* Gov. Pritzker said today that several IDPH regions are becoming more worrisome this week. The Metro East’s Region 4 is back up above an 8 percent positivity rate as of today, for instance. Three days of sustained 8 percent positivity triggers mediation measures, and Region 4 only recently emerged from a long ordeal with those regulations.
Region 9, which encompasses Lake and McHenry counties, has seen its average positivity rate hover in the upper 7’s for the past few days and is now at 7.7 percent. Region 8 is now at 9.4 percent, with available hospital beds down to 25 percent. A 20 percent surge capability for hospital beds triggers mitigation.
Region 1, in northern and northwestern Illinois, cannot get its act together and is at 11.7 percent today. Region 7, which is Will and Kankakee counties is at 9.2 percent. Suburban Cook is at 7.3 with its hospital bed availability down to 23 percent. And Chicago is at 7 and hospital bed availability is down to 22 percent, just two points above the danger zone.
It’s just bad pretty much everywhere. Click here to see for yourself.
* IDPH Director Dr. Ngozi Ezike cried for several minutes at the podium today as she literally begged Illinoisans to take this virus seriously. “Let’s please think beyond ourselves,” she said. “For those seven, eight days that you may be shedding the virus, you’re unknowingly, unwittingly infecting people in your path.”
“The people of Illinois are her patients,” Gov. Pritzker explained after Dr. Ezike finished speaking. He also said the director has been subjected to “verbal attacks” and that protesters have shown up at her home.
…Adding… Good advice…
“I’m desperate to find a message that will work,” Ezike said. “The virus has caused this and instead of pitting one group against another, we need to get that and fight against the virus. We have a mask and we’re asking people to use that and I don’t know what else to say.”
…Adding… Got busy and forgot to post this…
The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) today reported 51 counties in Illinois are considered to be at a warning level for novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19). A county enters a warning level when two or more COVID-19 risk indicators that measure the amount of COVID-19 increase.
Fifty-one counties are currently reported at a warning level – Adams, Bond, Boone, Carroll, Cass, Christian, Clay, Clinton, Crawford, DeKalb, Douglas, Edwards, Fayette, Ford, Franklin, Gallatin, Greene, Hamilton, Henderson, Jersey, Jo Daviess, Johnson, Kane, Kendall, Knox, LaSalle, Lee, Macon, Macoupin, McDonough, McHenry, Mercer, Morgan, Moultrie, Ogle, Perry, Pike, Pulaski, Rock Island, Saline, Shelby, Stephenson, Union, Vermilion, Wabash, Warren, Wayne, Whiteside, Will, Williamson, and Winnebago.
Although the reasons for counties reaching a warning level varies, some of the common factors for an increase in cases and outbreaks are associated with gatherings in people’s homes, weddings and funerals, bars and clubs, university and college parties as well as college sports teams, family gatherings, long-term care facilities, correctional centers, schools, and cases among the community at large, especially people in their 20s.
Public health officials are observing businesses blatantly disregarding mitigation measures, people not social distancing, gathering in large groups, and not using face coverings. Mayors, local law enforcement, state’s attorneys, and other community leaders can be influential in ensuring citizens and businesses follow best practices.
Several counties are taking swift action to help slow spread of the virus, including increasing testing opportunities, stressing the importance of testing to providers, hiring additional contact tracers, working with schools, and meeting with local leaders.
IDPH uses numerous indicators when determining if a county is experiencing stable COVID-19 activity, or if there are warning signs of increased COVID-19 risk in the county. A county is considered at the warning level when at least two of the following metrics triggers a warning.
New cases per 100,000 people. If there are more than 50 new cases per 100,000 people in the county, this triggers a warning.
Number of deaths. This metric indicates a warning when the weekly number of deaths increases more than 20% for two consecutive weeks.
Weekly test positivity. This metric indicates a warning when the 7-day test positivity rate rises above 8%.
ICU availability. If there are fewer than 20% of intensive care units available in the region, this triggers a warning.
Weekly emergency department visits. This metric indicates a warning when the weekly percent of COVID-19-like-illness emergency department visits increase by more than 20% for two consecutive weeks.
Weekly hospital admissions. A warning is triggered when the weekly number of hospital admissions for COVID-19-like-illness increases by more than 20% for two consecutive weeks.
