FROM THE PEW CHARITABLE TRUSTS: When will the impact of coronavirus hit state budgets like Illinois’? FROM THE PEW CHARITABLE TRUSTS: When will the impact of coronavirus hit state budgets like Illinois’? Thursday, April 2, 2020 State officials nationwide fear that a substantial decline in tax collections as a result of the coronavirus pandemic will throw their budgets into turmoil. But they will have to wait for the first hard data on how big the decline might be.
Unemployment continues to soar amid COVID-19 outbreak Unemployment continues to soar amid COVID-19 outbreak Thursday, April 2, 2020 First-time unemployment claims skyrocketed again in Illinois and throughout the nation in the last week of March as businesses closed their doors or scaled back operations in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic.
COMMENTARY: Illinois legislators should continue to make us proud by ending partisan gerrymandering COMMENTARY: Illinois legislators should continue to make us proud by ending partisan gerrymandering Thursday, April 2, 2020 Illinois has demonstrated that we are not afraid to lead when it comes to disaster response. We should not be afraid to lead when it comes to ending partisan gerrymandering. Read more
Adult-use marijuana sales remain high at $35.9 million in March Adult-use marijuana sales remain high at $35.9 million in March Thursday, April 2, 2020 More than $109 million of marijuana products were purchased in Illinois in the first three months of legalization, and the third month of sales was on par with the first two despite a stay-at-home... Read more
Pritzker, Lightfoot announce new fund to support artists during COVID-19 shutdown Pritzker, Lightfoot announce new fund to support artists during COVID-19 shutdown Wednesday, April 1, 2020 Gov. JB Pritzker and Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot announced the formation of a new relief fund to support artists and performers who have been temporarily put out of work by the COVID-19 pandemic... Read more
Pritzker to extend stay-home order, school closures through April 30 Pritzker to extend stay-home order, school closures through April 30 Tuesday, March 31, 2020 K-12 schools will remain closed and a stay-at-home order for Illinoisans will remain in place through April 30, as Gov. JB Pritzker announced during his daily COVID-19 briefing Tuesday that he... Read more
Farmers cautious about corn, soybean season despite projected rise in plantings Farmers cautious about corn, soybean season despite projected rise in plantings Tuesday, March 31, 2020 Despite projected increases in corn and soybean plantings this year after a disastrous 2019 planting season, farmers are gripped by uncertainty surrounding spring weather and the economic downturn... Read more
COVID-19 IMPACTS: Employment Security department utilizes new alphabetized benefit schedule COVID-19 IMPACTS: Employment Security department utilizes new alphabetized benefit schedule Tuesday, March 31, 2020 The Illinois department tasked with overseeing unemployment benefits is employing an alphabetized schedule to handle “an unprecedented volume” of claims. Read more