* April 14th…
Six McLean County restaurants and hotels are among more than 700 restaurants, bars and hotels in Illinois receiving a portion of a $14 million emergency grant. […]
Local recipients, which the state listed by legal name, include … Ralben Inc. (Cadillac Jack’s), Bloomington, $25,000
* September 9th…
A Bloomington bar was cited for multiple violations for noncompliance with COVID-19 restrictions over the holiday weekend and faces a Bloomington Liquor Commission hearing on Thursday. […]
“A single establishment continued operating in violation of state and local guidelines after multiple warnings from the McLean County Health Department and police,” officials said in the statement. “Cadillac Jacks, located at 1507 S. Main St. in Bloomington, was observed to be noncompliant with mandated IDPH Emergency Rules or Illinois bar safety guidelines on four separate occasions Friday, Saturday and Sunday. The establishment was issued multiple required noncompliance notices over the weekend and, on Sunday, an order to disperse crowds was issued in accordance with the IDPH emergency rules.”
* September 10th…
An attorney who has sued Gov. J.B. Pritzker over COVID-19 policies is now representing a Bloomington bar-restaurant cited for not enforcing mask rules.
Tom DeVore is working on the case of Cadillac Jacks, at 1507 S. Main St. in Bloomington. DeVore has been in several lawsuits against the Pritzker administration over its use of executive authority to respond to COVID-19. He also is representing Fox Run, a Springfield restaurant that filed a lawsuit against the city of Springfield over policies, with other cases are in Bond, Clinton, Richland and Edgar counties. […]
Cadillac Jacks was issued four noncompliance notices over the weekend, including an order to disperse crowds on Sunday. A special meeting of the Bloomington Liquor Commission to discuss possible fines and punishments was scheduled for Thursday afternoon, but Mayor Tari Renner, who also serves as the city’s liquor commissioner, said no action would be taken after calling the meeting to order. […]
“Mr. DeVore requested on behalf of the licensee, that we have a short continuance in order that he might look at the complaints and citations that have been filed, discuss it with his client, and advise him accordingly,” [assistant city attorney George Boyle] said.
* It’s not mentioned in the story, but Devore lost the first round of that Fox Run case while I was on break…
Fox Run Restaurant & Lounge, 1130 Legacy Pointe Drive, was dealt a setback earlier this week in its case against the city of Springfield.
Sangamon County Circuit Court Judge Raylene Grischow on Wednesday denied the restaurant’s request for a temporary restraining order seeking to halt the emergency declaration and all subsequent orders Mayor Jim Langfelder has signed under that authority.
So, maybe Bloomington shouldn’t be too afraid.
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102nd House District race goes to pot
Friday, Sep 11, 2020 - Posted by Rich Miller
* A reader took this photo in Shelbyville…
Um, OK.
* I reached out to Rep. Halbrook’s Democratic opponent Mitchell Esslinger (who has raised only a couple of thousand bucks) to ask if he put up the billboard (which has no required “paid for by” legal disclaimer on it) and why. The response from his campaign manager…
The Esslinger campaign did not pay for this sign, it is from a constituent who I believe is upset that Rep. Halbrook missed the epi pen vote last year because in his own words he was “in the bathroom”.
Rep. Halbrook was recorded as an “NV” on the rollcall.
* From Facebook last year…
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30 counties placed on state warning list
Friday, Sep 11, 2020 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Press release…
The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) today reported 30 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.
Thirty counties are currently reported at a warning level – Bond, Bureau, Cass, Clinton, Coles, Crawford, DeKalb, DuPage, Effingham, Greene, Grundy, Hancock, Henderson, Jackson, Jasper, Jersey, Lawrence, Madison, McLean, Monroe, Morgan, Pulaski, Schuyler, Shelby, Stark, St. Clair, Tazewell, Vermilion, Washington, Williamson.
