what it will take to provide the health care, and the unemployment and the services that people will need in what is going to be an increasingly difficult moment for everybody.
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* Oh, man…
The outbreak of the respiratory virus began in China and was quickly spread around the world by air travelers, who ran high fevers. In the United States, it was first detected in Chicago, and 47 days later the World Health Organization declared a pandemic. By then it was too late: 110 million Americans were expected to become ill, leading to 7.7 million hospitalized and 586,000 dead.
That scenario, code-named “Crimson Contagion,” was simulated by the Trump administration’s Department of Health and Human Services in a series of exercises that ran from last January to August.
The simulation’s sobering results — contained in a draft report dated October 2019 that has not previously been reported — drove home just how underfunded, underprepared and uncoordinated the federal government would be for a life-or-death battle with a virus for which no treatment existed.
The draft report, marked “not to be disclosed,” laid out in stark detail repeated cases of “confusion” in the exercise. Federal agencies jockeyed over who was in charge. State officials and local hospitals struggled to figure out what kind of equipment was stockpiled or available. Cities and states went their own way on school closings.
Go read the whole thing. The draft report is here. Chicago and Illinois participated in that exercise, but I don’t know if they were ever given the results.
* Politico…
President Donald Trump on Thursday put the onus on governors to obtain the critical equipment their states need to fight the coronavirus pandemic, telling reporters that the federal government is “not a shipping clerk” for the potentially life-saving supplies.
Appearing at the daily press briefing of the White House coronavirus task force, the president defended his decision to invoke the Defense Production Act — which would allow the administration to direct U.S. industry to ramp up production of emergency medical provisions — without actually triggering the statute.
“Governors are supposed to be doing a lot of this work, and they are doing a lot of this work,” Trump said. “The Federal government is not supposed to be out there buying vast amounts of items and then shipping. You know, we’re not a shipping clerk.”
The president’s remarks amounted to a rebuke of governors’ recent pleas for more robust federal intervention amid the rapidly spreading outbreak, which they warn will soon overwhelm local health care systems if hospital beds, face masks and other necessities are not soon furnished in significantly greater numbers.
*Hard sigh* As a buddy of mine just said, “There is an actual federal stockpile of things like PPE to ship to states. That is what they do.”
*** UPDATE *** Speaking of supplies, here’s the IHA…
The Illinois Health and Hospital Association (IHA) today issued a plea to the leaders of associations for the construction industry, dentists, veterinarians, and other groups that may be able to help the state’s more than 200 hospitals protect their healthcare workers as they care for COVID-19 patients. IHA is asking the organizations to donate face masks or N95s to their local hospitals.
“Hospitals all over the state are in jeopardy of potentially running out of critically needed protective medical supplies,” said Illinois Health and Hospital Association President and CEO A.J. Wilhelmi. “With continuing uncertainties about global and U.S. supplies of face masks, we urgently need to find alternative supplies, no matter where they are, so our hospitals can continue to provide life-saving care to current and future COVID-19 patients.”
The text of Wilhelmi’s message is as follows:
Subject: Illinois Hospitals Need Your Help - Request for Face Masks (N95s)
I am making an unusual, but critically important personal plea to you for help.
As you may be aware, Illinois hospitals and health systems are facing a critical shortage of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) as they care for increasing numbers of patients with COVID-19. Yesterday, the number of COVID-19 cases in Illinois nearly doubled to 288. We anticipate that the number of cases will increase dramatically in the coming days and weeks, exhausting all the PPE at hospitals, including gowns, gloves, eye shields and, especially, medical masks (specifically, standard surgical masks and N95s, which have NIOSH or FDA approval, including expired N95s).
PPE is critical to protecting our frontline healthcare workforce from infection when testing and treating patients for COVID-19, keeping our dedicated physicians, nurses, technicians and others in our hospitals where they are needed most.
Earlier this week, you may have seen or heard that Vice President Mike Pence asked all construction companies to donate unused/packaged N95 masks to their local hospitals and to limit ordering more:
“We would make one specific request, and that is we would urge construction companies to donate their inventory of N95 masks to your local hospital and forgo additional orders of those industrial masks…Because of what the president asked to be included in legislation moving through the Congress, those industrial masks that they use on construction sites are perfectly acceptable for healthcare workers to be protected from a respiratory disease.” (See a news story on the Vice President’s remarks at a White House press conference)
In addition, there may be available N95 masks from dental offices or other healthcare facilities that have been temporarily shuttered because of the COVID-19 crisis.
On behalf of more than 200 hospitals and health systems across Illinois, I ask you to donate N95s to your local hospitals. We greatly appreciate any help you can provide to protect healthcare workers as they provide life-saving care to patients during this crisis. Thanks for considering, and please let me know if you have any questions or need more information.
* Meanwhile, here’s some headlines from the Tribune’s very good COVID-19 page…
Metra cuts weekday schedule in half as coronavirus causes deep ridership drop
Chicago police and paramedics just announced their first coronavirus cases. How are they dealing with COVID-19 on the front line?
Chicago orders coronavirus patients, people showing symptoms, to stay home
Suburban Cook County coronavirus cases rise to 75 with 17 new infections
Professional licenses expiration dates extended
Illinois General Assembly cancels session
Lightfoot addressing the public tonight in broadcast from City Hall
Illinois unemployment claims skyrocket as coronavirus pandemic causes workplaces to shut down
As day cares shut down, parents must juggle child care and working from home
ER doctors at Rush Oak Park Hospital test positive for coronavirus as village issues ‘shelter in place’ order
* SJ-R…
Springfield COVID-19 updates: Closings, cancellations, help available
* This is not good, but it’s going to happen in lots more places, so prepare yourself…
One staff member at the Church Creek senior living center in Arlington Heights has contracted the COVID-19 coronavirus, the center said Wednesday.
* Sun-Times…
Labor leaders in the Chicago area and nationally Thursday urged private employers to pay workers during furloughs and called for federal legislation to ensure the continued flow of money and benefits to people — and not corporations — as the nation’s economic paralysis spreads because of the pandemic.
“Workers are making sacrifices right now,” said Robert Reiter Jr., president of the Chicago Federation of Labor. “We cannot let those sacrifices be in vain.”
He called on private employers to help their staffs. “This is a time when folks have to step up,” Reiter said.
Also, click here for an informational thread on prisoner release.
