State of Illinois

State of Illinois

Pritzker signs budget, touts spending of federal funds on child care grants

Financial uncertainty still swirls as COVID-19 continues to impact tax revenues By JERRY NOWICKI Capitol News Illinois jnowicki@capitolnewsillinois.com SPRINGFIELD — Gov. JB Pritzker signed a state budget for fiscal year 2021 Wednesday, but there is no more financial clarity now than there was when lawmakers passed the measure last month. […]

State of Illinois

Phase 3 Guidance on Illinois summer school released

By Dani Tietz dani@sjodaily.com The Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) and Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) released guidance on in-person instruction for summer school Thursday. Part Two of the Transition Plan Advisory Workgroup’s recommendations for transitioning to in-person instruction provides recommendations for how schools can comply with IDPH […]

State of Illinois

Pritzker allows sale of curbside cocktails

By REBECCA ANZEL Capitol News Illinois ranzel@capitolnewsillinois.com SPRINGFIELD — Illinois restaurants and bars can serve cocktails to go Tuesday after Gov. JB Pritzker signed an initiative designed by lawmakers to provide establishments with financial relief in the wake of COVID-19 challenges. Those businesses are “some of the hardest hit” by […]

State of Illinois

Black Caucus: ‘Far too much to accomplish’ to let looting take away from message

‘Burned out storefronts and looted shops’ can’t be monument to George Floyd, leaders say By JERRY NOWICKI Capitol News Illinois jnowicki@capitolnewsillinois.com SPRINGFIELD — Members of the Illinois Legislative Black Caucus detailed their ongoing fight for racial equality and made calls for the end of looting at a news conference held […]

State of Illinois

Lawmakers pass budget package to close out special session

By PETER HANCOCK Capitol News Illinois phancock@capitolnewsillinois.com SPRINGFIELD – The Senate on early Sunday morning passed a budget package authorizing $42.8 billion in general revenue spending next year, although much of that remains tentative depending on the progression of the COVID-19 pandemic and potential congressional action that could send more […]

State of Illinois

Senate GOP: Stay in session until we have bipartisan reopening plan

Brady: ‘This discussion needs to go beyond 2:30 in the afternoon press conferences’ By JERRY NOWICKI Capitol News Illinois jnowicki@capitolnewsillinois.com SPRINGFIELD – On just the third day of legislative session since March 5, Senate Republicans called a socially distanced outdoor news conference Friday morning to argue for a more collaborative […]