Tests performed. This metric is used to provide context and indicate if more testing is needed in the county.
Clusters. This metric looks at the percent of COVID-19 cases associated with clusters or outbreaks and is used to understand large increase in cases.
These metrics are intended to be used for local level awareness to help local leaders, businesses, local health departments, and the public make informed decisions about personal and family gatherings, as well as what activities they choose to do. The metrics are updated weekly, from the Sunday-Saturday of the prior week.
A map and information of each county’s status can be found on the IDPH website at https://www.dph.illinois.gov/countymetrics.
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* Center Square…
Republican state Representatives from southern Illinois are on the road with stops across the state holding rallies for what they call the “Restore Illinois Bus Tour.”
They stopped in Springfield Thursday. […]
State Rep. Darren Bailey, R-Xenia, was at the Springfield stop. He told the crowd his efforts in the courts against Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s COVID-19 executive orders are crucial to restoring Illinois, and he’s succeeding. […]
“This man has got to pay the price,” Bailey said. “He has devastated families, he is devastating businesses, he is destroying Illinois and I believe now every day that goes by the reasons and the proof of that grow.”
Bailey claims the governor is trying to destroy the state’s economy “to be first in line for a federal bailout.”
Way to promote a healthy dialogue, Darren.
…Adding… More nonsense from Bailey is here.
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* Sun-Times…
Jewish students at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign have endured “an unrelenting campaign of anti-Semitic harassment,” according to a complaint filed with the U.S. Department of Education’s Office of Civil Rights.
Those students and others supportive of Israel “have been subjected to an alarming increase in anti-Semitism and anti-Zionism over the past five years,” according to a statement issued Friday by the Louis B. Brandeis Center for Human Rights Under Law, which helped prepare the complaint.
Over that period, multiple swastikas have allegedly been scrawled across the campus; menorahs and mezuzahs have allegedly been vandalized; and windows of Jewish fraternities have allegedly been “smashed with bricks,” according to the statement. What’s more, pro-Palestine students have also allegedly glorified members of terrorist organizations, assailed Jewish students and their allies with epithets like “Nazi” and “white supremacist” and turned university diversity training “into anti-Israel indoctrination.”
The complaint alleges that university administrators have failed to provide “a discrimination-free academic setting” despite being notified of the “developing hostile environment.” The statement also claims that some university employees have “been complicit” in fostering that environment.
* This press release excerpt is probably even more infuriating…
“Jewish students at UIUC have been targeted for years,” said Alyza D. Lewin, President of the Louis D. Brandeis Center for Human Rights Under Law. “We gave UIUC seven months since the complaint was filed to address the ongoing harassment. In the face of continuous stall tactics and almost no action from the university, we decided to publicize our efforts. We hope public awareness of this dire situation will prompt the university to finally acknowledge and address the egregious anti-Semitic harassment it has swept under the rug for far too long.”
The complaint is here. Incident summary is here.
*** UPDATE 1 *** Democratic Rep. Jonathan Carroll…
The Jewish Caucus has offered to work with and given the University of Illinois every opportunity to address this issue. Instead of taking this seriously, they’ve done absolutely nothing about it. We’ll continue supporting Jewish students throughout the state and stand up for their basic civil rights.
*** UPDATE 2 *** From the university…
We have not been contacted by the Department of Education Office of Civil Rights (OCR) regarding any official complaint against the university, but the lawyers who submitted it to OCR in March also submitted it later to an organization that accredits the university. We were asked this summer to respond to the complaint. After receiving our response, that organization determined that the allegations raised in the complaint do not indicate substantive noncompliance with their requirements and that no further review would be conducted.
Throughout this time, the university has been engaged in a long, meaningful and what we believed was a collaborative discussion about the concerns raised by the involved parties, so it is very disheartening that they chose to stop engaging with us. We are disappointed with the approach this group has taken to move our conversation to the media, but we are absolutely committed to an inclusive university community where everyone feels welcome.
One of our core institutional values is ensuring that people of all faiths, ethnicities, national origins and viewpoints can live, learn and thrive. We will never tolerate bigotry, racism or hate, and we condemn acts and expressions of anti-Semitism.
