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* Illinois-centric and polite to each other, please.

posted by Rich Miller
Thursday, Oct 8, 20 @ 9:31 am

Comments

The State of Illinois says there have been 44 outbreaks in Illinois schools and its only week 7. And they admit they might not know about all outbreaks. And they refuse to release the names of the school districts and schools.

None of this is okay. Notifying parents and notifying the public of school-based exposure is a bare minimum requirement.

This administration criticized the Rauner administration for its lack of transparency and rightly so.

By your own standards, you are failing to protect lives.

Release the info today. Require all schools to report to ISBE moving forward, and discipline the licenses of administrators that fail to comply.

Comment by Rubber Band Man Thursday, Oct 8, 20 @ 9:40 am
In his press conference yesterday, the Governor hinted at cuts to grants and personnel as targets for the 5% agency cuts the rest of FY21 (and 10% for FY22). He said that directors under his jurisdiciton was to submit cut ideas by tomorrow. This will mean possible layoffs.

Anyone know if this request for cuts by the Gov extend to the other constitutionals (SOS, LtGov, AG, Treasurer, Comptroller)?

https://www.sj-r.com/news/20201007/pritzker-says-grants-personnel-costs-being-considered-for-savings?rssfeed=true

Comment by Chatham Resident Thursday, Oct 8, 20 @ 9:42 am
Since we are getting close to peak fall color, what is everyone’s favorite place to see fall color here in Illinois? I’m planning on doing a river road trip when it’s a good time.

Comment by ItsMillerTime Thursday, Oct 8, 20 @ 9:44 am
==The State of Illinois says there have been 44 outbreaks in Illinois schools and its only week 7. And they admit they might not know about all outbreaks. And they refuse to release the names of the school districts and schools.==

Could things like HIPPA, the Educational Privacy Act, or even Attorney-Client Privilege prevent the state from releasing info on the school outbreaks?

Comment by Chatham Resident Thursday, Oct 8, 20 @ 9:47 am
=Could things like HIPPA, the Educational Privacy Act, or even Attorney-Client Privilege prevent the state from releasing info on the school outbreaks?=

Only if information is provided on specific individuals. Telling these communities when outbreaks occur does not violate anyone’s individual privacy if done correctly. It’s why we receive daily case counts and deaths by county and age.

Comment by Pundent Thursday, Oct 8, 20 @ 10:11 am
Voted @ 69 W. Washington, Chicago yesterday. Had mailed in previously a request to VBM. After voting I printed ballot in printer in booth and took to scanner. Was told if you requested a VBM and did not bring it with you your ballot is put in a container for opening I assume on election day, so I don’t think I moved up the counting of my vote at all by going in?? Suggest you bring your VBM ballot with you for scanning if you do what I did.

Comment by DEE Thursday, Oct 8, 20 @ 10:28 am
“Only if information is provided on specific individuals.”

In smaller schools / locales, acknowledgement of a single COVID-19 case would be essentially identification of a specific individual. If every school district was as large as U-46 or Rockford, if every high school had 2,000 students, it might be a different story.

Comment by Anyone Remember Thursday, Oct 8, 20 @ 10:38 am
“what is everyone’s favorite place to see fall color here in Illinois? ” My front porch is a dandy spot, IMO.

Comment by Skeptic Thursday, Oct 8, 20 @ 10:41 am
=In smaller schools / locales, acknowledgement of a single COVID-19 case would be essentially identification of a specific individual.=

Ok. Then how do you expect contact tracing to occur? You don’t need 2,000 students to protect privacy. And we’re talking about 44 “outbreaks” not cases here. The objective is to avoid cases from turning into outbreaks.

Comment by Pundent Thursday, Oct 8, 20 @ 10:44 am
Three things:

My local high school appears to be sending email notification to parents for each positive Covid case, indicating anyone exposed through contact tracing has already been notified.

I propose a tax on political advertisements, I thought 2016 was horrible buy doesn’t hold a candle to this year. The same ads are being shown Multiple times during the same commercial break.

Have political gurus convinced campaigns that flashy color mailers are effective? I receive dozens a week and not one makes it past the recycle bin in my garage. Haven’t actually looked at one this election.

Comment by Retired and still in Illinois Thursday, Oct 8, 20 @ 10:52 am
For fall color in Illinois, we like to head to the Starved Rock area or further south on the Illinois River Road as far as Emiquon.

Comment by yinn Thursday, Oct 8, 20 @ 10:52 am
@yinn, thanks for the fall color report.

Comment by Amalia Thursday, Oct 8, 20 @ 11:05 am
Pundent

According to IHSA, Greenview High School’s enrollment is 64. How many of their students are out for 2 weeks at a time? Saying that school had a COVID-19 case would, essentially, identify the afflicted. You’d be surprised at how many very small schools there are in Illinois.

Comment by Anonymous Thursday, Oct 8, 20 @ 11:09 am
Heartbreaking story by Bruce Rushton in today’s Illinois Times about two homeless encampments in Springfield that have developed since the summer: one near 6th and Carpenter (near St. John’s Hospital), and the “Tent City” near 11th and Madison along the railroad.

https://www.illinoistimes.com/springfield/going-nowhere/Content?oid=12674423

Comment by Chatham Resident Thursday, Oct 8, 20 @ 11:48 am
Southern Illinois’s fall display is magnificent…I highly recommend Giant City Park…a rainbow of spectacular.

Comment by Dotnonymous Thursday, Oct 8, 20 @ 11:59 am
==I propose a tax on political advertisements==

I second that proposal too, every little bit of revenue helps.

Speaking of campaigns, have any of you seen yard signs and other campaign ads for various candidates in areas that are not part of the candidate’s district?

For example, I’ve seen 96th District GOP candidate Charlie McGorray yard sign at a house near South Spring and Cedar. Even though that part of Springfield is confusing to figure out legislative-district wise, that house is still part of the 99th (Mike Murphy’s district).

Also in that area, there’s a bus stop bench with a Mike Murphy ad on it near Pasfield and Allen street (one block west of Bernie and Betty’s Pizza). That neighborhood isn’t in Murphy’s 99th now; it’s in Scherer’s 96th.

I’ve also seen a sign for Betsy Dirksen Londrigan near Veterans and Panther Creek Drive between Springfield and Chatham. Sorry, that’s in LaHood’s 18th, not Davis’s 13th.

Two years ago there was an Andy Manar state senator sign in a lot across the street from Glenwood HS in Chatham (Near Plummer and Gordon Drive/Iron Bridge Road). Manar doesn’t currently represent any of Chatham village limits.

Then again, who knows what might happen on all these areas mentioned after the remap. Chatham could very be partly represented in the Senate by Manar in two years, for instance.

Comment by Chatham Resident Thursday, Oct 8, 20 @ 12:37 pm
Has anyone heard of any updated polls for IL-3 (Newman/Fricilone). According to Nate Silver’s 538 Blog, the last poll was done in September by Ogden and Frye and had Newman only up by 2 points.

Comment by Powdered Whig Thursday, Oct 8, 20 @ 3:00 pm
===the last poll ===

I have serious doubts about that poll.

Comment by Rich Miller Thursday, Oct 8, 20 @ 3:02 pm
=== I have serious doubts about that poll. ===

OK. It didn’t sound right to me either.

Comment by Powdered Whig Friday, Oct 9, 20 @ 11:37 am