Tag Archives: Illinois

The Chicago Sun-Times reports: Gov. J.B. Pritzker on Wednesday announced he’ll lift his indoor mask mandate for most public settings by Feb. 28, but he’ll still push to keep face coverings on in schools for a few weeks beyond that. The Democratic governor’s latest pandemic directive means Illinoisans — vaccinated or not — can go bare-faced in grocery stores, restaurants, …

The Chicago Sun-Times reports: Chicago Public Schools classes are canceled Wednesday as the Chicago Teachers Union voted to refuse in-person work, defying district plans because of post-holidays COVID-19 concerns. The cancellation came despite a last-minute proposal from city leaders that introduced improved testing and safety measures but wasn’t enough to avoid upending in-person schooling for about 290,000 students at non-charter …

Chicago’s NBC News affiliate reports: An Illinois Democratic lawmaker has introduced legislation that would require individuals who have not been vaccinated against COVID-19 to pay for their own medical expenses, including hospital bills, if they contract the virus. State Rep. Jonathon Carroll filed HB 4259 on Monday in Springfield. The legislation would impact those residents who choose not to receive …

Crain’s Chicago Business reports: Rep. Adam Kinzinger (R-Ill.), one of former President Trump’s most vocal Republican critics in Congress, said he sees himself as “the only candidate” capable of defeating Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker (D) in next year’s election. “If I ran for governor, I think I’m the only candidate that could win, at least that’s out there now,” Kinzinger …

The Springfield Journal-Register reports: A Springfield School District 186 teacher who had been in defiance of a state mandate requiring teachers to provide proof of COVID-19 vaccinations or submit to weekly testing said she has informed the district that she is vaccinated. Kadence Koen, a business and math teacher at Southeast High School, also posted her vaccination card on her …

CNN reports: Rep. Adam Kinzinger, a Republican from Illinois who has been a strong critic of former President Donald Trump, announced in a video Friday morning he is not running for reelection. “I also remember during that campaign saying that if I ever thought it was time to move on from Congress, I would, and that time is now,” Kinzinger …

The Chicago Sun-Times reports: Democrats in the Illinois General Assembly released the proposed new congressional map on Friday, with the lines drawn to yield 14 Democratic and three Republican districts. The Illinois Democrats, who control the state House, Senate and governorship, drew odd-shaped districts — referred to as gerrymandered districts — designed to sweep in Democratic strongholds and shed GOP …

Chicago’s ABC News affiliate reports: Chicago’s 2021 Pride Parade has been canceled. In May, organizers announced the parade would be held October 3. The parade, traditionally held on the last weekend in June, was canceled in 2020 due to the pandemic. In May of 2021, organizers announced the parade would be held on Oct. 3. From Chicago Pride’s website: To …

The Chicago Tribune reports: A suburban tech CEO who lost his job after being charged with various offenses related to the Jan. 6 siege of the U.S. Capitol has become the first Illinoisan to be found guilty for his part in the riot. Bradley Rukstales, 53, of Inverness, pleaded guilty in federal court Tuesday. The offense carries a maximum penalty …

The Chicago Tribune reports: Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker doubled down Thursday on his efforts to deal with a resurgence of the COVID-19 pandemic’s delta variant as schools reopen by requiring all educators from kindergarten through college to be vaccinated along with higher education students and all health care workers in the state. Additionally, Pritzker imposed a statewide mandate requiring the …

Chicago’s Fox News affiliate reports: Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker and a local reporter on Tuesday butted heads while discussing COVID-19, with the governor declaring, “You are spreading misinformation.” After a press conference in Chicago where Pritzker signed legislation expanding access to mental healthcare, the governor fielded questions from reporters. As Pritzker concluded his remarks and stepped away from the podium, …

From the city of Chicago: The Chicago Department of Public Health (CDPH) announced today that it will re-institute a face mask mandate for all indoor public settings as the average number of new daily cases of COVID-19 in Chicago surpasses 400. All individuals aged 2 and over, regardless of their vaccination status, will be required to wear a mask as …

Via press release from the Justice Department: A licensed pharmacist was arrested today in Chicago on charges related to his alleged sale of dozens of authentic Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) COVID-19 vaccination cards on eBay. According to court documents, in March and April 2021, Tangtang Zhao, 34, of Chicago, sold 125 authentic CDC vaccination cards to 11 …

The Lincoln Journal-Star reports: A COVID-19 outbreak at a central Illinois summer camp has led to at least 85 cases of the virus among teens and adult staff, and to other cases at a nearby conference, the Illinois Department of Public Health said Monday. The two outbreaks occurred in Schuyler and Adams counties. At the summer camp, held in mid-June, …

USA Today reports: The mayor appealed for calm Thursday as the city released body-camera videos of last month’s fatal shooting of Adam Toledo, 13, by a Chicago police officer –an incident that appears to show his hands in the air as he was shot. According to one officer’s body-cam video, the officer pulls up in a car, gets out, pushes …

The Chicago Sun-Times reports: Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s health team officially gave the green light Saturday for restaurants and most bars across Chicago and suburban Cook County to invite customers back inside for indoor service. A day after officials said both regions were “on track” for limited reopening, the city and Cook County suburbs saw their coronavirus infection rates improve for …

Chicago’s ABC News affiliate reports: Rap superstar and Chicago native Kanye West was officially kicked off of the presidential ballot in Illinois on Friday, the state elections board ruled. The Illinois State Board of Elections voted unanimously, 8 to 0, to remove West from the ballot after he failed to submit enough petition signatures to qualify for the race, Board …

Courthouse News reports: A group of Illinois Republicans sued the state’s Democratic governor and others in federal court Monday over a law they claim is designed to expand voting by mail to dilute Republican votes and tilt elections in favor of Democrats, while also risking a spike in voter fraud. The Cook County Republican Party targeted Governor J.B. Pritzker in …

The Weather Channel reports: Severe thunderstorms are producing widespread damaging winds across a part of the Midwest today as a derecho races eastward. A derecho is a widespread wind damage event caused by severe thunderstorms, and this one got its start in eastern Nebraska Monday morning. The complex of storms has knocked out power and caused tree damage from around …

CBS Chicago reports: Streets and bridges are being closed as downtown Chicago is shut down amid looting and unrest Monday. All bridges are being raised along the river throughout The Loop. Chicago’s Office of Emergency Management announced street closures throughout areas in the Magnificent Mile, Gold Coast and South Loop. CTA bus and train service to The Loop has been …