Robin Kaler, Associate Chancellor for Public Affairs
*** UPDATE 3 *** Democratic Rep. Bob Morgan…
I’m aware that antisemitism has been on the rise at the University of Illinois, Urbana Champaign, my alma mater. I hope the university will take steps to immediately and meaningfully confront this dangerous trend. As a Jewish UIUC alum and former ISG president, I expect more from a school that means so much to me and all of Illinois.
*** UPDATE 4 *** Jewish United Fund…
It is with deep sadness that JUF has consulted on a U.S. Department of Education Office for Civil Rights complaint against the University of Illinois Urbana Champaign (UIUC) due to an increasingly hostile environment for Jewish students in violation of federal law.
Antisemitic harassment is expressly prohibited under Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.
JUF cares deeply about UIUC as the flagship public University of our state, approximately 8% of whose student body is Jewish. Those Jewish students deserve the same level of protections afforded to every student population which faces discrimination. That in our own backyard, UIUC has permitted a hostile climate to exist is unacceptable and will not be tolerated. JUF will always stand up for Jews when our safety and security is threatened.
Even after five years of intensive discussion with JUF, UIUC has consistently chosen to turn its back on the Jewish community and allowed a hostile climate to fester. Incidents ranged from swastikas scrawled on campus dorms and a university-sponsored training with antisemitic content to repeated BDS campaigns and concomitant harassment of Jewish students on campus and in social media.
JUF calls on the University to do the right thing to swiftly rectify the current situation and return to being a place of pride for our community. We will continue to work with the University and will also continue to support active Jewish life through our Illini Hillel Cohen Center for Jewish Life.
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* Region 1 includes Rockford over to the Iowa border, but not the Quad Cities. Here’s Gov. Pritzker today…
I want to provide a brief update on the metrics of Region One in northwestern Illinois, where Rockford is, where Freeport is, which has been under Tier One of our resurgence mitigation plan since Saturday, October 3. Over the last few weeks, Region One has continued to see a surging positivity rate, now up to 11.9% as of this morning.
We’ve said all along that if things don’t turn around in a region after two weeks of resurgence mitigations, we may need to add more stringent measures to help usher in the progress that we need to see, to get things more open again eventually. That is now the case in Region One, which has seen its positivity rate rise nearly two percentage points since October 14 alone.
So starting Sunday, northwestern Illinois will need additional mitigations, such as tighter gathering caps of 10 individuals, instead of 25. And new restaurant and bar table caps of six instead of 10 when eating out. The existing mitigations that were already put in place in early October will remain.
Also both Region One, bordering Wisconsin and Iowa, and Region Four here next to Missouri, carry the additional responsibility of navigating a situation where the vast upsurge of cases in our neighboring states will continue to have a spillover effect on Illinois.
There is no easy fix to this. So as colder weather comes upon us and brings flu season, along with it, it’s imperative that we take extra caution and extra care. Because at the end of the day this is bigger than you. This is about all of us, and the communities that we call home.
Wear your mask. Watch your distance. Wash your hands and get your flu shot. We have to take care of each other.
Please pardon all transcription errors.
…Adding… More from the governor…
If we need to close down restaurants and bars or take away their liquor licenses, take away their gaming licenses, we will do that.
Because we are now headed into a peak that is beyond, potentially, where we were in March and April. I think you’re hearing now on national television, you’re seeing it in our surrounding states, Wisconsin, built out, not just one field house, they’re looking at multiple field hospitals rather because their hospitals are full.
We built them out in the spring because we thought perhaps we would end up in that situation. Thank God we were able to flatten the curve back in the spring. But now you can see, just look at the curves.
We’re working very hard, but we need everybody’s help in the public. We need the restaurant owners and bar owners to follow the mitigations, and to stop fighting and trying to find some flaw in the data, trying to find somebody who will say that a bar or restaurant is not a spreading location.
The truth of it is and I think every infectious disease expert that I’ve talked to and dozens and dozens of studies and I’ve held them up at the press conference yesterday, they exist. I’ve sent them out to legislators and all the elected officials, anybody who’s asked for them. Bars and restaurants are places where spreading takes place. They’re one of the top places and spreading takes place.