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* We’ve already talked about how Sen. Dave Syverson and Rep. John Cabello, both Winnebago County Republicans, are upset at Gov. Pritzker’s order to shut down bars and restaurants.
They’ve been harshly criticized by other local leaders, but they’re sticking to their opposition. Here’s Richard Bodee at WREX…
We asked both Sen. Syverson and Rep. Cabello about their thoughts on social distancing, the preferred method the CDC recommends people use.
“It’s not for me to question the medical experts who say that,” Sen. Syverson says. “Do the [right] things, wash your hands, social distance.”
“If the people who want to open their business, keep it open, we should let them do that,” Rep. Cabello says.
We tried to ask Cabello if he stood by that, even if it meant hurting people who are immunocompromised.
“I’m not a doctor,” Cabello says.
OK, you’re not doctors. How about listening to some doctors?
…Adding… Some advice from actual doctors…
* Rep. Darren Bailey (R-Xenia) initially questioned the need for parade cancellations and the restaurant/tavern shutdowns and implied that the virus was a Chicago problem so the measures shouldn’t be applied to the entire state and also wondered if the governor actually had the power to take his actions. Well, the Eastern Bloc member has completely changed his tone. From a March 16 press release…
State Rep. Darren Bailey (R-Xenia) continues to monitor the on-going situation with the coronavirus (COVID-19) situation in Illinois. At the daily press briefing by Governor JB Pritzker, 105 cases have been confirmed in Illinois including those who have recovered, and two more counties have identified people who tested positive for the COVID-19, Peoria and Will.
“We need to continue to use common sense with personal hygiene and limiting the size of groups we are congregating around,” commented Rep. Bailey. “According to the Illinois Department of Public Health director, the most vulnerable people for experiencing the harshest reactions to the virus are the elderly, pregnant women, and those with compromised immune systems.”
The Illinois Department of Public Health announced 12 new cases of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) across Illinois, on Monday, bringing the total to 105 in Illinois. No cases have been announced in the 109th District, as testing progresses, this is likely to change. We should expect this and it is not a reason for panic.
*** UPDATE *** WMAY…
The new Republican nominee for U.S. Senate questions whether the state and national response to the coronavirus pandemic has gone too far.
Appearing live on WMAY, former Lake County Sheriff Mark Curran, Jr. said if he were in the Senate, he would be asking whether it’s really necessary to shut down large numbers of businesses and make people stay at home… or whether those efforts should have been focused on just those who are most vulnerable to the virus. Curran admits he doesn’t have all the answers… but says there should have been more discussion about the measures being taken.
Everyone is vulnerable to this virus. Saying stuff like that is the exact sort of thing which encourages young people to crowd beaches.
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* Email to Illinois House Democrats…
Good afternoon, members –
Please be advised that the session days scheduled for next week will be cancelled; however, as I indicated in my communication earlier this week, the session schedule is “in flux,” and members should be prepared to return to Springfield to address urgent matters. Regarding the committee deadline for House bills, which was set for March 27, that will be extended to April 3; this and other deadlines will be reviewed and extended when needed moving forward.
Generally, members should be re-evaluating any and all travel plans, including those made for the weeks of April 5 and April 12 (the legislative spring break). This is not only due to the need to practice social distancing to safeguard the health of our communities, but also due to the possible need to return to Springfield for session during that time period.
Furthermore, we are planning to have a conference call for all caucus members. We’re planning for tomorrow, but still finalizing the details – more info on this will be sent to members as soon as possible. The agenda will include a status update on the progress of various working groups.
Take care and be well,
Jessica
Jessica Basham, Chief of Staff
Office of the Speaker
*** UPDATE *** The Senate has also canceled next week.
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* Team coverage at the Sun-Times…
Chicagoans braced for the threat of coronavirus and plenty of mishaps at polling places to vote in the 2020 primary election — an election with at least two tight races that could be affected by what could be more than a quarter of a million ballots yet to be counted.
Chicago Board of Elections spokesman Jim Allen late Tuesday said 200,000 early voting ballots had yet to be counted, and a “potential universe” of another 70,000 mail-in ballots could arrive to be counted in the next two weeks.
“We’re going to be counting for another two weeks, easily,” Allen said.
Allen explained that the city’s election board normally shuts down early voting the Monday before Election Day. It gathers all the memory chips from machines to be able to report out all early voting data, like “one big happy family of data.”
“This time we had early voting open on Election Day and serving as precinct [polling places], so now those precincts are coming in with all early voting data, going back to Feb. 19th,” Allen said. “That’s 200,212 ballots.”
Keep that in mind.
You can see some five-day-old maps for vote by mail applications here, returned mail here and early voting here to give you a rough idea of what’s out there.
* Regardless of the issues, the Associated Press declared Marie Newman the winner…
Challenger Marie Newman claimed victory over Rep. Dan Lipinski on Tuesday night in a rematch of their nationally watched Democratic congressional primary that was a battle between the party’s progressive and moderate wings.
The businesswoman from La Grange ended nearly four decades of Lipinski family control of the Southwest Side and southwest suburban congressional seat. The congressman’s father, William Lipinski, served from 1983 until 2005, when he engineered the appointment of his son.
“I am bursting with pride and gratitude for the amazing coalition who helped bring about much needed change in our district,” Newman said in a statement. “We are going to work together to lower healthcare costs, to fight climate change, and to continue building a hospitable community for everyone, no matter where you come from.
* Whatever’s left to be counted could be crucial in this race…
Ald. Edward M. Burke, the long-time 14th Ward Democratic Committeeperson, was in a close race to retain the seat against freshman state Rep. Aaron Ortiz, but his chief rival’s lead was growing.
Ortiz — who ousted Burke’s brother, state Rep. Dan Burke, just over a year ago — is leading with 40% of the vote to Burke’s 33%, with 94% of precincts reporting. Alicia Elena Martinez trails with 27% of the vote.
The too-close-to-call race — for now — leaves Burke’s seat, which he has held since 1968, up for grabs.
Ortiz won his House race.
* Perhaps the same goes for this race…
Illinois Supreme Court Justice P. Scott Neville Jr. looked poised to hold the seat on the high court he inherited from the late Justice Charles E. Freeman, but a strong challenge from Appellate Court Justice Jesse Reyes meant there was no clear winner in the race late Tuesday. […]
With 92 percent of precincts reporting, Neville led with 24.4 percent of the vote. Reyes had 21.3 percent, Harris had 16.1 percent, McBride had 12.7 percent, Cobbs had 12.9 percent, Epstein had 7.8 percent, and Howse had 4.8 percent.
