More than 18 months after Illinois Department of Employment Security offices closed their doors to Illinoisans, all state job centers have reopened for in-person assistance. Job seekers need an appointment, though.

The Illinois State Board of Education might have overstepped its authority by yanking recognition of schools that defied a statewide mask mandate. State lawmakers have asked the board to clarify those rules.

Nearly a year and a half after IDES closed job centers statewide, the unemployment agency began reopening offices for in-person assistance. So far 13 offices have reopened, with only one in Chicago.

A group of Chicago aldermen have called for residents to prove their COVID-19 vaccination status before allowing them to attend indoor venues such as restaurants, bars and theaters

A state lawmaker has asked Gov. J.B. Pritzker for the metrics needed to drop statewide mask mandates. He also called for public hearings on masking harms to student development, others in Illinois.

Gov. J.B. Pritzker promised to pass fair maps. On Aug. 31, politicians enacted maps that go back on that promise.

Illinois made an important first step in its break with the corrupt practices that defined the legislative process under former Illinois House Speaker Mike Madigan. New ethics rules about lobbying, financial disclosures and the legislative watchdog were passed in the final hours of the session, but the reforms may die after the House rejected a technical change to the legislation by Gov. J.B. Pritzker.

Gov. J.B. Pritzker announced all Illinoisans age 2 and up are required to wear masks inside public spaces effective Aug. 30. All school and health care workers must be vaccinated against COVID-19 by Sept. 5, as must college students.

Illinois has been ruled by executive order since early March 2020, with Gov. J.B. Pritzker reissuing statewide COVID-19 disaster proclamations every 30 days. On Aug. 20 he declared Illinois a disaster for the 20th time.

Vax Verify, Illinois’ new resident immunization portal, contains incorrect COVID-19 vaccine records. In a state where data leaks and hacks have been too common, the potential for health information being exposed is a reasonable worry.