Today, Governor JB Pritzker announced guidelines that will allow K-12 schools, community colleges, and higher education institutions to safely resume in person instruction for the upcoming academic year. To help schools meet these guidelines and prevent the spread of COVID-19, the Illinois Emergency Management Agency (IEMA) will provide public K-12 districts in Illinois with 2.5 million cloth face masks, allowing K-12 schools to provide a cloth face mask to all students and staff.
The governor was joined by Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) Director Dr. Ngozi Ezike, Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) Director Dr. Carmen Ayala, Illinois Association of School Boards Executive Director Tom Bertrand, Illinois Board of Higher Education (IBHE) Executive Director Ginger Ostro and Illinois Community College Board (ICCB) Executive Director Dr. Brian Durham for today’s announcement. This guidance follows the release of industry-specific guidelines for Phase 4 of the Restore Illinois Plan, announced yesterday.
“Classroom learning provides necessary opportunities for our students to learn, socialize, and grow. The benefits of in-person instruction can’t be overstated,” said Governor JB Pritzker. “Today ISBE, IBHE, and ICCB are issuing guidance that will serve as baseline public health requirements and expectations for the return of in-person learning this fall in P-12 schools and higher education, including all public school districts, non-public schools, colleges and universities. In close consultation with IDPH, infectious disease experts at the University of Illinois at Chicago, and other public health professionals, the guidance focuses on keeping students, teachers and families healthy and safe. It recognizes that Illinois is a diverse state, and school districts and institutions of higher education across Illinois will face unique challenges in how they’ll operate within their communities.”
The Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) received $569 million in federal funding from the CARES Act for K-12 education, approximately $512 million of which will go directly to school districts to address local needs in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. IBSE will use the remaining $54.1 million to provide additional funding to schools in six categories: laptops and tablets, internet connectivity, virtual coaching for teachers, professional development, and support for entities who cannot receive direct funds due to ineligibility for Title I.
Local education agencies must apply to ISBE to receive funding from the CARES Act and the amount received will be based on the number and percentage of low-income students they serve. ISBE has already received applications from 580 local education agencies for this funding, with the goal of purchasing a variety of tools and resources, including technology devices, WiFi hotspots, and health and safety equipment for schools in need. Local school districts also plan to use funding to hire mental health support staff to provide services for students, families, and staff. ISBE has approved 534 applications thus far and distributed nearly three million dollars in funds.
GUIDANCE FOR K-12 SCHOOLS
The guidance released by ISBE and IDPH today allows schools to bring students back to school buildings in the fall while ensuring the health and safety of students and staff remains the top priority. The guidance was developed in collaboration with 56 educators, superintendents, social workers, nurses, and other stakeholders from across the state. View the guidance here.
“Nothing compares to face-to-face interactions between students and their teachers,” said State Superintendent of Education Dr. Carmen I. Ayala. “The dedication of Illinoisans to social distancing over the past several months has allowed us to plan to bring students back to classrooms this fall while keeping health and safety our number one priority. This fall will not be ‘business as usual’ in more ways than one. Our students will return to us transformed and hungry for knowledge that contextualizes current events. I urge schools to use summer to readjust curricula to honor these historic times and to continue to be diligent in following safety protocols.”
Each school district will determine how to implement the guidance based on its unique student enrollment, school facilities, staffing, transportation, and technological capacity. ISBE strongly encourages schools and districts to provide in-person instruction for all students, especially those under age 13, to ensure children have rich instructional environments.
The IDPH requirements for schools to reopen in Phase 4 are:
• Require use of appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE), including face coverings;
• Prohibit more than 50 individuals from gathering in one space;
• Require social distancing whenever possible;
• Conduct symptom screenings and temperature checks or require self-certification that individuals entering school buildings are symptom free; and
• Increase schoolwide cleaning and disinfection.
To ensure Illinois school districts are able to obtain the necessary supplies to resume in person instruction safely, ISBE and the Chief Procurement Office Bureau of Strategic Sourcing have secured several joint purchase agreements that K-12 can utilize to obtain supplies at prices that may be more competitive than purchasing on their own. ISBE will continue to expand the number of purchasing agreements in the coming weeks.
“In developing this guidance, we have put a focus on making sure in-person instruction is done safely and in an equitable way,” said Brenda Calvin, principal of Sauk Elementary School in Matteson and a member of the Transition Advisory Workgroup. “As a principal, I am looking forward to seeing students and teachers back in the classroom, and this document provides administrators across the state with the guidance and support they need to plan for the fall, no matter what their school looks like. I thank ISBE, IDPH, and Governor Pritzker for continuing to emphasize equity as we return to in-person instruction and for continuing to care for the well-being of all students in the state of Illinois.”
“The Phase 4 guidance for schools focuses on the unique context of the 852 school districts in the state of Illinois,” said Dr. Jennifer Garrison, superintendent of Vandalia Community Unit School District 203. “We acknowledge and thank the Governor’s Office for the emphasis on local control. We must focus on the safety of our staff and students first and foremost and at the same time be creative in how we return to learning in-person, specifically in Vandalia Schools. The opportunity to have a seat at the table and bring the downstate rural voice to the table is greatly appreciated. As educators, we have had many challenges before, and now is our time to turn the challenges before us into a unique opportunity to innovate with a laser-like focus on equity.”
“I am grateful that ISBE reached out to a variety of education stakeholders in developing this transition plan,” said Lindsey Jensen, 2018 Illinois Teacher of the Year, member of the Transition Advisory Workgroup, and teacher at Dwight Township High School. “In these unprecedented times, we are each other’s greatest resource. Having a variety of voices at the proverbial table ensures that we are considering all facets of education so that we can equitably meet the needs of all students when they return to our buildings.”
GUIDANCE FOR HIGHER EDUCATION INSTITUTIONS
The Illinois Board of Higher Education (IBHE) established guidelines for higher education institutions to safely reopen their classrooms based on input from IDPH and higher education leaders throughout Illinois. When students return to campus this fall, they can expect new prevention measures from colleges and universities including social distancing, physical spacing, hand sanitizing stations, face covering requirements, and regular monitoring of students for symptoms of COVID-19.
Schools are developing policies around traffic flow, cleaning of public spaces, and staggered schedules for the use of laboratories, auditoriums and other group facilities. Small-group sessions and meetings with professors will also have to adhere to social distancing guidelines. Nevertheless, colleges expect dormitories, cafeterias, libraries, bookstores, and other amenities of college life to be available to students, subject to the approved guidelines.
“The path to personal success runs right through our schools, classrooms, colleges and universities. A good education means a good future for you and your families. When the economy rebounds, we want our students to be prepared for those jobs and that means–stay the course and stay in school,” said Ginger Ostro, IBHE Executive Director.
