Illinois public health officials coordinating distribution of COVID-19 antiviral prescriptions
(The Center Square) – Two COVID-19 antiviral treatments will be coming to Illinois in the coming weeks. The Illinois Department of Public Health announced the Pfizer and Merck treatments are for those with mild-to-moderate COVID-19 and who
Illinois comptroller again suspends unpaid fines from tax refunds for eligible taxpayers
(The Center Square) – Families meeting certain income thresholds in Illinois will not have unpaid fines deducted from their state income tax refunds. Illinois state law allows the comptroller to garnish from taxpayer income tax refunds any
Bipartisan push underway to enhance penalties for harming Illinois social workers
(The Center Square) – Following the stabbing death of a social worker in central Illinois, a bipartisan effort is now underway at the statehouse to enhance penalties for such crimes. Criminal penalty enhancements at the statehouse have
Democratic-supported measure allows suspects to call and potentially intimidate victims, Illinois Republicans warn
(The Center Square) – A measure poised for Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s desk that passed its final hurdle Wednesday has some critics warning of unintended consequences for crime victims. House Bill 3512 passed the state Senate in October.
With a rise in coronavirus cases, colleges opting to go remote
(The Center Square) – As COVID-19 cases continue to increase around the state, some Illinois colleges will move to remote learning to begin the spring semester. The decision was made, in part, by a new variant of
Lawmakers point fingers after failing to replace Legislative Inspector General
(The Center Square) – There’s no one to field complaints against state lawmakers in Springfield. The office of the Legislative Inspector General is vacant once again. Despite having known for months the office of the Legislative Inspector
Illinois sees eighth straight year of population decline
(The Center Square) – A report from the Illinois Policy Institute highlights Illinois’ growing population problem after more than 100,000 citizens left the state in 2021. This was Illinois’ 8th straight year seeing a dip in population,
Quick hits: Illinois news in brief for Thursday, Jan. 6, 2021
Lawmakers cancel session days next week Don’t expect the Illinois Legislature back in person next week. The House has canceled and the Senate will come back at the call of the Senate President. Statehouse action was delayed
CPS cancels second day after CTU refuses to return to classes
(The Center Square) – Chicago Public Schools canceled classes for a second day Thursday after failing to reach an agreement with the Chicago Teachers Union, which says returning to the classroom is unsafe. The disruption of classes