News in brief: National Guard return to Illinois; Mendoza offers relief for low, moderate income taxpayers

Phase 4½? Pritzker set to release plan to relax COVID-19 mitigations, Ezike says 

Gov. JB Pritzker is set later this week to announce a plan would allow Illinois to further relax COVID-19 mitigations, according to his top health official. 

Illinois Department of Public Health Director Ngozi Ezike told members of the Senate Health Committee on Monday that the state was “getting close” to moving from the current Phase 4, which limits gatherings to 50 people or less, to Phase 5. 

News in brief: Pritzker signs hospital transformation bill; Pritzker amendable to Biden’s May COVID-19 vaccine goal 

Legislative redistricting process set to kick off this week as committees take shape 

After months of little public action on redistricting, Illinois lawmakers are set this week to begin the months-long process of drawing new legislative and congressional boundaries. 

Starting Wednesday, lawmakers will begin holding redistricting-related meetings, with a looming June 30 deadline set by the state Constitution. Unlike in previous remapping efforts, this year’s process is complicated by the delayed release of data from the U.S. Census Bureau.  

Legislative investigations will halt if funding runs out, watchdog warns 

The Illinois office of the Legislative Inspector General would have to stop all its ongoing investigations if the agency were to use its entire budget. 

That’s what Legislative Inspector General Carol Pope told members of the House Appropriations General Services Committee on Thursday.  

News in brief: Pritzker announces latest round of transportation grants; rural hospitals added to COVID-19 vaccine pilot program; food insecurity plan released 

News in brief: Senate approves bill legalizing to-go cocktails until 2024; Pritzker issues warning about COVID-19 variants 

Next round of financial assistance for Illinois renters, landlords expected to be ready by May 

Renters and landlords in Illinois struggling to meet their obligations due to the COVID-19 pandemic will be able to apply for additional financial assistance in the coming months, lawmakers were told Wednesday.  

Illinois Housing Development Authority executive director Kristin Faust told members of the House Housing Committee the recent passage of two federal COVID-19 relief bills will provide hundreds of millions of dollars to struggling renters and homeowners in Illinois.   

Ratings agency improves outlook for Illinois in another positive economic indicator 

Gov. JB Pritzker’s proposed Fiscal Year 2022 budget and better-than-expected economic conditions in Illinois have resulted in a leading credit rating agency improving the state’s outlook.  

S&P Global Ratings said Tuesday it was revising its outlook on Illinois from “negative” to “stable.” 

News in brief: Pritzker blames FEMA for last minute United Center change; Chicago Medical Society urges Pritzker to veto bill