Toggle main menu visibility| April 9, 2020 5:06 pmA federal judge has rejected a call by advocates seeking the mass release of “medically vulnerable” detainees at the Cook County Jail to prevent the spread of COVID-19. But he is ordering jail officials to enforce social distancing among detainees and provide them with hand sanitizer and masks as they deal with possibly the nation’s worst outbreak of the new coronavirus.In a 37-page order issued Thursday, U.S. District Judge Matthew Kennelly noted both the rapid spread of the virus as well as the difficulty of managing such a facility in...…Toggle main menu visibility| April 9, 2020 5:06 pmA federal judge has rejected a call by advocates seeking the mass release of “medically vulnerable” detainees at the Cook County Jail to prevent the spread of COVID-19. But he is ordering jail officials to enforce social distancing among detainees and provide them with hand sanitizer and masks as they deal with possibly the nation’s worst outbreak of the new coronavirus.In a 37-page order issued Thursday, U.S. District Judge Matthew Kennelly noted both the rapid spread of the virus as well as the difficulty of managing such a facility in...WW…

Toggle main menu visibility| April 24, 2020 3:35 pmWeeks ago, Gov. J.B. Pritzker said he wanted to perform 10,000 coronavirus tests a day. On Friday, Pritzker announced Illinois has reached and surpassed that mark.At his daily public briefing, Pritzker said the state conducted 16,124 COVID-19 tests across its 112 public testing sites on Thursday, besting the previous single-day high of some 9,300 tests set on Wednesday.“There’s still more work to do to maintain and build on this progress,” he said, “but reaching and surpassing the 10,000 mark is a great first step.”That announcement came as...…Toggle main menu visibility| April 24, 2020 3:35 pmWeeks ago, Gov. J.B. Pritzker said he wanted to perform 10,000 coronavirus tests a day. On Friday, Pritzker announced Illinois has reached and surpassed that mark.At his daily public briefing, Pritzker said the state conducted 16,124 COVID-19 tests across its 112 public testing sites on Thursday, besting the previous single-day high of some 9,300 tests set on Wednesday.“There’s still more work to do to maintain and build on this progress,” he said, “but reaching and surpassing the 10,000 mark is a great first step.”That announcement came as...WW…

Toggle main menu visibility| May 1, 2020 4:55 pmChicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot and Gov. J.B. Pritzker announced Friday that the field hospital at McCormick Place will close, having treated less than three dozen patients.“Today, we are pleased to report that the curve is flattening, and our local hospitals and health care systems continue to operate with capacity,” Lightfoot and Pritzker said in a joint statement.Patients who are being treated at McCormick Place will remain there until they are discharged, and the negative pressure tents — used to treat infectious patients while limiting the...…Toggle main menu visibility| May 1, 2020 4:55 pmChicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot and Gov. J.B. Pritzker announced Friday that the field hospital at McCormick Place will close, having treated less than three dozen patients.“Today, we are pleased to report that the curve is flattening, and our local hospitals and health care systems continue to operate with capacity,” Lightfoot and Pritzker said in a joint statement.Patients who are being treated at McCormick Place will remain there until they are discharged, and the negative pressure tents — used to treat infectious patients while limiting the...WW…

Toggle main menu visibility| August 7, 2020 5:33 pmSuperstar Kanye West fell short of qualifying for the Illinois ballot as an independent presidential candidate by 1,300 signatures, according to the official review on Friday of the nominating petitions submitted by the Illinois native.The determination by a hearing officer will be presented to the Illinois State Board of Elections on Aug. 21, when it is set to finalize the Nov. 3 ballot.To qualify for the ballot, West had to submit at least 2,500 signatures. However, the hearing officer determined he only had 1,200 valid signatures.Sean...…Toggle main menu visibility| August 7, 2020 5:33 pmSuperstar Kanye West fell short of qualifying for the Illinois ballot as an independent presidential candidate by 1,300 signatures, according to the official review on Friday of the nominating petitions submitted by the Illinois native.The determination by a hearing officer will be presented to the Illinois State Board of Elections on Aug. 21, when it is set to finalize the Nov. 3 ballot.To qualify for the ballot, West had to submit at least 2,500 signatures. However, the hearing officer determined he only had 1,200 valid signatures.Sean...WW…

Toggle main menu visibility| August 5, 2020 4:56 pmChicago officials have begun using the state’s method to calculate the single most important benchmark for tracking the spread of the coronavirus — positivity rates — as confirmed cases of the virus continue to rise statewide.Dr. Allison Arwady, the commissioner of the Department of Public Health, told aldermen Wednesday at a hearing of the City Council’s Health and Human Relations Committee that the change was made to reduce confusion and help residents have a better understanding of the course of the pandemic.However, Arwady said she...…Toggle main menu visibility| August 5, 2020 4:56 pmChicago officials have begun using the state’s method to calculate the single most important benchmark for tracking the spread of the coronavirus — positivity rates — as confirmed cases of the virus continue to rise statewide.Dr. Allison Arwady, the commissioner of the Department of Public Health, told aldermen Wednesday at a hearing of the City Council’s Health and Human Relations Committee that the change was made to reduce confusion and help residents have a better understanding of the course of the pandemic.However, Arwady said she...WW…