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 college parties, weddings, large gatherings, bars and clubs, long-term care facilities and other congregate settings, travel to neighboring states, and spread among members of the same household who are not isolating at home. Cases connected to schools are beginning to be reported. General transmission of the virus in the community is also increasing.
Public health officials are observing people not social distancing, gathering in large groups, and not using face coverings. In some counties, local law enforcement and states’ attorneys are not enforcing important mitigation measures like social distancing and the wearing of face coverings. Additionally, some people refuse to participate in contact tracing and are not providing information on close contacts or answering the phone. Individuals are also waiting to get tested believing their symptoms are allergies or some other cause.
Several counties are taking swift action and implementing mitigation measures to help slow spread of the virus, including increasing testing opportunities, working with schools, meeting with local leaders, and educating businesses and large venues about the importance of mitigation measures.
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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* Press release…
The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) today announced 2,145 new confirmed cases of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in Illinois, including 32 additional confirmed deaths.
• Coles County: 1 male 80s
• Cook County: 1 female 50s, 1 male 60s, 2 females 70s, 4 females 80s, 1 female 90s
• DuPage County: 1 female 60s, 1 female 70s, 1 male 70s, 1 male 80s
• Greene County: 1 male 60s
• Jersey County: 1 female 80s
• Kane County: 1 female 60s, 1 female 90s
• Lake County: 1 male 70s
• Macon County: 1 female 90s
• Madison County: 1 female 70s, 1 female 90s
• Peoria County: 1 female 90s
• Rock Island County: 1 female 80s
• St. Clair County: 1 male 70s, 1 male 90s
• Tazewell County: 1 female 70s
• Wayne County: 1 female 70s
• Will County: 1 female 70s, 1 female 90s
• Williamson County: 1 female 70s, 1 male 80s
Currently, IDPH is reporting a total of 257,788 cases, including 8,273 deaths, in 102 counties in Illinois. The age of cases ranges from younger than one to older than 100 years. The preliminary seven-day statewide positivity for cases as a percent of total test from September 4 – September 10 is 3.9%. Within the past 24 hours, laboratories have reported 56,661 specimens for a total of 4,632,382. As of last night, 1,619 people in Illinois were reported to be in the hospital with COVID-19. Of those, 359 patients were in the ICU and 155 patients with COVID-19 were on ventilators.
Following guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, IDPH is now reporting separately both confirmed and probable cases and deaths on its website. Reporting probable cases will help show the potential burden of COVID-19 illness and efficacy of population-based non-pharmaceutical interventions. IDPH will update these data once a week.
COVID-19 Update/ Page 2
*All data are provisional and will change. In order to rapidly report COVID-19 information to the public, data are being reported in real-time. Information is constantly being entered into an electronic system and the number of cases and deaths can change as additional information is gathered. Information for a death previously reported has changed, therefore, today’s numbers have been adjusted. For health questions about COVID-19, call the hotline at 1-800-889-3931 or email dph.sick@illinois.gov.
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* Press release…
Some 80 musicians, authors, filmmakers and other visual and performing artists today are coming together as Artists & Writers for Fair Tax in support of the Fair Tax constitutional amendment in Illinois.
The initial list includes Jeff Tweedy (Wilco), Neko Case, Twin Peaks, Whitney, 40th Ward Alderman Andre Vasquez (formerly known as Prime, a member of the hip-hop collective the Molemen), Ohmme, Makaya McCraven, Eleventh Dream Day and members of Tortoise, as well as authors Jessica Hopper, Greg Kot and Jim DeRogatis and poet Jose Olivarez (scroll down for full list).
