SPRINGFIELD – Gov. JB Pritzker is considering changes to the SAFE-T Act criminal justice reform to clarify provisions related to the end of cash bail in Illinois, while his Republican challenger, state Sen. Darren Bailey, continues to push for a full repeal. The candidates shared their thoughts Friday on those and other issues during a […]
Gov. JB Pritzker
State to reduce $1.8 billion federal unemployment debt by $450 million
SPRINGFIELD – Gov. JB Pritzker announced a plan Tuesday to reduce a $1.8 billion Unemployment Insurance Trust Fund deficit by $450 million through an infusion of unemployment-related revenues. The trust fund is the pool of money paid into by employers to provide a social safety net for unemployed individuals. The employer’s insurance premiums are essentially […]
Pritzker calls for senators to resign
SPRINGFIELD – Gov. JB Pritzker called on two Democratic state senators Thursday to resign their seats amid allegations of misconduct.
National Guard to assist migrant welcoming effort as Pritzker declares disaster
SPRINGFIELD – Gov. JB Pritzker said Wednesday that Illinois will continue to welcome migrants bused here from Texas as he blasted that state’s governor for relocating them to other cities without sharing information or providing resources. Pritzker said Texas Gov. Greg Abbott and his agencies have been providing little notice for incoming migrants and has […]
Illinois tax rebate checks begin going out this week; income, property tax rebates were part of budget package
SPRINGFIELD – Gov. JB Pritzker announced Monday that Illinois taxpayers will soon start receiving rebates of their income and property taxes, either in the mail or by direct bank deposits. Speaking at a news conference in Chicago where he was flanked by other state officials and Democratic leaders of the General Assembly, Pritzker said the […]
Hello, Goodbye! Redux on ‘Quincy’s Calling’ and a quick look at real estate transfers
I observed several months back that Quincy says “Hello” and Illinois says “Goodbye!” A key reason? The Illinois tax structure. Muddy River News is publishing real estate transfers. Take of look at where the sellers, many area homeowners, now claim residence. An example would be the Adams County transfers from Aug. 15-19. The sellers included people from Estes […]
Texas begins busing migrants to Chicago; Pritzker, Lightfoot say they’re welcome, accuse Texas governor of racism
SPRINGFIELD – At least 60 migrants arrived in Chicago Wednesday on buses from Texas as part of Republican Gov. Greg Abbott’s ongoing policy to send undocumented immigrants to so-called “sanctuary cities.” But Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker and Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot, both Democrats, say the new arrivals are welcome in Illinois, and they are vowing […]
Pritzker makes abortion rights central issue; Democratic, GOP campaigns vie to define 2022 election
SPRINGFIELD – Democratic Gov. JB Pritzker said Tuesday that abortion rights will be a central issue in the 2022 election, not just in his bid for reelection but in races up and down the ballot. That includes races for Congress and the Illinois Supreme Court as well as the governor’s race and state legislative contests. […]
Analysis: Energy bill fact checks needed after first Bailey-Pritzker forum
SPRINGFIELD – There was a lot to unpack at last Wednesday’s candidate forum which saw Gov. JB Pritzker and his Republican challenger state Sen. Darren Bailey appear on the same stage, albeit at different times, for the first time this campaign season. For starters, I wrote an earlier article fact-checking the governor’s claim that eminent domain language […]
Pritzker delivers optimistic message, Bailey says Illinois in ‘dire situation’ during agricultural roundtable
LEXINGTON – The candidates for Illinois governor faced questioning about their agriculture-related policies Wednesday in an outbuilding on a McLean County farm. Gov. JB Pritzker’s message was one of optimism, billing himself as the state’s “chief marketer.” His challenger, state Sen. Darren Bailey, a Republican from Xenia, told the room full of farmers that Illinois […]
Private and public dollars are making Quincy’s Sixth Street Promenade a reality
Maybe it’s helping the downtown through volunteering or just taking the time to shop at a boutique. Maybe it’s through a financial investment that required you to take out a personal loan you have to pay back (with interest) over 20 years. Then imagine you see all these other neighbors doing the same thing you’re doing: volunteering, cheerleading, and spending hundreds of thousands of dollars in order to try and make a difference.
