Citing an increase in COVID-19 cases spurred by the delta variant, Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker issued an order Thursday requiring that everyone who enters a state building wear a face mask regardless of vaccination status.

Earlier the same day, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced many Illinois counties were seeing either “substantial” or high” community transmission of COVID-19. According to the CDC, the delta variant has caused more than 80% of recent cases and estimates indicate it will likely cause more.

A new report indicates the real estate markets in some Illinois counties are vulnerable to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The real estate website ATTOM reports markets were considered at risk based on the percentage of homes facing possible foreclosure, the portion with mortgage balances that exceeded the estimated property values, and the percentage of average local wages required to pay for major homeownership expenses on median-priced houses or condominiums.

Chicago will get an elected school board for the first time under a measure signed into law Thursday by Gov. J.B. Pritzker.

The new law would phase out a seven-member board of mayoral appointees for a 21-member elected board in place by 2027, allowing Chicago to join the vast majority of American cities that already have an elected board.