Read the latest news from around Illinois.
Crain's Chicago Business: How does Speaker Madigan keep his power?
Yet, the speaker remains, with no sign yet that the political heat on him is too much to withstand. How come? A classic example of why—and how politics really works in this state—comes from the folks at Planned Parenthood of Illinois.
Chicago Sun-Times: Central figure in suburban red-light camera corruption probe charged by prosecutors
Federal prosecutors on Monday charged a central figure in their ongoing suburban corruption probe involving a politically connected red-light camera company.
Omar Maani is charged with one count of conspiracy to commit bribery, court records show. Maani, who lives in Burr Ridge, was a partner in the red-light camera firm, SafeSpeed, and is believed to be cooperating with federal authorities.
Chicago Tribune: ‘It feels like we’re blocked at every turn’: With threats of $10,000 fines for COVID-19 violations, some restaurants say the punishment doesn’t fit the crime
As with so many aspects of the COVID-19 pandemic, there had to be a learning curve for Chicago restaurants and bars as they reopened in early June — something the Department of Business Affairs and Consumer Protection emphasized at the time.
Guidelines changed on a near-weekly basis, with outdoor-only dining quickly expanding to conditional indoor dining. Cocktails initially could not be ordered for pickup and delivery, but then they could. In July, the city abruptly rolled back indoor service for bars. Just last week, mask requirements changed.
The Center Square: State officials adjust COVID-19 fatality numbers as they learn more about each death
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported Friday that 6 percent of the nation’s COVID-19 related deaths had COVID-19 listed as the only cause of death while the other 94 percent had an average of 2.6 conditions or causes in addition to COVID-19.
The Illinois Department of Public Health said it adjusts COVID-19 death numbers as investigations continue.
Chicago Sun-Times: Dramatic decline in tourism taxes are a ‘credit negative’ for cash-strapped Illinois, rating agency says
The dramatic decline in tourism taxes triggered by the coronavirus pandemic has increased the state’s debt service burden, a “credit negative,” a Wall Street rating agency warned Monday.
Last week, the Chicago Dental Society canceled its February meeting at McCormick Place, depriving Chicago of 29,936 visitors expected to occupy 17,305 hotel room nights.
Crain's Chicago Business: City budget gap reaching $2 billion in 2 years, Lightfoot warns
That dwarfs the $838 million budget hole Lightfoot projected at this time last year for 2020, and likely is the biggest hole by far in city history.