Several area casinos can resume operations Wednesday after being closed since March 16 to slow the spread of the coronavirus.
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Chicago Tribune: Where does Illinois stand on the reopening plan? Here are the charts
With each of the state’s four regions in Phase 3 of Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s Restore Illinois plan, the clock starts on moving on to Phase 4, where more businesses and activities are allowed. The plan to reopen Illinois — from restaurants and salons to open space to non-COVID-19 procedures at the hospital to concerts and festivals — depends on a host of metrics laid out by Pritzker.
The metrics focus on a rolling average of positive coronavirus cases and hospitalizations to keep track of the direction of the outbreak as well as availability of hospital beds and ventilators that would be needed to handle a possible surge. There are also benchmarks for testing and tracing positive tests.
The Center Square: Pritzker won't delay state's minimum wage increase
Gov. J.B. Pritzker said he won’t delay an increase in the state’s minimum wage, which he pushed for and signed into law during his first year as governor.
That state’s minimum will increase to $10 an hour on Wednesday.
Belleville News-Democrat: Illinois lawmakers will consider police reform, but defunding isn’t on the agenda
“If I were you, I would turn your hat around.”
That’s what a white police officer told state Sen. Christopher Belt, who was wearing his baseball cap backwards when he was pulled over for driving 5 mph below the speed limit early one morning two years ago in a predominately white metro-east town, which he declined to name.
Daily Herald: What gamblers can expect when they head back to casinos July 1
Expect to wear face masks, stay 6 feet from the nearest bettor and skip the buffet line when casinos reopen starting Wednesday in Illinois.
The state’s 10 casinos are hurrying to put COVID-19 health protocols in place before they can open their doors for the first time in 3½ months.
Southern Illinoisan: Southern Illinois, Metro East St. Louis casinos to reopen Wednesday
Harrah’s Metropolis will reopen at 9 a.m. Wednesday. The Argosy Casino Alton will resume operations at 10 a.m. Wednesday. The Casino Queen in East St. Louis will open its doors at 9 a.m.