As each region across the state prepares to enter Phase 4 of the Restore Illinois plan, Illinois community colleges are committed to welcoming students back to campus in the fall of 2020.
“The Illinois Community College Board’s guidance provides community colleges with a roadmap for delivering critical instructional programs within the context of Governor Pritzker’s Restore Illinois,” said Dr. Lazaro Lopez, Chair of the ICCB.
“The guidance will assist all community colleges in the development of plans that ensure the health, safety, and support of students while continuing to provide high quality instruction,” said Dr. Brian Durham, Executive Director of the ICCB.
Guidance for Illinois’ community colleges takes into consideration where each institution is located and is separated into three main categories: General Health and Safety, Instructional Guidelines, and Student Services. Among the key recommendations are:
• In person education will require face coverings to be worn by faculty, staff and students.
• Community colleges should conduct health screenings on employees, students and visitors before each campus visit.
• Community colleges should take additional measures to ensure social distancing and safety as determined by the features of spaces, learning methods, and other factors.
• Each community college should consider the needs of vulnerable staff or students when administering guidelines.
The guidance was developed in partnership with the ICCB’s Return to Campus Committee and approved by IDPH. The full list of guidelines is available at the ICCB website.
FINANCIAL AID ASSISTANCE AND COLLEGE PLANNING
As students prepare to return to higher education institutions this fall, the administration is offering information and guidance regarding financial aid. The Illinois Student Assistance Commission (ISAC) offers assistance to students in completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) or the recently launched Alternative Application for Illinois Financial Aid, a path to financial aid for undocumented and transgender students made possible by Governor Pritzker.
“The Illinois Student Assistance Commission is here to support students on their path to—or back to—college this fall,” said Eric Zarnikow, Executive Director of ISAC. “We continue to provide free resources to help students and families with college planning and financial aid through one-on-one assistance from the ISACorps members in their community, our call center, and the tools and resources on our website, at www.isac.org. If you need help completing your FAFSA or Alternative Application for Illinois Financial Aid or in seeking financial aid adjustments based on changed financial circumstances, or just aren’t sure how to find your educational path beyond high school, please contact us for assistance.”
Thousands of Illinois families are facing new financial challenges as a result of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. If needed, students can seek an adjustment in their financial aid offers from colleges and universities for the fall based on a change in their financial circumstances. Students in need of additional financial assistance should contact the financial aid office at the colleges or universities where they are enrolled or have been admitted. ISAC is available to guide students and families through this process.
ISAC also offers additional support services like “ISAC College Q&A,” a free text messaging service that helps students stay on track with their college plans. Through ISAC College Q&A, students and families can get answers to college planning and financial aid questions, as well as reminders for important deadlines, sent directly to their phones from ISAC experts. Interested families can sign up online here. Assistance is available in English and Spanish.
Families looking for additional resources and links specifically related to returning to campus and financial aid during the COVID-19 pandemic should visit https://www.isac.org/covid-19/.
The good news is that Illinois has seen declining cases and declining fatality totals week after week for the past five consecutive weeks. I commend every resident of Illinois for thinking of your neighbors across the state during this ongoing battle against COVID-19. Lives are in your hands, and you saved so many with your actions. These actions have given Illinois a leg up against this virus.
Since yesterday, we are reporting 601 people who are newly diagnosed with COVID-19 for a statewide total since the beginning of this pandemic of 137,825 cases. That does include 38 additional fatalities, for a total of 6,707 lives loss.
But let’s recall that at our highest, we reported 4000 cases within a single 24 hour period. That was about six weeks ago. And we reported 191 deaths on May 13th.
As of last night, over 1648 individuals were reported to be hospitalized with COVID-19 and of those 424 patients were in the ICU and 236 patients were on ventilators. We peaked at over 5000 patients in the hospital with COVID-19 and 1290 ICU patients on April 28th. S o we are delighted to see how far we’ve come and how many fewer patients we have hospitalized with COVID-19.
Please forget what you’ve heard. Increased testing is a good thing. Testing capacity across the state continues to grow. To date 1,399,000 tests have been run with 20,507 being reported in the last 24 hours. The highest number of specimens reported in a single 24 hour period was last Wednesday when nearly 30,000 tests were reported. These are all positive signs and affirm that the steps we have taken to slow the spread of COVID-19 are indeed working.
So as we move forward, we need to get things back to the things that we have been putting on hold. Now is the time to schedule your kids back to school physicals if you haven’t already. We need to make sure that the kids get checked out by their providers and get their life saving immunizations. Earlier during the pandemic, we had seen a decline in immunization. So now it’s time to catch up. No more waiting.
Doctor’s orders, Illinois.
Yes, there could be another surge of COVID-19 in the fall or perhaps earlier, but let’s make sure we take this opportunity now to get to our doctors, let’s get our immunizations, let’s get our health screenings. Let’s get as healthy as we can. Your baseline health status affects how you fare against this virus.
This includes parents and teachers. Get your bloodwork done, your mammogram. I went for my mammogram this morning. Get your colonoscopies, take care of yourself and your loved ones. Let’s continue to do what we know works. I saw somewhere that they referred to it as the three W’s. And so I’m going to be using this: wash your hands, watch your distance, you know that’s referring to the six feet, and wear a face covering. Let’s not lose ground. Lives are in our hands. Thank you so much.
Please pardon all transcription errors.
* Press release…
The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) today announced 601 new confirmed cases of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in Illinois, including 38 additional confirmed deaths.
Boone County – 1male 60s
Cook County – 1 female 40s, 1 male 50s, 1 female 60s, 3 males 60s, 2 females 70s, 1 male 70s, 2 females 80s, 1 male 80s, 3 females 90s, 2 males 90s, 2 females 100+
DuPage County – 1 male 70s, 1 female 80s, 1 male 80s
Jefferson County – 1 male 70s
Kane County – 1 male 60s, 1 male 80s
Kankakee County – 1 female 60s
Kendall County – 1 male 90s
Lake County – 1 male 50s, 1 female 60s, 2 males 80s
Macon County – 1 male 80s
McHenry County – 1 female 80s
St. Clair County – 1 female 60s
Will County – 1 female 70s, 1 female 80s
Winnebago County – 1 female 50s
Currently, IDPH is reporting a total of 137,825 cases, including 6,707 deaths, in 101 counties in Illinois. The age of cases ranges from younger than one to older than 100 years. Within the past 24 hours, laboratories have reported 20,507 specimens for a total of 1,399,510. The preliminary seven-day statewide positivity for cases as a percent of total test from June 16–June 22 is 2%.
