Illinois Politics
Illinois Secretary of State Jesse White said starting Sept. 1, Secretary of State employees who have not been vaccinated against COVID-19 will be required to submit to repeated COVID-19 testing. “As the pandemic continues to surge nationally, we must do all we can to maintain the safety of our customers and employees and this is…
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CHICAGO — Gov. JB Pritzker announced Tuesday that masks will be required for students, teachers and staff at pre-K through 12th grade schools and day cares across Illinois, regardless of vaccination status. The new requirement formalizes the CDC guidance released in July on universal masking for both unvaccinated and vaccinated people in schools. The mask…
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The Illinois Department of Public Health announced it was adopting new, stricter masking guidelines issued by the federal government, which call for universal masking at schools even for vaccinated students and staff. IDPH was also asking for indoor masking of the general public in areas of substantial or high COVID-19 transmission. By their definition, that is almost…
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CHICAGO — Former governor and convicted felon Rod Blagojevich on Monday told WLS that Illinois’ General Assembly violated his civil rights in removing him from office and then prohibiting him from any future run for elective office in the state. Blagojevich was impeached and convicted in 2009 and now plans to ask that a federal…
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By GREG BISHOPThe Center Square Illinois Senate Republicans are calling for a performance audit of the state’s unemployment agency after a scathing financial audit showed what they say is the tip of the iceberg of fraud. The most recent Auditor General financial audit for the Illinois Department of Employment Security for fiscal year 2020 only…
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QUINCY — Quincy Superintendent of Schools Roy Webb wrote in a social media post on Friday morning that his “guidance” to the Quincy School Board regarding how the Quincy School District will deal with its COVID-19 response is being reviewed with the start of school looming next month. “I know many of you have seen…
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SPRINGFIELD – State Sen. Jil Tracy (R-Quincy) is calling for a full audit of the Pritzker Administration’s mismanagement of Illinois unemployment benefits system, based on a report released July 28 by the Illinois Auditor General. The Auditor General’s preliminary financial audit of the Illinois Department of Employment Security (IDES), and its failures with the Pandemic…
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By JERRY NOWICKICapitol News Illinois SPRINGFIELD – The state will have new COVID-19 guidance on face coverings after the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention updated its guidance Tuesday to reflect that even individuals vaccinated against COVID-19 should wear masks while indoors in areas of the country where the virus is surging. CDC officials…
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By ANDREW HENSELThe Center Square Gov. J.B. Pritzker held a Tuesday news conference at The Center on Halstead to sign four bills into law to help LGBTQ+ communities. The governor sat in a packed conference room in Chicago filled with lawmakers and members of the LGBTQ+ community. Pritzker discussed the new laws he was there…
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Virtual hearing set for week after U.S. Census data is officially released By JERRY NOWICKICapitol News Illinoisjnowicki@capitolnewsillinois.com SPRINGFIELD – Lawyers for Illinois’ Democratic legislative leaders last week filed a motion to dismiss a lawsuit from Republicans and a Mexican American advocacy group regarding newly drawn legislative maps, calling the challenge “purely speculative” until full U.S.…
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By NOAH SHEARIllinois Policy Chicago Public Schools announced July 22 all students and staff must wear masks inside schools for the fall semester, and it doesn’t matter whether a person has received a COVID-19 vaccination. The schools will permit students and staff to remove masks only while outside and during meals. A week prior to CPS’s decision,…
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By JERRY NOWICKICapitol News Illinois SPRINGFIELD – Gov. JB Pritzker isn’t considering using federal American Rescue Plan Act funding to pay down a multi-billion-dollar Unemployment Insurance Trust Fund deficit, and he’s watching the state’s COVID-19 hospitalization numbers closely. Those were two of the topics discussed during a 10-minute interview with Capitol News Illinois on Wednesday…
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By NOAH SHEARIllinois Policy In CNBC’s recent ranking of states for their infrastructure, Illinois took the top spot. Illinois’ history as the nation’s center for commerce and transportation makes the ranking logical, but there is a warning to state political leaders that came with the designation. “But the state also has some serious infrastructure issues, including…