The artists will use their social media platforms between now and Election Day to educate fans and followers about the importance of voting Yes for the Fair Tax amendment that will appear at the top of every Illinois voter’s ballot this fall. Using the hashtag #ArtistsForFairTax, today they’re sharing a social graphic created for the campaign by rock poster artist Jay Ryan
* Graphic…
* Full list…
MUSIC: Jeff Tweedy (Wilco), Neko Case, Twin Peaks, Whitney, 40th Ward Alderman Andre Vasquez (fka MC Prime), Spencer Tweedy, Ohmme (Sima Cunningham & Macie Stewart), Makaya McCraven, Doug McCombs (Tortoise, Brokeback, Eleventh Dream Day), Rick Rizzo (Eleventh Dream Day), Janet Bean (Freakwater, Eleventh Dream Day), Jon Langford (Mekons, Waco Brothers), Sally Timms (Mekons), Dean Schlabowske (Waco Brothers), Tim Midyett (Silkworm, Bottomless Pit, Mint Mile), Bethany Thomas, Melkbelly, James Elkington, Ben Lamar Gay, Nora O’Connor, David Singer, Quin Kirchner, Will Miller (Resavoir), Steve Dawson & Diane Christiansen (Dolly Varden), Ayanna Woods, Rachel Drew, Gerald Dowd, Mike Reed, Jonas Friddle, Anna Jacobson, Jason McInnes, Jordan Martins, Kirstin Osgood (CHIMP)
RECORD LABELS: Bloodshot Records, International Anthem
FILM: Gordon Quinn (Kartemquin Films), Bob Hercules (“Maya Angelou: And Still I Rise”)
COMEDY: Mike Oquendo
AUTHORS: Jessica Hopper (“The First Collection of Criticism by a Living Female Rock Critic”), Greg Kot (“I’ll Take You There: Mavis Staples, the Staple Singers and the March up Freedom’s Highway”), Jim DeRogatis (“Soulless: The R Kelly Story”), Jose Olivarez (“Citizen Illegal”), Kathleen Rooney (“Lillian Boxfish Takes A Walk”), Celia C. Perez (“The First Rule of Punk”), Megan Stielstra (“The Wrong Way to Save Your Life”), Joe Meno (“Between Everything and Nothing”), Claire Zulkey, Tony Adler, Martha Bayne (“The Chicago Neighborhood Guidebook”, ed.), Billy Lombardo (“Morning Will Come”), Bayo Ojikutu (“Free Burning”), S.L. Wisenberg (“The Adventures of Cancer Bitch”), Kim Brooks (“Small Animals: Parenthood in the Age of Fear”), Mary Hawley (“Double Tongues”), Mary Anne Mohanraj (“The Stars Change”), Susanna Lang (“Travel Notes from the River Styx”), Janet Burroway (“Writing Fiction: A Guide to Narrative Craft”), Ruth Goring (“Picturing God”), Aaron Cohen (“Move On Up: Chicago Soul Music And Black Cultural Power”), Elaine Soloway (“The Division Street Princess”), Eileen Favorite (“The Heroines”), Maggie Kast (“Side by Side but Never Face to Face”), Carol L. Gloor (“Falling Back”), Arnie Bernstein (“Swastika Nation”), Sharon Bloyd-Peshkin (“Curating Culture”, ed.), Kay Heikkinen (translator: Radwa Ashour’s “The Woman from Tantoura”), Dave Roth (Esthetic Lens magazine), Kimberly Dixon-Mays, Andrea Change (Executive Director, Guild Literary Complex)
VISUAL ARTISTS: Jay Ryan, Jason Pickleman, Marzena Abrahamik, Lynn Basa, Chad Kouri, Mary Livoni, Joerg Metzner, Jessica Pierotti, Jordan Schulman, Emily Thornton Calvo, Ann Tyler, Vincent Uribe
* An example…
Thoughts?
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Our sorry state
Friday, Sep 11, 2020 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Duaa Eldeib at ProPublica Illinois…
Two years ago, officials from the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services vowed to rescue the children they called “stuck kids” — those in state care who had languished in psychiatric hospitals for weeks and sometimes months after doctors had cleared them for release because the agency could not find them proper homes.