*** UPDATE *** From IDPH…
Bars and Restaurants
• Reduce party size from 10 to six individuals
Meetings, Social Events and Gatherings
• Maximum indoor/outdoor gathering size of 10 individuals
o Applicable to professional, religious, cultural and social group gatherings
o Not applicable to students participating in-person classroom learning
o This does not reduce the overall facility capacity dictated by general business guidance, such as office, retail, etc.
o Not applicable to sports, see sports guidance
Indoor recreation
• Maintain lesser of 25 people/25 percent of capacity
• No groups more than 10 individuals
• Does not apply to fitness
These mitigations do not apply to schools or polling places.
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* Edgar County Watchdogs…
Rep. Darren Bailey filed a Petition for Adjudication of Indirect Civil Contempt this morning against Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker in Sangamon County Circuit Court.
* He’s using the phrase “this court” loosely because it was a Clay County judge, not a Sangamon County judge, who issued these rulings…
COMES NOW, Plaintiff, Darren Bailey, by and through his attorney, Thomas DeVore, of DeVore Law Offices, LLC, and as for his Petition for Adjudication of Indirect Civil Contempt against the Defendant, Jay Robert Pritzker (“Pritzker”), states as follows:
1. On or about July 02, 2020, this Court declared Pritzker no longer had any emergency powers under Section 7 of the IEMAA after April 08, 2020.
2. On or about July 02, 2020, this Court also declared any executive orders in effect after April 08, 2020 related to COVID-19 and finding their authority under the emergency powers of Section 7 of the IEMAA void.
3. In complete disregard of this Court’s July 02, 2020 order, on October 02, 2020, Pritzker issued executive order 56 regarding COVID-19 and cites as authority his enumerated powers under Section 7 of the IEMAA.
4. In complete disregard of this Court’s July 02, 2020 order, on October 16, 2020, Pritzker issued executive order 59 regarding COVID-19 and cites as authority his enumerated powers under Section 7 of the IEMAA.
5. In complete disregard of this Court’s July 02, 2020 order, on October 21, 2020, Pritzker issued executive order 60 regarding COVID-19 and cites as authority his enumerated powers under Section 7 of the IEMAA.
6. In complete disregard of this Court’s July 02, 2020 order, on October 21, 2020, Pritzker issued executive order 61 regarding COVID-19 and cites as authority his enumerated powers under Section 7 of the IEMAA.
7. If all of the actions of Pritzker complained of herein could not be more derogatory to this Court’s authority and dignity, he specifically went on to issue executive orders 60 and 61 even after this Honorable Court, just two days prior, refused to vacate its July 02, 2020 grant of summary judgment which specifically declared on the merits he no longer had authority under Section 7 of the IEMAA to issue executive orders regarding COVID-19.
8. These willful actions of the Defendant, Jay Robert Pritzker, constitute prima facie evidence of contemptuous acts which are calculated to embarrass, hinder, or obstruct this Honorable Court in its administration of justice, and are expressly calculated to derogate from its authority and dignity.
9. Everyday citizens throughout this state who find themselves in front of our honorable courts are never allowed to take actions which will directly embarrass, hinder or obstruct the court’s authority and dignity; and our elected officials, even a governor, must unequivocally be held to the same standards of conduct as we hold our citizenry if we ever hope to maintain the sanctity of our system of justice in the eyes and hearts of the people.
He tried to pull this stunt in Clay County but the Illinois Supreme Court moved the case to Sangamon before the motion could be ruled on.
Also, Darren Bailey claiming that someone else is embarrassing the court’s dignity is about as rich as rich gets.
* Back to the filing…
WHEREFORE, Plaintiff, Darren Bailey, respectfully prays for this Court to enter an order as follows:
A. That, Jay Robert Pritzker, be adjudged in indirect civil contempt of this Court and be required to show cause, if any he can, why he should not be held in contempt of this Court and punished in a manner this Court finds proper for his willful and contumacious disregard with this Court’s order;
B. That Jay Robert Pritzker be ordered to purge himself by rescinding the above- mentioned executive orders instanter;
C. In the alternative, the Court craft any other just sanction which compels Jay Robert Pritzker to purge his contempt.
D. That Jay Robert Pritzker be held liable for the Darren Bailey’s attorney fees he has incurred in enforcing the willful disregard of this Court’s order;
E. That this Court enter any further orders which the Court deems just and equitable.
I’ve asked the attorney general’s office and the governor’s office for a response.
Discuss.
