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SPRINGFIELD — Gov. JB Pritzker announced Friday, the first day Illinois’ economy operated under more relaxed restrictions, his stay-at-home order is replaced by one reflective of “our new, more open reality.” Small businesses statewide opened their doors to customers, with capacity limitations. Restaurants and bars served socially-distanced diners outside, and fitness centers taught classes outdoors with small groups of people. Barbershops and salons resumed services as well, and state parks, wildlife areas and histori...
SPRINGFIELD — All of Illinois is “on track” to progress into the next phase of Gov. JB Pritzker’s plan to reopen the state safely, he said Tuesday during his daily update teleconference in Chicago. The current phase of the plan allows residents to visit golf courses and state parks, retail shops to deliver orders placed remotely and medical centers to allow elective surgeries to resume. By moving into the “Recovery” phase in 10 days, offices, salons, barbershops and manufacturers will begin to return with some capacity re...
SPRINGFIELD — Gov. JB Pritzker said Thursday the Illinois Department of Employment Security is paying benefits to unemployed Illinoisans “in a timely manner” after a number of improvements were made to the oft-maligned process. Three-quarters of people filing claims received their first benefits within two weeks of applying, he added. Personnel worked daily to “expand our systems and capacity” in order to address concerns from residents who could not access the online forms or reach a call center representative, the gover...
SPRINGFIELD — Illinois officials on Thursday said increased COVID-19 testing is “vital” to reopening the state’s economy, lifting social restrictions and protecting Illinois residents. Laboratory personnel processed more than 10,000 tests per day for the past week, exceeding Gov. JB Pritzker’s long-stated goal in order to provide a clear picture of the novel coronavirus pandemic’s impact on the state. Beginning Friday, the governor’s new executive order will ease a number of restrictions put in place over the past two months....
SPRINGFIELD — The state reported more than 10,000 novel coronavirus tests completed for the third day in a row Sunday, leading to 2,126 more positive cases of the virus in Illinois. Gov. JB Pritzker has said that meeting the 10,000 per-day threshold gives medical professionals and state officials a more accurate understanding of COVID-19’s impact on communities across Illinois. In the last 24 hours, 13,335 test results were recorded. The governor said at his daily briefing in Chicago Sunday that any resident who has COV...
SPRINGFIELD — Gov. JB Pritzker’s administration announced new initiatives Saturday to extend telehealth services and mental health support throughout the state to support people who are coping, either physically or mentally, with the novel coronavirus disease, COVID-19. The state’s confirmed case and death counts continue to rise, the governor said, and families are experiencing “circumstances that may cause you to feel despair.” Adults are either working from home or out of a job. School children are out of classes,...
SPRINGFIELD — Gov. JB Pritzker said Thursday, one month since he issued a state of emergency, it is “unlikely” his stay-at-home order can be lifted safely before April 30 and organizers of large summer events “need to think seriously” about canceling them. The Illinois Department of Public Health reported an additional 1,344 confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus disease, COVID-19, bringing the state total to 16,422 in 81 of Illinois’ 102 counties. Dr. Ngozi Ezike, the department’s director, said 66 residents died in the p...
SPRINGFIELD — Illinois officials announced on Tuesday the largest single-day increase of novel coronavirus-caused deaths in the state. The 73 new fatalities in 14 counties — Champaign, Christian, Cook, DuPage, Ford, Kane, Kankakee, Lake, Madison, McHenry, Monroe, Tazewell, Will and Winnebago — bring Illinois’ total to 380. Coles, Lawrence, Richland and Shelby counties each reported their first confirmed cases of the virus Tuesday. Coroners and medical examiners across the state may be conducting post-mortem tests to properl...
SPRINGFIELD — Gov. JB Pritzker on Thursday announced a public service initiative to mobilize the state’s “strongest weapon” against the spread of novel coronavirus — Illinoisans. Pritzker said his administration has “nearly exhausted every avenue available” to mitigate COVID-19’s expansion. It instituted a stay-at-home order, banned dining in at restaurants and bars, limited public gatherings and shuttered schools. Now, the governor is asking Illinoisans not only to stay at home, but to celebrate it. “All In Illinois” is a...
SPRINGFIELD — Illinois officials on Sunday announced the largest one-day jump in confirmed novel coronavirus cases and deaths in the state yet. But public and private labs’ per-day testing ability is also higher than it has ever been. The Department of Public Health identified 1,105 new cases and 18 deaths, putting the state totals at 4,596 cases in 47 counties and 65 related deaths. Gov. JB Pritzker said “we have weeks to go” before Illinois reaches a peak in new COVID-19 cases, expected “sometime in April.” One of his prio...
Gov. JB Pritzker announced a number of financial initiatives Wednesday to assist owners of bars, restaurants, hotels and other small businesses during the economic slowdown caused by the novel coronavirus pandemic. By Friday, he said, owners of businesses with fewer than 50 employees and less than $3 million in 2019 revenue can qualify for a piece of $90 million in state emergency assistance through three new programs. Pritzker additionally is pushing Illinois’ tax filing deadline from April 15 to July 15 to match the f...
Gov. JB Pritzker announced a number of financial initiatives Wednesday to assist owners of bars, restaurants, hotels and other small businesses during the economic slowdown caused by the novel coronavirus pandemic. By Friday, he said, owners of businesses with fewer than 50 employees and less than $3 million in 2019 revenue can qualify for a piece of $90 million in state emergency assistance through three new programs. Pritzker additionally is pushing Illinois’ tax filing deadline from April 15 to July 15 to match the f...
By Rebecca Anzel [email protected] SPRINGFIELD — First, there were cordless phones and text messages. Then, internet access and video calls. Now, wireless’s fifth generation will drive mobile phone speeds even faster and allow for advances in telemedicine and management of traffic signals, for example, according to the Federal Communications Commission. But two state lawmakers, Sen. Suzy Glowiak Hilton (D-24, Western Springs) and Rep. Deanne Mazzochi (R-47, Elmhurst), want to give residents, legislators and ind...
SPRINGFIELD — Illinois’ top lawyer has asked the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to enact more rigorous ethylene oxide emissions standards in the wake of pressure on the General Assembly to consider similarly strict regulations. More than 70 lawsuits have been filed against Sterigenics, a medical supply sterilization company, claiming exposure to the gas caused serious health problems. Attorney General Kwame Raoul and 10 other attorneys generals sent a letter to EPA Administrator Andrew Wheeler asking the agency to not...