Pritzker talks session timeline, highlights infrastructure spending; gun, abortion-related bills could wait until new year
SPRINGFIELD – In a series of downstate news conferences coinciding with the Illinois State Fair, Gov. JB Pritzker this week gave an update on the possibility of a special session, outlined new state infrastructure investments and announced a new program for some Illinoisans over age 55. While the governor quickly announced he would call a […]
Pritzker eying Indiana firms after abortion law signed; Eli Lilly says it will look to expand outside Hoosier State
SPRINGFIELD – Democratic Gov. JB Pritzker said this week he is actively reaching out to businesses in Indiana and other states that have recently passed restrictive abortion laws in hopes of luring those companies to Illinois. “Well, already I’ve reached out to companies that are affected in Indiana. I want to make sure that they […]
10-day sales tax reduction on clothing, school supplies begins Friday in Illinois
SPRINGFIELD – Beginning Friday and lasting through Aug. 14, the state will reduce its sales tax rate from 6.25 percent to 1.25 percent for certain clothing items costing less than $125 and school supplies. The “tax holiday” was included in Gov. JB Pritzker’s “family relief plan,” one prong of several bills making up the Fiscal […]
After learning of Bailey comment that Holocaust ‘doesn’t even compare’ to legalized abortion, Pritzker campaign creates online ad
Within hours of a news report that GOP gubernatorial candidate Darren Bailey had said the Holocaust “doesn’t even compare” to legalized abortion in 2017 campaign video, Gov. JB Pritzker’s campaign was online with an ad publicizing the statement. “I believe that abortion is one of the greatest atrocities of our day and I believe it’s one […]
Pritzker says monkeypox disaster declaration will aid in vaccine distribution; state expects to receive 13,000 doses from federal government
SPRINGFIELD – Gov. JB Pritzker issued a public health emergency declaration and declared Illinois a disaster area in response to the monkeypox virus Monday, a move his office said would help mobilize resources. The governor’s office said the proclamation will aid in moving vaccines to the most impacted communities and will allow the Illinois Department […]
State announces plan for $760 million in opioid settlement money; attorney general was part of lawsuits against manufacturer, distributors
SPRINGFIELD – Gov. JB Pritzker and Attorney General Kwame Raoul announced plans Friday for how the state will distribute its share of funds from a national settlement with opioid companies. Illinois expects to receive approximately $760 million over 18 years from a $26 billion national settlement with three opioid distributers – Cardinal, McKesson, and AmerisourceBergen […]
Democratic Party chair bows out in re-election bid, paving way for Hernandez heading into Saturday vote
SPRINGFIELD – A contentious race for leadership of the state’s Democratic Party appears to be down to a single candidate ahead of a Saturday morning vote after the party’s current chair pulled herself from the running Friday. State Rep. Lisa Hernandez, backed by Gov. JB Pritzker and House Speaker Emanuel “Chris” Welch, appeared to have […]
Illinois Democrats stump for 2024 Chicago convention as party chair vote looms
SPRINGFIELD — Illinois Democrats are vying to make Chicago the host city for the Democratic National Convention in 2024 while considering who will lead their party for the next four years. Meanwhile, the state’s Republican Party is hearing calls for a censure of one of its sitting congressmen. Officials for the Democratic National Committee were […]
Poll shows Pritzker’s popularity remains steady as Biden’s slides in Illinois
A new poll from the firm Morning Consult showed Gov. JB Pritzker’s approval rating at 51 percent among Illinois voters, or seven points “above water” in polling lingo. It’s the latest quarterly poll from the firm, and data included 14,258 registered voters polled from April 1 through June 30. While it’s a truism of polling that any […]
Pritzker tests positive for COVID-19
The Governor is experiencing mild symptoms and has been prescribed the anti-viral medication, Paxlovid. He will follow CDC guidelines by working from home.
