Toggle main menu visibility| June 23, 2020 4:40 pmStudents can return to the classroom this fall, Gov. J.B. Pritzker announced Tuesday. “Classroom learning provides necessary opportunities for our students to learn, socialize, and grow. The benefits of in-person instruction can’t be overstated,” Pritzker said during a press briefing.Schools have remained closed since mid-March when there were only 46 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the state. Initially, officials ordered , but in April,  for the remainder of the academic year because of the pandemic.Illinois remains  of the...…Toggle main menu visibility| June 23, 2020 4:40 pmStudents can return to the classroom this fall, Gov. J.B. Pritzker announced Tuesday. “Classroom learning provides necessary opportunities for our students to learn, socialize, and grow. The benefits of in-person instruction can’t be overstated,” Pritzker said during a press briefing.Schools have remained closed since mid-March when there were only 46 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the state. Initially, officials ordered , but in April,  for the remainder of the academic year because of the pandemic.Illinois remains  of the...WW…

Toggle main menu visibility| July 15, 2020 3:27 pmWith the number of coronavirus cases rising in Illinois, Gov. J.B. Pritzker on Wednesday announced  and maintain the progress the state has made in flattening the curve.“This virus has not gone away. It’s still infecting people and will likely continue to do so for months,” Pritzker said 19 days after the state moved into phase four of its reopening plan. “Opening our economy does not have to come with a spike in cases. Other countries have done it successfully while reducing cases and infection rates. But that requires vigilance...…Toggle main menu visibility| July 15, 2020 3:27 pmWith the number of coronavirus cases rising in Illinois, Gov. J.B. Pritzker on Wednesday announced  and maintain the progress the state has made in flattening the curve.“This virus has not gone away. It’s still infecting people and will likely continue to do so for months,” Pritzker said 19 days after the state moved into phase four of its reopening plan. “Opening our economy does not have to come with a spike in cases. Other countries have done it successfully while reducing cases and infection rates. But that requires vigilance...WW…

Toggle main menu visibilityUPDATE: As coronavirus infections , Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker is keeping a close watch over public health data for the state, which shows an uptick in COVID-19 cases in recent days.“We are watching these numbers very, very closely,” Pritzker said Tuesday. “I will not hesitate to reimpose some mitigations if (we’re) seeing numbers moving upward. My concern again is all about the health and safety of the people of Illinois.”The , released in May, allows for moving the state into earlier phases if data shows a “sustained rise in positivity rate, sustained...…Toggle main menu visibilityUPDATE: As coronavirus infections , Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker is keeping a close watch over public health data for the state, which shows an uptick in COVID-19 cases in recent days.“We are watching these numbers very, very closely,” Pritzker said Tuesday. “I will not hesitate to reimpose some mitigations if (we’re) seeing numbers moving upward. My concern again is all about the health and safety of the people of Illinois.”The , released in May, allows for moving the state into earlier phases if data shows a “sustained rise in positivity rate, sustained...WW…

Toggle main menu visibility| July 8, 2020 12:39 pmAcross the United States, 3 million people have tested positive for COVID-19 and more than 130,000 deaths — including 7,000 in Illinois — have been linked to the virus.On Wednesday morning, Gov. J.B. Pritzker and other local leaders from across the country testified before the U.S. Committee on Homeland Security about the country’s worsening coronavirus pandemic.“We need to see a coordinated national strategy for containment, more testing and contract tracing, and that may even mean national restrictions followed in every state,” Pritzker...…Toggle main menu visibility| July 8, 2020 12:39 pmAcross the United States, 3 million people have tested positive for COVID-19 and more than 130,000 deaths — including 7,000 in Illinois — have been linked to the virus.On Wednesday morning, Gov. J.B. Pritzker and other local leaders from across the country testified before the U.S. Committee on Homeland Security about the country’s worsening coronavirus pandemic.“We need to see a coordinated national strategy for containment, more testing and contract tracing, and that may even mean national restrictions followed in every state,” Pritzker...WW…

Toggle main menu visibility| July 22, 2020 2:45 pmOn Wednesday, state officials announced 1,598 new COVID-19 cases in Illinois – the highest single-day increase reported in the month of July – and 23 virus-related deaths in the past 24 hours.Statewide, the positivity rate has been rising slightly, reaching 3.2% on Wednesday. While that rate is relatively low, Gov. J.B. Pritzker warned the situation could change quickly, citing Arizona and Florida, where the number of cases is soaring.Cases began rising in those states gradually before surging, according to the governor. “You can go from 3%...…Toggle main menu visibility| July 22, 2020 2:45 pmOn Wednesday, state officials announced 1,598 new COVID-19 cases in Illinois – the highest single-day increase reported in the month of July – and 23 virus-related deaths in the past 24 hours.Statewide, the positivity rate has been rising slightly, reaching 3.2% on Wednesday. While that rate is relatively low, Gov. J.B. Pritzker warned the situation could change quickly, citing Arizona and Florida, where the number of cases is soaring.Cases began rising in those states gradually before surging, according to the governor. “You can go from 3%...WW…

