Pritzker orders vaccinations or testing for day care workers
CHICAGO — All licensed daycare workers in Illinois must receive COVID-19 vaccine shots by early January or undergo weekly testing under an order issued by Gov. J.B. Pritzker. His office said Friday the mandate applies to more than 55,000-daycare staff at nearly 2,900-daycare centers. Workers must get either the first dose of the Pfizer or […]
Federal court throws out June legislative maps, declines to send issue to bipartisan commission
SPRINGFIELD – A three-judge federal court panel in Chicago ruled Tuesday that the legislative redistricting plan that Gov. JB Pritzker signed into law in June – before official 2020 U.S. Census numbers were available – was unconstitutional because the population variances among districts violated the “one-person, one-vote” doctrine. But the court did not, as Republican […]
Pritzker delays vaccine deadline for some state workers
CHICAGO — Illinois’ governor has pushed back a deadline for state employees of veterans’ homes, prisons and other congregate facilities to be vaccinated against COVID-19 as his office negotiates with labor unions representing some workers. The Chicago Tribune reports that Gov. J.B. Pritzker on Friday said employees covered by the requirement have until Nov. 30 […]
Pritzker order aims to end subminimum wage for disabled people in state contracts
SPRINGFIELD – Gov. JB Pritzker signed an executive order Monday that would prevent companies contracting with the state from paying disabled workers at less than the minimum wage. Pritzker took the action in what he said was a broader effort to try to push federal lawmakers to change the law that allows companies to pay […]
Illinois Announces First $24 Million In ‘Back to Business’ Grants
SPRINGFIELD – 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 en […]
Pritzker Signs Revised State Legislative Maps
SPRINGFIELD – Despite opposition from Republicans as well as reform groups, Gov. JB Pritzker on Friday signed into law the revised state legislative district maps that lawmakers passed in August, opening the door to almost certain court challenges. “These legislative maps align with the landmark Voting Rights Act and will help ensure Illinois’ diversity is […]
Illinois To Invest Over $40 Million In Workforce Training
SPRINGFIELD – Gov. JB Pritzker announced Thursday that the state will award more than $40 million in workforce training grants, focusing on communities hardest hit by the COVID-19 pandemic and youth who are particularly at risk of violence. That includes $40 million in Workforce Recovery Grants that will go out in two phases over the […]
Illinois’ Eviction Moratorium Set To Expire Oct. 3
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 […]
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 […]
Illinois House OKs Zero-Carbon Power Plan, Senate Is Next
SPRINGFIELD — The Illinois House has approved a wide-ranging plan to eliminate carbon emissions by 2050. Approval came Thursday night on an 82-33 vote after a compromise allowing to coal-fired plants to remain open until 2045 but cut their emissions by nearly half in the next 14 years. The Senate will take up the proposal […]
House Passes Energy Bill With Labor, Environmental Groups On Board
SPRINGFIELD – The Illinois House approved an energy regulation and decarbonization bill Thursday, a major step forward for a wide-ranging omnibus bill that had eluded lawmakers throughout the legislative session and the governor’s three years in office. The measure that aims to bring Illinois’ energy generation sector to 100 percent carbon-free by 2050 and 50 […]
Ethics Bill Clears House On Second Try, Will Head Back To Governor
SPRINGFIELD – The Illinois House on Thursday voted to accept changes to an ethics bill that Gov. JB Pritzker had requested, paving the way for it to become law once the governor signs it. Thursday’s vote came a little more than a week after an earlier attempt fell short in the House. That happened during […]
Reporter-Turned-State Senator Fights For Local Journalism
Gov. JB Pritzker signed a bill late last month to address what he called “local news deserts” in Illinois. The legislation’s goal is to ensure local journalism survives in Illinois’ small towns and mid-sized cities. State Sen. Steve Stadelman, D-Rockford, a former TV reporter and anchor for 25 years, says the idea of a local […]
Energy Bill Negotiations Head To House After Talks Once Again Derailed
SPRINGFIELD – The Illinois Senate approved an energy bill in the early hours of Wednesday morning but it’s likely to change as negotiations continue in the House, which has not set a date as to when it will return. A lead negotiator in the House said time is of the essence with key deadlines arriving […]
Illinois Democrats OK New Legislative Maps Over Criticism
CHICAGO — Illinois Democrats were poised to set new legislative boundaries over objections from Republicans and some community groups that the process was rushed and maps were drawn behind closed doors to keep Democrats in power in the state Legislature. Lawmakers on Tuesday approved a do-over of maps that majority Democrats approved and Gov. J.B. […]