Pritzker says balanced budget, ‘big things’ remain priority ahead of second term
SPRINGFIELD – Inflation, crime, pandemic response, abortion rights and Donald Trump are all set to be major issues in the 2022 race for Illinois governor, if the winning candidates’ election night speeches are any guide. “(Gov. JB) Pritzker doesn’t understand how skyrocketing gas prices and soaring food prices make everyday life harder for Illinois families […]
Temporary tax relief measures to begin Friday in Illinois; rebates to be mailed, other taxes put on temporary pause
SPRINGFIELD – Illinoisans will receive some modest tax relief starting Friday when the state’s new fiscal year begins. That includes some income tax rebates, property tax rebates, a suspension of the state’s 1 percent tax on groceries, and a six-month pause on the scheduled inflationary increase in the state’s motor fuel tax. Gov. JB Pritzker […]
Former state health director Ezike under scrutiny by state’s top ethics investigator
“I understand the legitimacy of the questions. I absolutely believe that someone has to ask them…”
Pritzker announces progress in processing rape case evidence, signs highway camera expansion
SPRINGFIELD – The Illinois State Police announced Friday that all sexual assault evidence is being processed within the 180-day timeframe outlined in state law – bringing to zero the number of legally “backlogged” cases that rose as high as 1,815 in March 2019. It’s the first time all such evidence is being processed within 180 days as […]
High Illinois gas taxes drive residents across state line
Brett Retherford drives 80 miles round trip daily to his job in Riverdale, Iowa, from Annawan, Illinois. Illinois’ second-highest in the nation fuel prices drive his fuel purchases across the border, too. “I went to the Shell gas station that is less than a block from my house and gas was $4.49 a gallon. When my wife and […]
Analysis: Illinois’ official U.S. census numbers have not changed
SPRINGFIELD – Gov. JB Pritzker said Tuesday that he is asking President Joe Biden and the federal government to increase Illinois’ share of federal funding to reflect the results of a recent Census Bureau study showing the state was very likely undercounted in the 2020 census. The news release from the governor’s office proclaimed, “Updated census data […]
Pritzker signs bill requiring serialization of unfinished ‘ghost guns’; use of home-assembled firearms for crime rapidly increasing
SPRINGFILED — Owners of firearms that do not have serial numbers – referred to as ghost guns – will have 180 days to take them to a federal firearm dealer to have them serialized or they will risk being charged with a misdemeanor. Gov. JB Pritzker signed the measure containing that provision, House Bill 4383, into […]
Pritzker signs bill to address organized retail crime; Raoul says task force recovered millions of dollars of stolen merchandise in December
SPRINGFIELD — Gov. JB Pritzker signed legislation Friday that is aimed at cracking down on high-profile “smash-and-grabs” and other organized retail theft. “This important piece of legislation will help to combat these unlawful activities by addressing the problem from multiple angles,” Chauncey Rice, government relations manager for the Illinois Retail Merchants Association, said at a […]
Pritzker, Illinois Democrats talk about potential overturning of Roe v. Wade
Governor Pritzker today condemned the reported Supreme Court draft opinion to overturn Roe v. Wade, allowing states to enact even more restrictive anti-choice laws that would deny woman’s access to reproductive health care. Early in his term, Governor Pritzker signed the Reproductive Health Act to protect Illinois women in anticipation of a conservative Supreme Court overturning Roe.
Experts say highway camera bills on Pritzker’s desk ripe for abuse
Two bills on Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s desk could expand Illinois highway camera monitoring program to cover 6,600 more miles of road across 22 counties as the General Assembly looks to crack down on expressway crime before November elections. House Bill 260 and House Bill 448 – passed alongside 80 other proposals in the final dayof the legislative session – would see […]
Pritzker defends forcing gas station owners to put his propaganda on pumps
Gov. J.B. Pritzker defended his mandate that gas stations owners post stickers at the pump announcing his delay of a gas tax increase or pay $500 daily fines. “There’s no political speech involved there, at all,” Pritzker said April 27. “And, here’s what we’re doing. We’re lowering the impact on people of the rise in prices of […]
Pritzker signs bills aimed at easing teacher shortage amid data suggesting progress
SPRINGFIELD — Gov. JB Pritzker signed a package of bills Wednesday aimed at easing the state’s shortage of teachers and other education professionals, even as a new report shows Illinois just added a record number of new teachers to its ranks. Speaking in the library of Springfield High School just blocks from the Capitol, Pritzker […]
Moody’s gives Illinois second credit upgrade within one year; move means lower interest costs, but rating remains lowest of all states
SPRINGFIELD – Illinois on Thursday received its second credit rating upgrade from Moody’s Investors Service within one year, moving up one notch but remaining in the worst shape of the 50 states. It’s the third upgrade between the three major credit ratings agencies during Gov. JB Pritzker’s tenure, the other coming last year from Standard […]
What’s in Illinois’ $46 billion budget package? Increased education spending coupled with tax relief for workers, homeowners
SPRINGFIELD – Gov. JB Pritzker signed a package of bills Tuesday that make up a roughly $46 billion Fiscal Year 2023 state general revenue funds budget that includes increased funding for education and human services and $1.8 billion in mostly-temporary tax relief. Pritzker signed the bill during a ceremony at Chicago State University where he […]
