Governor addresses those who do not follow coronavirus mitigation rules

Posted on December 7, 2020

By Dave Dahl

SPRINGFIELD – The governor’s daily coronavirus briefing Monday included an agreement with Chicago Ald. Tom Tunney – after Tunney admitted “an error in judgment” in allowing people to dine at his popular Chicago restaurant in violation of coronavirus mitigation rules.

Gov. JB Pritzker also had harsh words for State Rep. Brad Halbrook (R-Shelbyville), who – according to photographs – hosted a large Republican gathering over the weekend for about 100 people, close together with no masks.

Asked about a double standard, Pritzker said the double standard is in the people who do not believe the rules apply to them.

And, still anticipating a post-Thanksgiving Day surge, state public health director Dr. Ngozi Ezike said, “Remember that it’s not just Thursday. Usually, it’s a whole weekend of events. We know the big travel days would be before Thanksgiving and also that Sunday, so i am using that Sunday (as a reference point), saying we are only a week out. We don’t like to follow a day or two. We like to see trends.”

The state Monday reported 8,691 new coronavirus cases and ninety more deaths.

Dave Dahl can be reached at [email protected]

Blogs

Labor Day – Expanding voting rights for all

By Mike Matejka Because of COVID, there is no Labor Day Parade this year. It’s always a great event for our everyday workers to march proudly down the street and enjoys the festive crowd. If there had been a parade, this year’s Labor Day theme was to be “150 years of struggle: your right to vote.” …

Is federal mobilization the answer?

By Mike Matejka As President Donald Trump threatens to send federal marshals into Chicago, over the objections of Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker, recall another Illinois Governor who protested the incursion of armed federal personnel into the city. Those federal troops, rather than calming, escalated the situation, leading to deaths and violence. Illinois poet Vachel Lindsay…

In these troubled times, to my fellow white Americans

By Mike Matejka Our nation is at a unique watershed in human relations. African-Americans have been killed too many times in the past before George Floyd, but the response to this man’s death is international and all-encompassing. I was a grade-schooler during the Civil Rights 1960s. I watched Birmingham demonstrators hosed and the Selma – Montgomery…

Workers’ Memorial Day – Remember those whose job took their life

Looking around our community, when we say employer, most will respond to State Farm, Country, or Illinois State University. We too often forget those who are building our roads, serving our food, or our public employees. COVID-19 has made us more aware of the risk. Going to work every day for some people means…