Get the latest news from around Illinois.
The Center Square: Illinois Senate leaders differ on readiness to return to Springfield
Illinois Senate Minority Leader Bill Brady, R-Bloomington, is calling on legislative leaders and Gov. J.B. Pritzker to return to Springfield.
Illinois state lawmakers have not been in Springfield since mid-March. That’s when the COVID-19 pandemic kicked into high gear and shortly before the governor implemented social distancing guidelines as part of his stay-at-home orders that have been extended to the end of this month and expected to be extended to the end of May.
The Center Square: Illinois lawmakers likely to miss deadline to move on fair maps proposal before redraw
With the last session days of April having been canceled, reform advocates’ hopes of passing a ballot initiative before Illinois redraws its political boundaries become a near impossibility.
The Illinois Constitution requires a ballot initiative to be enacted via the General Assembly six months before the election that it will be on. November’s election is the last chance to change the state’s guiding charter before lawmakers are to take decennial Census data and rework political boundaries, absent public input.
Belleville News-Democrat: Amid criticism, Madison County’s $95k-per-year ‘coronavirus czar’ deemed no longer needed
A specially-appointed Madison County administrator, who was deemed “unqualified” by county Democrats, says his work assisting with coronavirus-related issues will be over in the coming days.
Steve Adler, who was hired with the endorsement of County Board Chairman Kurt Prenzler as a so-called “coronavirus czar,” said his services will no longer be needed by the end of April because the situation in Madison County is “improving quickly.”
Crain's Chicago Business: Illinois small-biz loan fund doubles with another $250 million
This second installment is coming after the initial $250 million special bridge loan program has been nearly entirely distributed in a matter of weeks across the state. It was initiated in March.
Crain's Chicago Business: Labor, biz trade barbs as flap over COVID workers comp rule heats up
The business groups aren’t backing down. They’re accusing labor of an overreach that isn’t needed under the law.
Chicago Tribune: Southern Illinois judge temporarily blocks Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s stay-at-home order from applying to Republican state lawmaker who sued
Political divisions over Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s statewide stay-at-home restrictions were on full display Monday, as a judge issued a temporary injunction allowing a Republican legislator to disregard the order, a decision Pritzker quickly denounced while forcefully defending his actions to fight the coronavirus pandemic.
The ruling by Clay County Circuit Court Judge Michael McHaney came in a lawsuit filed by Rep. Darren Bailey that challenged Pritzker’s authority to extend his stay-at-home orderbeyond the initial 30 days under the state’s Emergency Management Act.
Chicago Sun-Times: Tests show ‘no apparent health risk’ from Little Village smokestack implosion, city says
The April 11 smoke stack demolition that enraged and endangered Little Village residents triggered “no apparent health risks,” according to air quality tests released Monday.
Testing of particulate matter, dust and soil composition and building debris were conducted by the Chicago Department of Public Health and U. S. Environmental Protection Agency and validated by a “non-governmental agency,” according to City Hall.
Journal Star: Putnam County extends tax deadline
Putnam County joined some other counties Monday in extending the effective deadline for payment of property taxes this year in recognition of the economic impacts of the coronavirus pandemic.
At a special meeting conducted via videoconference and telephone, the County Board approved an ordinance that will waive any interest charges that would normally accrue on late payments of the June installment as long as the full tax amount is paid by Sept. 15.