Pritzker signs final first-term budget ahead of reelection push; $46 billion plan aided by pandemic-driven shifts in consumer spending
SPRINGFIELD – Gov. JB Pritzker signed his final first-term budget into law Tuesday, a roughly $46 billion spending plan buoyed by pandemic-driven revenue windfalls and a current-year surplus that helped the state pay down debts and offer temporary tax relief. Between the three budget-related bills signed Tuesday – House Bill 900, House Bill 4700 and Senate Bill 157 – as […]
Appellate court declines to block enforcement of vaccine, testing mandate
SPRINGFIELD – A state appellate court ruled this week that it will not block enforcement of the Pritzker administration’s mandate that certain categories of public employees either be vaccinated against COVID-19 or undergo regular testing. The 2-1 ruling by the 4th District Court of Appeals upheld a Sangamon County judge’s decision on April 1 not to issue a […]
With suspension of grocery tax, Illinois pushes supermarkets to display election-year Pritzker propoganda
The new budget for fiscal year 2023 includes Gov. J.B Pritzker’s election-year suspension of the 1% grocery tax, but a few months after the next governor’s inauguration, it will be back. Grocery stores must advertise the suspension, by law, on customer receipts. If that isn’t feasible, they must display a 4-inch by 8-inch bold sign. Either […]
Pritzker, legislative Democrats announce budget agreement; includes $1.8 billion in tax relief that includes direct checks to most Illinoisans
SPRINGFIELD — Gov. JB Pritzker and Democratic leaders of the General Assembly announced Thursday they had reached agreement on a $45.6 billion budget package that would include $1.8 billion of mostly-temporary tax relief. Senate President Don Harmon, of Oak Park, and House Speaker Emanuel “Chris” Welch, of Hillside, said they expect a vote on the […]
House bill would force gas station owners to display de facto Pritzker campaign ad
Illinois lawmakers are considering forcing gas stations to post a 4-inch by 8-inch, boldly lettered sign on gas pumps highlighting Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s temporary suspension of the upcoming automatic gas tax hike. Failing to comply would come with $500-a-day fines. Nope, says Josh Sharp of the Illinois Fuel and Retail Association. “This industry won’t be […]
Paid COVID-19 leave for vaccinated educators signed into law
Public school, community college and public university employees who are fully vaccinated against COVID-19 are now entitled to paid administrative leave for any days they miss this school year due to coronavirus-related issues.
Illinois lawmakers direct $2.7 billion in federal funds toward $4.5 billion unemployment deficit
Illinois lawmakers this week advanced a measure to allocate $2.7 billion in federal American Rescue Plan Act funds to pay down more than half of the state’s outstanding $4.5 billion Unemployment Insurance Trust Fund debt.
Illinois leads U.S. for people moving out of state; report marks eighth straight year of decline
Illinois saw the largest departure of state residents in the nation during 2021, with 68% of Illinoisans who moved saying goodbye and heading for more affordable locales, a new study found. The annual migration report from Allied Van Lines and Zillow found this trend was reflected in the state’s largest city, Chicago, which reported the most outbound […]
Crowded GOP field lines up to challenge Pritzker, Stratton; primary ballot fills up as filing deadline passes
SPRINGFIELD – Seven teams of Republicans and one team of Democrats have lined up to challenge Gov. JB Pritzker and Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton in the 2022 elections. Monday was the deadline for candidates to turn in their nominating petitions to the Illinois State Board of Elections to get their names on the June 28 […]
After two years, it’s time to limit Pritzker’s emergency powers
March 12 marks the two-year anniversary of Gov. JB Pritzker’s first executive order citing emergency powers in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Pritzker has since issued 112 orders and declared a statewide disaster 27 times to extend those powers. Pritzker has been allowed to enact various policies without any input from the legislature. Those policies have included limiting […]
Dr. Ezike stepping down from IDPH; was the state’s ‘face’ of the pandemic
Illinois Department of Public Health Director Dr. Ngozi Ezike will resign on March 14 after three years leading the agency and two years navigating a deadly pandemic that has claimed the lives of more than 32,000 Illinoisans.
Pritzker’s gas tax relief plan faces opposition
Gov. JB Pritzker’s plan for pausing a scheduled automatic increase in the state’s motor fuel tax is facing opposition from several quarters, including engineering companies that design road and bridge projects.
Illinois Supreme Court denies Pritzker’s appeal of school mask mandate decisions; schools move to mask optional Monday
The Illinois Supreme Court denied Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s appeal over his school mask mandates on Friday, determining that the lower court decisions were moot, vacating the temporary restraining order by the circuit court and remanding the case to the circuit court for further consideration. This decision likely brings to an end the litigation over mask mandates in […]
Sen. Plummer wants to block Pritzker from paying staff with private dollars
Saying private dollars shouldn’t be used to pay public employees, an Illinois lawmaker has introduced legislation that would prevent Gov. J.B. Pritzker from paying state employees out of his pocket on top of the salaries taxpayers already pay for.