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By JERRY NOWICKICapitol News Illinois SPRINGFIELD – Lawyers for Illinois’ Democratic legislative leaders last week filed a motion to dismiss a lawsuit from Republicans and a Mexican American advocacy group regarding newly drawn legislative maps, calling the challenge “purely speculative” until full U.S. Census data is released. The motion, filed Friday, was an expected move…
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By JERRY NOWICKICapitol News Illinois SPRINGFIELD – Democratic Gov. J.B. Pritzker announced Monday he will seek a second term, joined once again by Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton as a running mate. In a three-minute kickoff video ending with the tagline “strong leadership in tough times,” the governor emphasized his response to the COVID-19 pandemic…
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By JERRY NOWICKICapitol News Illinois SPRINGFIELD – The state’s higher education agencies released updated COVID-19 guidance Monday encouraging all public and private higher education institutions in Illinois to issue mandatory vaccine policies. “Vaccination against COVID-19 is now widely available, and all persons over the age of 12 are eligible,” the guidance document reads. “Vaccination is the leading…
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By JERRY NOWICKICapitol News Illinois SPRINGFIELD – The wide availability of COVID-19 vaccines has changed the state’s approach for mitigating the virus’ spread statewide and in schools. For school districts, that means suggested rather than required guidance, with an emphasis on local control in imposing mitigations. For the governor’s office, that means there are “no…
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SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — Brent Fischer is on administrative leave with pay as executive director of the Illinois Law Enforcement Training and Standards Board. Jordan Abudayyeh, press secretary for Governor J.B. Pritzker, responded to an inquiry from Muddy River News by text Friday morning. She said Fischer was “on leave pending investigation.” She didn’t elaborate any further. Fischer returned…
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CHICAGO—Using revenue generated from adult-use cannabis sales, the Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority (ICJIA) today announced 21 grants totaling $3.5 million to organizations offering young people and adults (ages 10 to 25) pro-social activities that may reduce violence and victimization or provide increased street intervention this summer. Grant awards will support three months of programming,…
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By JERRY NOWICKICapitol News Illinois SPRINGFIELD – More than a year after new marijuana dispensary licenses were scheduled to be distributed per the state’s 2019 adult-use legalization law, the governor’s office announced the initial lottery and two new ones will happen by the end of August. The state also announced the award of more…
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SPRINGFIELD – The Illinois Department of Employment Security announced Wednesday that the unemployment rate rose one-tenth of a percentage point to 7.2 percent, while non-farm jobs increased 12,500 in June, based on preliminary data provided by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The May monthly change in payrolls was revised from the preliminary report, from minus…
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By JERRY NOWICKICapitol News Illinois SPRINGFIELD – Since economic shutdowns began and COVID-19 death counts started to rise in March 2020, national unemployment rates have hovered at historically high numbers, stressing state unemployment systems left dealing with an unprecedented number of claims. In Illinois, that’s led to a deficit in the Unemployment Insurance Trust Fund…
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Quincy, IL – Congressman Darin LaHood (IL-18) announced today that the Quincy Regional-Baldwin Field Airport received an $8,000,000 grant from the Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) Airport Improvement Program (AIP). The grant will be used to help reconstruct the airport’s runway and improve its safety. “The Quincy Airport is a vital part of the transportation system and supply…
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From Chicago Tribune – If you’re one of the 76,000 Illinois residents who received $123 million in excess regular unemployment benefits since the pandemic hit, you may be able to keep the money — as long as you haven’t already repaid it. Signed into law Friday by Gov. J.B. Pritzker, new legislation allows people who…
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QUINCY — Barney Bier, a former Adams County Board member and former state’s attorney, believes decisions announced by County Board chairman Kent Snider after a June 15 meeting are not in line with state law. A letter dated June 16, signed by Snider and sent to county department heads, noted personnel changes with the County…
Read Full Article November 12, 2024
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