‘Bridge’ phase could be delayed due to recent COVID-19 spike, Pritzker says  

Gov. JB Pritzker on Friday expressed concern over a recent rise in COVID-19 cases that could prevent Illinois from entering the so-called “bridge” phase that would prelude the state’s full reopening.  

Under the governor’s reopening plan, 70 percent of adults 65 and older need to receive at least one vaccine dose before the state can enter the bridge phase. As of Friday, 67 percent of the state’s seniors had been vaccinated.  

Dilara Sayeed, Jay Young and Darek Lau testified before the Senate Redistricting Chicago South Subcommittee on Thursday.

Representatives from organizations in Chicago’s South Side called for more public input and offered warnings Thursday about the potential for minority groups to be undercounted if lawmakers don’t use decennial Census data during the redistricting process.

Similar to what other witnesses said during the first four Senate redistricting hearings, members of the Senate Redistricting Chicago South Subcommittee listened to testimony from seven witnesses who expressed desires to improve public participation while making a host of recommendations on how to bolster engagement.  

News in brief: Senate approves vote-by-mail expansion and health care reform bill, sending both to Pritzker’s desk

Gov. JB Pritzker on Thursday vetoed his ninth bill since taking office.

Gov. JB Pritzker on Thursday rejected his first bill in two years and issued his ninth veto since taking office, dismissing a measure approved during the January lame duck session that pitted attorneys and business groups against one another.

The governor’s veto, however, was a temporary setback for the measure, as lawmakers gave final approval Thursday to a new version of a bill that culminated from recent negotiations. 

Representatives from organizations in Chicago’s South Side called for more public input and offered warnings Thursday about the potential for minority groups to be undercounted if lawmakers don’t use decennial Census data during the redistricting process.

Similar to what other witnesses said during the first four Senate redistricting hearings, members of the Senate Redistricting Chicago South Subcommittee listened to testimony from seven witnesses who expressed desires to improve public participation while making a host of recommendations on how to bolster engagement.

News in brief: Senate approves vote-by-mail expansion and health care reform bill, sending both to Pritzker’s desk 

A new report examined the COVID-19 outbreak and vaccination efforts at Illinois’ veterans’ homes.

---

A new report from two state agencies and the federal Department of Veterans Affairs is recommending a host of new prevention measures for Illinois’ veterans’ homes in response to the COVID-19 outbreak that has killed 79 residents.

Last week, the Illinois Department of Veterans’ Affairs (IDVA) released a joint report between the agency, the Illinois Department of Public Health and the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs that is the culmination of a months-long effort known as the Interagency Infection Prevention Project.

Gov. JB Pritzker received the single-dose Johnson & Johnson vaccine Wednesday afternoon and warned about the dangers of easing protective practices as Illinois' virus caseload ticks upward.

Pritzker said he was eligible for a shot due to his status as a government worker. His family has not yet been vaccinated. He said he took the Johnson & Johnson vaccine because it only required one dose and did so at the Illinois State Fairgrounds because “I happen to be here.”

Lawmakers press unemployment officials on hiring, virtual access after release of new audit  

A newly released audit of the Illinois Department of Employment Security (IDES) gave lawmakers Tuesday an opportunity to question agency officials, who outlined ongoing efforts to combat fraud and process an unprecedented onslaught of demand due to the COVID-19 pandemic.  

While examining the findings of an audit for the two-year period ending June 30, 2019, members of the Legislative Audit Commission pressed IDES director Kristin Richards and other agency officials about how to speed hiring at the agency and help more residents access its services.  

A newly released audit of the Illinois Department of Employment Security (IDES) gave lawmakers Tuesday an opportunity to question agency officials, who outlined ongoing efforts to combat fraud and process an unprecedented onslaught of demand due to the COVID-19 pandemic.  

While examining the findings of an audit for the two-year period ending June 30, 2019, members of the Legislative Audit Commission pressed IDES director Kristin Richards and other agency officials about how to speed hiring at the agency and help more residents access its services.