‘Coexist with COVID:’ Pritzker, Ezike address plan to lift mask mandate by Feb. 28; school mandates would remain in place pending court decision
SPRINGFIELD — If hospitalizations for COVID-19 continue to decline for the rest of the month, Gov. JB Pritzker plans to lift his executive order mandating face coverings indoors by Feb. 28. The plan does not apply to schools. It’s unclear what level of rise in hospitalizations could lead the state to change its course, but […]
Pritzker plans to lift mask mandate by Feb. 28 except in ‘sensitive locations’
SPRINGFIELD — Gov. JB Pritzker will make an official announcement on the state’s plan for lifting its indoor mask mandate at 2 p.m. in Chicago, but in a morning news conference in Champaign Wednesday, he noted that he plans to lift the indoor mandate for some settings by Feb. 28. That won’t be the lift […]
Pritzker says ‘stay tuned’ for new guidance on masks; decisions from other Democratic-led states, Illinois court ruling ramp up pressure
SPRINGFIELD — Illinoisans should stay tuned for an announcement on the state’s indoor mask mandate, Gov. JB Pritzker said at an unrelated news conference Tuesday, although he declined to say specifically what changes might be coming. “I think I’ve said over the last few press conferences that I really believe that we ought to be […]
Sangamon Co. Judge blocks schools from enforcing mask, vaccine mandates… refers to policies as ‘type of evil’
In a 30-page ruling late Friday, Sangamon County Circuit Court Judge Raylene Grischow “deemed null and void” the governor’s emergency rules through the Illinois Department of Public Health concerning COVID-19 mitigations for schools.
What’s in Pritzker’s proposed budget? A look inside the final spending plan of the governor’s first term
Each year in February, Illinois’ governor must propose to lawmakers a spending plan for the upcoming fiscal year. The General Assembly will then spend the next several months negotiating which proposals to include and which to scrap before sending the budget back to the governor for consideration. On Wednesday, Gov. JB Pritzker delivered his fourth […]
Pritzker to propose tax relief in budget address
SPRINGFIELD – Gov. JB Pritzker will propose a roughly $1 billion package of tax relief measures aimed at mitigating the impact of inflation on Illinois consumers when he gives his budget address Wednesday.
Lawmakers, governor returning to Capitol next week; Pritzker to deliver budget, State of the State on Wednesday
SPRINGFIELD – Illinois lawmakers will return to the Statehouse next week for their first in-person sessions since Jan. 4. House Speaker Emanuel “Chris” Welch, D-Hillside, said Thursday that the recent decline in COVID-19 cases makes returning to the Capitol possible. “Our goal is to be productive while also keeping everyone safe, so masking and social […]
COVID spike forces General Assembly to call off in-person sessions next week
SPRINGFIELD – A continuing sharp spike in COVID-19 cases being driven by the omicron variant has pushed the state’s hospital capacity to its limits and is prompting the state to bring in additional health care workers from other states and countries. Gov. JB Pritzker said Wednesday that more than 2,000 additional health care workers have […]
Primary setback means quiet spring…maybe
The Illinois Primary is June 28 this year. June 28. Illinois primaries have always been…flexible. Back in 2008, it was moved to accommodate the junior Illinois senator from Chicago who many thought was tilting at windmills in running for president again Hillary Clinton, who had already been coronated by many (wouldn’t be the last time that would happen).
Minimum wage hike, pets in public housing among new Illinois laws taking effect Jan. 1
SPRINGFIELD – Minimum wage workers in Illinois will see a boost in their hourly pay to $12 per hour starting Jan. 1, while tenants in affordable housing units will be allowed to keep pets. Those are just some of the more than 300 new laws that take effect in the new year. The minimum wage increase is […]
Executive order means disabled workers will get minimum wage in state jobs; Transitions director worried about future legislation
QUINCY — Transitions of Western Illinois recently renegotiated its contract with the Illinois Veterans Home to comply with an executive order signed in October by Gov. J.B. Pritzker that prevents companies contracting with the state from paying disabled workers less than the minimum wage. Executive director Mark Schmitz says the order will help many of […]
A loss of democratic norms in Illinois: 24 straight Executive Orders over nearly two years
One of the Illinois legislature’s biggest failures during the pandemic has been its complete abdication of responsibility over the management of the pandemic itself. Lawmakers have let Gov. Pritzker run the state’s response via executive fiat for nearly two years.