Neville is now up by 5.
* The state’s attorney’s race wasn’t close despite huge spending by Bill Conway…
With about 85% of precincts reporting at 10:30 p.m., Foxx had 48% of the vote and Conway had 33%. Two other challengers were polling a distant third and fourth.
* Press release…
State Rep. Yoni Pizer conceded to Margaret Croke in the race for 12th District State Representative on Tuesday.
“I congratulate Margaret Croke on her victory and a hard-fought campaign,” said Rep. Pizer. “I decided to step up and run because I believe strongly that representation matters. I was humbled and honored to be appointed the first-ever openly gay representative of the 12th District, which includes the historically LGBTQ community of Boystown. I intend to work with Representative-Elect Croke to ensure that it receives the representation we need and deserve.”
* Hannah Meisel…
Anti-gun advocate Denyse Wang Stoneback appeared to have defeated appointed State Rep. Yehiel “Mark” Kalish (D-Skokie) in a race that centered on the Democratic Party’s push to expand access to reproductive health care.” […]
In the 3rd District, appointed State Rep. Eva-Dina Delgado appeared to lead Chicago teacher Nidia Carranza, according to unofficial returns. Delgado had the support of Mayor Lori Lightfoot, while Carranza had the support of the Chicago Teachers Union.
In the 9th District, State Rep. Lindsey LaPointe, appeared to lead former WGN radio host Patti Vasquez and Chicago Police Officer Joe Duplechin, according to unofficial returns.
In the Illinois Senate, appointed State Sen. Robert Peters (D-Chicago) appeared to lead immigration attorney Ken Thomas, according to early returns.
* I think this is over, but we’ll see…
Illinois state Sen. Iris Martinez has a big lead in the Democratic primary for clerk of the Cook County Circuit Court. With 3,579 out of 3,668 precincts reporting, Illinois state Sen. Iris Martinez is heading up the four-way race, with 34% of the vote.
Cook County Board of Review Commissioner Michael Cabonargi follows in second place (27%), trailed by former Cook County Commissioner Richard Boykin (25.3%) and civil rights attorney Jacob Meister (13.7%).
That’s gonna mean another legislative appointment.
…Adding… Cabonargi has conceded.
*** UPDATE 1 *** Kinda…
*** UPDATE 2 *** Marie Newman…
“Earlier today, I spoke with Congressman Lipinski, who ran a tough race. I want to thank him for reaching out, and I’m hopeful we can work together in the coming months to fight for our community and to get things done for the Third Congressional District. I am so proud of the coalition we built in this campaign and I am looking forward to continuing to meet with people and hearing their concerns on the campaign trail over the next few months. Now, more than ever, we need to be unified and not divided. Let’s all stand together in this fight for better healthcare, a more equitable economy and solutions that improve everybody’s everyday.”
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Open thread
Wednesday, Mar 18, 2020 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Man, what a morning. Up really late, overslept a bit, lost my Internet connection, browser problems. You name it, I got it. Great timing, too. Be nice to each other. I’ll have another post up soonish. I need another cup of coffee first, though.
…Adding… And the coffee maker just broke.
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Late afternoon/evening precinct reports
Tuesday, Mar 17, 2020 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Ah, Chicago…
The answer is: Yes.
…Adding… This has been getting a lot of play on Twitter…
By coincidence, my pal Chris Dudley voted at that precinct. Her story…
Rich,
I wanted to let you know about Andy and my experience voting in Chicago this morning. Our normal polling place is at a neighborhood nursing home. We were informed last week via mail that the polling place had been changed to a new location. When we arrived at the new location this morning, the delightful poll worker informed us that our particular precinct was not voting at this location— because they never received the materials. She informed us that we would need to vote at the Police HQ on Addison (which has been the location for early voting in the 44th ward). As we departed, hand written signs we noticed (which we missed) were posted on the doors to inform the voters of our precinct where to proceed.
So off we went to the Police HQ. The line at 11:00 was very long wrapping around the building. Many candidates , including Margaret Croke, were working the line (at an appropriate distance). The poll workers were EXCELLENT. They were professional, patient and attentive to the social distancing necessary at this time. The voters in line were equally delightful. No complaining, seemed delighted to be out in the fresh air while they waited. It was encouraging to see so many folks lined up to vote. Adding, I have never stood in line to vote in all my years voting in Chicago…but was most happy to do so today.
Stay safe. Stay healthy.
…Adding… Oh, my…
* As I told subscribers this morning, I won’t have live election results here tonight, but I will have links to sites where you can see those results. I will have a ScribbleLive post for winners, however.
Now, on to the precinct reports. Tell us what you’re seeing, what you’re hearing and where you’re at. Thanks!
[Comments are now off. Please move to the live election coverage post.]
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Question of the day
Tuesday, Mar 17, 2020 - Posted by Rich Miller
* In all the chaos I forgot it was St. Patrick’s Day. So, how about let’s talk about our favorite St. Patrick’s Day political moments in days gone by?
…Adding… Musical interlude…
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Early afternoon precinct reports
Tuesday, Mar 17, 2020 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Hannah Meisel…
12th House
Though there had already been tension in the 12th District as newcomers began lining up in the summer to fight longtime House member Sara Feigenholtz, after former Senate President John Cullerton announced he was planning on retiring in November, even more Democrats got into the race to replace Feigenholtz, who almost immediately announced her intention to seek Cullerton’s empty Senate seat. […]
The campaigns got heated over the weekend over protections for Coronavirus, with Pizer’s campaign throwing arrows accusing Croke’s campaign of putting lives at risk for still engaging in limited in-person get-out-the-vote activity at early voting locations.
Tensions also bubbled on Monday when Pizer’s campaign accused Croke’s campaign of covering up signs that included a message regarding why the campaign was not engaging in in-person canvassing during the COVID-19 outbreak.
Croke spokesman Hugo Jacobo said Pizer’s campaign “ha[d] no proof” it was done by a Croke campaign member.
“No one on our team did that or would do that,” Jacobo said. “100 percent of our efforts are on communicating with voters.”
At least they weren’t actually stealing the signs. /s
* Latest updates…
* Sun-Times: City elections board spars with governor’s office over decision not to postpone primary
* SJ-R: ‘Interest is starting to grow’
* Tribune: DuPage Co. restocking polling places with hand sanitizer, other supplies as votes trickle in
* NBC 5: DuPage County Clerk announces that more than 9,800 votes had been cast as of 8 a.m. No additional polling places were closed in the county Tuesday, but 17 closures were previously announced, all of which were relocated to the DuPage County Fairgrounds.