Following guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, IDPH is now reporting both confirmed and probable cases and deaths on its website. Reporting probable cases will help show the potential burden of COVID-19 illness and efficacy of population-based non-pharmaceutical interventions. See CDC definition of a probable case on its website. IDPH will update these data once a week.
The National Association of Theatre Owners (NATO) of Illinois issued the following statement regarding Phase 4 reopening guidelines released by Gov. JB Pritzker’s office, which allows for movie theatres to reopen beginning June 26 with a maximum capacity of 50 people:
“While theatres across Illinois are excited to welcome customers back to the movies, the strict capacity limits announced by the governor’s office will make it difficult for many theatres to reopen. For some, it will simply not be feasible to rehire workers, purchase supplies and cover overhead costs if only 50 customers will be allowed in each auditorium. Many theatre auditoriums are quite large and can safely accommodate more viewers while maintaining proper physical distancing and sanitation measurers,” said Chris Johnson, president of the National Association of Theatre Owners of Illinois and CEO of Classic Cinemas. “We are disappointed the governor’s office declined to raise capacity limits after indicating a willingness to do so during recent conversations but remain hopeful that changes can be made sooner rather than later. We are eager to salvage what’s left of the summer blockbuster season and reclaim our role as a safe space to escape from life’s struggles.”
NATO of Illinois has proposed setting attendance limits at 50 percent of capacity – the same limits set for retail establishments and personal care businesses. Additional safety measures include:
• Requiring all employees to undergo training before returning to work on enhanced cleaning procedures, personal health and wellness, use of face masks and gloves, and maintaining social distancing.
• Taking employee temperatures before reporting to work for each shift.
• Mandating that cloth masks be worn at all times and disposable gloves be worn during customer interactions.
• Maintaining a minimum of six-foot distance between viewing parties, using empty seats and rows as necessary.
• Placing six-foot spacing markings in areas where guests may have to queue and assigning staff to ensure social distancing is respected.
• Encouraging customers to purchase tickets online to decrease contact opportunities.
I asked the group’s spokesperson Monique Garcia what the theaters were doing about the viral load issue. Dozens, or even hundreds of people sitting in the same room for a couple of hours could potentially shed a lot of virus into the air, after all…
“There are some who think we should just do nothing, have no restrictions, no capacity limits. But when you think of a gathering size of 100 and having a 30 percent chance of somebody in that 100 having a COVID virus — when you go up to 250 and that probability goes up to 60 percent — this is why we are being cautious and prudent.”
* Garcia’s response…
Among the safety precautions theatres have in place to limit risks include purchasing tickets online, staggered showtimes, maintaining a minimum six-foot distance between viewing parties, enhanced cleaning procedures including sanitation of seats between showings, and encouraging the use of face coverings even when seated in an auditorium.
Because we know that air flow is important in limiting risk, many theaters are placing special focus on improving air quality. This includes adjusting HVAC systems to increase the amount of fresh air being circulated and to remove stale air more quickly. New filters will also be put in place, including in vacuums and other devices.
Thoughts?
*** UPDATE *** The governor was asked today about the theater owners’ expectation that they’d be able to sell tickets for half of their available capacity…
I want to be clear to anybody that had expectations of something larger that there is the opportunity for us to do that at any moment, you know, going forward as we look and see. Remember when we change guidelines, when we move from one phase to another, what we’re looking to do is to measure how are we doing in hospitalizations, how are we doing in positivity rates. If we start to see things moving up, forget spiking, if we see things moving upward we want to watch them closely. And it’s over time that you see well if things are relatively stable, or even decreasing as we saw, interestingly during phase three even though we opened up quite a lot in phase three, the answer is, you can make adjustments along the way and we certainly will.
During late-night hours, the sound of loud fireworks has echoed through many Chicago neighborhoods, resulting in a staggering increase in 911 calls. The city has received more than 7,000 911 calls for fireworks disturbances so far this year compared with only 842 last year during the same time frame, a 736% increase over the same period in 2019, according to data provided by the Office of Emergency Management and Communications.
The numbers mirror increases in cities throughout the country, which those in the fireworks industry say can be traced to the cancellation of organized shows because of the pandemic. There has been a surge in complaints about fireworks in New York, Boston and Hartford, Connecticut. Residents of other cities, including Los Angeles and Baltimore, have taken to social media to vent their frustration. […]
Nationwide, the fireworks industry has seen an increase in sales as the coronavirus pandemic has led to the cancellation of many public fireworks displays.
You gotta wonder if those commercial fireworks are now finding their way to individual consumers. Some of the videos I’ve seen online are crazy.
* The Question: Have fireworks been a problem where you are? Tell us a story.
Cities’ police officer per capita rates vary depending on a range of factors. In 2016, police departments serving cities with populations exceeding 25,000 employed an average of 16.8 officers and 21.4 total personnel for every 10,000 residents.
Chicago 43.9 (24.13)
New York City 42.3 (3.39)
Philadelphia 40.2 (20.06)
Dallas 24.8 (12.48)
Los Angeles 24.6 (7.01)
Houston 22.2 (11.50)
Austin 18.9 (2.57)
Phoenix 17.4 (9.55)
San Antonio 14.4 (8.15)
San Diego 12.8 (2.46)
San Jose 9.0 (3.08)
Chicago ranks first in both categories.
* Now, keep in mind that the above police force numbers are from 2016…
Former Mayor Rahm Emanuel announced a plan in 2016 to increase the number of police officers by 1,000 over two years in response to a significant increase in gun violence that year. At the end of 2018 the City announced that its hiring plan was complete, with more patrol officers, detectives and leadership positions (sergeants and lieutenants). By 2019, the Police Department had about 1,200 more budgeted positions than it had in 2016.
So, Chicago’s per capita police officer numbers are even higher than the above chart shows.
During his news conference, Brown also rejected a notion popular with University of Chicago criminologists who work closely with the police department. He said the violence cannot be blamed on easy access to guns.
“I’m from Texas,” Brown said, noting that state’s high number of firearms. “Houston, San Antonio and Dallas have lower murder rates.”
He said that shows it would be possible for Chicago to tamp down its infamous gun violence.
The key, Brown said, is building a public safety infrastructure that combines policing, street outreach work and investments in poor neighborhoods. He said that collaboration is just getting off the ground and is “obviously not mature.”
An epidemiologist by training, [Dr. Gary Slutkin] is the executive director of Cure Violence. Cure Violence is a Chicago-based non-profit organization founded in 2000 by Slutkin in affiliation with the University of Illinois–Chicago School of Public Health.
