WATCH LIVE: Gov. Pritzker’s January 12 COVID-19 Update
WATCH LIVE: Today at 1:30 PM Gov. Pritzker will hold a news conference to give an update on the latest COVID-19 surge in Illinois. The questions we receive from you directly inform the stories we tell and what we investigate. Let us know what you need to know!
Pritzker blames unvaccinated as COVID patients fill Illinois hospitals amid Omicron surge
CHICAGO – Gov. JB Pritzker and other health officials from across Illinois on Monday identified unvaccinated people as the cause for healthcare systems stretched to their limits as the state experiences a fifth COVID wave driven by the virus’ extremely contagious Omicron variant. Five-hundred new COVID patients were admitted to Illinois hospitals between Sunday and […]
Potential buyer identified for James R. Thompson Center
SPRINGFIELD – Plans are moving ahead for the sale of the James R. Thompson Center at 100 West Randolph Street in Chicago. Gov. JB Pritzker announced on Wednesday plans to enter into exclusive negotiations with JRTC Holdings, LLC, for the purposes of acquiring and redeveloping the Thompson Center that houses office space for 50 state […]
Pritzker signs Health Care Right of Conscience change
SPRINGFIELD — A new law in Illinois will soon clear the way for employers to enforce vaccination, testing and other mitigation measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19. The measure, Senate Bill 1169, amends the Illinois Health Care Right of Conscience Act, a 1977 law originally intended to shield doctors and pharmacists from liability for […]
UPDATE: Repeal of parental notice of abortion clears House
SPRINGFIELD – The Illinois House late Wednesday gave final passage to a bill that repeals the state’s Parental Notice of Abortion Act, clearing the way for Gov. JB Pritzker to sign it into law. The bill narrowly passed out of the Senate on Tuesday night on a 32-22 vote, with three Democrats voting no and […]
House approves changes to Health Care Right of Conscience Act
SPRINGFIELD – The Illinois House passed a measure Wednesday night that would give employers greater authority to enforce COVID-19 vaccine or testing requirements. The final vote came after 10 p.m. Wednesday, passing on a 64-52 roll call with two present votes. No Republicans voted for it, and enough Democrats peeled support for it to fail […]
Republican Venture Capitalist To Run For Illinois Governor
CHICAGO — A San Francisco venture capitalist is the latest Republican to run for the chance to unseat Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker. Jesse Sullivan, an Illinois native, has nearly $11 million in donations and released a video Thursday kicking off his campaign. However, any candidate faces an uphill battle against Pritzker who is seeking re-election […]
Pritzker Reinstates Mask Mandate; Requires Vaccines For All Teachers
Gov. JB Pritzker on Thursday morning announced a reinstated mask mandate for all Illinoisans aged two and over in public indoor settings, no matter their vaccination status, in addition to making Illinois the seventh state in the nation to require teachers get vaccinated against COVID-19. All those on university campuses and health care settings will […]
Slow Down And Move Over: New Laws Aim To Strengthen Scott’s Law
SPRINGFIELD – Seventeen crashes involving Illinois state troopers or their vehicles have occurred in 2021 as a result of violations to the state’s traffic law known as “Scott’s Law.” Gov. JB Pritzker signed a new law Thursday, Senate Bill 1913, allowing judges to issue community service among other penalties to those violating the law, which […]
First Lawsuit Filed Over Pritzker’s School Mask Mandate
SPRINGFIELD — Prolific anti-COVID mitigation attorney Tom DeVore on Monday filed suit over Gov. JB Pritzker’s mandate requiring all students, faculty and staff at Illinois schools wear masks in the face of the coronavirus’ more contagious Delta variant spreading across the state. DeVore filed the suit on behalf of a father of a student in […]
New Laws Aim To Prevent “Period Poverty”
EDWARDSVILLE — Gov. J.B. Pritzker signed legislation Thursday that will expand access to feminine hygiene products for impoverished and homeless women and college students. Pritzker said the COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted women being disproportionately forced to make sacrifices because of monetary trouble. “Keep a job or stay home to care for children, pay the rent […]
Pritzker Has ‘No Plans’ For Added Mitigations; ‘Local Control’ Focus Of School Guidelines
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 plans” to reinstate some of […]
State To Pick Overdue Marijuana Dispensary Winners By Aug. 19
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 than 200 other licenses for […]
Illinois Supreme Court To ‘Triage’ Eviction Cases
SPRINGFIELD – With the state-imposed moratorium on residential evictions set to expire Aug. 1, the Illinois Supreme Court announced a plan Thursday that provides an additional one-month “triage” period for tenants and landlords in certain cases to seek rental assistance. Gov. JB Pritzker first issued an executive order prohibiting residential evictions in March 2020 in […]
Pritzker Signs Ban On Deceptive Interrogation Of Minors, Other Criminal Justice Reforms
SPRINGFIELD – Terrill Swift spent 15 years in prison, convicted of a rape and murder which DNA evidence later proved he did not commit. On Thursday, he appeared alongside lawmakers and criminal justice reform advocates in support of a bill signed by Democratic Gov. JB Pritzker to ban deceptive police interrogation of minors. The measure, […]