…Adding… From the AG’s office…
We are reviewing the motion. In the meantime, we will continue to defend the governor’s constitutional and statutory authority to protect the residents of Illinois from the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic – authority that has been affirmed by every judge to take up the issue, with one exception.
And that one exception was Clay County.
*** UPDATE *** Jordan Abudayyeh…
This was a legally baseless motion the first time Mr. DeVore filed it and it hasn’t improved with age. As the infection rate rises and leaders across the state are working to protect public health, this motion demonstrates that Bailey cares only about one thing – press attention. And he is willing to abuse the Court process to get it.
Background…
When Bailey and DeVore tried this during the summer, we noted that the Clay County Circuit Court order that they seek to enforce is, in fact, unenforceable for 2 reasons: (1) it is not a final, appealable order that resolves all the issues in the case, and (2) it does not contain any injunctive relief ordering the Governor to do or to stop doing anything. DeVore and Bailey could have used the two months since then to fix these deficiencies in their case. But they didn’t (surely because they knew they would lose). Instead, they are just making the same, utterly defective argument again.
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* ACLU of Illinois…
Illinois is not meeting its promise to ensure children and families who receive health care through a new managed care system are not receiving the medical, psychiatric, and other health care they need in a timely fashion, according to testimony offered to an Illinois Senate committee today. The Senate Human Services Committee hosted a hearing today to update members on the experience of DCFS youth and families are faring with transition to a managed health care system known as YouthCare.
In testimony offered by the ACLU of Illinois, which has represented children in the care of DCFS through the B.H. litigation for nearly twenty years, the organization noted that while problems with access to health care for DCFS wards did not begin with the transition to YouthCare, the managed care system has not solved longstanding problems.
“Many of Illinois’ foster children simply are not receiving the care that they need at the time when they need it,” Heidi Dalenberg, Director of the Institutional Reform Project, ACLU of Illinois. “That was true before the rollout of the YouthCare plan. It remains true today.”
The ACLU pointed out that some flaws in the YouthCare system and network is creating real harm for children in DCFS care. Ms. Dalenberg related the story of one teen taken to a local emergency room in the midst of a mental health crisis, in true distress. Although all the medical professionals at the hospital agreed that the teen needed to be admitted to a psychiatric hospital, DCFS and YouthCare could not find a hospital for the teen to enter. After ten days, waiting in the emergency room, the youth was determined to be ready to be released – but never was provided the necessary psychiatric care.
“It would be sad if this were the only instance of this harm to a teen,” added Dalenberg. “It is not. We know that in the month of September alone, at least ten other foster children who experienced similar circumstances– being stuck at an emergency room because a placement was not found for them. YouthCare needs to address this today.”
The ACLU also shared results of a project it conducted in recent weeks to test the experience of families with finding care under YouthCare by calling physician offices in Belleville, Peoria and suburban Harvey. The ACLU tests revealed that a family calling a provider’s office for the first time would be able to secure an appointment for a child to see a physician in just 3 out of 10 calls during that first call.
Among other reasons that appointments were not available:
• Phone numbers were out of service;
• Doctor offices had closed;
• Offices indicated that they had never heard of YouthCare;
• Offices said they would not accept YouthCare (in error);
• Offices said that they would not schedule new patients until after the COVID pandemic was ended; and,
• Offices said they needed complete medical records – not in possession of the parents – before scheduling an appointment.
“The network cannot serve children if physicians can’t or won’t respond to the needs of these families. YouthCare and DCFS needs to fix this soon – so that no family gets unnecessarily refused,” said Dalenberg.
*** UPDATE 1 *** Evan Fazio, Director of Communications, IL Dept. of Healthcare and Family Services…
The ACLU testimony offered today failed to capture the full picture of what YouthCare has brought to the table in its first month and a half since launching with current Youth in Care. It is unacceptable that even a single child has trouble receiving appropriate medical care. The state has been working on this issue for quite some time, which is why having another partner in YouthCare is of enormous value to our vulnerable youth. YouthCare’s care coordinators are there every step of the way, working to solve the problem, making calls to providers so families don’t have to, and coordinating every aspect of care. In fact, YouthCare has resolved 98% of all rapid response inquiries. By any measure, families have far more opportunities for support and access to needed services for the children under their care with YouthCare than before.