Toggle main menu visibility| May 5, 2020 12:19 pmState tax revenue dropped $2.74 billion in April due to the financial crisis caused by the coronavirus pandemic, according to a  from the Commission on Government Forecasting and Accountability. “A combination of COVID-19 impacts, delayed tax filing deadlines, and comparative drop-off due to 2019’s ‘April Surprise’ [gains] all conspired to dramatically derail receipts as base revenues fell $2.740 billion,” according to COGFA’s retrospective April report released Tuesday.Gross personal income tax revenue fell “a whopping”...…Toggle main menu visibility| May 5, 2020 12:19 pmState tax revenue dropped $2.74 billion in April due to the financial crisis caused by the coronavirus pandemic, according to a  from the Commission on Government Forecasting and Accountability. “A combination of COVID-19 impacts, delayed tax filing deadlines, and comparative drop-off due to 2019’s ‘April Surprise’ [gains] all conspired to dramatically derail receipts as base revenues fell $2.740 billion,” according to COGFA’s retrospective April report released Tuesday.Gross personal income tax revenue fell “a whopping”...WW…

Toggle main menu visibilityA plan is in place to reopen Illinois, even as the number of coronavirus cases and deaths continue to rise.Gov. J.B. Pritzker outlined the plan Tuesday, calling it a way to “safely reintroduce the parts of our lives that have been put on hold” during the pandemic.More deaths linked to COVID-19 were reported in Illinois on Tuesday than in any 24-hour period previously: 176.But the governor's message was focused on moving forward.“We have to figure out how to live with COVID-19 until it can be vanquished – and to do so in a way that best supports our residents’...…Toggle main menu visibilityA plan is in place to reopen Illinois, even as the number of coronavirus cases and deaths continue to rise.Gov. J.B. Pritzker outlined the plan Tuesday, calling it a way to “safely reintroduce the parts of our lives that have been put on hold” during the pandemic.More deaths linked to COVID-19 were reported in Illinois on Tuesday than in any 24-hour period previously: 176.But the governor's message was focused on moving forward.“We have to figure out how to live with COVID-19 until it can be vanquished – and to do so in a way that best supports our residents’...WW…

Toggle main menu visibility| September 11, 2020 7:55 pmEric Trump, the president’s son, twice texted Mayor Lori Lightfoot to thank her for taking steps to protect Trump Tower in downtown Chicago after violent protests.The two text messages, received by Lightfoot on her personal cellphone, were released Friday in response to a Freedom of Information Act request filed by WTTW News.The first text from Eric Trump came at 10:29 a.m. on June 1, after the height of the  in Chicago after the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis Police custody. Lightfoot called out the National...…Toggle main menu visibility| September 11, 2020 7:55 pmEric Trump, the president’s son, twice texted Mayor Lori Lightfoot to thank her for taking steps to protect Trump Tower in downtown Chicago after violent protests.The two text messages, received by Lightfoot on her personal cellphone, were released Friday in response to a Freedom of Information Act request filed by WTTW News.The first text from Eric Trump came at 10:29 a.m. on June 1, after the height of the  in Chicago after the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis Police custody. Lightfoot called out the National...WW…

Toggle main menu visibility| June 23, 2020 5:03 pmChicago voters are on track to break the record for vote-by-mail applications set in March, elections officials said Tuesday.During the first week that voters could request ballots, the Chicago Board of Election Commissioners received 66,000 applications through Monday night, according to data provided by election officials.That is more than half of the number of applications received in the 86 days before the March primary election, making it likely the record of 117,000 applications received before that election will likely fall, officials...…Toggle main menu visibility| June 23, 2020 5:03 pmChicago voters are on track to break the record for vote-by-mail applications set in March, elections officials said Tuesday.During the first week that voters could request ballots, the Chicago Board of Election Commissioners received 66,000 applications through Monday night, according to data provided by election officials.That is more than half of the number of applications received in the 86 days before the March primary election, making it likely the record of 117,000 applications received before that election will likely fall, officials...WW…

Toggle main menu visibility| May 7, 2020 6:43 pmAs of Wednesday, Illinois has spent more than $238 million on resources related to the COVID-19 pandemic.In some cases, trying to secure equipment and supplies has led Illinois into bidding wars with other states.How does the state ensure it can get what it needs while also avoiding a massive payment backlog?Illinois Comptroller Susana Mendoza says that spending has led to a state budget hole surpassing $4 billion — and that the federal government needs to step in and help states, both financially and with personal protective equipment.Bidding...…Toggle main menu visibility| May 7, 2020 6:43 pmAs of Wednesday, Illinois has spent more than $238 million on resources related to the COVID-19 pandemic.In some cases, trying to secure equipment and supplies has led Illinois into bidding wars with other states.How does the state ensure it can get what it needs while also avoiding a massive payment backlog?Illinois Comptroller Susana Mendoza says that spending has led to a state budget hole surpassing $4 billion — and that the federal government needs to step in and help states, both financially and with personal protective equipment.Bidding...WW…