Brady tours COVID-19 testing site in Bloomington

Posted on May 6, 2020
Illinois Senate Minority Leader Bill Brady (left) toured the COVID-19 drive-thru testing site in Bloomington on Wednesday. (Blake Haas/WJBC)

 

By Neil Doyle and Blake Haas

BLOOMINGTON – The Republican leader of the Illinois Senate was happy to see a plan from Gov. JB Pritzker to reopen the state, but he said there are some things that could be changed.

State Sen. Bill Brady (R-Bloomington) toured the COVID-19 drive-thru testing site in Bloomington on Wednesday. He spoke with WJBC’s Blake Haas about the “Restore Illinois” plan.

“I think the mutual goal is that everyone wants to see everyone safe and the economy reengaged as fast as safely possible, but there’s a risk in that because this virus isn’t going away,” said Brady. “The way in which we deal with it is going to have to be closely administered. I think we can learn from other states, and I’m hopeful we can speed the process up, in a safe way.”

Brady said one problem with the plan is the time frame for a region to move to the next phase, which is 28 days.

As for returning to Springfield, Brady said there has been a lot of discussion. He’s eyeing for a hopeful return after Memorial Day weekend.

Neil Doyle 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…