Regarding the ACLU’s hypothetical network exercise, YouthCare members’ real-life experiences have not demonstrated any notable problems in this area. YouthCare continues to exceed network adequacy standards with over 52,000 providers, more than three times the number of providers under the previous system. And again, there is an added resource to help families when there are issues. When a foster parent needs to make an appointment or find a doctor for their child, they now have a care coordinator that they can call to get the appropriate care for their child. Before YouthCare, these families were forced to try to do all of this on their own.
All healthcare systems have challenges with providers not updating their information or front desk staff not knowing the provider is in network. YouthCare has been and continues to proactively address this topic through a multi-platform provider education campaign to reach and educate provider staff and collect demographic updates. To date, YouthCare has proactively completed 25,125 calls to collect provider updates to ensure the provider directory is updated. This issue is also alleviated through personal care coordinators, dedicated provider teams, and a six-month continuity of care period where providers do not need to be in network to be paid.
As today’s testimony from families working with the YouthCare system showed, this care has already provided tangible improvements in a number of children’s lives and in real time situations.
*** UPDATE 2 *** Ed Yohnka at the ACLU…
It is a little puzzling to see actual calls made to physician offices over several weeks labeled as “hypothetical.” The calls happened. They were real and they revealed a range of obstacles to parents and families in getting access to the care their children need. Is it surprising that faced with these obstacles, busy families and parents have not leapt immediately to report their frustrations and problems to the State. And, we would note that our findings confirmed earlier evidence developed by the Cook County Public Guardian’s Office.
The hearing would have benefited from a comprehensive report from YouthCare acknowledging that the transition did not go smoothly for everyone, and that while there are many more providers available for many children, there remain critical shortage areas that require cooperation and collaboration to remedy.
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* CNN…
Claims for unemployment benefits inched lower last week, the Department of Labor said Thursday. Still millions of Americans continue to rely on government aid to make ends meet.
Last week, 787,000 workers claimed first-time benefits on a seasonally adjusted basis. That’s down from the prior week, which was revised significantly lower. Last week marked the first time jobless claims fell below 800,000 since mid-March.
But not everyone is eligible for regular state benefits. Pandemic Unemployment Assistance, which Congress created as part of the CARES Act in the spring, provides benefits for the self-employed and gig workers.
Last week, 345,440 people applied for PUA.
* CBS 2…
The U.S. Department of Labor estimates 47,018 new unemployment claims were filed during the week of Oct. 12 in Illinois, according to the DOL’s weekly claims report released Thursday.
While this number is based on advanced estimates, the Illinois Department of Employment Security (IDES) will be releasing a final number later Thursday. […]
There were 47,528 new unemployment claims were filed across the state last week, the week of Oct. 5.
There were 29,390 new unemployment claims in Illinois the week of Sept. 21.
*** UPDATE *** IDES…
The number of nonfarm jobs decreased over-the-year in all fourteen Illinois metropolitan areas in September, with four metro areas at record low payrolls for that month, according to preliminary data released today by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) and the Illinois Department of Employment Security (IDES). The unemployment rate increased over-the-year in all metro areas and posted a record high for the month of September in one metro area. The official, BLS approved sub-state unemployment rate and nonfarm jobs series begins in 1990. Data reported prior to 1990 are not directly comparable due to updates in methodology.
“As Illinois continues to make necessary adjustments and work through the COVID-19 mitigation plan, the Pritzker administration remains committed to providing unemployment benefits as a means of economic relief to claimants who are still in need of the Department’s services,” said Deputy Governor Dan Hynes. “We take our role in this pandemic seriously, and will continue to work with IDES to support working families and provide employment training and services to those who seek it.”
The number of nonfarm jobs decreased in all fourteen Illinois metropolitan areas. Total nonfarm jobs were down in Peoria (-10.5%, -17,900), Elgin (-8.8%, -23,200) and Lake-Kenosha (-7.6%, -32,000). In Chicago-Naperville-Arlington Heights, jobs were down 7.2% (-274,200). No industry sector saw job gains in a majority of metro areas.
Not seasonally adjusted data compares September 2020 with September 2019. The not seasonally adjusted Illinois rate was 9.8 percent in September 2020 and the highest September unemployment rate since 2011, when it was also 9.8 percent. The official, BLS approved, statewide unemployment rate series begins in 1976. Nationally, the not seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 7.7 percent in September 2020 and the highest September unemployment rate since 2011, when it was 8.8 percent. The unemployment rate identifies those individuals who are out of work and seeking employment.
