Get the latest news from around Illinois.
Daily Herald: More National Guard, state troopers will help across Illinois
The state is providing 250 additional Illinois National Guard soldiers and 300 Illinois State Police troopers to keep the peace after a weekend of violence and looting in the state, Gov. J.B. Pritzker said Monday.
“It’s difficult to put into words the damage that has happened to our communities over the weekend,” Pritzker said.
State Journal-Register: As COVID-19 limits ease, health official urges public to stay cautious
Parties, protests and nice weather, along with the state moving to allow more activities despite the continued threat of infection with coronavirus, is causing concern for the director of the Sangamon County Department of Public Health.
“So far, Phase 3 has been challenging,” said Gail O’Neill, the county health director, on Monday of the milestone of the “Reopen Illinois” plan that was reached on Friday.
The Center Square: Despite some bipartisan opposition, mask-related penalty enhancement bill queued for governor's approval
If a measure headed to the governor gets signed into law, being found guilty of battering a grocery store clerk trying to enforce pandemic public health guidelines could result in a sentence of two to five years in prison.
During debate of the measure in the House, there was bipartisan support and opposition.
State Journal-Register: Secretary of State offices in Springfield closes early
Secretary of State offices in Springfield will close at 2 p.m. today as a result of demonstrations planned in the city.
The closures include the Howlett Building, the Illinois State Library, the Herndon building at 421 E. Capitol Ave. and the driver services facility at 2701 S. Dirksen Parkway. All of the offices will reopen Tuesday.
The Center Square: Wait staff making more on unemployment may not come back as restaurants prepared to reopen
Restaurants in Illinois are now able to offer outdoor dining, but some may find it difficult to coax wait staff back to work.
The New York Times estimates workers in more than half the states will receive more in unemployment benefits that they did from their normal salaries.
Crain's Chicago Business: Preckwinkle, Foxx: Don't let looters hijack reform
While she said it was important to call out the “routine, everyday murders of unarmed black and brown people by the police,” she also said “we have to understand that the looting and the vandalism provide ammunition to those who want to marginalize, discredit or diminish our critique of America. We can’t allow looting and vandalism to define us.”
Belleville News-Democrat: What does reopening look like for local courts as Illinois emerges from COVID-19?
Criminal and civil proceedings in southwestern Illinois will begin to look a bit different soon, with the announcement that the 20th Judicial Circuit Court will reopen with teleconferencing amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
The court, which encompasses St. Clair, Monroe, Randolph, Perry and Washington counties, halted most non-emergency hearings on March 23, after Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s executive stay-at-home order was put in place.
The Center Square: Ban on smoking in vehicles with children goes into effect in Illinois
Illinois now has a ban in place on smoking in vehicles with children present.
The measure, which takes effect June 1, prohibits lighting up with anyone under the age of 18 inside.
Chicago Tribune: Chicago marijuana dispensaries close indefinitely
The bulletproof security glass inside Mission South Shore marijuana dispensary was supposed to be impenetrable. But it gave way Sunday afternoon to looters armed with crowbars and baseball bats.
They smashed through the front door first, then hacked away at the security glass, said Kris Krane, president and co-founder of 4Front Ventures, which owns the dispensary in the South Chicago neighborhood. Everything of value was taken, including the marijuana.