* Daily Herald: Seven Lake County polling places to change due to pandemic
* What’s going on in your neck of the woods? Make sure to tell us where you’re at. And, please, don’t engage in policy and campaign debates. We have other threads for that. People read these threads to get an idea about what’s going on. So, enlighten us. Thank you kindly.
[Comments are now closed, so click here for a fresh post.]
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* WBEZ…
School assignments given during the mandatory school closure should not count toward student grades because most school districts are not ready for e-learning, according to the Illinois State Board of Education.
All K-12 schools in the state will be closed from March 17 until at least March 30 under an order from Gov. JB Pritzker.
While some school districts are able to move to e-learning to continue class remotely, the state board says most districts don’t have the capability. Of the 614 districts that responded to a survey sent by ISBE over the weekend, 71% said they had obstacles to moving to e-learning. The biggest challenge was student access to broadband, followed by access to digital devices.
The board said it’s a matter of equity not to have assignments impact grades during this time. The state is exploring options to move districts to e-learning if closures go beyond March 30, but that is at the exploratory stage.
Chicago Public Schools instructed teachers to hand out learning packets Monday to be completed by students during the shutdown. CPS CEO Janice Jackson said this work should be seen primarily as enrichment, but she also suggested teachers could find ways to get students to do it.
We are now paying the price for years of inaction on this front. Hopefully, this will finally break the logjam.
* And the school closures could last longer than two weeks. President Trump said yesterday it was possible the pandemic would be with us through July or August. Sun-Times…
For the second time this school year, Chicago families face an uncertain future as all schools close Tuesday — but this time it’s because of the coronavirus outbreak that has taken over life in the United States.
City and schools officials are making efforts to ease the burden on families in need, but Mayor Lori Lightfoot acknowledged Monday that it’s not yet clear whether school can resume at the end of Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s mandated two-week closure March 31.
“This is an incredibly fluid situation, which is an understatement,” Lightfoot told reporters after touring the district’s coronavirus command center. “I don’t want to get ahead of myself and predict what may be happening in April because as a matter of fact it’s hard for us to predict what’s going to happen one or two days in advance.”
*** UPDATE *** Press release…
Today the Office of Governor JB Pritzker, the Illinois Education Association (IEA), the Illinois Federation of Teachers (IFT), Illinois Association of School Administrators (IASA), Illinois Principals Association (IPA), and Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) released the following statement:
These are unprecedented times, but we are all together with the goal of caring for students. Our organizations are truly inspired by the phenomenal cooperation shown across the state and encourage all of our members to be reasonable, creative, and generous while determining what’s best for our students in Illinois. ISBE has announced that these will be Act of God Days. To assist our members during this time, the leadership of the IEA, IFT, IASA, and IPA have prepared this joint guidance with the Office of Governor JB Pritzker and ISBE to be effective through March 30, 2020. As this is a rapidly evolving situation, subsequent guidance may be released.
From March 17 through March 30, all school district employees on the district’s payroll will get paid as if the schools were functioning normally, regardless of the district plans developed during this time. These school days will not be made up. All employees will get paid as if they did all the normal work they would have done if schools were functioning normally. Normal pay includes salary, hourly and stipend pay, benefits, and employees will receive full and normal service credit in their pension systems.
From March 17 through March 30, the employer can expect school district employees to participate in work activities in some form. The concrete details of the work, including stipend work, that will occur during this timeframe must be worked out through mutual agreement, but negotiations should focus on ensuring (1) continuity of education, (2) provision of meals, and (3) other student support measures as appropriate for each district. Public health and safety of students and staff are paramount, and to the extent work can be done remotely, it should be. Illinois Department of Public Health and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommendations on social distancing and group gatherings should be adhered to. Employers should not require any more employees than absolutely necessary to come to school.
No school district can unilaterally change the use of benefit days. We encourage local collaboration on the use of benefit days and encourage ways to support anyone who is sick or is caring for a sick family member.
We acknowledge that the current law on teacher evaluation and Reduction in Force (honorable dismissal and layoff) remains in full force including all timelines and existing statutory language. If necessary, meetings and evaluation conferences associated with these statutes will occur remotely.
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* AP…
In Illinois, Cook County Clerk Karen A. Yarbrough took to Twitter on Tuesday morning to encourage poll workers to mark space on the floor at polling sites to keep voters a safe distance apart and avoid spreading the virus. The tweet included a photo of a roll of blue tape, a piece of string and a tape measure along with a note that concludes: “THIS PICTURE CAN SAVE LIVES.”
Yarbrough said shortly after the polls opened, however, that she had heard of no problems at the county’s polling sites and expected “things to go well” on Tuesday.
“I’m just hopeful that we’ll have a good day voting for the people,” she said.
Not since New York City postponed its mayoral primary on the day of the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks has an election been pushed off in such a high-profile, far-reaching way. Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine initially asked a court to delay the vote, and when a judge refused to do so the state’s health director declared a health emergency that would prevent the polls from opening.
* DuPage County Clerk…
Voting is proceeding in DuPage County.
By 8:00 AM, 9,894 voters had cast ballots today, for an overall turnout of 8% of 49,745 cast. DuPage County has 613,430 registered voters.
No additional polling places have been closed today. […]
This morning, the DuPage County Division of Transportation delivered additional stocks of hand sanitizer and cleaning supplies to every polling place in DuPage County. A team of 25 field representatives will be deployed across the County throughout the day to keep polling places restocked with supplies.
* Daily Herald…
The continuing spread of the COVID-19 pandemic has prompted the closure of seven Lake County polling places for Tuesday’s primary election — but alternate sites have been established.
* SJ-R…
It’s 7:15 a.m. and Sangamon County clerk Don Gray is pleased.
“We opened every poll on time and everyone is staffed,” Gray said. “I’m proud of how the election judges have stepped up and done their civic duty.”
There are 79 polling stations for 180 precincts. And Gray says those polls are safe. Voters will have hand sanitizer and election judges will be wiping down every surface at the polls with disinfectant wipes.
* But Chicago (surprise!) is a freaking mess. And to cover themselves, election officials are shifting blame…
Chicago Board of Election Commissioners spokesman Jim Allen said city election officials asked Gov. J.B. Pritzker to call off in-person voting but the governor declined.