Dr. Slutkin asserts that gun violence is an infectious disease. Like tuberculosis, gun violence exhibits the following definitional signs and symptoms of infectious disease:
• Contagion: one event leads to another which leads to another
• Predictive morbidity (injury) and mortality (death)
• Pattern distribution: it spreads in predictable ways
• Pattern disruption: targeted interventions can slow and reverse its spread
Accordingly, Cure Violence treats violence as an infectious disease. The organization goes to violent urban neighborhoods where it intervenes to interrupt gun violence and limit its spread.
The organization operates in over 30 cities worldwide and reduces violence by pursuing three well-defined strategies:
• Detecting and interrupting conflicts;
• Identifying and treating high-risk individuals; and
• Changing social norms
Until March 2015, Cure Violence operated in 14 high-risk Chicago neighborhoods. They embedded trained “violence interrupters” and “behavioral change agents” within high-risk communities. These trained professionals identify signs of impending violence and intervene to cool tempers, buy time and shift perspectives. Their “signal” network includes local organizations (e.g. hospitals) to identify signs of brewing trouble. [Emphasis added.]
And then Gov. Bruce Rauner zero-funded the effort with all too predictable results.
With states opening up and the national unemployment rate now at 13.3% compared to the nearly historic high of 14.7% at the peak of the coronavirus pandemic, WalletHub today released its report on the States Whose Unemployment Rates Are Bouncing Back Most, along with accompanying videos and audio files, to illustrate which areas of the country have had the best recovery so far.
This report examines unemployment rates on a monthly basis, complementing the weekly analysis in WalletHub’s report on the States Whose Unemployment Claims Are Recovering the Quickest.
In order to identify the states with the best recovery in unemployment rates, WalletHub compared the 50 states and the District of Columbia based on four key metrics. We looked at the change in each state’s unemployment rate during the latest month for which we have data (May 2020) compared to May 2019 and January 2020. We also compared not seasonally adjusted continued claims in May 2020 to May 2019. Finally, we considered each state’s overall unemployment rate. Below, you can see highlights from the report, along with a WalletHub Q&A.
Unemployment Recovery in Illinois (1=Most Recovered, 25=Avg.):
• 313.77% Change in Unemployment (May 2020 vs May 2019)
o 920,610 unemployed people in May 2020 vs 222,493 in May 2019;
o 14th worst recovery in the U.S.
• 263.43% Change in Unemployment (May 2020 vs January 2020)
o 920,610 unemployed people in May 2020 vs 253,312 in January 2020;
o 12th worst recovery in the U.S.
• 801.93% Change in Not Seasonally Adjusted Continued Claims (May 2020 vs May 2019)
o 762,367 continued claims in May 2020 vs 84,526 in May 2019
o 5th best recovery in the U.S.
Continued claims, also referred to as insured unemployment, is the number of people who have already filed an initial claim and who have experienced a week of unemployment and then filed a continued claim to claim benefits for that week of unemployment. Continued claims data are based on the week of unemployment, not the week when the initial claim was filed.
The events of recent days and weeks have exposed frailties in our public institutions and brought to the forefront the disproportionate impact the application of certain laws, rules, policies and practices have had on the African American population, the Latinx community, and other people of color in Illinois and nationally.
Racism exists, whether it be actualized as individual racism, institutional racism or structural racism, and it undermines our democracy, the fair and equitable administration of justice, and severely diminishes individual constitutional protections and safeguards of full citizenship with the attendant rights and benefits sacred to all. People of color have no less expectation of fairness, equity and freedom from racial discrimination than others, yet they are continually confronted with racial injustices that the Courts have the ability to nullify and set right. […]
But there is still much work to be done.
To further these efforts, the Court is announcing the recruitment of a Chief Diversity and Inclusion Officer (CDIO) for the Judicial Branch. The CDIO will serve as a leader in proposing practices, procedures and rules for Illinois’ courts to protect the constitutional rights of the public we serve. This executive-level hire will work with the Supreme Court, the Administrative Director and Court leaders throughout the Judicial Branch to achieve the Supreme Court’s strategic goals related to diversity, equity and inclusion.
We recognize that these steps are only part of a long process that requires continuous research on the role of racism in our society and actions necessary for its eradication. The Court will continue to advance initiatives to achieve its mission to protect the rights and liberties of all by providing equal justice for all under law.
A federal appeals court panel has rejected an effort by state elections officials to delay a lower court ruling setting up new candidate filing rules for independent and third-party contenders to appear on the Nov. 3 general election ballot due to the coronavirus pandemic.
In a ruling Sunday, a panel of the 7th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals rejected an attempt by the State Board of Elections to stay federal Judge Rebecca Pallmeyer’s mid-May preliminary injunction that made it easier for independent and third-party candidates to access the ballot due to personal distancing rules implemented to deal with COVID-19.
“We deny the motion because the board has not shown that it would be irreparably harmed by injunctive relief that it initially agreed to and because staying the preliminary injunction at this late date would result in clear harm to the plaintiffs who have relied on its terms,” the appellate panel said.
The concessions were made in response to a lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of Illinois’ statutorily mandated elections rules during COVID-19. The filing deadline prescribed by state law would have been on Monday.
The appeals court wrote in its opinion that, “Despite agreeing to each of these terms,” the elections board asked Pallmeyer to reconsider her order a few weeks later. She opted only to move the filing deadline up to July 20.
One month later, on June 9, the board asked a federal appeals court to suspend enforcement of Pallmeyer’s order completely and allow it to “determine necessary election modifications” instead.
In court documents, it argued a federal court does not have the authority to dictate how states conduct their elections. It also alleged a later filing deadline could mean officials will miss federal and state cutoffs to finalize ballots and mail them to citizens overseas.
“In contrast, the appellees have provided evidence showing that they would be significantly injured if we stayed the preliminary injunction,” the panel wrote.
However, the Seventh Circuit did not slam the door on the appeals process, ordering both the board and the Green and Libertarian parties to submit paperwork by July 6, asking for either briefings or an oral argument.
Board of Elections spokesman Matt Dietrich acknowledged Monday that most of the board’s original wishes are now moot, as the seven-day window for third party petition filing is still set to begin on July 13.
“It would appear unlikely that any filing dates will be changed,” Dietrich said.
“People are going into stores with no masks on,” [Blessing Health System CEO and President Maureen Kahn] said. “As the states have opened up, people have been moving about the cabin going out and enjoying some time and forgetting about the most important things that we’ve been educating folks on. They need to be wearing a mask, washing their hands and social distancing.”
With the recent influx of cases ahead of plans for Illinois to move into Phase Four, Kahn said wearing a face covering can make all the difference.
“When you’re getting into those tight spaces, wearing a mask is a good way to protect yourself, your family and the people you love,” she said.