Pritzker signs bill rescinding requirement that minors notify parents before abortion
Gov. JB Pritzker signed a law on Friday that ends parental notification, a requirement that doctors notify the parents of a minor seeking an abortion. “With reproductive rights under attack across the nation, Illinois is once again establishing itself as a leader in ensuring access to health care services,” Pritzker said. “This repeal was essential, […]
Motion to consolidate cases challenging mandatory vaccination program made to Illinois Supreme Court
Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul has made a motion to the Illinois Supreme Court to consolidate several similar cases in Illinois counties into one that challenges the orders from the state of Illinois establishing a COVID-19 vaccination and testing program for school personnel, healthcare workers and state employees. A case involving employment claims from suspended […]
Masks off by holidays? Pritzker likely to take back his ‘gift’
Gov. J.B. Pritzker in October teased Illinoisans that they could see indoor mask mandates lifted before the holidays, but a surge in new cases makes it unlikely he will follow through. Six states have mask mandates in effect for residents regardless of their vaccination status, with Illinois the only one east of the Mississippi. Some Illinois politicians are questioning […]
Quincy airport to get $5.31 million; airports around state to get help from Rebuild Illinois plan
SPRINGFIELD – Quincy Regional Airport is one of nearly 100 airports across Illinois to receive state funding in the coming months for projects ranging from new runways and road relocations to the purchase of mowers and snow removal equipment. The money comes from the $45 billion Rebuild Illinois capital infrastructure plan which passed the General […]
New congressional maps signed into law; Pritzker says maps reflect Illinois’ diversity, preserve minority representation
SPRINGFIELD – Gov. JB Pritzker on Tuesday signed legislation redrawing the state’s congressional district maps, saying they reflect Illinois’ diversity and preserve minority representation. “These maps align with the landmark Voting Rights Act and will ensure all communities are equitably represented in our congressional delegation,” Pritzker said in a statement. Due to the state’s declining population, […]
DeVore files defamation lawsuit against Pritzker over ‘grifter’ comment
For calling an attorney challenging his executive orders in court a “grifter,” Gov. J.B. Pritzker faces a summons in Sangamon County Circuit Court to answer to a defamation allegation. Thomas DeVore, an attorney who has filed multiple lawsuits against the governor over COVID-19 vaccine mandates in schools and businesses, sued Pritzker late last month, claiming […]
Pritzker mandates vaccine for day care professionals; new mandate will cover 55,000 workers
SPRINGFIELD – Gov. JB Pritzker announced an executive order Friday that will add day care personnel to the list of professions that must either be vaccinated against COVID-19 or submit to weekly testing. The governor’s office said it expects the order to affect 55,000 individuals in the state, although many of them may have already […]
Pritzker responds to lawsuit, calls DeVore a ‘grifter’; DeVore threatens to sue…
Illinois Governor JB Pritzker responded to the lawsuit filed by attorney Thomas DeVore against 145 schools, Pritzker and the Illinois State Board of Education behalf of hundreds of parents of students over COVID-19 orders affecting school children. “Well, you know, he’s a grifter who is taking money from parents who are being taken advantage of,” […]
State worker vaccine deadline extended to Oct. 26 for first dose; negotiations continue with largest public employee union
SPRINGFIELD – Gov. JB Pritzker announced Monday his administration has reached agreement with multiple trade unions requiring certain state workers to be vaccinated against COVID-19, but it is extending the deadline for workers to get their first shot to Oct. 26 while negotiations continue with the state’s largest public employees union. Pritzker issued executive orders in late […]
Tax summaries show Pritzkers made $5 million last year – not including family trusts
SPRINGFIELD – Gov. JB Pritzker’s campaign released summary documents of his 2020 tax returns Friday, which showed the first family reporting $5.14 million in adjusted gross income, all from taxable interest and dividends. The campaign released seven pages summarizing the governor’s and first lady MK Pritzker’s returns, which were prepared by Deloitte Tax LLP. It […]
Pritzker: Continued COVID decline could end mask mandate
Gov. J.B Pritzker said Illinois will need to show a steady decline in state COVID-19 transmissions before he considers lifting the statewide indoor mask mandate he revived in August. When asked what metrics were needed for Pritzker to rescind his executive order, the governor pointed to high hospitalization rates and new case numbers relative to metrics when Illinois “fully […]
Groups from multiple Chicagoland school districts join forces to challenge mandates by Pritzker, state agencies
Money is being raised in several Chicagoland school districts to join a consolidated action against Governor J.B. Pritzker, the Illinois State Board of Education and the Illinois Department of Public Health, The Kerr Report has learned. Tom DeVore, an attorney based in downstate Greenville, plans to file the action within the next week to 10 […]