Allen said board of election officials spoke with the Governor’s staff last week hours after health authorities declared the coronavirus outbreak a global pandemic.
“We were urging the postponement of the election, the abandonment of the polling place model of voting and a conversion to vote by mail for the safety of the voting public,” Allen said.
“They’ve been trying to get away from in-precinct [voting] for years and we always say no,” explained one top Dem about Chicago election authorities. “It’s insane,” the person added. “They are government officials. They should be doing their jobs not making it worse simply to cover their own [behinds].”
* This was my question during the conference call…
Having a plan is one thing, executing it is quite another.
* They simply did not do their jobs and now want to blame others when nobody else is complaining like this…
He was also unaware of an offer by the Illinois Emergency Management Agency to provide the city with hand sanitizer and dodged a question about the state’s offer to supply 2,000 high school kids in a state program which was apparently denied when city elections officials refused to waive polling place training requirements.
*** UPDATE 1 *** Jordan Abudayyeh…
Our nation and our state are facing a crisis at the moment. Over the last week, so many leaders have stepped up to the plate to offer innovative solutions to our challenges and, unfortunately, there are those who have shirked their responsibility.
Last week, the Chicago Board of Elections held a call with the Governor’s office, the House Speaker and the Senate President where they voiced concern about having enough election judges. The Governor’s Office offered to provide the National Guard to help staff the election and we also worked to recruit volunteers. 2000 young people from the Mikva Challenge were turned away from volunteering because the board wouldn’t reduce red tape. So instead of accepting help or offering any solutions of their own, the Chicago Board of Elections decided to wait until Election Day to get on a call with press and make politically charged accusations.
The Governor cannot unilaterally cancel or delay an election. Elections are the cornerstone of our democracy and we could not risk confusion and disenfranchisement in the courts. No one is saying this is a perfect solution. We have no perfect solutions at the moment. We only have least bad solutions.
What’s concerning is that the board has time to play politics instead of doing their job. Instead of hosting a press call to pass on the blame for their failures, we would urge the Chicago Board of Elections to focus on ensuring our democracy can continue as uninterrupted as possible by troubleshooting the issues at the polls.
This administration and the Governor are focused on our critical health needs around the state today. The Chicago Board of Elections should find a way to do their job.
…Adding… Agreed…
*** UPDATE 2 *** Jim Allen has stepped into a buzzsaw…
*** UPDATE 3 *** Walkback…
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Mid-morning precinct reports
Tuesday, Mar 17, 2020 - Posted by Rich Miller
* The Chicago Elections Board is reporting extremely low turnout, just 10,000 in the first hour.
Here’s a list of news media campaign update pages with the latest headlines. Click the links throughout the day to stay updated…
* Sun-Times: Election judges report sanitizer shortages: ‘I’m not sure what we’re supposed to do’
* WBEZ: Virus doesn’t stop Illinois election
* SJ-R: Primary Election Day updates: Polls are open, all are staffed
* Tribune: https://www.sj-r.com/news/20200317/primary-election-day-updates-polls-are-open-all-are-staffed
* NBC 5: DuPage County Clerk announces that more than 9,800 votes had been cast as of 8 a.m. No additional polling places were closed in the county Tuesday, but 17 closures were previously announced, all of which were relocated to the DuPage County Fairgrounds.
* Daily Herald: Seven Lake County polling places to change due to pandemic
If you run across any other such links, please let me know.
* How are things looking like by you? Tell us what you see and where you are. Thanks.
[Comments are closed. Fresh thread is here.]
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Early morning precinct reports
Tuesday, Mar 17, 2020 - Posted by Rich Miller
* From the Village of Barrington…
As of this morning, Tuesday, March 17 at 6:15 a.m., there is currently NO VOTING at Village Hall, and likely other Village of Barrington polling places, due to a lack of election judge volunteers reporting for duty. Unfortunately we do not have any further information for our residents as to where or how to vote at this time.
Cook County Elections Department “leases” space for elections; Village Hall is one of those spaces. We provide the building, but do not provide judges, nor do we have any authority to do so.
Before you head to your polling place today, please contact your election board for further information
Oh, man.
What’s it looking like where you vote? How are the crowds? What’s the mood? Please tell us what you’re seeing and where you’re at. Thanks.
…Adding… Daily Line…
Chicago Board of Election Commissioners Chair Marisel Hernandez told reporters Monday that the election would be the “most difficult in 100 years.”
Hernandez pleaded with “young, healthy” Chicagoans to serve as election judges by simply showing up to a polling place Tuesday.
There has been a “tsunami” of resignations of election judges, Hernandez said.
“We are in an untenable position,” Hernandez said.
But even if polling places open as scheduled, it is not clear how many voters will show up amid fears that they could get sick, or unwittingly spread the virus.
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* If you click here and read the governor’s new executive order, you’ll see the state statutes listed that justify his decision to close restaurants and bars and limit the size of gatherings to less than 50 people. The powers derive from the Illinois Emergency Management Agency Act and the governor is invoking sections 7(1), 7(2), 7(3) and 7(8). Here they are…
Sec. 7. Emergency Powers of the Governor. In the event of a disaster, as defined in Section 4, the Governor may, by proclamation declare that a disaster exists. Upon such proclamation, the Governor shall have and may exercise for a period not to exceed 30 days the following emergency powers; provided, however, that the lapse of the emergency powers shall not, as regards any act or acts occurring or committed within the 30-day period, deprive any person, firm, corporation, political subdivision, or body politic of any right or rights to compensation or reimbursement which he, she, it, or they may have under the provisions of this Act:
(1) To suspend the provisions of any regulatory statute prescribing procedures for conduct of State business, or the orders, rules and regulations of any State agency, if strict compliance with the provisions of any statute, order, rule, or regulation would in any way prevent, hinder or delay necessary action, including emergency purchases, by the Illinois Emergency Management Agency, in coping with the disaster.
(2) To utilize all available resources of the State government as reasonably necessary to cope with the disaster and of each political subdivision of the State.
(3) To transfer the direction, personnel or functions of State departments and agencies or units thereof for the purpose of performing or facilitating disaster response and recovery programs.
(8) To control ingress and egress to and from a disaster area, the movement of persons within the area, and the occupancy of premises therein.
The “movement of persons” and “occupancy of premises” are the most important here, I think. The entire state has been declared a disaster area.
