Masks off by holidays? Pritzker likely taking back his ‘gift’

By Patrick Andriesen

12/03/2021

New COVID-19 cases have surged across Illinois, leading some state leaders to question why the only state east of the Mississippi with a universal mask mandate is seeing worse case rates than those without a mandate.

TAGS: COVID-19, JB Pritzker, masks

Illinois among 20 states dragging down U.S. economic recovery

By Orphe Divounguy

12/03/2021

The pandemic caused the largest and shortest economic contraction in U.S. history. But as other states recovered, Illinois’ economy remained $17 billion below the pre-pandemic trend through the first half of 2021.

TAGS: COVID-19, economy, Illinois

Chicago schools prep for omicron, let some unvaccinated students test out of COVID-19 quarantine

By Dylan Sharkey

12/02/2021

Chicago Public Schools will increase testing and give unvaccinated students a chance to test out of quarantine after exposure to COVID-19. Administrators are bracing for the omicron variant

TAGS: COVID-19, CPS: Chicago Public Schools, vaccine mandate

Naperville mayor: ‘It’s time to drop the mask mandate in Illinois’

By Patrick Andriesen

11/24/2021

The mayor of Illinois’ third-largest city, Naperville, said it is time for Illinois to drop its statewide indoor mask mandate. Illinois is the only state east of the Mississippi with an indoor mask mandate regardless of vaccination status.

TAGS: COVID-19, masks, Naperville, Steve Chirico

Illinois gains small businesses, but restaurants still slow to rebound

By Ann Miller

11/24/2021

This Small Business Saturday, Illinois has more entrepreneurs than before the COVID-19 pandemic. But the recovery has been uneven as some types of small businesses struggle and many jobs are missing as Illinois lags the national rebound.

TAGS: COVID-19, Illinois, small business

Women driving Illinois’ labor market recovery

By Orphe Divounguy

11/22/2021

Illinois’ labor market has heated up, gaining 40,900 jobs in October. It was the largest increase in 2021 as women, especially minority women, returned to work

TAGS: COVID-19, economy, Illinois, labor force participation rate

Statewide COVID-19 school mandates draw ire of superintendents

By Patrick Andriesen

11/22/2021

A group of school district superintendents called on the Illinois State Board of Education to oppose statewide mask and other mandates, letting local schools decide how best to handle COVID-19 mitigation.

TAGS: COVID-19, ISBE: Illinois State Board of Education, JB Pritzker, masks

Equating parents with terrorists leads Illinois Association of School Boards to quit U.S. group

By Patrick Andriesen

11/22/2021

The Illinois Association of School Boards is among 15 state boards to terminate their National School Boards Association membership after the national group sent a letter to President Biden asking that upset parent be monitored as domestic terrorists.

TAGS: COVID-19, IASB: Illinois Association of School Boards, NSBA: National School Boards Association

Two Black women small business owners thrive despite pandemic in Illinois

By Ann Miller

11/19/2021

Two groups most hurt by pandemic closures, women and Black Illinoisans, have been the quickest to turn to owning small businesses as a way to recover from the COVID-19 economic downturn.

TAGS: COVID-19, Illinois, small business

23 Chicago labor unions sue to block Lightfoot’s vaccination mandate

By Patrick Andriesen

11/12/2021

Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot is being challenged by 23 labor unions over her Dec. 31 vaccination deadline. They claimed she is infringing on union members’ collective bargaining rights.

TAGS: COVID-19, Lori Lightfoot, vaccine mandate