Adams County Health Department officials said they do expect to see more cases as the state reopens, but said that can be controlled if people follow the guidelines.
“As we go through the contact tracing and talk with you all, the main goal now is to reemphasize those simple measures that can be taken to make sure this doesn’t get out of hand,” Adams County Public Health Administrator Jerrod Welch said.
Lightfoot on Monday told reporters Chicago’s guidelines are sometimes different because the city is an air hub, its population density is higher and there are “lots of active infections here still.”
Caution is dictated because, the mayor said, a resurgence is “more than a risk. It’s a very real possibility.” Social distancing, hand hygiene and face masks remain essential, Lightfoot said.
“This approach — turning the dimmer switch cautiously — continues to cause economic harm and hardship. We recognize that. But my first responsibility as mayor is to save lives,” Lightfoot said.
“There are some who think we should just do nothing, have no restrictions, no capacity limits. But when you think of a gathering size of 100 and having a 30 percent chance of somebody in that 100 having a COVID virus — when you go up to 250 and that probability goes up to 60 percent — this is why we are being cautious and prudent.”
But with COVID-19 cases on the rise in many states — 12 have reported a record number of cases since Friday — how can Illinois safely reopen while protecting residents against future outbreaks?
“The first thing I think we need to continue doing is what Gov. Pritzker has said all along, and that’s making sure we follow the science and the data and what the epidemiologists are advising us to do,” Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton said during an interview Monday for “Chicago Tonight.” “When you see these 12 states where you see these record-breaking new cases and these spikes, part of it is because if you go too fast … you risk not having the hospital capacity but you also risk increasing the spread.”
Stratton said Illinois had taken a deliberately cautious approach and urged residents to continue to socially distance and follow health guidelines even as the state moves into the next phase of its reopening.
“COVID-19 is still out there but moving to phase four means we are at a place where we have a better handle on some of the things we can do to stop the spread — and it’s guided by the science,” Stratton said.
We can argue about the economic cost. But we got something for our money: a much, much healthier state and city relative to regions that responded differently. And an opportunity to carefully reopen our economy while other parts of the nation are contemplating a slowdown.
Now, of course, we’ll find out whether Chicago and Illinois folks can keep it up and be a little more sensible in reopening than appeared to be the case elsewhere, with scenes of packed bars and maskless shopping. I’ll be the optimist on that. We’ve come so far, I don’t think people will casually throw it all way.
Congratulations. You have part of your life back, Chicago. Now don’t blow it.
Today, as the party prepares to assemble in some combination of Charlotte, N.C., and Jacksonville, Fla., things are a little different. The list of Illinois delegates to Trump’s celebration of himself is, for the most part, composed of lower-lower dignitaries—a number of them concerned about catching COVID-19 and wondering whether they’ll really attend. To give just one example: Of the five GOP House members from the state—the number was in the double digits for decades—I can confirm only two who are definitely planning to attend. […]
With Trump fairly popular south of I-80 but pretty much toxic in the more populous north, that doesn’t leave much appeal. Add in a little COVID-19 and you get a delegate list that appears to include just two sitting state senators (including Senate GOP Leader Bill Brady) and three representatives.
For instance, while Brady will be there, House GOP Leader Jim Durkin says he, at most, will drop by briefly, and suggests that’s a long shot. “My focus is supporting state party efforts, especially in the House,” he tells me. He adds, “In that part of the world (Florida and North Carolina) there is a return of the virus at dangerous levels. I’ll make that decision (whether to attend) as we get closer.” […]
Not there: Cook County Republican chief Sean Morrison. “I didn’t choose to be a delegate. I have plans it would be hard for me to get away from,” he tells me. “I decided to leave the spot for other people who would like to be there.” I couldn’t reach DuPage County Board Chairman Dan Cronin. But he’s not now listed as a delegate.
One of the most prominent Illinoisans scheduled to attend this summer’s Republican National Convention now is sending word he may take a pass.
In an email, Jason Gerwig, the spokesman for Illinois Senate GOP Leader Bill Brady, said his trip to the August convention is “still being discussed, not locked in.” […]
“No change, just working on scheduling. Got ahead of myself,” Gerwig replied. But Brady was named a delegate to the convention by the state party at its meeting just nine days ago, and I have a hunch that wouldn’t have happened if he said he might not go.
I reached out to Greg yesterday to ask about the congressional delegation. LaHood is a delegate, so it’s assumed he’ll go. Bost’s spouse is a delegate, so Greg assumes he’ll be there. Davis’ folks didn’t call back. Shimkus is retiring. Kinzinger’s people said he has not yet decided.
* You gotta figure Rodney Davis will go because he has tied himself so closely to the POTUS. Here’s Bernie…
“I certainly hope the president is re-elected,” Davis said. “I think outside of this pandemic, we would have had historic economic growth. We would have continued (the) sustained, lowest unemployment levels in my lifetime. I believe that working with the president, we’ve enacted good policies.”
The Illinois Coalition of Community Blood Centers put out a plea Monday for organizations to host blood drives in light of what it called “a critical shortage of blood in Illinois.”
There are two reasons for the shortage, according to Margaret Vaughn, the coalition’s government affairs director.
She said typically 60% of donations come from off-site blood drives, but drives normally hosted by businesses are not being held because employees are still working from home.
Also, demand for blood has spiked due to the May return of elective surgeries coupled with a surge of patients who put off needed surgeries for months because of COVID-19 concerns.
“Now, demand is sky high because the people who put off treatment for three months are sicker,” Vaughn said. “There is a backlog with all these cases. There is concern with how they’re going to get through the rest of the summer. It’s not unique to Illinois. They are in this mess all over the country. We really want to regroup now.”
Margaret is an old pal of mine, so do me a favor and help her organization out. Thanks!
The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) today announced 462 new confirmed cases of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in Illinois, including 26 additional confirmed deaths.
- Cook County – 1 male 40s, 1 female 50s, 4 males 50s, 1 female 60s, 2 males 60s, 2 females 70s, 1 male 70s, 3 females 80s, 2 males 80s, 2 females 90s, 2 males 90s
- DuPage County – 1 female 100+
- Kane County – 1 male 50s
- Lee County – 1 female 60s
- Madison County – 1 female 60s
- St. Clair County – 1 male 60s
Currently, IDPH is reporting a total of 137,224 cases, including 6,671 deaths, in 101 counties in Illinois. The age of cases ranges from younger than one to older than 100 years. Within the past 24 hours, laboratories have reported 18,219 specimens for a total of 1,379,003. The preliminary seven-day statewide positivity for cases as a percent of total test from June 15–June 21 is 2%.
