Vaccination proof, ID required to enter Chicago restaurants, bars, gyms

By Patrick Andriesen

12/21/2021

Mayor Lori Lightfoot’s new mandate will require Chicagoans ages 5 and older to prove they received a COVID-19 vaccination and to show a photo ID before entering restaurants, bars and gyms starting Jan. 3.

TAGS: Chicago, COVID-19, vaccine mandate

Cook County businesses should require vax proof or COVID-19 test

By Dylan Sharkey

12/17/2021

Cook County businesses should be checking for proof of vaccination or a negative COVID-19 test before letting anyone in their doors, the health department has declared.

TAGS: Cook County, COVID-19, vaccine mandate

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

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

1-in-5 Illinois students chronically truant thanks to COVID-19 mandates

By Patrick Andriesen

11/03/2021

Illinois students were missing – in masses – during the COVID-19 restrictions on in-person learning. As a result, nearly 20% fewer students met math and English proficiency standards.

TAGS: COVID-19, Illinois, public schools, truancy

Illinois lawmakers ask if school mask mandate discipline went too far

By Robert Brutvan

09/16/2021

The Illinois State Board of Education might have overstepped its authority by yanking recognition of schools that defied a statewide mask mandate. State lawmakers have asked the board to clarify those rules.

TAGS: COVID-19, Illinois, masks, public schools

Pritzker asked what COVID-19 measure will let Illinoisans ditch masks

By Robert Brutvan

09/13/2021

A state lawmaker has asked Gov. J.B. Pritzker for the metrics needed to drop statewide mask mandates. He also called for public hearings on masking harms to student development, others in Illinois.

TAGS: COVID-19, JB Pritzker, masks

Pritzker mask mandate leads to threats against 58 schools, districts

By Patrick Andriesen

08/27/2021

Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s Aug. 4 mask mandate drew criticism from the communities he just weeks earlier promised would keep local control over student COVID-19 safety. School districts that fail to kowtow face severe state sanctions.

Pritzker mandates indoor masks, vaccinations for school, medical workers

By Patrick Andriesen, Brad Weisenstein

08/26/2021

Gov. J.B. Pritzker announced all Illinoisans age 2 and up are required to wear masks inside public spaces effective Aug. 30. All school and health care workers must be vaccinated against COVID-19 by Sept. 5, as must college students.

TAGS: COVID-19, delta, JB Pritzker, masks, vaccine, variant

Pritzker emergency No. 20 comes nearly 3 months after Illinois’ full reopening

By Patrick Andriesen, Brad Weisenstein

08/23/2021

Illinois has been ruled by executive order since early March 2020, with Gov. J.B. Pritzker reissuing statewide COVID-19 disaster proclamations every 30 days. On Aug. 20 he declared Illinois a disaster for the 20th time.

TAGS: COVID-19, emergency, JB Pritzker

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Vaccination proof, ID required to enter Chicago restaurants, bars, gyms

Cook County businesses should require vax proof or COVID-19 test

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

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

1-in-5 Illinois students chronically truant thanks to COVID-19 mandates

Illinois lawmakers ask if school mask mandate discipline went too far

Pritzker asked what COVID-19 measure will let Illinoisans ditch masks

Pritzker mask mandate leads to threats against 58 schools, districts

Pritzker mandates indoor masks, vaccinations for school, medical workers

Pritzker emergency No. 20 comes nearly 3 months after Illinois’ full reopening

FAQ: How the federal scholarship program would help Illinois students

Report Archive

Diana Graham

Process for unionizing non-state workers raises red flags

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