* Disaster’s definition…
“Disaster” means an occurrence or threat of widespread or severe damage, injury or loss of life or property resulting from any natural or technological cause, including but not limited to fire, flood, earthquake, wind, storm, hazardous materials spill or other water contamination requiring emergency action to avert danger or damage, epidemic, air contamination, blight, extended periods of severe and inclement weather, drought, infestation, critical shortages of essential fuels and energy, explosion, riot, hostile military or paramilitary action, public health emergencies, or acts of domestic terrorism.
…Adding… Read to the bottom of the EO and you’ll see he also suspended the section of the Open Meetings Act that requires local members of a public body to be physically present for votes.
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* Gov. Pritzker is having a press conference in Springfield today…
There is new guidance out just moments ago from the President of the United States, and we can talk more about that in the questions and answers, but as a result of the guidance that’s been given, I am mandating that any gatherings of the 50 people or more guidance by the CDC will be canceled
This post will be updated. And, again, remember that I’m using Otter for my transcription, so there will be some typos.
* IDPH Director Ngozi Ezike…
We have two new counties that have developed cases, Peoria and Will counties. So the numbers of cases are increasing each day as is the number of locations. People should assume that this novel coronavirus is in their community and take steps to protect themselves and reduce the spread. There is evidence that the transmission of the virus often occurs when symptoms first develop. So it’s important to limit close contact with people as much as possible, even if you don’t feel that sick. […]
It is important that we reduce the amount of virus circulating in the community. This happens by reducing the number of people who come in contact with the virus. Bottom line is, stay home as much as possible.
* Missed this from Gov. Pritzker earlier…
And I want to express my sincerest gratitude to the many unsung heroes who keep this operation moving 24/7. The vast majority of whom the public will never know, Springfield is also home to one of our three state run COVID-19 testing labs, which are also located in Chicago and Carbondale, these facilities and their personnel, deliver deliver us from sorry Deliver us some of the fastest results of any state. When it comes to COVID-19 testing and support our Sentinel surveillance operation to monitor for the virus, all across, Illinois. 15 hospitals statewide are running the program with more to come, three hospitals here in Central Illinois seven hospitals in Cook County, three hospitals in other areas of Northern Illinois, and two hospitals in Southern Illinois. All performing this Sentinel surveillance together. Our state lab and hospital partners are ramping up testing to the levels necessary for us to better understand the presence and patterns of the spread of the virus in Illinois.
But to get a full picture of that we need the federal government to lead. Follow or get out of the way. From the beginning, I’ve been pressing the White House for a rapid increase in test deployment nationwide. There are COVID-19 tests available right now that have been approved for use in Europe, and use in Asia, that are not available in the United States so I’m calling on the FDA to review and approve these tests as soon as possible. precious time has been lost because the White House made some bad decisions early on, which led to the current low levels of testing across the United States. But at the state level, we’ve had to scramble to create more testing capability on our own, our hospitals and our research centers in Illinois which are some of the finest in the world were finally given permission by the federal government to develop our own tests, which has expanded testing availability, but still more must be done by the federal government to the people of Illinois, and to all the people across Central Illinois and Springfield.
* The governor was asked what he would do with business owners who defy the restaurant/bar closing order…
Obviously you can’t police everything all the time and so we obviously want communities to understand what the limitations are and understand what the orders are that have been given, and to follow them. And so we’re gonna, you know, we’re going to do our best to help the communities, managing themselves. And I think you’ve seen on social media and elsewhere, the public, the vast majority of the public understands what needs to be done here. There are a few people who want to resist and want to talk about resistance against it, but I think at this point, you know, the public is kind of reining in those outliers. […]
I would say to them that, weeks from now, months from now, when one of those party goers, one of those people that they defied the order to have into their establishment that becomes sick, perhaps dire. Somebody perhaps might die and they should know that they are responsible for that.
He also said the 50 person limit could be lowered to 10.
* The governor was asked about the 50-person limit and how that would apply to election day tomorrow…
Look, we have to have our elections continue in my opinion, this is the right thing to do our democracy needs to go on, we need to elect leaders. If we cancel these elections you know when we have an election, would be a question I might ask, but the most important thing is that we’re taking every precaution. Every time somebody goes and votes on a voting machine that people are touching, it’s being wiped down. We have guidance to all the election judges to make sure to to maintain social separation distance.
We’re making sure that we have sanitizer at the locations that people are voting at, and then just remember we have a terrific early voting mechanism across the state. Not only can people go in over the last 44 days and today to early vote, but also we have vote by mail, and we’ve had record vote by mail in many areas of the state so I feel good about the decision to have the election on tomorrow with another question. […]
As you know, the process of voting is a very short, relatively short process … You’re with a machine really you’re facing people to check in, and they’re going to give social, you know, social distance to people. But the total time in a location and engaging with a group of people, isn’t very much and doesn’t doesn’t really happen. So, we think it’s, we do believe it’s safe. We’ve certainly consulted experts and we think that the election will be just fine.
* The governor was asked about IRMA’s plea to make sure grocery stores, pharmacies, gas stations, etc. be allowed to remain open…
You’re asking questions that I can’t fully answer today because the scientists and medical doctors don’t have answers to those things either.
Obviously the fundamental functions that people need like being able to put gas in your car and all that. I cannot anticipate, I do not anticipate that we’ll be doing anything that will prevent people from getting in their own car if they absolutely need to and suggest to people. They should stay home, but they may need to go to the grocer, they need they need to go somewhere else to a doctor, perhaps, so we’re not going to prevent any of that. But I will say that I don’t know what the next day will bring. I mean, as you’ve seen we’ve had to evolve as the science has evolved. I would add one more thing just for to keep in mind here, because these decisions are not easy. I mean, no one wants to close the schools, no one wants to ask businesses to close them it’s a terrible thing. It’s not what I would do.
* Mass transit…
If you have not been in Chicago today or yesterday, mass transit is, you know, there are many many fewer people in mass transit many many fewer people on the roads. And I think you’re seeing that in Central Illinois as well. So I think we don’t have any answers about what may happen with mass transit.
* In conclusion…
Last thing for the people who think that they’re the least vulnerable and most invulnerable young people who feel just fine and they think they’re just fine because they haven’t heard much about coronavirus affecting people in their age group. They are carriers potentially.
For those out there who think that you’re immune. You’re not.