Following guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, IDPH is now reporting both confirmed and probable cases and deaths on its website. Reporting probable cases will help show the potential burden of COVID-19 illness and efficacy of population-based non-pharmaceutical interventions. See CDC definition of a probable case on its website. IDPH will update these data once a week.
*All data are provisional and will change. In order to rapidly report COVID-19 information to the public, data are being reported in real-time. Information is constantly being entered into an electronic system and the number of cases and deaths can change as additional information is gathered. Information for deaths previously reported has changed, therefore, today’s numbers have been adjusted. For health questions about COVID-19, call the hotline at 1-800-889-3931 or email dph.sick@illinois.gov.
• The week ended June 15 was the second in a row when more Chicago-area homes went under contract than in the corresponding week a year ago. It was also the first time that more homes went under contract than the week ended March 16, the last week before the crisis took hold. Buyers put 4,846 homes under contract in the week ended June 15, an increase of nearly 39 percent from the same time a year ago.
• In the second week of June, the number of showings eclipsed the figure from early March by about 5 percent and was about 24 percent above showings at the same time in 2019.
• Open houses are back. Nearly 3,460 properties had open houses in the week ended June 15. That’s more than 10 times the weekly figures from mid-March through mid-April, when agents found themselves improvising ways to show open houses via FaceTime and other virtual technologies.
Homes sales in the Chicago metro area last month dropped by about 40 percent compared to May 2019, and home prices went flat, according to data just released by Illinois Realtors.
In the city proper, 1,666 homes sold in May, down nearly 44 percent from a year earlier. It’s the biggest year-over-year drop in the records of Illinois Realtors, which go back to January 2008. There’s only been one other month when home sales dropped by more than 40 percent: February 2009, in the depths of the recession following the 2008 financial meltdown. […]
The sales declines in both the city and the larger metro area were considerably larger than the nationwide figure. Home sales in May dropped by 26.6 percent across the U.S. from a year earlier, according to data released separately by the National Association of Realtors this morning. The median price of a home sold was up 2.3 percent from a year earlier. Illinois had stricter lockdown measures than in some other states.
Amazon is expanding in south suburban Chicago, with plans to open two fulfillment centers in Matteson and Markham that will employ a total of 2,000 people.
The two warehouses will be the newest additions to Amazon’s sprawling Chicago-area distribution network, which already encompasses 11 sorting and fulfillment centers, according to a statement from the company, Gov. J.B. Pritzker and Cook County President Toni Preckwinckle, who held a news conference this morning about the expansion.
The projects will add to the Seattle-based e-commerce giant’s workforce in Illinois, currently encompassing more than 11,000 people.
Heading into the official start of summer, Chicago’s tourism scene will be vastly different from years past.
There will be no major events like Lollapalooza, Chicago Pride Parade or Taste of Chicago. Skydeck Chicago, the observation deck on top of Willis Tower, is closed. So are the museums. Baseball has been canceled since March.
Already the Fourth of July weekend is shaping up to be a dud with the fireworks show at Navy Pier canceled. The event typically draws more than 100,000 people, according to Navy Pier spokesperson Payal Patel.
Without these and other events that draw millions of people to the city each year, the chances of Chicago’s tourism industry rebounding anytime soon will be slim, experts say.
But as Chicago moves forward with a phased reopening, industry insiders see a glimmer of hope. More visitors are coming from outside the state, and suburban residents are venturing downtown after weeks of being cooped up at home.
With the coronavirus shutdown top of mind and the state’s first online sportsbook in hand, Illinois bettors have turned to footy.
Overseas soccer matches drew 78% of the money wagered Thursday on BetRivers.com with the launch of legal, mobile sports betting in Illinois through Rivers Casino.
Representatives for the Des Plaines gambling house declined to share the inaugural handle or the overall number of bets placed. But beyond the soccer-happy handle percentage, they said about 60% of the Illinoisans who created accounts to plunk money down put at least some of their money on soccer.
Most of that money — 56% — was placed on La Liga Spanish football and Real Madrid’s winning matchup against Valencia.
A leading proponent of last year’s gambling expansion bill in Illinois said he is frustrated with delays in its implementation.
State Sen. Dave Syverson, R-Rockford, said officials from Rockford submitted that city’s proposal, with a casino to be operated by Hard Rock International, to the Illinois Gaming Board nine months ago.
“The gaming board is telling us they hope to have the license approved by October, which is 12 months from the time it was submitted,” Syverson said. “It is just ridiculous that it’s taking this long for a group just to review a simple application.”
Bartlett village trustee and Republican nominee for an Illinois House of Representatives seat Michael E. Camerer is being remembered for his service to the community.
Camerer died unexpectedly Thursday at age 61 of natural causes. He is survived by his wife of 34 years, Robin, sons Jonathan, Daniel and Matthew, his mother, Darielle, and brother Alan. […]
A chiropractor, Camerer opened Camerer Chiropractic in downtown Bartlett in 1990. Camerer also was an adjunct professor at Judson College in Elgin.
Camerer served in the Rotary Club and the Bartlett Chamber of Commerce. He volunteered with the Bartlett Veterans Memorial Foundation, Village Church of Bartlett and Boy Scouts of America Troop 227.
“He was one of the best people I’ve ever met in my life overall,” [Bartlett Village President Kevin Wallace] said. “It’s really a tough thing for the whole village.”
* Camerer won a three-way GOP primary (former Rep. Randy Ramey was one of the two who lost) for the right to take on Rep. Dianne Pappas (D-Itasca) in the fall. Here is Pappas’ statement…
I am deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Michael Camerer and my heart aches for his family and loved ones. Whenever we crossed paths Michael always went out of his way to show me kindness - a genuine compassion that is often rare in politics. His love for his community, his family, and his patients was undeniable. There is no doubt that the Bartlett community is better because of the legacy he leaves behind. My husband and I are sending our deepest condolences and prayers to Michael’s wife, Robin, and their children.
A St. Clair County woman has sued the consulting company behind the recent data breach in Illinois’ unemployment system. Now, a Southern Illinois lawmaker says there may be more lawsuits coming.
Rep. Terri Bryant (R-Murphysboro) hopes the case against Deloitte will shed light on issues within the Illinois Department of Employment Security. […]
The department alerted 32,483 claimants possibly affected “out of abundance of caution.” However, Bryant explains several people have called her office to report their private information was compromised.
“I want IDES to stop saying that it was only one person and start telling us the truth,” Bryant said. “Until that happens, I’m not going to believe one word that comes out of the mouth of any official at IDES no matter how good or honest that individual is.”
Bryant says someone must be covering up a larger data breach, because some people applying through the state’s normal unemployment system have seen their social security number stolen. Deloitte is facing lawsuits from people impacted by a similar data breach in Ohio.