Pritzker says he’s waiting for further decline in COVID-19 transmission before lifting indoor mask mandate
Gov. J.B. Pritzker said Monday he’s looking for clear signs that coronavirus transmission is on the decline in Illinois before he’ll consider lifting the indoor mask mandate he reinstated in late August amid a surge driven by the virus’ highly contagious delta variant. “We’re watching to make sure that we’re on a good downward trajectory,” Pritzker said […]
Illinois announces first $24 million in ‘Back to Business’ grants; none given in four west-central Illinois counties
SPRINGFIELD — Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker’s administration on Thursday announced the awarding of the first $24 million in “Back to Business” grants, a program funded with federal relief aid to help businesses recover and reopen from the pandemic. The announcement took place at a Mexican restaurant in the Little Village neighborhood of Chicago, Mi Tierra […]
Fischer discharged as director of state agency
QUINCY — Brent Fischer was fired from his position as the executive director of the Illinois Law Enforcement Training and Standards Board on Sept. 8 after an investigation and three-month suspension with pay, Fischer, who is from Quincy and formerly served as Adams County Sheriff, confirmed his discharge in an interview with Muddy River News […]
Report: Taxpayer burden in Illinois nearly doubles in 12 years
Illinois taxpayers are on the hook for nearly double the debt burden of just 12 years ago. That’s according to a new report on the fiscal state of the state. Truth In Accounting (TIA) has been evaluating state governments for how much debt the state has versus how much they bring in. Their Financial State of […]
Pritzker orders schools to ‘exclude’ people with possible COVID-19 exposure/symptoms
Attorney who is fighting governor’s orders calls latest one “nonsense” On top of his most recent 30-day COVID-19 disaster proclamation, Gov. J.B. Pritzker issued his 90th executive order, which is about who can be excluded from schools, such as those with possible exposure to COVID-19. Pritzker on Friday reissued a majority of orders from the past 19 months. On […]
Illinois’ eviction moratorium set to expire Oct. 3; program aims to distribute $60 million to renters facing eviction due to COVID-19
SPRINGFIELD – The state’s moratorium on enforcement of residential evictions will expire on Oct. 3, according to Gov. JB Pritzker’s latest COVID-19 executive order issued Friday. Pritzker had extended the order each month with minor to substantial revisions since March 2020. The extensions have come in 30-day windows, coinciding with his monthly reissuance of a disaster proclamation […]
Democratic leaders take back seat to Pritzker on pandemic policies
Gov. J.B. Pritzker has issued dozens of executive orders since March 2020, affecting everything from the economy to education and healthcare. He started by limiting dine-in restaurants for two weeks to slow the spread of COVID-19. That’s evolved over the past 19 months to mask mandates in schools and vaccine mandates for health care workers, […]
Massive energy bill becomes law, investing billions between renewable, nuclear sectors
SPRINGFIELD — Gov. JB Pritzker was joined by environmental and social justice activists, union representatives, and lawmakers from both parties Wednesday as he signed into law a sweeping energy regulation overhaul that aims to phase out carbon emissions from the energy sector by 2045 while diversifying the renewable energy workforce. His signature marked a celebratory […]
QU puts together plan for non-vaccinated students and staff; other schools call timeframe for implementation ‘daunting’
QUINCY — Educators throughout Quincy are scrambling to put together plans to implement a vaccine mandate issued Thursday by Gov. JB Pritzker that must be in place by Sept. 5. All P-12 teachers and staff, all higher education personnel and all higher education students must be vaccinated. People who can’t or won’t receive the vaccine […]
Webb: Logistics of implementing vaccine mandate for teachers ‘a little more cumbersome’
QUINCY — Quincy Superintendent Roy Webb heard the news Thursday morning about the vaccine mandate issued by Gov. JB Pritzker. Now Webb must figure out how to implement that mandate. The vaccine requirement goes into effect Sept. 5. It will apply to “all P-12 teachers and staff, all higher education personnel, all higher education students […]
Critics of mask mandate say Pritzker acting like a ‘king’ with ‘mafia’ tactics
A member of Illinois’ Joint Committee on Administrative Rules says the Illinois State Board of Education needs to explain its authority to punish schools for following the governor’s mask mandate. About 51 of the more than 850 school districts in Illinois are on probation for not following Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s mask mandate. Probation is the […]
Pritzker announces mandatory indoor masking regardless of vax status AND mandatory vaccines for teachers