But children continue to be held at psychiatric hospitals long after they are ready for discharge, a practice our reporting showed leaves them feeling isolated and alone, falling behind in school and at risk of being sexually and physically abused during prolonged hospitalization. […]
The number of psychiatric admissions that went beyond medical necessity first spiked in 2015, going from 88 the year before to 246. It continued to climb, reaching 301 in 2017, according to DCFS data obtained by ProPublica Illinois through a Freedom of Information Act request.
For the most recent complete fiscal year, from July 2019 to June 2020, 314 children remained hospitalized after doctors had cleared them for release, according to data [Cook County Public Guardian Charles Golbert] said he received from DCFS. The youngest, he said, was a 3-year-old girl. […]
During [the last fiscal year], those children spent an average of at least 50 days unnecessarily hospitalized at a cost of $6.3 million to taxpayers, he said. DCFS could not immediately provide the data to ProPublica Illinois. […]
A DCFS spokesman placed blame for the problem on a variety of factors, including the loss of hundreds of residential treatment beds and more than 2,000 foster homes in recent years. But as those placements were cut, officials did not replace them with therapeutic or specialized foster homes as they had promised. Such homes offer support beyond traditional foster homes for families caring for children with intense mental health needs.
In addition, some children become the state’s responsibility after their families, often desperate to get them the mental health services they cannot afford or provide, leave them at a psychiatric hospital instead of bringing them home when they are ready for release. Some children have complicated medical and mental health issues, making it more difficult for DCFS to find a placement for them. […]
In 2017, Chicago-based Kaleidoscope began a small pilot project to provide at-home support services for families of children hospitalized after they were medically cleared to leave. That program has served 86 children, according to the organization.
There are currently about 40 children in the program, but plans to expand have faltered because of DCFS turnover, trouble recruiting and retaining staff, as well as the coronavirus pandemic, said Kathy Grzelak, Kaleidoscope’s executive director. She said she wasn’t surprised the number of children hospitalized beyond medical necessity hadn’t gone down in the last two years. […]
Lawrence Hall, a residential center on Chicago’s North Side, also started a small program last year to address the hospitalization issue. It has served nine children, who have stayed an average of three to six months, though some have stayed much longer, said Kara Teeple, Lawrence Hall CEO.
She said the stubbornly high number of children who remain at psychiatric hospitals is both a reflection of their mental health needs and the lack of services that could prevent hospitalization.
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More DC gaslighting on state aid
Friday, Sep 11, 2020 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Here we go again…
Democratic governors on Thursday begged Congress to come to the aid of ailing states, which face unexpected expenses as they attempt to curb the spread of COVID-19 as well as massive revenue shortfalls due to the pandemic.
But Republicans at a House hearing rejected their pleas, arguing that states have yet to spend money provided by Congress earlier this year, and prospects appeared to dim for any kind of deal on additional emergency aid before the election. […]
Republicans have characterized such aid as a “blue state bailout” and denied the need for additional money — a point [Rep. Patrick McHenry of North Carolina] made again Thursday. He pointed to a recent report by the Congressional Research Service that found that roughly 25% of the $150 billion approved in March had been spent as of June 30.
“Democrats are using this hearing to claim that states are struggling,” he said, “but it certainly isn’t due to a lack of funding.”
The states (and local governments, for that matter) haven’t been able to spend all the money because of the way Congress drafted the bill. The law explicitly forbids the federal cash from being used to plug revenue holes caused by the international economic crash. It can only be used for unexpected costs.
Reporters have constantly fallen for this gross misdirection, including in Illinois. As Charlie Wheeler used to tell cub reporters: Always read the bill.
Also, June 30th was the end of the fiscal year for lots of states. Just more DC gaslighting.
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* Northwest Herald…
A pair of former child welfare employees who had prior contact with slain Crystal Lake boy AJ Freund and his family were arrested Thursday on child endangerment charges.
McHenry County Board member and former Illinois Department of Children and Family Services employees Carlos Acosta, 54, was arrested and charged with two felony counts of endangering the life of a child and one felony count of reckless conduct.
