State revenues fall 23% during the month By PETER HANCOCKCapitol News Illinoisphancock@capitolnewsillinois.com SPRINGFIELD — While new unemployment claims remained historically high in the final week of May, the surge of new claims since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic appears to be starting to slow as a number of businesses […]
State of Illinois
Phase 3 Guidance on Illinois summer school released
By Dani Tietzdani@mahometnews.com The Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) and Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) released guidance on in-person instruction for summer school Thursday. Part Two of the Transition Plan Advisory Workgroup’s recommendations for transitioning to in-person instruction provides recommendations for how schools can comply with IDPH health […]
Pritzker allows sale of curbside cocktails
By REBECCA ANZEL Capitol News Illinois ranzel@capitolnewsillinois.com SPRINGFIELD — Illinois restaurants and bars can serve cocktails to go Tuesday after Gov. JB Pritzker signed an initiative designed by lawmakers to provide establishments with financial relief in the wake of COVID-19 challenges. Those businesses are “some of the hardest hit” by […]
Black Caucus: ‘Far too much to accomplish’ to let looting take away from message
‘Burned out storefronts and looted shops’ can’t be monument to George Floyd, leaders say By JERRY NOWICKICapitol News Illinoisjnowicki@capitolnewsillinois.com SPRINGFIELD — Members of the Illinois Legislative Black Caucus detailed their ongoing fight for racial equality and made calls for the end of looting at a news conference held at a […]
In conference call, Pritzker tells Trump his rhetoric is ‘making it worse’ as protests rage on
Trump tells governors ‘you have to do retribution’ in response to destructive actions at protests By JERRY NOWICKICapitol News Illinoisjnowicki@capitolnewsillinois.com SPRINGFIELD — A conference call between U.S. governors and Republican President Donald Trump led to the latest in a series of spats between Illinois’ governor and the president Monday. “You […]
Mendoza unequivocal: No raises for lawmakers
But legislative back-and-forth shows complexity of state lawmaker pay law By JERRY NOWICKICapitol News Illinoisjnowicki@capitolnewsillinois.com SPRINGFIELD – The complexities of Illinois’ legislator pay laws were on display again this week as the state’s comptroller insisted in a video message that there will be no raises for lawmakers this year. Comptroller […]
Pritzker lifts ban on worship services starting Friday
By PETER HANCOCKCapitol News Illinoisphancock@capitolnewsillinois.com SPRINGFIELD – People in Illinois will be allowed to attend worship services starting this weekend without fear of prosecution as the state enters Phase 3 of Gov. JB Pritzker’s “Restore Illinois” reopening plan. Pritzker made the announcement during his daily COVID-19 briefing Thursday in Chicago, […]
Illinois Secretary of State facilities to begin reopening June 1
Illinois Secretary of State facilities will begin reopening for business on June 1 with a focus on new drivers, those with expired driver’s licenses or ID cards and vehicle transactions for the first two months. Beginning June 1 facilities in Chicago North, Chicago South and Chicago West will open on […]
Lawmakers pass budget package to close out special session
By PETER HANCOCKCapitol News Illinoisphancock@capitolnewsillinois.com SPRINGFIELD – The Senate on early Sunday morning passed a budget package authorizing $42.8 billion in general revenue spending next year, although much of that remains tentative depending on the progression of the COVID-19 pandemic and potential congressional action that could send more financial aid […]
Senate GOP: Stay in session until we have bipartisan reopening plan
Brady: ‘This discussion needs to go beyond 2:30 in the afternoon press conferences’ By JERRY NOWICKICapitol News Illinoisjnowicki@capitolnewsillinois.com SPRINGFIELD – On just the third day of legislative session since March 5, Senate Republicans called a socially distanced outdoor news conference Friday morning to argue for a more collaborative approach to […]