Gov. J.B. Pritzker warned Tuesday that “significantly greater mitigations” could be imposed if COVID metrics don’t improve in the state after health officials flagged Lake and McHenry counties for rising hospitalizations. “If we are not able to bring these numbers down, if hospitals continue to fill, if the hospital beds and ICUs get full like […]
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Gov. Pritzker signs legislation that strengthens Scott’s Law, improves mental health help for first responders
(The Center Square) – Gov. J.B. Pritzker signed legislation that will bolster Scott’s Law by strengthing punishments for violators and improve mental health resources for first responders in Illinois. The “move over” law was revised in Illinois in 2017 to apply to all vehicles that display flashing emergency lights, including commercial trucks and cars and […]
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Gov. Pritzker expected to announce mask mandate for PreK-12 schools in Illinois
Gov. J.B. Pritzker is expected to announce Wednesday afternoon a new mask mandate for all preschool through high school students and staff in Illinois. Pritzker is scheduled to appear at the James R. Thompson Center in Chicago at 2:30 p.m. Wednesday to give a COVID-19 update, according to his daily schedule. The Chicago Tribune reported […]
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Gov. Pritzker signs bill that prohibits jails in the state from housing ICE detainees
Gov. J.B. Pritzker signed a bill into law on Monday that will prohibit jails in Illinois from housing ICE detainees and severely limit local law enforcement from working with federal immigration agents. Senate Bill 667 — also called the “Illinois Way Forward Act” — was passed 36-19 in late May. On Monday, Pritzker signed SB 667 […]
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Illinois to follow CDC’s new guidelines for certain residents, even those vaccinated, to wear masks indoors
Illinois health officials say they are adopting the CDC’s latest recommendations, which say that all people — even those who are fully vaccinated — should wear a mask indoors in counties with high COVID-19 cases. The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) announced Tuesday afternoon that it is “fully adopting” the Centers for Disease Control […]
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Gov. Pritzker warns that Illinois could see COVID-19 restrictions again as cases increase
Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker warned this week that areas of the state could see the return of COVID-19 restrictions as cases continue to increase. “I believe strongly that we will impose mitigations as it’s appropriate, where it’s appropriate. We’ve been doing that all along,” Pritzker said Tuesday in an interview with NBC Chicago. Pritzker said […]
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Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker announces he is running for re-election in 2022
Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker — touting the state’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic as a success and other accomplishments — announced Monday that he will run for re-election in 2022. Pritzker said he and Lt. Governor Juliana Stratton will run for re-election to a second term, according to a released statement. “Big news: I’m running […]
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Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker signs multiple criminal justice reform bills into law
Gov. J.B. Pritzker signed multiple criminal justice reform bills into law Thursday morning, which aim to reduce Illinois’ prison population and encourage “the use of restorative justice.” Surrounded by sponsoring lawmakers, criminal justice reform advocates and a victim of a wrongful conviction, Pritzker signed a package of legislation at Northwestern Pritzker School of Law in […]
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Gov. Pritzker offering new lottery for state employees who get COVID-19 vaccine
Gov. J.B. Pritzker announced that state employees who receive the COVID-19 vaccine can enter a new lottery system just for them offering cash bonuses, first-class airline tickets, and sports tickets. Pritzker announced the new pilot program, which is offering a range of incentives to state employees who work in direct care facilities and receive at […]