Also arrested was Acosta’s former supervisor, Andrew Polovin, 48, of Island Lake, on the same charges, according to the McHenry County Sheriff’s Office. […]
“We’ve definitely seen the work of DCFS in the number of cases that they’re referring to us [and] the quality of the work has improved,” [McHenry County State’s Attorney Patrick Kenneally] said.
Both bonded out last night.
* NBC 5…
Acosta was the child protection specialist assigned to check a December 2018 call from Crystal Lake police about a bruise on Freund’s right hip. The boy gave varying explanations for the injury, including that the family dog had done it during play. But records show he also told an emergency room doctor, “Maybe mommy didn’t mean to hurt me.”
Acosta said in December that he followed protocol in not going back to question the child about the bruise and that the child’s injuries didn’t meet the threshold to get a second opinion from a pediatric specialist.
Acosta previously said he’s emotionally torn but stands by his decisions.
“I don’t deny the fact that I was there four months before and that’s something that I’m going to have to live with forever,” Acosta told Shaw Media Illinois in an interview late last year. “And again, should have, could have, would have. Did I still follow the policy and weigh the evidence that I had at the time? Yes.”
* Tribune…
(F)ormer DCFS Inspector General Meryl Paniak had recommended their termination for their handling of the December 2018 hotline investigation. The inspector general report, which focused on the agency’s handling of the December hotline investigation and an earlier one from March in which Acosta was not involved, found the employees “failed to see the totality” of the troubled history of AJ’s family and missed opportunities to intervene.
Acosta was carrying a caseload above what is allowed under a federal consent decree at the time of their contact with AJ’s family, a systemic problem that has long vexed DCFS and that child welfare advocates say puts vulnerable children at further risk, the Tribune has reported.
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* ABC 7…
An I-Team data investigation of racial disparities in Chicago Police Department traffic stops shows Black drivers are far more likely to be stopped by Chicago Police than white drivers. New evidence also shows Black drivers are more likely to be pulled over for no reason at all.
Chicago Police officers stopped 598,332 drivers in 2019 - that’s more than 1,600 traffic stops a day citywide. In collaboration with other ABC Owned Stations, our analysis of police data shows Black drivers make up a greater proportion of Chicago traffic stops than their proportion of the population, meaning a simple trip to work or the store can often lead to police contact. As a result, Black drivers tell the I-Team they often feel targeted behind the wheel. […]
In 2019, Chicago police stopped 368,332 Black drivers - more than six in 10 of all traffic stops citywide. But when you factor in the greater number of white drivers on the roads than Black drivers, the racial disparity is even worse. […]
The number of traffic stops in Chicago is significantly increasing. In 2014, Chicago police only pulled over 87,355 people. Last year alone they pulled over a half a million more drivers than five years ago.
As the number of police stops increase and police continue to stop Black drivers at a far greater rate, our data analysis shows they’re actually citing Black drivers less often than white drivers. That means while Black drivers are more likely to be pulled over, they’re less likely to be cited for wrong-doing.
“All the increase in the surge has been among innocent people,” said Wesley Skogan, Northwestern University Crime Policy expert. “These are the kinds of things that are piling up and it makes people know that they’re being disrespected. People know that their time isn’t worth anything, people know that the police completely suspect them of everything, even if they end up doing nothing. So the weight of this kind of policing is just enormous on poor Black neighborhoods in Chicago.”
* “61.5% of traffic stops last year were of Black drivers. Just one third of Chicago’s population is Black”…
* 2019 stops per 1,000 drivers and citations per 1,000 stops…
* “Traffic stops have increased rapidly, with 2019 seeing more than half a million more stops than 2014″…
* “Black drivers have seen the largest overall increase since 2014. From 2018-2019, the greatest percentage increase was seen by Latinx drivers, who saw stops increase by 27%”…
* Check out Houston…
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Open thread
Friday, Sep 11, 2020 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Please keep things Illinois-centric and be polite to each other. Thanks.
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