Push to audit Pritzker’s handling of veterans home outbreak has bipartisan support by Greg Bishop, The Center Square | March 02, 2021 08:00 PM Print this article
While Gov. J.B. Pritzker has said there’s an ongoing inspector general investigation of the handling of the LaSalle Veterans’ Home COVID-19 outbreak, there’s bipartisan support for a separate investigation.
There is also legislation to require state public health officials to visit the site of a disease outbreak at a state-run facility as “soon as practical.”
Last fall, a COVID-19 outbreak at the LaSalle Veterans’ Home killed 36. The outbreak began Nov. 1, 2020, and quickly spread, sickening nearly everyone.
WBGZ Radio 3/3/2021 |
By Greg Bishop - Illinois Radio Network
While Gov. J.B. Pritzker has said there’s an ongoing inspector general investigation of the handling of the LaSalle Veterans’ Home COVID-19 outbreak, there’s bipartisan support for a separate investigation.
There is also legislation to require state public health officials to visit the site of a disease outbreak at a state-run facility as “soon as practical.”
Last fall, a COVID-19 outbreak at the LaSalle Veterans’ Home killed 36. The outbreak began Nov. 1, 2020, and quickly spread, sickening nearly everyone.
A timeline from several legislative hearings showed a site visit by federal officials found COVID-19 protocols were not being followed, including hand sanitizer that was ineffective against COVID-19 being used and lax employee behavior. The state didn’t conduct an onsite visit for nearly two weeks after the outbreak.
(The Center Square) – While Gov. J.B. Pritzker has said there’s an ongoing inspector general investigation of the handling of the LaSalle Veterans’ Home COVID-19 outbreak, there’s bipartisan support for a separate investigation. .
State Rep. André Thapedi (D-Chicago) is set to resign from his seat in the Illinois House after 12 years, he told NPR Illinois on Sunday.
Thapedi, who has served as representative for the 32nd District since 2009, said he wants to take an active role in searching for a replacement for his seat. The 32nd District stretches westward from Chicago’s Chatham neighborhood to south suburban Hickory Hills.
The Chicago Democrat also said his decision is driven in part by family. Thapedi’s father passed away last summer and his mother, retired Cook County Judge Llwellyn Thapedi, died in 2014.
“I’m at peace with my decision,” Thapedi said.
Family Remembers Veteran
Lindsay Lamb’s grandfather, Richard Cieski Sr., died in November. He was one of more than 30 residents at the home to contract COVID-19 and die from the outbreak there. Lamb says she was close to her grandfather.
“He was, we always laughed, he was a big schmoozer. He was a big flirt. He was a big family man, his family was everything to him. His wife was everything to him,” said Lamb.
About seven years ago, Cieski’s health started to decline. He had dementia. On on top of that, Lamb says he was a big guy. When it became too much to care for him on their own, the family decided it was best that Richard move to the veterans home.