Illinois lawmakers, 6 feet apart, catch up on delayed work
May 20, 2020
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) — Illinois legislators approved extraordinary safety rules Wednesday as they convened for the first time in 10 weeks due to the coronavirus pandemic, prompting the highly unusual step of removing a Republican from the House floor when he refused to wear a face mask. The Legislature...
Pritzker outlines ‘Restore Illinois’ plan as groups, other states look toward reopening
Daniel Berry, Contributing Writer
May 20, 2020
Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker has released a five-phase reopening plan for Illinois as states begin to look toward reopening their economies and public spaces as COVID-19 infection rates decrease. As of May 14, there have been 87,937 cases and 3,928 deaths in Illinois. The “Restore Illinois...
Pritzker defends extended order, faces salon owner lawsuit
May 11, 2020
Gov. J.B. Pritzker defended his stay-at-home order and incremental plans to reopen, saying Sunday that Illinois residents have to change the way things are done until COVID-19 is “eradicated.” The Democrat's comments on CNN’s “State of the Union” came as he faced a southern Illinois salon...
Judge rules Pritzker’s stay-at-home order an overreach
April 27, 2020
A judge in southern Illinois ruled Monday that Gov. J.B. Pritzker's stay-at-home order to stem the spread of the coronavirus exceeds his emergency authority and violates individual civil rights. Clay County Circuit Judge Michael McHaney sided with Republican Rep. Darren Bailey, who sought a temporary...
Pritzker extends stay-at-home order amid COVID-19 spread
April 24, 2020
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) — Gov. J.B. Pritzker on Thursday extended his stay-at-home order through May 30 as the highly contagious COVID-19 continued its rounds. Pritzker's decree, which was to expire April 30, was relaxed to allow for some outdoor activities, many previously barred surgeries and...
7 Midwest states to partner on reopening the economy
April 16, 2020
LANSING, Mich. (AP) — Seven Midwestern governors announced Thursday that they will coordinate on reopening their state economies amid the coronavirus pandemic, after similar pacts were made in the Northeast and on the West Coast. The latest agreement includes Illinois, Ohio, Michigan, Indiana, Wisconsin,...
OPINION: We should ask questions about the coronavirus strategy
Blaine Wilhour, State Representative
April 9, 2020
Covid-19 is a serious disease. People have died and more people will die. We all acknowledge the importance of taking preventative measures to protect our most vulnerable. But when taking draconian repressive measures that have far-reaching negative effects on our lives and livelihoods, the threshold ...
Newly-vacant 12th district seat catches the eyes of many
Patsy Newitt, Assistant News Editor
March 1, 2020
The 12th district state representative seat is hotly contested. Big name candidate endorsements create a narrative of Mayor Lori Lightfoot vs. Gov. J.B. Pritzker, or the Chicago Tribune vs. the Sun-Times. Outside of the powerful endorsements and vying for constituent support is the fact that the se...
Illinois primary registration, early voting and polling places, explained
Brita Hunegs, Staff Writer
March 1, 2020
The primary election in Illinois will take place on March 17, the same day many Illinoisans will be celebrating St. Patrick’s Day. Primary elections often have historically lower turnout than general elections. In 2018, turnout for all eligible voters was just 19.9 percent compared with the historic g...
J.B. Pritzker budget would hike spending, amount hinges on voters
February 20, 2020
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) — Gov. J.B. Pritzker proposed a $40.7 billion state budget Wednesday — virtually flat from the current level — but dressed it up by dangling the prospect of a $1.4 billion revenue boost if voters approve a radical income-tax overhaul this fall. The second-year Democrat...
Illinois restricts how students are secluded and restrained
February 20, 2020
The Illinois State Board of Education voted unanimously to adopt permanent rules that ban the use of locked seclusion rooms and prohibit schools from using prone restraint, a move that restricts the state’s rules more than ever. The new rules approved on Tuesday specify instances in which seclusion...
Trump commutes former Illinois Gov. Blagojevich’s sentence
February 18, 2020
President Donald Trump on Tuesday commuted the 14-year prison sentence handed out to Rod Blagojevich for political corruption, saying the former Illinois governor was a victim of the same prosecutorial overreach that Trump claims targeted him and clearing the way for Blagojevich's release after more...
