Lightfoot pushes Pritzker to ease restrictions as dining resumes in southern, central Illinois

By Brad Weisenstein

01/19/2021

Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot said she wants Gov. J.B. Pritzker to give city residents more freedom to drink and dine out. Two other Illinois regions were just granted more liberty to do so.

TAGS: COVID-19, IDPH: Illinois Department of Public Health, JB Pritzker, Lori Lightfoot, restrictions

Moving companies report Illinois exodus hits 10th year

By Ann Miller

01/14/2021

More people again in 2020 became former Illinoisans than new Illinoisans. The new General Assembly has the power to stop the moving vans.

TAGS: COVID-19, outmigration, population, property taxes

Illinois unemployment claims double

By Brad Weisenstein

01/14/2021

Illinois unemployment numbers dropped for a week during the holidays, but they were back up last week as the state's hospitality industry remains out in the cold.

TAGS: coronavirus, COVID-19, JB Pritzker, jobs, unemployment

Pritzker wants $500M tax hike on Illinois small businesses

By Adam Schuster

01/13/2021

Congress provided tax benefits for business losses in the CARES Act to help offset economic challenges during the pandemic. Gov. J.B. Pritzker wants to undo that relief to raise revenue for Illinois.

TAGS: COVID-19, JB Pritzker, recession, small business, tax hikes

Bill would give more power to CTU in fight to prevent school reopening

By Mailee Smith

01/11/2021

Illinois labor laws prevent the Chicago Teachers Union from going on strike to protest the reopening of school buildings. But the union is winning a push for legislation that places students’ return to school in jeopardy.

TAGS: COVID-19, CTU: Chicago Teachers Union, strike

More Illinoisans collect unemployment as nation recovers

By Brad Weisenstein

01/08/2021

Bans on indoor dining and bar service continue to hurt Illinois jobs numbers, placing the state low in a national recovery ranking.

TAGS: COVID-19, IDES: Illinois Department of Employment Security, Illinois, jobs, unemployment

Returning to school: What Illinois parents, teachers, school boards need to know

By Mailee Smith

01/08/2021

Illinois students are returning to school, but some unions are scaring teachers about their safety in the classroom. The science doesn’t support those fears, and the law may put teachers at odds with union demands.

TAGS: COVID-19, government unions, public schools, teachers

Everything you need to know about COVID-19 in Illinois

By Brad Weisenstein, Ben Szalinski

01/08/2021

This page will be updated daily to reflect developments related to the spread of COVID-19 in Illinois.

TAGS: coronavirus, COVID-19, IDPH: Illinois Department of Public Health, Illinois, JB Pritzker, Lori Lightfoot

Chicago teachers refusing to return to school face discipline, up to firing

By Mailee Smith

01/08/2021

The Chicago Teachers Union is encouraging Chicago Public School teachers to “take action” against the school district, but the union’s agenda risks teachers’ jobs without backing by science or law.

TAGS: COVID-19, CPS: Chicago Public Schools, CTU: Chicago Teachers Union

Pritzker extends mask mandate for another 150 days

By Brad Weisenstein

01/06/2021

Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker continues to run the state’s COVID-19 response by executive mandate, with state lawmakers still silent 10 months into the pandemic.

TAGS: coronavirus, COVID-19, emergency, JB Pritzker, restrictions