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Deanna Demuzio
Wednesday, Oct 21, 2020 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Sen. Andy Manar…
I met Deanna Demuzio on a hot summer evening in 1995 at the Macoupin County Fair. I was in college—her husband Vince took a liking to me and invited me to the fair with him to watch the queen pageant. I was nervous that night driving to Carlinville from Bunker Hill. This was way out of my comfort zone and I didn’t know the Demuzios and they really didn’t know me. Vince was late getting to the fair so I found myself roaming aimlessly around the entrance to the grandstand—the only person wearing a pair of khakis and a polo shirt in the blazing heat. That must have made me stick out like a sore thumb. Debating in my head how long I should stick around, a woman walked up to me as if she was on a mission. Armed with a smile, she said in the most pleasant of voices “You must be Andy. I’ve heard so much about you.” She handed me my ticket and said “follow me.” As we made our way through he grandstand, Deanna must have sensed my nerves were shot. But I suddenly felt at-ease. Immediately I was struck by her warmth and grace, her smile, her ability to make me feel comfortable. I think that was perhaps her greatest attribute and that’s how I will always remember her. She was such a caring person.
Deanna Demuzio was a central figure throughout my life, always there to help, inspire, and mentor. And I by no means was alone in that regard. Deanna was admired by so many. She was a trailblazer and her name is synonymous with Carlinville and Macoupin County. Deanna was a fierce advocate for the things she believed in and represents the best that we all strive to be as public servants. Words cannot fully encapsulate all that she has given to causes greater than herself over the course of her lifetime.
The picture posted here was taken last year on the Floor of the Illinois Senate. Mayor and Senator Deanna Demuzio spent the day with me talking with many of her former colleagues and members of the staff that held her in such high regard. I really enjoyed that day and I think she did as well.
My deepest sympathies go out to Stephanie and the entire Demuzio family.
Rest in peace my friend. I will miss you. We all will miss you.
* Senate President Don Harmon…
“Deanna Demuzio dedicated her life to community and public service. Along the way, she made great friends and taught us all so much about how to be better. She fought hard to improve our education system after years spent working at Lewis and Clark Community College and to fight for better health care given how it affected her family. She took up all of this after tragically losing another great friend of Illinois, her husband, Senator Vince Demuzio.
“I was honored to know and work alongside her in the Illinois Senate. She will forever be remembered for her dedication and commitment to the people of Illinois. Anyone who knew Deanna and Vince automatically thinks of them whenever driving through Carlinville. My condolences to her family and friends.”
* Macoupin County Democratic Party Chairman Pam Monetti…
Former state Sen. and Mayor Deanna Demuzio was a part of the most dynamic Illinois political team in decades to come from Macoupin County. She learned from the best, especially when it came to working tirelessly for her constituents. Everywhere you look in Macoupin County you will find evidence of the Demuzio legacy. Deanna was a remarkable woman who didn’t know a stranger and if you told her you needed help, she would do everything she could to help. She was a true public servant to the end and the Macoupin County Democrat Party will miss her terribly. Our heartfelt condolences to her daughter, grandchildren and great grandchildren.
…Adding… Michael Madigan in his role as DPI Chairman…
Shirley and I are extremely saddened to hear of Deanna Demuzio’s passing. Deanna was a true leader - in Carlinville and across the state. Deanna cared deeply for her community, worked passionately to improve life for everyone around her and exemplified what it means to be a dedicated public servant. Deanna’s family, friends and everyone she touched in her incredible life are in our thoughts and prayers.
…Adding… Secretary of State Jesse White…
We have lost a wonderful and caring person with the passing of former State Senator and Carlinville Mayor Deanna Demuzio, and I have lost a dear friend,” said Illinois Secretary of State Jesse White. “I have been privileged and blessed to have known Deanna for many years and always found her to be kind, generous and thoughtful. As a public servant, she was committed to helping those in need and fighting for causes she believed in. I would be remiss not to mention that her son, Brad, who passed away in 2014, served with distinction as the director of the Illinois Secretary of State Police. The Demuzio family will always have a special place in my heart. My condolences to her family and to her many friends.
