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.
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%.
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.
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.
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.
State agency published private data of nearly 32,500 unemployed Illinoisans
State agency published private data of nearly 32,500 unemployed Illinoisans
Just as Illinois opened its unemployment system to self-employed workers, the new system exposed Social Security numbers and other private information of 32,483 applicants, according to a Freedom of Information Act response.
Pete Dolan: Elmhurst Brewing Co.
Pete Dolan: Elmhurst Brewing Co.
"It’s really hard to put a new budget together and say this is where we’re going to end up. We know we can’t keep going like this for a long period of time."
Illinois’ new jobless claims remain high, push total since COVID-19 to nearly 1.1M
Illinois’ new jobless claims remain high, push total since COVID-19 to nearly 1.1M
Self-employed and gig workers were finally allowed to file for benefits last week, driving the total to nearly 1.1 million Illinoisans seeking help since COVID-19 hit the state’s economy.