Pritzker: ‘Stay Tuned’ for New Mask Guidance
Decisions from other Democratic-led states, Illinois court ruling ramps up pressure. By Jerry Nowicki Capitol News Illinois jnowicki@capitolnewsillinois.com SPRINGFIELD – Illinoisans should stay tuned for an announcement on the state’s indoor mask mandate, Gov. JB Pritzker said at an unrelated news conference Tuesday, although he declined to say specifically what changes might be coming. “I…
State Appeals Court’s Order on School COVID-19 Mask, Vaccine Mandates
Sangamon County judge says emergency rules were improper. By Peter Hancock phancock@capitolnewsillinois.com SPRINGFIELD – Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul and Gov. JB Pritzker’s administration are asking a state appellate court to set aside a lower court order from late Friday that invalidated the mask and vaccine mandates the state imposed last year for public schools.…
Illinois DOC resumes intake of inmates after COVID-19 variant surge
Illinois DOC resumes intake of inmates after COVID-19 variant surge Space used to quarantine COVID-19-exposed inmates will return to intake By BETH HUNDSDORFER Capitol News Illinois bhundsdorfer@capitolnewsillinois.com The Illinois Department of Corrections resumed intake of inmates from county jails last week after a two-week pause due to a COVID-19 spike. As COVID-19 cases at Illinois…
Comptroller Says Proposed Budget Could Lead State to Another Credit Upgrade
Mendoza praises efforts to pay down debt, bill backlog. By Grace Kinnicutt Capitol News Illinois gkinnicutt@capitolnewsillinois.com SPRINGFIELD – Comptroller Susana Mendoza said she expects the state’s credit rating to improve and the remaining bill backlog reduced under Gov. JB Pritzker’s $45.4 billion proposed budget. Another credit rating upgrade would be noteworthy, as the state had…
Black and Latino Caucuses Voice Support for Proposed Budget
‘Good place to begin the process’ of budgeting, Senate Black Caucus chair says. By Beth Hundsdorfer Capitol News Illinois bhundsdorfer@capitolnewsillinois.com Members of the Illinois Legislative Black Caucus and Illinois Legislative Latino Caucus voiced their overall support for Gov. GB Pritzker’s budget in separate news conferences Wednesday, but said they will continue to push to address…
Pritzker Declares Disaster for Snow Event; Forges Ahead with In-Person Budget Address
With session canceled, governor’s address will take place at Old State Capitol. By Jerry Nowicki Capitol News Illinois jnowicki@capitolnewsillinois.com SPRINGFIELD – With a massive winter storm expected to blanket the entire state in ice and snow, Gov. JB Pritzker on Tuesday issued a disaster declaration and activated members of the Illinois National Guard. He also…
Bills Addressing Teacher Shortages Advance
Senate panel endorses bills to let retired teachers work more days. By Peter Hancock Capitol News Illinois phancock@capitolnewsillinois.com SPRINGFIELD – Two bills aimed at relieving the state’s teacher shortage, at least in the short term, advanced out of a Senate committee Tuesday. The Senate Education Committee unanimously endorsed two bills that would allow retired teachers…
What’s in Pritzker’s Proposed Budget?
A look inside the final spending plan of the governor’s first term. By Jerry Nowicki Capitol News Illinois jnowicki@capitolnewsillinois.com Each year in February, Illinois’ governor must propose to lawmakers a spending plan for the upcoming fiscal year. The General Assembly will then spend the next several months negotiating which proposals to include and which to…
Pritzker Outlines $45.4 Billion Budget Proposal
Plan includes temporary tax relief, new spending for education, health care. By Peter Hancock Capitol News Illinois phancock@capitolnewsillinois.com SPRINGFIELD – Gov. JB Pritzker on Wednesday offered a $45.4 billion general revenue budget plan for the upcoming fiscal year that would include new spending on education and health care while also providing about $1 billion in…
Pritzker to Propose Tax Relief in Budget Address
Relief plan would ease grocery, motor fuel, property taxes. By Peter Hancock Capitol News Illinois phancock@capitolnewsillinois.com SPRINGFIELD – Gov. JB Pritzker will propose a roughly $1 billion package of tax relief measures aimed at mitigating the impact of inflation on Illinois consumers when he gives his budget address Wednesday. The “Illinois Family Relief Plan,” as…
GOP Reintroduces Crime Reduction Package; Pritzker Touts Public Safety Spending
Rising violent crime has become major campaign issue. By Grace Kinnicutt Capitol News Illinois gkinnicutt@capitolnewsillinois.com SPRINGFIELD – Senate Republicans unveiled an updated package of crime bills this week they say will help curb violent crime and provide a morale boost to law enforcement. It’s substantially similar to the package the GOP introduced three months ago…
Nursing Home Group at Odds with Pritzker Over Payment Reform
Competing bills aim to improve staffing, quality of care. By Peter Hancock Capitol News Illinois phancock@capitolnewsillinois.com SPRINGFIELD – A political battle is shaping up between Gov. JB Pritzker’s administration and one segment of the nursing home industry over a key element of the governor’s budget proposal, expanding the state’s health care workforce, particularly in long-term…
Legacy Ice Rink Open
Legacy Ice Rink is open for community members. All participants skate at own risk. Please follow the signs for open and closing of rink (weather dependent). Skating on the ice, when the ice is melting, can damage the area and could be dangerous for participants. As a result, during the winter months there will be…
Senate Republicans Call for ‘Common Sense’ Ethics Reforms
SB 3636 would build upon ethics legislation passed in 2021. By Grace Kinnicutt Capitol News Illinois gkinnicutt@capitolnewsillinois.com SPRINGFIELD – Demanding what they call “common sense ethics reform,” Senate Republicans plan to take action in addressing unethical behavior by elected public officials. Upon introducing the ethics reforms package, Senate Republicans called for the legislative inspector general…
Bill Revamps Rules for Prisoner Review Board
Sponsor says, “Cold blooded killers should never have lived to see another free day.” By Beth Hundsdorfer Capitol News Illinois bhundsdorfer@capitolnewsillinois.com A bill was introduced in the Illinois House on Thursday revamping the Prisoner Review Board, the board that decides whether those convicted of felonies will be freed and the conditions they will face if…
Lawmakers, Governor Returning to Capitol
In-person legislative sessions to resume; Pritzker to deliver budget, State of the State on Wednesday. By Peter Hancock Capitol News Illinois phancock@capitolnewsillinois.com SPRINGFIELD – Illinois lawmakers will return to the Statehouse next week for their first in-person sessions since January 4. House Speaker Emanuel “Chris” Welch, D-Hillside, said Thursday that the recent decline in COVID-19…
Survey: Illinois Schools Face Worsening Educator Shortage
Problems made worse by pandemic. By Peter Hancock Capitol News Illinois phancock@capitolnewsillinois.com SPRINGFIELD – School officials across Illinois say a shortage of teachers and substitutes is forcing them to cancel course offerings, move them online, or fill open positions with people who are not fully qualified. Those are the findings of the latest survey by…
