Northwest Illinois church sues Gov. Pritzker over shelter-in-place order, says rights being violated

Stephenson County earlier this month

Liquor stores in Illinois are open. Weed dispensaries? Open for business. Churches? No. Not even in Stephenson County, which has 29 positive cases of COVID-19.

Illinois, particularly rural Illinois, needs to reopen. There are many counties in the Land of Lincoln with fewer than ten reported cases of coronavirus. A few with none.

From WREX-TV:

An Evangelic Christian church in Lena has filed a lawsuit against Illinois Governor JB Pritzker and leaders in Stephenson County, saying their religious rights have been violated.

The Beloved Church of Lena and Pastor Stephen Cassell filed a federal complaint with the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois in Rockford.

The lawsuit is against Gov. Pritzker, David Snyders the Stephenson County Sheriff, Craig Beintema, the Stephenson County Public Health Administrator and Steve Schiable, the Village of Lena's police chief, for issuing and enforcing unconstitutional edicts during the coronavirus pandemic.

The lawsuit says the defendants have "intentionally denigrated Illinois churches and pastors and people of faith by relegating them to second-class citizenship."

Compelling new podcast: Lickety History

Over the last few days I listened and enjoyed each of the 13-and-counting episodes of the new podcast series Lickety History. Among the topics covered so far are the death of Edgar Allen Poe, the Leopold--Loeb "thrill killing," Charles Guiteau, the nutjob who assassinated President James Garfield, and the 1918 flu pandemic.

Click here to find the podcast. Or go to iTunes and search for "Lickety History" on the podcast tab.

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From Forbes: A convincing argument for Illinois bankruptcy

Illinois soon may become the only state in history to see its bonds rated as junk. It has $7 billion in unpaid bills and $138 billion in unfunded public worker pension obligations.

States cannot declare bankruptcy. That needs to change. Below, courtesy of Forbes, is a convincing why.

Our analysis at OpenTheBooks.com shows that an Illinois family of four now owes more in unfunded pension liabilities ($76,000) than they earn in household income ($63,585). In a state of 13 million residents, every man, woman, and child owes $19,000 — on an estimated $251 billion pension liability.

Our auditors discovered 110,000 public employees and retirees who earned more than $100,000 last year.

We found tree trimmers in Chicago making $106,663; nurses at state corrections earning up to $277,100; junior college presidents making $491,095; university doctors earning up to $2 million; and 111 small town managers who out-earned every governor of the 50 states ($202,000).

Tucker: Big Tech censors dissent over coronavirus lockdowns

Tech companies like Facebook enjoy exerting control over us.

Ingraham: It's time Americans take back control over our lives, smartly, safely

America needs to re-open again! Laura Ingraham is right!

Another Illinois GOP legislator is fighting Pritzker's shelter-in-place order

The Republican Party supports rank-and-file people. The Democrats support the system, which includes the Swamp in Washington and the corruptocracy of elitists in Illinois.

From CBS Chicago:

Another state legislator is fighting Gov. JB Pritzker’s stay-at-home order, and this time it could mean all Illinois residents can leave home.

Monday a judge told downstate Illinois Rep. Darren Bailey he, and he alone, doesn’t have to honor the governor’s stay-at-home order. Tuesday a representative from Rockford is asking that he and all Illinois residents can be absolved.

The governor called the efforts shameful and reckless.

The same lawyer that scored a win for Bailey is making the pitch for Rep. John Cabello of Rockford. Tuesday the Illinois Attorney General asked an appellate court judge to “reverse and vacate the circuit court’s order” that allows Bailey to ignore Gov. Pritzker stay-at-home order.

(PragerU) The Bravery Deficit

Dave Rubin, in the latest PragerU video, believes it's time for conservatives to come out of the closet.

Trump says U.S. is investigating China over virus

Great news from our president.

Pritzker's Illinois shelter-in-place order overturned after lawsuit from downstate Republican legislator succeeds

Today a rare thing happened. Rank-and-file Illinoisans scored a victory thanks to state Rep. Darren Bailey (R-Xenia).

From ABC Chicago:

A judge has overturned Gov. JB Pritzker's extended stay-at-home order in a bombshell ruling.

Downstate Republican State Representative Darren Bailey filed a lawsuit last week challenging the governor's authority to issue a stay-at-home order.

On Monday, a judge ruled in favor of the lawsuit, granting a temporary restraining order blocking the governor's extended stay-at-home order which was to take effect Friday and run through the end of May. The order had loosened restrictions on some businesses and allowed for some outdoor recreation to resume.

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Rep. Bailey filed the lawsuit in Clay County challenging the order's legality last week. In a statement, Bailey said: "Enough is enough. I filed this lawsuit on behalf of myself and my constituents who are ready to go back to work and resume a normal life."

Coronavirus deaths will be 'dramatically decreased' by end of May: Dr. Birx

Yes, May, according to Dr. Deborah Birx, will see by the and of the month "dramatically decreased" fatalities.