State warns of decreasing intensive care bed capacity amid latest surge SPRINGFIELD – The statewide mask mandate indoors is back, and educators and health care professionals will be required to receive the COVID-19 vaccine, Gov. JB Pritzker announced Thursday amid an ongoing surge in the pandemic that first arrived in Illinois in March 2020. Beginning […]
Pritzker wants local governments to use COVID-19 money for property tax relief
The federal government is handing Illinois schools and local government a “boatload” of money for COVID-19 relief, and Gov. J.B. Pritzker said the money should go to property tax relief. “This is a great year for local communities to consider freezing or lowering their property taxes,” Pritzker said Aug. 17. “Why is this a good year to […]
State school board gets pushback on mask mandate; parents, school officials argue for local control
SPRINGFIELD — A capacity crowd packed into the Illinois State Board of Education room on Wednesday as many more stood outside the building to protest the state’s new indoor mask mandate in all public and nonpublic schools. “I’m so tired of hearing how resilient our kids are. Resilience is something you choose,” said Ruby Johnson, […]
Want local control? Work with, not against, your school board
Remember the scene in the movie “Talladega Nights” when Ricky Bobby is arguing with the owner of his racing team and says, “With all due respect” before makes a disparaging remark? The owner replies, “Just because you say that doesn’t mean you get to say whatever you want to say to me!” And Ricky Bobby […]
Pritzker noncommittal on eviction moratorium amid COVID-19 surge
SPRINGFIELD — Gov. JB Pritzker didn’t directly say Monday whether he would extend the state’s eviction moratorium for those facing hardships due to the COVID-19 pandemic as cases, deaths and hospitalizations for the virus continue to rise. “We’ve looked at that. We continue to look at it. We’ll make a decision about that soon,” Pritzker […]
ISBE’s quick decision forces private school to change its mind over masks in one day
Local school boards might want to pay attention. The Illinois State Board of Education isn’t messing around. A letter signed by Carmen Ayala, state superintendent of education, was emailed Wednesday to Timothy Christian Schools in Elmhurst, Ill., informing Superintendent Matt Davidson the school’s status as a recognized nonpublic school was removed “effective immediately.” Davidson announced […]
Part-time school, college employees to receive paid family and medical leave
By PETER HANCOCKCapitol News Illinois SPRINGFIELD – A new law in Illinois will make it easier for part-time school and college employees to receive paid family and medical leave. Gov. JB Pritzker signed a bill Tuesday lowering the threshold for those workers so that most will be eligible for the benefit after one year of […]
CUSD No. 4 School Board’s mask-optional vote goes against Pritzker’s edict
MENDON, Ill. — The Community Unit School District No. 4 School Board voted 5-2 during a special meeting Wednesday night to make masks optional for students during the 2021-22 school year. The board’s vote defies Gov. JB Pritzker’s Tuesday announcement that masks are required for students, teachers and staff at pre-K through 12th grade schools […]
Pritzker announces school mask and (some) state employee vax mandates
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 […]
Pritzker claims balanced budgets, but state reports show he’s wrong
Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s re-election announcement July 19 made it clear state finances would be central to his campaign, with boasts about balancing the state budget and making full pension payments for each year of his term. The problem is, neither claim is true. Illinois continues to grapple with large structural budget deficits and a growing […]
Federal agency says masks should be worn in schools, universally in high-transmission areas
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 […]
Pritzker signs four laws to help LGBTQ+ community
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 […]
Pritzker’s 10-minute interview full of lies
By MARK GLENNONWirepoints How many fibs can Gov. JB Pritzker pack in a ten-minute interview? Count ’em: Jerry Nowicki of Capital News Illinois challenged Pritzker on why the $4.2 billion deficit in Illinois’ unemployment trust fund has been ignored, and asked why it wasn’t reduced using funds from federal government under ARPA, the American Rescue Plan Act. This […]
‘Strong leadership in tough times’: Pritzker announces re-election bid
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 […]
How Illinois failed to stop a flood of unemployment fraud during the pandemic
Jeff Mays left when Gov. J.B. Pritzker took office in January 2019. And the new administration didn’t immediately start using anti-fraud tools when they started to become available later that year. Chicago Tribune – Under the Rauner administration, IDES was touting a computer upgrade it said provided a “modern and comprehensive fraud detection, prevention, and collection system.” […]
Hynes steps down, Manar steps up as one of Pritzker’s deputy governors
Governor J.B. Pritzker has tapped former State Senator Andy Manar as his new deputy governor for budget and economy. The Bunker Hill Democrat stepped down from the Senate in January to take a role as a senior advisor in the Pritzker administration. In the Senate, Manar chaired the Appropriations Committee and pushed through a massive […]
