Everything you need to know about COVID-19 in Illinois

By Brad Weisenstein, Ben Szalinski

08/10/2020

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

Pritzker again pushes criminalizing businesses for failing to follow his COVID-19 orders

By Ben Szalinski

08/07/2020

Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker is again turning to criminal penalties to gain compliance with his coronavirus mandates. He is targeting small business owners for mask violations.

TAGS: coronavirus, COVID-19, executive order, JB Pritzker, small business

Hockey parents want to check Pritzker on COVID-19 restrictions

By Ben Szalinski

08/06/2020

Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s COVID-19 restrictions on youth hockey have parents questioning the science and logic of the decision.

TAGS: coronavirus, COVID-19, executive order, JB Pritzker, sports

Illinois’ economy likely shrank by $86 billion during Q2, national data suggests

By Bryce Hill

08/06/2020

Data published last week by the Bureau of Economic Analysis revealed that U.S. gross domestic product shrank at an annualized rate of -32.9% during the second quarter.

TAGS: COVID-19, executive order, IDES: Illinois Department of Employment Security, JB Pritzker, jobs, recession

Pritzker benches fall football, puts COVID-19 restrictions on other amateur sports

By Ben Szalinski

08/03/2020

Fall’s most popular high school sports lost out as public health, sports and academic leaders put pandemic restrictions on youth, high school and adult amateur sports starting Aug. 15.

TAGS: coronavirus, COVID-19, executive order, K-12, sports

Illinois’ COVID-19 jobs rebound is among nation’s weakest

By Bryce Hill

08/01/2020

Most other states have recouped more of their February-April job losses from the pandemic shutdowns than Illinois.

TAGS: COVID-19, executive order, IDES: Illinois Department of Employment Security, JB Pritzker, recession

Illinois moms take brunt of COVID-19 unemployment

By Orphe Divounguy, Bryce Hill

07/30/2020

COVID-19 and associated government lockdowns disproportionately harmed women with children at home.

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

Illinois workers remain idle despite national rebound

By Bryce Hill

07/28/2020

The state and most of its urban areas are failing to get residents back to work at rates matching the national average.

TAGS: coronavirus, COVID-19, executive order, jobs, unemployment

What powers does Pritzker have in an emergency? And what has he ordered so far?

By Joe Tabor

07/27/2020

In the case of an epidemic like COVID-19, Illinois governors are given a wide range of emergency powers for a limited period of time.

TAGS: coronavirus, COVID-19, emergency, executive order, JB Pritzker

Illinois worst among Midwest, neighbor states for unemployed staying idle

By Bryce Hill

07/20/2020

Continued unemployment claims in Illinois remain virtually unchanged since mid-April. Other states are getting back to work.

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

To prevent political bribery in Illinois, change the House Rules

Illinois House Speaker Mike Madigan’s power over Illinois politics is more precarious than ever. A steady stream of federal investigations, wiretaps and raids of people close to him, a deferred prosecution agreement with Commonwealth Edison wherein the utility giant admitted to bribing the speaker, and a grand jury subpoena served to Madigan’s office have led...

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To prevent political bribery in Illinois, change the House Rules

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Craig Richardson: Batter & Berries

Policy lessons from Illinois’ exodus of people and money

CBS Chicago: Illinois’ highest-paid superintendent receives $400K per year to oversee 1,200 students