News in brief: House virtual hearings begin; transportation bills advance to House floor; Lausch ‘grateful’ for being retained as US attorney 

Republicans eye changes, audit after deadly COVID-19 outbreak at state veterans’ homes 

Two Republican lawmakers have introduced measures aimed at tightening safety regulations in response to the deadly COVID-19 outbreak inside the state’s veterans’ homes. 

On Monday, Sen. Sue Rezin (R-Morris) and Rep. David Welter (R-Morris) highlighted a pair of proposals during a virtual press conference that they say would prevent a similar deadly outbreak in the future. They would also require an audit to be performed to examine issues in the state’s handling of the COVID-19 outbreak at the facilities.  

Gov. JB Pritzker’s call to close ‘corporate loopholes’ has been met with mixed reviews.

After Gov. JB Pritzker outlined his $41.6 billion proposed budget for Fiscal Year 2022 last month, he faced a host of criticism from Republicans and members of the business community for his call to close $932 million in what he’s dubbed “corporate loopholes.”

The so-called loopholes run the gamut from changing the cap on corporate net operating loss deductions to biodiesel exemptions.

News in brief: Another Madigan replacement named; Acevedo and sons indicted  

After 2 months, staff vaccinations at Illinois veterans’ homes still lag 

Nearly two months after Illinois began vaccinating residents and staff at long-term care facilities, many employees remain unvaccinated at the state’s veterans’ homes, which have seen 77 deaths.  

In late December, the Illinois Department of Veterans’ Affairs reported that 74 percent of all veterans’ home residents had been vaccinated for COVID-19. At the same time, just 40 percent of staff had been vaccinated. The agency provided a facility-by-facility summary of the percentage of residents and staff that had received doses.  

Deaths plummet in Illinois’ long-term care facilities as vaccinations ramp up 

Despite an initially slow vaccine rollout, the deadliest days of the COVID-19 pandemic for Illinois’ long-term care facilities may be over, according to data maintained by the state.  

Last week, Illinois’ roughly 1,400 long-term care facilities, which include nursing homes, veterans’ homes, assisted living centers, retirement communities and skilled-nursing facilities, recorded 59 deaths, the lowest weekly total in months.  

News in brief: Madigan successor resigns; Pritzker anticipates Illinois getting 100,000 daily COVID-19 vaccines; Ezike testifies before Congress 

News in brief: Pandemic food program expanded; lawmakers call for more equity, transparency in transportation projects; Lausch to remain US attorney until successor confirmed; McCormick Place teaming up with Fight2Feed 

Pritzker looks to assist municipalities facing unprecedented natural gas bills 

Responding to this month’s winter storm that resulted in utility prices surging in some parts of Illinois, Gov. JB Pritzker on Tuesday announced an effort to create a low-interest loan program aimed at helping affected municipalities.  

Speaking at the Illinois Emergency Management Agency in Springfield, Pritzker announced the forthcoming program, which is set to be considered at a special gathering of the Illinois Finance Authority on Thursday.  

News in brief: Madigan resigns as party chair; Bailey announces run for governor