Get the latest news headlines from around Illinois.
Chicago Tribune: Pritzker says health and economy to be considered in incremental reopening plan, as another 102,390 COVID-19 shots administered
Gov. J.B. Pritzker said Wednesday he’s working with business interests and health professionals in developing an incremental reopening plan for Illinois that is expected to be released later this week.
“We’re working with industry leaders, (and) we’re working with our doctors at (the Illinois Department of Public Health) as well as other experts in the state to make sure that the phased reopening is not only healthy for everybody but also good for the economy as we move it forward,” Pritzker said outside Abraham Lincoln Memorial Hospital in downstate Lincoln.
The Center Square: Group warns parking tax bill could be amended as 'vehicle' for $1 billion tax hike
The Illinois House is back in session in-person Thursday and some say a Senate bill could be amended by the House to increase taxes on small businesses by hundreds of millions of dollars by decoupling from the federal tax code.
Senate Bill 217 passed the Senate last week. The measure amends the Parking Excise Tax Act, making it not apply to public properties such as state universities or local governments. It passed unanimously
The Center Square: Coroner questions state’s COVID-19 death tally, seeks statewide audit
State officials have recorded 21,000 confirmed COVID-19 deaths in Illinois since the outset of the pandemic.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention listed 19,893 deaths through the end of February in Illinois where COVID-19 was listed among multiple causes. Of those deaths, about 1,830, or 9.2 percent, had COVID-19 listed as the sole cause of death.
The Center Square: Illinois Supreme Court hears argument to void billions in state borrowing
The fate of billions of dollars in borrowing now lies in the hands of Illinois’ high court.
The Illinois Supreme Court heard arguments Tuesday over a challenge to invalidate $16 billion worth of state borrowing in 2003 and 2017.
Chicago Sun-Times: Speaker Welch holds the gavel, but he’s not looking to wear a crown: ‘I am really here to get things done’
Speaker Emanuel “Chris” Welch is Mike Madigan’s successor in the top Illinois House leadership position, but on Tuesday he expressed no interest in being “the new party king.”
The Hillside Democrat said he’s focused on getting things done and collaborating with legislators on both sides of the aisle.
State Journal-Register: Springfield City Council OK's landmark maternity/paternity leave ordinance
After a lengthy and spirited discussion and some soul-bearing by the its sponsor, the Springfield City Council passed on a 6-4 vote a landmark maternity/paternity/adoption leave ordinance for city employees Tuesday.
It gives all employees, union and non-union, four weeks paid leave after the birth or adoption of a child.