For counties out there that have said, ‘Well, nobody in my county’s gotten it. I live in an area where people just don’t get these things. This seems like something that only happens in Chicago.’ You’re wrong.
All over the world in rural areas, people are getting coronavirus. It is coming, unfortunately, to everywhere in the state of Illinois, no matter where you live, it will come. And so you need to be prepared. You need to listen to what we’re saying. And we will. As a result of the positive actions that we’re taking in the individuals across the state are taking, we will bend this curve and we will save lives.
Presser ended.
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12 new cases, now 105 cases in 15 counties
Monday, Mar 16, 2020 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Press release…
The Illinois Department of Public Health today announced 12 new cases of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) across Illinois. Two additional counties are now reporting cases, Peoria and Will counties. Other locations with cases include Chicago and Champaign, Clinton, Cook, Cumberland, DuPage, Kane, Lake, McHenry, Sangamon, St. Clair, Whiteside, Winnebago, and Woodford counties.
“We know there is a lot of concern as the number of cases and locations increase,” said IDPH Director Dr. Ngozi Ezike. “However, not everyone who has respiratory symptoms like cough and shortness of breath needs to be tested. Similarly, not everyone who is infected with novel coronavirus needs medical treatment. We want to make sure those at higher risk of severe illness are prioritized for testing and that they can receive the medical care they need. We ask those who have mild symptoms to stay home so the health care system is not overwhelmed.”
Information so far suggests that most COVID-19 illness is mild. However, older people and people of all ages with severe chronic medical conditions, like heart disease, lung disease, and diabetes, seem to be at higher risk of developing serious illness. It is crucial that we limit contact with older people and those with certain health conditions.
Currently, IDPH is reporting 105 cases in 15 counties in Illinois. Cases have occurred in all age ranges and the number of cases that do not have a clear connection to travel or a known COVID-19 case is increasing.
…Adding… Our daily graph…
* Meanwhile, from the NY Times…
President Trump told a group of governors Monday morning that they should not wait for the federal government to fill the growing demand for respirators needed to help people diagnosed with coronavirus.
“Respirators, ventilators, all of the equipment — try getting it yourselves,” Mr. Trump told the governors during the conference call, a recording of which was shared with The New York Times.
“We will be backing you, but try getting it yourselves. Point of sales, much better, much more direct if you can get it yourself.”
The suggestion surprised some of the governors, who have been scrambling to contain the outbreak and are increasingly looking to the federal government for help with equipment, personnel and financial aid.
* Also…
The U.S. surgeon general, meanwhile, said the number of coronavirus cases in the United States has reached the level that disease-battered Italy recorded two weeks ago — a signal that infections are expected to rise in America.
“We are at a critical inflection point in this country, people,” U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Jerome Adams told Fox News. “When you look at the projections, there’s every chance that we could be Italy.”
Two weeks ago, there were 1,700 cases of coronavirus in Italy and the country had reported 34 deaths. Now, Italy is reporting an estimated 25,000 cases and more than 1,800 people have died.
The U.S. has recorded about 3,800 infections and at least 65 deaths, two-thirds of them in hard-hit Washington state.
* Related…
* Chicago area hospitals postponing some elective surgeries amid COVID-19
* United Airlines cuts more flights as analysts warn impact of coronavirus on air travel could rival 9/11
* Coronavirus and sports: MLB pushes back opening day again and next month’s NFL draft will happen, but without public events
* Stocks fall worldwide as coronavirus throttles economies
* Running list of Chicago-area closings and cancellations because of coronavirus
* DuPage County issues disaster proclamation in wake of coronavirus pandemic
* Regulators shut down video gambling machines across Illinois due to COVID-19
* Illinois suspends visitations at state prisons to slow the spread of coronavirus
* Indiana governor orders all restaurants, bars closed for two weeks amid coronavirus pandemic
* Govs in NY, NJ, Conn. close bars
* Springfield coronavirus update: Memorial opens drive-through screening clinic
* How coronavirus is complicating 2020 census push
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* Press release…
State Senator Brian Stewart, R-Freeport, and State Representative John Cabello, R-Machesney Park, issued the following joint statement today in response to Governor JB Pritzker’s announcement over the weekend on actions the state is taking regarding the Coronavirus pandemic:
“On Sunday Governor JB Pritzker ordered bars and restaurants closed in the state of Illinois commencing Monday, March 16th through Monday, March 30th as a latest response to the Coronavirus. To bureaucrats and billionaires two weeks without a paycheck is nothing. In fact, the bureaucrats’ paychecks are guaranteed by the taxpayers of Illinois, unlike the cooks, the servers, the dishwashers, and the owners of those bars and restaurants.
The Governor will defend his decision by claiming an “abundance of caution” and citing his “emergency authority”. Under those conditions what is next? Are we going to close the grocery stores, the pharmacies, the marijuana stores, factories, and other businesses? It is noted that the Governor did not postpone the election while other states did so.
In the days after 9-11 and the attack on the twin towers in New York and the Pentagon in Washington DC there was a lot of uncertainty and a monumental crisis across the nation. Our leaders at that time worked to assure the nation that there would be a concerted effort to return to normalcy. Here in Illinois our leaders are seemingly paralyzed with fear and fueling uncertainty.
Real leadership demands a measured response to this crisis. It is pretty clear that those among us who have underlying illnesses and who are in an advanced stage of life are the most vulnerable to the Coronavirus. All efforts should be made to make sure that this demographic is monitored and that their chances of exposure are limited.
Our concern with the Governor’s response to the Cornavirus is that it is incoherent and reactionary and that the trajectory he is on could lead to some permanent damage to the Illinois economy and the confidence of the people of Illinois. We urge the Governor to proceed with the same caution that all of us have been advised to do when dealing with the Coronavirus. Governor Pritzker, please don’t kill the patient.”
* Jordan Abudayyeh in the governor’s office…
The science is clear: in order to protect the health and wellbeing of the people in our state we have to flatten the curve. It is reckless and irresponsible for leaders to contradict the guidance coming from our public health officials. Real leadership requires making tough decisions while working day and night to ensure the people impacted by those decisions have the resources they need and that’s exactly what Gov. Pritzker has been doing. The administration has held briefings and calls for lawmakers to learn about the unique challenges we’re facing and we encourage the skeptics to join those to learn more about the crisis we’re facing. Now is not the time for politics because the only way we’re going to get through this is by working together to ensure every single one of us is doing our part for the greater good.
