Orland Park mayor slams Pritzker’s reopening plan in video
Orland Park mayor slams Pritzker’s reopening plan in video
Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s reopening plan has been met with widespread criticism. One suburban mayor publicly assailed Pritzker’s inconsistencies for hurting the economy.
Randy Miles: Village Inn Pizzeria
Randy Miles: Village Inn Pizzeria
“My employees are starving, so do they feel safe? I try to make them feel as safe as we possibly can. I believe they feel nervous…. I know they’re nervous. I’m nervous."
Ernie Sandoval
Ernie Sandoval
“I quit my job in the beginning of March and was supposed to start a new job a week later. The start date was March 16, and because of COVID-19 I never started the job. “It’s been 12 weeks since I requested assistance and it’s still up in the air. I have not been able...
Pritzker signs bill legalizing cocktails to-go
Pritzker signs bill legalizing cocktails to-go
Legal cocktails to-go give bars and restaurants a new avenue to serve customers through delivery and pickup service.
Rachel Meredith
Rachel Meredith
“Eight years ago, I got married and had two boys and was divorced before my youngest was 2. I had a baby and a toddler and I was out on my own. I never had anything in my name and I learned you couldn’t even get a phone bill without having previous credit. Two years...
Illinois’ new unemployment claims remain high
Illinois’ new unemployment claims remain high
New jobless claims remain several times higher than last year as state begins to test re-opening.
By Bryce Hill
Decatur, Peoria and Elgin hardest hit by job loss during Illinois lockdown
Decatur, Peoria and Elgin hardest hit by job loss during Illinois lockdown
Record April job losses hurt some communities even more than Illinois’ statewide decline of 13.4%.
By Bryce Hill
Black, Hispanic women hit hardest after Illinois decreed which jobs were ‘nonessential’
Black, Hispanic women hit hardest after Illinois decreed which jobs were ‘nonessential’
More than 1 in 5 black and Hispanic female workers in Illinois lost their jobs during the first month of the COVID-19 lockdown.
By Orphe Divounguy, Bryce Hill, Jon Josko
Mike Morrison: The Chubby Bullfrog
Mike Morrison: The Chubby Bullfrog
“I’ve spoken to several other bar owners [who] are like, ‘We’re in the exact same boat.’ I’m waiting for a serious miracle. [But] I don’t think that’s going to happen."
Jada Nettle
Jada Nettle
“[The lockdown] has just really, really put a dent in my income ... a huge dent to this point. I tried to apply for unemployment. But I make $50 a week too much, and that was me only netting $150 a week."
Unemployment claims exceed 1.15 million as Illinois heads into 10th week of lockdown
Unemployment claims exceed 1.15 million as Illinois heads into 10th week of lockdown
Nearly 1 in 4 Illinoisans find themselves out of work, more than all border states except Kentucky.
By Bryce Hill
Unemployment mess leads lawmaker to push for Pritzker’s recall
Unemployment mess leads lawmaker to push for Pritzker’s recall
Citing the lack of action on the state unemployment claims system overwhelmed during the COVID-19 pandemic, a state lawmaker begins the process to remove Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker from office.
Metra ridership down 97% from COVID-19
Metra ridership down 97% from COVID-19
Very few people have been commuting to work since Illinois’ stay-at-home order began at the end of March, which could mean tax and fare troubles are ahead for Chicago’s mass transit.
Illinois shed 762,200 jobs in April, 12.5 times greater than worst month on record
Illinois shed 762,200 jobs in April, 12.5 times greater than worst month on record
Record job losses hit the state during the first full month of COVID-19 economic fallout.
By Bryce Hill