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*** UPDATED x1 *** Release the hounds
Wednesday, Oct 21, 2020 - Posted by Rich Miller
* A.D. Quig…
Patrick G. Ryan, the billionaire founder of Aon, has chipped in $1 million to the Coalition To Stop The Proposed Tax Hike Amendment, according to Illinois State Board of Elections records.
Ryan is now chairman and CEO of Ryan Specialty Group, an international holding company he founded “specializing in wholesale brokerage, insurance underwriting managers and other specialty services to brokers, agents and insurers,” according to its website. Forbes estimates his net worth at $3.2 billion. Ryan has also donated to Gery Chico’s 2011 mayoral bid, the Illinois Republican Party in 2005, 2006, and 2009 and Richard M. Daley’s campaign committee in 2006, according to state board records.
Citadel founder Ken Griffin has by far been the coalition’s biggest benefactor, chipping in just under $47 million total so far. But others on Illinois’ wealthiest list, including Craig Duchossois, Dick Uihlein, Muneer Satter, Jay Bergman and Sam Zell have donated as well.
Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s cousin, Col. Jennifer Pritzker, chipped in an additional $250,000 to the coalition’s cause, bringing her total donations to the group to $750,000.
* Ray Long…
The Democratic Party of Illinois led by Speaker Michael Madigan has started to pour money into an effort to keep Illinois Supreme Court Justice Tom Kilbride on the bench with two weeks until Election Day.
Election records filed Tuesday night showed the Democrats put $550,000 into the Nov. 3 Kilbride retention campaign. That pushes the total political spending by both sides in the contest to nearly $7 million.
The contest is critical for Democrats because a Kilbride loss could jeopardize the party’s 4-3 majority on the state’s high court. With money from billionaire donors, Republicans are waging an anti-Kilbride campaign in hopes of knocking him off the court and getting a chance to capture the open seat in the 2022 election. […]
Madigan’s decision to pump in big money now may give anti-Kilbride forces even more reason to push the Madigan-Kilbride connection, Redfield said.
For Madigan, “the upside of being able to increase party spending outweighs the downside of the anti-Kilbride people being able to link him more directly to Madigan,” Redfield said.
…Adding… Jim Nowlan, Chairman of Citizens for Judicial Fairness…
Like he did in 2000 and in 2010, Mike Madigan is coming to the rescue of his favorite judge Tom Kilbride. The $550,000 Kilbride received from the Democratic Party of Illinois is just the latest in millions of contributions from Madigan and his allies. This is exactly why Kilbride must not be retained. We need to bring independence back to the judiciary, not another 10 years of Madigan control.
And from Ryan McLaughlin, spokesperson for the Kilbride for Supreme Court Judge Committee…
Wealthy individuals and special interests who want to own the Supreme Court are spending millions, including out-of-state dark money from unknown sources, to smear Justice Kilbride and mislead voters about his record. By law, Justice Kilbride is not allowed to solicit campaign contributions. To further maintain his impartiality, he has no role in fundraising – all such decisions are made by his treasurer – and no knowledge of the donors to his retention committee nor of those to the opposition committee. Justice Kilbride is proud to have support from Republicans, Democrats and Independents, and to have been endorsed by a bipartisan group of law enforcement leaders and police officers from across the district.
* Dan Petrella…
The intensifying controversy surrounding Madigan, which includes calls for his resignation from a handful of House Democrats, hasn’t turned off the tap of campaign contributions. The four funds together raised nearly $4.3 million in the key preelection quarter, campaign finance records show. More than half of that, $2.4 million, was raised by Friends of Michael J. Madigan, which took in $1.7 million from labor unions and other political action committees.
The four funds ended the third quarter on Sept. 30 with nearly $20 million in the bank. […]
For comparison, the main campaign fund of House Republican leader Jim Durkin of Western Springs and two others supporting House GOP candidates raised nearly $1.2 million in the third quarter and spent more than $3 million, ending the period with less than $1 million in the bank. More than half of the money spent by Durkin’s campaign fund — $1.6 million — was transferred to the state GOP.
*** UPDATE *** Billionaire Ken Griffin just contributed $100K to Republican Pat O’Brien, who’s running for Cook County State’s Attorney. O’Brien disclosed a $196,800 haul this morning.
…Adding… State’s Attorney Kim Foxx reported $102K in contributions today. She’s reported about $350K in the past few days.
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