Pritzker declares disaster for 16th time despite June 11 reopening prediction

By Patrick Andriesen

06/01/2021

Illinois could fully reopen by June 11, but Gov. J.B. Pritzker decided the state was still a disaster zone and he needed emergency powers until the end of June.

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

Pritzker closes indoor dining throughout Illinois starting Nov. 4

By Joe Barnas

11/02/2020

All of Illinois will be under tighter restrictions starting Wednesday, with Gov. J.B. Pritzker imposing an indoor dining ban as his answer to the spread of COVID-19.

TAGS: COVID-19, executive order, JB Pritzker, restaurants

Pritzker locks down more Illinois regions, again hitting struggling bars and restaurants

By Bryce Hill

10/29/2020

A “conservative” estimate predicted 20% of Illinois restaurants would not survive COVID-19 closure orders, but predictions ranged as high as 85%. Some are fighting back.

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

Judge allows restaurant to stay open for indoor dining despite Pritzker’s executive order

By Joe Tabor

10/28/2020

A Kane County judge granted FoxFire’s request for a temporary restraining order against the governor’s recent COVID-19 executive orders banning indoor dining.

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

Pritzker issues 9th emergency declaration to extend COVID-19 powers

By Joe Tabor

10/21/2020

Gov. J.B. Pritzker has issued a ninth disaster proclamation, extending his emergency powers for another 30 days over all of Illinois.

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

Illinois becomes only state to ban haunted houses

By Ben Szalinski

10/03/2020

Other states warned residents about small spaces inside haunted houses creating a risk for spreading COVID-19, but Illinois is all alone in outlawing them.

TAGS: executive order, haunted house, JB Pritzker

Michigan Supreme Court rules against emergency powers similar to Pritzker’s

By Joe Tabor

10/02/2020

The Michigan Supreme Court concluded that Gov. Gretchen Whitmer could not legally extend her emergency executive orders without the approval of the legislature, while declaring another source of her authority unconstitutional altogether.

TAGS: coronavirus, COVID-19, executive order, Gretchen Whitmer, JB Pritzker

Indiana set to fully reopen state; Illinois remains stuck

By Ben Szalinski

09/24/2020

As Indiana gets back to normal, Illinois is locked into Phase 4 restrictions until further notice.

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

New Pritzker lockdowns driven by politics over science

By Brad Weisenstein

08/28/2020

Two areas of Illinois faced the same COVID-19 threat but received very different treatment from the governor. One is home to a political power base he needs to pass his progressive income tax in November.

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

Monthly jobs report fails to show depth of Illinois job losses

By Bryce Hill

08/20/2020

IDES estimated unemployment rate remains artificially low because it fails to count nearly 238,000 Illinoisans who have given up trying to find a job.

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