The downstate Republican says Gov. JB Pritzker has to react as soon as possible. “I do think the governor has been insulated by many of the staff he has, but I’m not sure. I would like to think that they’re not telling him everything and that he’s maybe not understanding some of what’s going on in his own administration. I’d like to believe that,” Bryant exclaimed. “But then, the other part of me says you’re the CEO of the state. You should know what’s going on.”
* I asked the governor’s office for a response. Here’s Jordan Abudayyeh…
There is no evidence there has been a larger data breach at IDES and the department has publicly shared all information available to us on this breach. If the Representative has more information on a data breach she should share it with the proper authorities, but conspiracy theories serve absolutely no purpose.
The administration appreciates the lawmakers who voted for the FY21 budget to increase funding for IDES to hire more employees to do the incredibly important work they do. Unfortunately, Rep. Bryant wasn’t one of them. The Governor has given multiple public briefings on the work at IDES and is updated on progress at the agency multiple times a week. If the Representative would like to do more to help the people she serves, I respectfully suggest that she work to provide sufficient resources to state agencies that were hollowed out and hobbled under the last administration, with her support. Cheap shots in the press and baseless conspiracy theories are not a substitute for leadership.
I’m a farmer about four hours south of here and a first term representative. And as a farmer, when things don’t work right you have to take a look at everything, try to determine what the problem is. And sometimes you’ve got to listen to the advice and and take other people’s ideas into consideration. And Dr. Wilson about two weeks ago, he called me up and he drove four hours south to Lewisville Illinois and sat with several area representatives to talk and share his ideas to this problem, this crisis that we’re experiencing. I don’t know the answer. I don’t know that I completely agree with some of the solutions and ideas that I’ve heard.
But one thing I do know, the one thing that I’ve discovered with government is that people don’t listen very well. A lot of people want to strive with their ideas, a lot of people want to push their agendas. So we are here today to listen, to simply to listen to an idea, and consider and certainly pray for an outcome. I’m so honored that we can be here with the church today, it’s the church that’s going to make the difference in this state and in this country and I’m so honored, of all places, to be here.
Listening has never been Bailey’s strong suit, of course.
* By the way, I asked Dr. Wilson’s spokesperson for comment on this Bailey statement from the other day and never heard back…
Rep. Darren Bailey (R-Xenia) is questioning the Black Lives Matter movement based on that fact that a disproportional rate of pregnancies for black women end in abortion.
“If black lives matter, why are Illinois taxpayers funding the killing of unborn black babies?” asked Bailey, the first term 109th District representative and recent winner of a personal lawsuit against Gov J.B. Pritzker.
*** UPDATE *** I didn’t even think to check, but a commenter pointed out that Wilson contributed $3,000 each to Reps. Darren Bailey and Blaine Wilhour and House candidate Adam Niemerg (who’s running in Bailey’s district) this month.
Last week, the Illinois Supreme Court handed down their near unanimous decision in favor of the City of Chicago in a case against the Chicago Fraternal Order of Police. The FOP filed suit against the city for failing to destroy police disciplinary records after five years per their collective bargaining agreement. The Illinois Supreme Court ruled that requiring the destruction of police disciplinary records after five years violates public records law.
The decision is being heralded as a positive development in the wake of a growing police reform movement. There was only one member of the Supreme Court who disagreed - Justice Thomas Kilbride of the 5th Judicial Circuit. Both conservative justices from downstate (Garman, Karmeier) and liberal justices from Chicago (Burke, Neville, Theis) came together to recognize the illegality and bad faith nature of the FOP’s effort to protect cops with a history of disciplinary actions, but Kilbride stood alone in dissent (dissent here, starting on page 17).
Even more troubling than Justice Kilbride’s decision is the glaringly obvious motivation for him to be the lone dissenting vote. The Illinois Fraternal Order of Police was his saving grace during his 2010 retention campaign as he came under attack for his record on crime. The FOP and other police groups rushed to his defense and came through for Kilbride with an endorsement and major campaign support. Kilbride ran his retention campaign with a central theme as being a strong ally to law enforcement, even touting an award from the Illinois Crime Commission / Police Athletic League of Illinois and each of his ads painting Kilbride as “tough on crime.”
Kilbride’s decision to allow the destruction of police records after only 5 years is contrary to the police reform movement that Republicans and Democrats are embracing nationally, in which legislation would require law enforcement to retain records for longer periods of time. The just-released “Justice Act” authored by Sen. Tim Scott (R-SC) requires 30 year record-keeping.
Illinois Republican Party Chairman Tim Schneider pointed out the obvious, saying, “It’s clear why Justice Kilbride felt he needed to be the lone voice against positive police reform that conservatives, moderates and liberals all agree upon. Kilbride is up for a tough retention campaign and needs the support of the FOP and other law enforcement groups that bailed him out in 2010. Political calculations should have no place in the decision making process of our judiciary. Justice Kilbride should be ashamed.”
Kilbride will need 60 percent of the vote to be retained in November, so this is one way to prevent that from happening. The FOP leans heavily Republican, but you use what you got, in other words. So, the FOP goes under the bus.
I respectfully dissent from the majority. My disagreement with the majority has nothing to do with the records that are the subject of this appeal. I firmly believe that police misconduct must be rooted out, and I would vehemently oppose the indiscriminate destruction of police misconduct records. That is not what the arbitrator ordered in this case.
Rather, the arbitrator’s award merely directed the parties to meet and negotiate. The arbitrator did not order the destruction of any records. We do not know what agreement, if any, would have resulted from the parties meeting and negotiating. We do not know whether those negotiations would have resulted in an agreement for the future destruction of any records. We also do not know whether they would have resulted in an agreement that fully complied with the Local Records Act (50 ILCS 205/1 et seq. (West 2016)) and all other applicable laws. I believe the parties should be allowed to meet and negotiate in accordance with the arbitrator’s directive. This court could retain jurisdiction and remand for negotiations. After proceeding with negotiations, it would be warranted for this court to review the status of any agreement.
To repeat, the issue of police misconduct is a serious issue that must be confronted by society. This court was asked, however, to consider a fundamental principle of labor law, namely, the validity and enforcement of arbitration awards.
Residents of a southwestern Illinois community want a statue of the state’s third governor removed from a public plaza, arguing that he owned slaves and used his power to protect the practice.
Nearly 500 people have joined a Facebook group that supports petitioning the city of Edwardsville to tear down a Ninian Edwards statue and also rename a plaza with his moniker, according to The Edwardsville Intelligencer.
* For crying out loud, they’re not arguing that the statue be torn down…
1) Remove the statue of Ninian Edwards from the downtown Ninian Edwards Plaza.