Toggle main menu visibility| July 6, 2020 3:59 pmAs the number of deaths linked to COVID-19 surpasses and 535,000 worldwide, Illinois officials on Monday reported fewer than 10 deaths for the second consecutive day.The Illinois Department of Public Health reported six deaths between Sunday and Monday and an additional 614 new coronavirus cases, bringing state totals to 7,026 deaths and 147,865 cases.The IDPH reported six deaths on Sunday and 10 on Saturday.Until recently, dozens of new deaths were reported daily by public health officials, with nearly 200 reported in mid-May during the...…Toggle main menu visibility| July 6, 2020 3:59 pmAs the number of deaths linked to COVID-19 surpasses and 535,000 worldwide, Illinois officials on Monday reported fewer than 10 deaths for the second consecutive day.The Illinois Department of Public Health reported six deaths between Sunday and Monday and an additional 614 new coronavirus cases, bringing state totals to 7,026 deaths and 147,865 cases.The IDPH reported six deaths on Sunday and 10 on Saturday.Until recently, dozens of new deaths were reported daily by public health officials, with nearly 200 reported in mid-May during the...WW…

Toggle main menu visibilityShortly after Gov. J.B. Pritzker issued his statewide stay-at-home order in March, PAWS Chicago and Chicago Animal Care and Control .Illinois’ stay-at-home order is set to expire Friday, and while the state is on track to move into the next phase of reopening, through at least early June.That means animal shelters in the city will remain closed to walk-in adoptions, but the good news is that virtual adoptions are going well.“We averaged about 100 adoptions a week normally when we’re fully open, and since doing virtual adoptions we’ve been doing close to 70 a...…Toggle main menu visibilityShortly after Gov. J.B. Pritzker issued his statewide stay-at-home order in March, PAWS Chicago and Chicago Animal Care and Control .Illinois’ stay-at-home order is set to expire Friday, and while the state is on track to move into the next phase of reopening, through at least early June.That means animal shelters in the city will remain closed to walk-in adoptions, but the good news is that virtual adoptions are going well.“We averaged about 100 adoptions a week normally when we’re fully open, and since doing virtual adoptions we’ve been doing close to 70 a...WW…

Toggle main menu visibility| June 16, 2020 4:00 pmIllinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul has tested positive for the novel coronavirus.“I have been self-isolating since the onset of my symptoms, and I will continue to do so in accordance with guidance from my doctor and public health authorities,” Raoul said in a statement. “Additionally, we are in the process of notifying individuals I may have come into contact with so that they can self-isolate and seek telehealth guidance.”Raoul is the most prominent politician in the state to test positive for the novel coronavirus. The statement does...…Toggle main menu visibility| June 16, 2020 4:00 pmIllinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul has tested positive for the novel coronavirus.“I have been self-isolating since the onset of my symptoms, and I will continue to do so in accordance with guidance from my doctor and public health authorities,” Raoul said in a statement. “Additionally, we are in the process of notifying individuals I may have come into contact with so that they can self-isolate and seek telehealth guidance.”Raoul is the most prominent politician in the state to test positive for the novel coronavirus. The statement does...WW…

Toggle main menu visibilityIllinois residents who are struggling to make student loan payments could soon get some relief.On Tuesday, Gov. J.B. Pritzker said the state has secured relief options for student loan borrowers who weren’t previously covered by the federal CARES Act, which provides relief to those with federal loans, but not to those with private loans or federal loans not owned by the federal government.The state has secured relief options with 20 private loan servicers, which could provide relief to more than 138,000 residents, according to Pritzker’s office.“At this...…Toggle main menu visibilityIllinois residents who are struggling to make student loan payments could soon get some relief.On Tuesday, Gov. J.B. Pritzker said the state has secured relief options for student loan borrowers who weren’t previously covered by the federal CARES Act, which provides relief to those with federal loans, but not to those with private loans or federal loans not owned by the federal government.The state has secured relief options with 20 private loan servicers, which could provide relief to more than 138,000 residents, according to Pritzker’s office.“At this...WW…

Toggle main menu visibility| June 10, 2020 4:05 pmREOPENING UPDATE: .A group of Illinois Senate Republicans are calling on Gov. J.B. Pritzker to lift additional restrictions aimed at curbing the spread of the coronavirus by Friday — weeks ahead of the timeline outlined in the governor’s reopening plan for Illinois.“We continue to hear from our constituents, those not protesting but who remain worried their businesses, their livelihoods and their communities remain at continued economic risk due to the restrictions in place resulting from COVID-19,” said Illinois Sen. Republican Leader Bill...…Toggle main menu visibility| June 10, 2020 4:05 pmREOPENING UPDATE: .A group of Illinois Senate Republicans are calling on Gov. J.B. Pritzker to lift additional restrictions aimed at curbing the spread of the coronavirus by Friday — weeks ahead of the timeline outlined in the governor’s reopening plan for Illinois.“We continue to hear from our constituents, those not protesting but who remain worried their businesses, their livelihoods and their communities remain at continued economic risk due to the restrictions in place resulting from COVID-19,” said Illinois Sen. Republican Leader Bill...WW…