Despite business, lawmaker suits, Pritzker grants himself emergency powers for 4th time
Despite business, lawmaker suits, Pritzker grants himself emergency powers for 4th time
Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker for the fourth time extended by 30 days his emergency powers to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic. Businesses and lawmakers are amending lawsuits in response.
By Joe Tabor
Randy Miles: Village Inn Pizzeria
Randy Miles: Village Inn Pizzeria
“My employees are starving, so do they feel safe? I try to make them feel as safe as we possibly can. I believe they feel nervous…. I know they’re nervous. I’m nervous."
Ernie Sandoval
Ernie Sandoval
“I quit my job in the beginning of March and was supposed to start a new job a week later. The start date was March 16, and because of COVID-19 I never started the job. “It’s been 12 weeks since I requested assistance and it’s still up in the air. I have not been able...
Pritzker signs bill legalizing cocktails to-go
Pritzker signs bill legalizing cocktails to-go
Legal cocktails to-go give bars and restaurants a new avenue to serve customers through delivery and pickup service.
Rachel Meredith
Rachel Meredith
“Eight years ago, I got married and had two boys and was divorced before my youngest was 2. I had a baby and a toddler and I was out on my own. I never had anything in my name and I learned you couldn’t even get a phone bill without having previous credit. Two years...
62 former state lawmakers receiving more than $100K pensions
62 former state lawmakers receiving more than $100K pensions
Illinois’ broken pension system puts $100,000 a year or more into the hands of 62 former state lawmakers. It has paid more than $1 million to 94 of them.
In the wake of George Floyd’s death, Springfield has essential work to do
In the wake of George Floyd’s death, Springfield has essential work to do
Illinois lawmakers cannot afford to delay action in the wake of George Floyd’s death.
By Austin Berg
Illinois’ new unemployment claims remain high
Illinois’ new unemployment claims remain high
New jobless claims remain several times higher than last year as state begins to test re-opening.
By Bryce Hill
Decatur, Peoria and Elgin hardest hit by job loss during Illinois lockdown
Decatur, Peoria and Elgin hardest hit by job loss during Illinois lockdown
Record April job losses hurt some communities even more than Illinois’ statewide decline of 13.4%.
By Bryce Hill
Black, Hispanic women hit hardest after Illinois decreed which jobs were ‘nonessential’
Black, Hispanic women hit hardest after Illinois decreed which jobs were ‘nonessential’
More than 1 in 5 black and Hispanic female workers in Illinois lost their jobs during the first month of the COVID-19 lockdown.
By Orphe Divounguy, Bryce Hill, Jon Josko
Mike Morrison: The Chubby Bullfrog
Mike Morrison: The Chubby Bullfrog
“I’ve spoken to several other bar owners [who] are like, ‘We’re in the exact same boat.’ I’m waiting for a serious miracle. [But] I don’t think that’s going to happen."
Jada Nettle
Jada Nettle
“[The lockdown] has just really, really put a dent in my income ... a huge dent to this point. I tried to apply for unemployment. But I make $50 a week too much, and that was me only netting $150 a week."