The city’s vaccine mandate for bar and restaurant patrons could be rescinded “quite soon” if COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations keep falling as drastically as they have over the past two weeks, Chicago Public Health Commissioner Dr. Allison Arwady said Tuesday.

Other coronavirus mitigations, including the statewide indoor mask mandate, could be reconsidered soon, too, as metrics improve across Illinois following the Omicron variant surge.

Senate Republicans on Tuesday made an emotional appeal on behalf of Illinois police officers, who they say are not receiving the support they deserve from lawmakers.

State Sen. Chapin Rose, R-Mahomet, introduced the GOP’s new package of proposals, including some that would undo parts of the comprehensive criminal justice reform legislation that passed last year. Rose spoke to the press Tuesday in the Capitol Rotunda, along with state Sens. Sue Rezin, R-Morris, Steve McClure, R-Springfield, Terri Bryant, R-Murphysboro, and Senate Minority Leader Dan McConchie, R-Hawthorn Woods.

Two bills aimed at relieving the state’s teacher shortage, at least in the short term, advanced out of a Senate committee Tuesday.

The Senate Education Committee unanimously endorsed two bills that would allow retired teachers to work as substitutes more days in a school year without losing any of their pension benefits.

There could be tax cuts on the horizon for Illinoisans. Whether that’s thanks to managing public dollars well or because of COVID-19 relief is up for debate.

With record inflation and Illinois’ high tax burden, Gov. J.B. Pritzker will offer up tax relief during his budget address Wednesday. The question remains if it’s permanent or temporary.