State, national unemployment spikes amid COVID-19 outbreak State, national unemployment spikes amid COVID-19 outbreak Thursday, March 26, 2020 More than 114,000 Illinoisans filed first-time unemployment claims last week. Nationally, more than 3 million people reported losing their jobs, the biggest one-week surge on record.
State officials warn of possible looming recession State officials warn of possible looming recession Wednesday, March 25, 2020 A commission that advises the General Assembly on revenue and economic issues is warning that a slowdown of business activity caused by the COVID-19 outbreak is likely to bring about a recession that could cause a 20 percent drop in state revenues, spread out over a number of fiscal years.
COVID-19 outbreak sparks flood of executive orders COVID-19 outbreak sparks flood of executive orders Wednesday, March 25, 2020 Democratic Gov. JB Pritzker is on a pace to set a modern-day record for issuing the most executive orders by an Illinois governor. Read more
Illinois preparing for increased hospital demand due to COVID-19 Illinois preparing for increased hospital demand due to COVID-19 Tuesday, March 24, 2020 Gov. JB Pritzker said Tuesday the state is stockpiling medical supplies and working to expand its hospital capacity, even by converting some closed hotels into isolation facilities, as it braces... Read more
No firm plans yet for restarting legislative session No firm plans yet for restarting legislative session Monday, March 23, 2020 The Illinois General Assembly on Monday began its second week of shutdown due to the spread of the novel coronavirus disease, COVID-19, and officials said it is still uncertain when, or under what... Read more
Pritzker issues ‘Stay Home’ order throughout Illinois; order goes into effect Saturday Pritzker issues ‘Stay Home’ order throughout Illinois; order goes into effect Saturday Friday, March 20, 2020 Gov. JB Pritzker on Friday issued a “Stay at Home” order throughout Illinois, directing all residents to stay home except to conduct essential business, and all non-essential... Read more
IDHS announces office closures, staff reductions IDHS announces office closures, staff reductions Thursday, March 19, 2020 The Illinois Department of Human Services said Thursday that it is closing many of its offices around the state and will reduce staff at other offices at least through early April due to the... Read more
General Assembly can’t hold remote meetings General Assembly can’t hold remote meetings Thursday, March 19, 2020 Although many Illinoisans are being urged to work remotely from home during the ongoing coronavirus outbreak, that does not appear to be an option for state lawmakers. Read more