* Meanwhile…
Ohio’s Republican Gov. Mike DeWine announced that the state would not go forward with in-person voting on Tuesday.
The move follows days of pressure for the four states scheduled to vote on Tuesday — Arizona, Florida, Illinois, and Ohio — to postpone their primaries. In an open letter, more than 1,600 people, including 100 medical professionals, called for the next round of presidential primaries to be postponed amid the coronavirus pandemic. All of the four states scheduled to vote on Tuesday have declared a state of emergency in response to the outbreak. The decision to hold both the Democratic and Republican primary elections — which have closed down schools, restaurants, and bars to try to slow the spread of the coronavirus — could exponentially grow the amount of cases and death toll. In Arizona, the state Republican Party decided months ago not to hold a presidential primary.
The letter, which is addressed to the Democratic National Committee and the secretaries of state for the four states, calls for those states to push their primaries to May. Until then, it reads, “mail-in voting should be implemented throughout under the guidance of health and election authorities.” Postponing the elections would also give states enough time to explore alternatives to in-person voting at a sufficient scale, the letter notes, particularly if the emergency continues to worsen.
The letter is here.
*** UPDATE 1 *** That Ohio thing is not a done deal…
DeWine announced the change at a Monday afternoon news conference. He said his office does not have the power to unilaterally change the voting date, but the governor outlined a process involving the courts that can allow for this change.
*** UPDATE 2 *** Stay tuned to the live coverage post for updates…
*** UPDATE 3 *** Assuming a quick appeal, but not certain…
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* Friday night at 6:30…
Lester Bovia will serve as Interim Inspector General of the Department of Children and Family Services. Bovia currently serves as Deputy General Counsel and Ethics Officer at the Illinois Human Rights Commission, where he was instrumental in the General Counsel’s office’s initiative to eliminate the Commission’s 2,500-case backlog. He has served the Commission for over 10 years, also serving as Acting General Counsel from October 2018 to January 2019 and as an administrative law judge since his start in September 2009. During his 22 years of legal experience, Bovia has practiced as a litigation associate at Winston and Strawn, as a conflicts attorney at Perkins Coie and as in-house counsel for a small restaurant chain. He also currently teaches as an adjunct law professor at DePaul University College of Law. Bovia earned his Bachelor of Science from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and Juris Doctor from the University of Illinois College of Law.
* Rumors have circled for a while now about how the governor was hoping to replace DCFS IG Meryl Paniak. I asked the governor’s office what was going on…
Meryl Paniak asked the Governor to withdraw her appointment as Inspector General at DCFS to pursue other opportunities. The Governor will appoint Lester Bovia as interim Inspector General at DCFS. He is an experienced attorney who recently served as Deputy General Counsel at the Illinois Human Rights Commission where he worked to eliminate the backlog at the agency. The administration will conduct a thorough search to name a permanent appointment.
* Hannah Meisel at the Daily Line…
Those in child welfare circles had for months heard the Pritzker administration had been looking for a replacement for Paniak, whose window of time to get Senate confirmation was running out in March. State Sen. Tony Munoz (D-Chicago), who chairs the Senate’s appointment committee, filed Paniak’s appointment message on March 5, 2019. But appointments only last for 60 legislative days, and Paniak’s was about to expire, despite efforts within the Senate to confirm Paniak before time ran out.
When asked by The Daily Line in January whether he was directing people in his administration to look for someone to replace Paniak, Pritzker said no.
“I’m not interviewing anybody for that position so I’m not sure why you’re asking that question,” Pritzker said. “I’m not interviewing anybody to replace that position.” […]
ACLU Illinois Director of Institutional Reform Heidi Dalenberg, who is in charge of a decades-old consent decree governing the treatment of Illinois foster children and DCFS as a whole, said in a statement Sunday that children in DCFS care “need a strong, experienced and fearless Inspector General.”
“While we do not know the details behind Ms. Paniak’s departure, her most recent report was well-researched and a helpful guide for those committed to reforming the Department,” Dalenberg said. “The next Inspector General for DCFS must be willing to be a straightforward and speak truth to power inside DCFS. The lives of children are at stake.”
* Meanwhile…
Recognizing the unprecedented challenges families, medical providers, and state agencies are facing from COVID-19, the launch of YouthCare services for DCFS youth in care will be postponed a minimum of 30 days, the Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services announced today.
Letters are being sent to all families and group homes informing them of this delay. In close coordination with the Illinois Department of Public Health and stakeholders across the state, HFS and DCFS will assess the timeline as we move forward and announce a new transition date as soon as possible.
“With more medical providers than ever, teams of dedicated care coordinators and other vital services never offered before, we look forward to offering this enhanced care to vulnerable youth as soon as possible,” said Theresa Eagleson, Director of the Department of Healthcare and Family Services. “But the challenges facing our healthcare system and families at this time as a result of the coronavirus must be our top focus, and we are determined not to distract from those crucial priorities.”
“The safety and health of the children we serve is, and always will be, my top priority,” said Marc Smith, Director of the Department of Children and Family Services. “The transition to Managed Care will improve the coordination and access to health services for youth in care. But addressing the unprecedented crisis of COVID-19 outbreak must be a priority at the moment. Delaying the rollout will allow DCFS to remain focused on addressing the emerging challenges of COVID-19 and ensure a smooth transition to YouthCare in the months ahead.”
HFS and DCFS have been working closely with the ACLU and other crucial stakeholders to bolster several aspects of the program’s operations. YouthCare already offers more than three times as many medical providers as the current DCFS healthcare system. More than 90 percent of major providers in the current system have already joined YouthCare. The program also offers more providers across every major category than the current system, from hospitals and primary care physicians, to vision and dental.
…Adding… From Heidi Dalenberg, Director of Institutional Reform, ACLU of Illinois…
Governor Pritzker and his administration today showed true leadership and the right priorities in announcing a delay in the roll-out of a managed care system to direct health care for children under the care of DCFS. In light of the coronavirus crisis, it is the right decision. When this crisis passes, we stand ready to work with the Department and others in the State government to ready DCFS for this transition in a way that protects the children in our care.
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Just a reminder…
Monday, Mar 16, 2020 - Posted by Rich Miller
* I’ve been putting most closure notices and related items on the live coverage post. They’re coming in way too fast and I need to focus on other stuff.
Thanks for your understanding. How are you holding up?
…Adding… State parks have been closed and video gaming has been suspended. Yeah, I know what I said in the first sentence, but those are kinda big.
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