Pritzker mandates masks in health care clinics one day after mask mandate ends
Pritzker mandates masks in health care clinics one day after mask mandate ends
Gov. J.B. Pritzker has revised the indoor mask mandate issued in August, limiting indoor masking to health care and congregate facilities. Also, he said the Illinois Department of Public Health director is resigning.
By Dylan Sharkey
Politicians convicted of corruption can run for re-election under Illinois law
Politicians convicted of corruption can run for re-election under Illinois law
After a corrupt politician gets caught in Illinois, they can again run for office. State Rep. Curtis Tarver II has introduced a bill to stop that.
By Dylan Sharkey
Illinois Supreme Court denies Pritzker’s appeal of school mask mandate decisions, schools move to mask optional Feb. 28
Illinois Supreme Court denies Pritzker’s appeal of school mask mandate decisions, schools move to mask optional Feb. 28
After the Illinois Supreme Court determined the state’s appeal of decisions regarding the governor’s school mask rules was moot, the governor declared schools can move to mask optional policies on Feb. 28.
By Amy Korte, Mailee Smith
Bill would let Illinois parents decide when kids are old enough to be home alone
Bill would let Illinois parents decide when kids are old enough to be home alone
Illinois is the only state to outlaw leaving children home alone until they are 14. Lawmakers are considering throwing out the minimum age altogether, joining 39 other states that leave it up to parents.
By Dylan Sharkey
What you need to know about Pritzker’s legal fight to keep students masked
What you need to know about Pritzker’s legal fight to keep students masked
Gov. J.B. Pritzker is asking the Illinois Supreme Court to let him keep his authority to force Illinoisans to mask. But his effort to keep his COVID-19 mandate power is ignoring relevant data.
By Mailee Smith
Chicago public schools keep masks in place as city, parochial schools end mandate
Chicago public schools keep masks in place as city, parochial schools end mandate
Chicago Public Schools’ Board of Education said vaccination rates have it keeping students and staff in masks Feb. 28 and beyond. Parents are asking what it will take to see classrooms without masks. More private schools are taking off masks.
By Dylan Sharkey
Chicago cops must get COVID-19 shots, arbitrator rules
Chicago cops must get COVID-19 shots, arbitrator rules
Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot won a round in her fight to make Chicago Police Department workers get their COVID-19 vaccinations. Now all city employees, including police officers, must be vaccinated.
By Dylan Sharkey
Chicago dropping mask, vaccine proof mandates Feb. 28
Chicago dropping mask, vaccine proof mandates Feb. 28
Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot announced the city will end its mask mandate at the end of February, in line with the statewide date. The mandate requiring proof-of-vaccination will also end Feb. 28.
By Dylan Sharkey
Illinois child protection relocates teen girl 25 times
Illinois child protection relocates teen girl 25 times
Illinois Department of Children and Family Services Director Marc Smith was charged for contempt of court four times in six weeks. The latest was a 16-year-old girl relocated 25 times through foster homes, shelters and psychiatric hospitals.
By Dylan Sharkey
Pritzker appeals to Illinois Supreme Court after two courts derail his school mask mandate
Pritzker appeals to Illinois Supreme Court after two courts derail his school mask mandate
A judge’s ruling threw Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s school mask mandate into chaos. Now that an appellate court has ruled against Pritzker, too, he’s taking his fight to keep masks on students to the Illinois Supreme Court.
By Brad Weisenstein
Illinois appellate court rejects Pritzker’s appeal to keep kids in masks
Illinois appellate court rejects Pritzker’s appeal to keep kids in masks
The appellate court ruling marks Pritzker’s second loss in cases challenging his mask mandate in schools.
By Mailee Smith
Illinois state senators defy law to pick their watchdog
Illinois state senators defy law to pick their watchdog
Illinois state senators approved a new legislative inspector general over complaints by the Legislative Ethics Commission chair that the process and vetting were ignored for the new watchdog. House members vote next.
By Patrick Andriesen
Masks in schools: What’s next and what parents need to know
Masks in schools: What’s next and what parents need to know
Judge Grischow’s Feb. 4 temporary restraining order isn’t the final result in the multiple cases challenging Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s emergency powers. The ultimate solution is providing permanent certainty by limiting those emergency powers through legislation.
By Mailee Smith
State leaders block Pritzker from reimposing school mask mandate
State leaders block Pritzker from reimposing school mask mandate
Shortly after a downstate judge threw Pritzker’s mask mandates into question, a bipartisan committee voted against reimposing another K-12 school mask mandate.
By Joe Tabor