Illinois surpassed 19,000 confirmed COVID-19 deaths Thursday, as 103 more deaths were reported by state health officials, assuring January will be the state's third-deadliest month of the pandemic despite a significant drop in new cases throughout the month.With 2,577 COVID-19 deaths recorded so far this month, only December and May were deadlier for Illinois, with 4,212 and 3,034 deaths, respectively, according to Illinois Department of Public Health records. Thursday's death toll pushed January past November, when 2,521 Illinois residents died of COVID-19. Of...…   Illinois surpassed 19,000 confirmed COVID-19 deaths Thursday, as 103 more deaths were reported by state health officials, assuring January will be the state's third-deadliest month of the pandemic despite a significant drop in new cases throughout the month.With 2,577 COVID-19 deaths recorded so far this month, only December and May were deadlier for Illinois, with 4,212 and 3,034 deaths, respectively, according to Illinois Department of Public Health records. Thursday's death toll pushed January past November, when 2,521 Illinois residents died of COVID-19. Of...WW…

   A Facebook post by Republican 14th Congressional District challenger Jim Oberweis shows he was at the U.S. Capitol for "new member orientation" Friday.That's even though unofficial election results from the race show Oberweis lost by more than 4,000 votes to incumbent Democratic congresswoman Lauren Underwood of Naperville, with some late-arriving votes yet to be...…   A Facebook post by Republican 14th Congressional District challenger Jim Oberweis shows he was at the U.S. Capitol for "new member orientation" Friday.That's even though unofficial election results from the race show Oberweis lost by more than 4,000 votes to incumbent Democratic congresswoman Lauren Underwood of Naperville, with some late-arriving votes yet to be...WW…

   Only 18 states have a lower two-week average COVID-19 positivity rate than Illinois, but few appear to be at a greater risk of seeing that rate increase.According to the , Illinois' two-week average positivity rate is 4.3%. All five states that border Illinois have higher average positivity rates -- in the case of Iowa, more than four times higher. Kentucky has the lowest average rate of any of Illinois' border states at 6.8%. Indiana's two-week average rate is 8.4%. Wisconsin's rate is double Illinois' at 8.6%. Missouri's average positivity rate over the past two...…   Only 18 states have a lower two-week average COVID-19 positivity rate than Illinois, but few appear to be at a greater risk of seeing that rate increase.According to the , Illinois' two-week average positivity rate is 4.3%. All five states that border Illinois have higher average positivity rates -- in the case of Iowa, more than four times higher. Kentucky has the lowest average rate of any of Illinois' border states at 6.8%. Indiana's two-week average rate is 8.4%. Wisconsin's rate is double Illinois' at 8.6%. Missouri's average positivity rate over the past two...WW…