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Capitol News Illinois: State sued over veteran’s COVID-19 death at the LaSalle Veterans’ Home
A wrongful death lawsuit on behalf of a Korean War veteran who contracted COVID-19 at the LaSalle Veterans’ Home accuses the facility of providing negligent health care that violated state law.
Richard John Cieski Sr. was one of 36 veterans who died last year during the COVID-19 outbreak at the LaSalle home that began in November.
State Journal-Register: Judge: Ex-senators should be paid withheld salaries
Two former Illinois state senators have a “clear right” to receive portions of their legislative salaries that were withheld by Illinois Comptroller Susana Mendoza and her predecessors, a Cook County judge decided last week.
But Mendoza said she intends to appeal the ruling, meaning this latest development is likely not the last word in the case brought by former Democratic Sens. Michael Noland, from Elgin, and James Clayborne Jr., from Belleville.
The Center Square: Illinois businesses looking for limited COVID-19 liability as bills stall in committee
Business groups are looking for Illinois state lawmakers to provide limited liability from COVID-19 lawsuits, but efforts to bring about such protections have stalled in committee.
Many states across the country have measures in place that limit the liability for a business to be sued if someone alleges they contracted COVID-19 at that business. The American Tort Reform Association tracks policy state-by-state.
Chicago Tribune: Longtime precinct captain for indicted Ald. Edward Burke pleads guilty to deceiving FBI in corruption probe
Rudy Acosta spent decades around some of Chicago’s most colorful — and allegedly corrupt — politicians.
A longtime Chicago fire inspector and 14th Ward precinct captain, Acosta watched as a succession of his political mentors were hit with federal charges, including Ald. Fred Roti, the mob-connected leader of the old 1st Ward who went to prison for bribery and current Ald. Edward Burke, who is awaiting trial on sweeping racketeering charges.
WBEZ: New Illinois Democratic Leader Helped Reelect Indicted Suburban Mayor
Indicted Crestwood Mayor Lou Presta’s successful re-election campaign got financial support from Congresswoman Robin Kelly — who became the new leader of the Illinois Democratic Party last month.
Despite being hit with federal corruption charges in August, Presta won another term as leader of the south suburb in the election a week ago. And in newly filed campaign-finance reports, Presta disclosed that Kelly gave $250 to his political committee on Feb. 12.
Chalkbeat Chicago: With clock ticking, no deal yet with union on Chicago high school reopening
The next 24 hours will be closely watched in Chicago as a union-imposed deadline nears for the city to reach a deal to reopen high schools.
If a deal isn’t reached by late Tuesday, teachers have said they will not report to classrooms Wednesday, even as they continue to teach remotely, harkening a previous move this past winter that brought efforts to reopen elementary schools to a temporary standstill. High school students are supposed to return April 19.