2) Move the statue to a museum or less public city space, to be displayed alongside plaques which describe the harmful historical actions of Ninian Edwards against enslaved persons and Native Americans.
3) Rename Ninian Edwards Plaza or leave the plaza unnamed.
We are not advocating renaming Edwardsville. Our desire is to change this public honoring of Ninian Edwards, not to change the city’s name.
Even by the standards of his time (early 1800s), Ninian Edwards was a racist and immoral man. We know that it was not the intention of the City to honor Edwards’ harmful actions when they raised his statue and named the plaza after him. Nevertheless, such a public display of Edwards’ statue and name creates the impression of approval.
Edwards owned slaves his entire adult life. When he moved to the then-Illinois Territory, he should have been forced to free the slaves he brought with him under federal law. But Edwards did not, and in the process, helped establish slavery in Illinois, a place that was supposed to be free by federal law. Additionally, as territorial governor, Edwards vetoed a bill that would have officially abolished slavery in Illinois. Because of this, slavery persisted in Illinois until 1848, more than thirty years after Edwards chose not to stop it.
Ninian Edwards also committed harmful acts against Illinois’ Native American population during the War of 1812, massacring dozens of tribespeople who were in fact United States allies living peacefully on their own land.
For these reasons, we urge the City Council to move Ninian Edwards’ statue to a museum or community space where better information can be provided about his harmful actions, and to rename Ninian Edwards Plaza.
* And it’s not like Illinois is an impenetrable island, either…
Here you can see when a country bent the curve. • The chart is plotting the rate of daily new confirmed cases against the cumulative case rate on the x-axis. • The line color in our chart shows how well a country is testing.
As of Saturday, 83% of current inpatient beds and 85% of ICU beds were in use for COVID-19 and other patients.
We all need to learn from each other. Come Friday, when Illinois enters Phase 4, our positivity rate will almost undoubtedly increase. So, people need to be careful and use some common sense. Texas is also experiencing an increase in its positivity rate, but its hospitals appear not to be in any danger of being overrun at the moment.
*** UPDATE *** Excerpt from a new Gov. Pritzker press release
Phase 4 of the Restore Illinois plan creates safety guidelines for the following permitted activities and businesses to resume, with capacity rules in place:
• Meetings and events: Venues and meeting spaces can resume with the lesser of up to 50 people OR 50% of overall room capacity. Multiple groups are permitted given facilities have space to appropriately social distance and can limit interaction between groups. This includes activities such as conferences and weddings.
• Indoor and Outdoor recreation: Revised guidelines to allow select indoor recreation facilities (e.g., bowling alleys, skating rinks), as well as clubhouses to reopen. Indoor recreation to operate at lesser of 50 customers OR 50% of facility capacity with outdoor recreation allowing group sizes of up to 50, and permitting multiple groups given facilities have space to appropriately social distance and can limit interaction between groups; concessions permitted with restrictions.
• Indoor Dining: Indoor dining can reopen with groups of 10 or less, with tables spaced 6-feet apart in seated areas and with standing areas at no more than 25% of capacity.
• Museums: Can reopen with no more than 25% occupancy, and with interactive exhibits and rides closed; guided tours should be limited to 50 people or fewer per group; museums should have a plan to limit congregation via advance ticket sales and timed ticketing; concessions permitted with restrictions.
• Zoos: Can reopen with no more than 25% occupancy, and with interactive exhibits, indoor exhibits, and rides closed; guided tours should be limited to 50 people or fewer per group; zoos should have a plan to limit congregation via advance ticket sales and timed ticketing; concessions permitted with restrictions.
• Cinema and Theatre: Indoor seated theaters, cinemas, and performing arts centers to allow admission of the lesser of up to 50 guests OR 50% of overall theater or performance space capacity (applies to each screening room); outdoor capacity limited to 20% of overall theater or performance space capacity; concessions permitted with restrictions.
• Outdoor seated spectator events: Outdoor spectator sports can resume with no more than 20% of seating capacity; concessions permitted with restrictions.
• Film production: Allow no more than 50% of sound stage or filming location capacity; crowd scenes should be limited to 50 people or fewer.
Industries with revised guidelines in Phase 4:
• Youth and Recreational Sports: Revised guidelines allow competitive gameplay and tournaments; youth and recreational sports venues can operate at 50% of facility capacity, 20% seating capacity for spectators, and group sizes up to 50 with multiple groups permitted during practice and competitive games given venues have space to appropriately social distance and can limit interaction between groups; concessions permitted with restrictions.
• Health and fitness centers: Revised guidelines allow gyms to open at 50% capacity and allow group fitness classes of up to 50 people with new safety guidelines for indoors, with multiple groups permitted given facilities have space to appropriately social distance and can limit interaction between groups.
• Day camps: Water-based activities permitted in accordance with IDPH guidelines; no more than 50% of facility capacity with group size of no more than 15 participants in a group, unless participants changing weekly.
Additionally, retail, service counters, offices, personal care (including salons, barber, nail salons), manufacturing and other industries allowed to reopen in Phase 3 will continue to operate at a reduced capacity.
To help businesses prepare to reopen and remain in compliance with new guidelines over the next two weeks, DCEO has released a new set of downloadable materials. Business toolkits are complete with signage, training checklists and other resources to help business owners and workers implement safety procedures and adhere to the latest capacity restrictions. Materials for businesses and operators pertaining to Phases 3 and 4 of the Restore Plan, can be found atIllinois.gov/businessguidelines.
During Phase 4, common public health standards remain in effect – including the use of face coverings and social distancing. Industry-specific guidelines may vary but are designed to help employers, workers and residents feel safe in transitioning to the next phase of reopening the state. All industries should continue to conduct regular cleanings, employee health screenings upon entry and mid-shift, and allow employees who can continue working from home to do so.
The state’s move to Phase 4 of the plan is expected to bring approximately 400,000 additional Illinoisans back to the workplace across all industries. While Phase 4 marks the return of 7 percent of the state’s workforce, it accounts for about $30 billion in annual GDP returned to operations and represents continuous progress towards fully reopening the state’s economy.
* Related…
* Racing returning to Arlington - The Illinois Racing Board clears the way for racing and betting, but no spectators, next month.
As Illinois slowly begins the reopening process, some state legislators have decided to start hosting in-person fundraisers.
For the past few months, most legislative incumbents and challengers have abandoned fundraising. The global pandemic, accompanied by an international economic crash, made the idea of raising campaign money seem crass, inappropriate and even dangerous.
Eventually, some folks began hosting online fundraisers. It’s an election year, after all, and elections cost money. So, for a price, contributors could pay for a password to attend Zoom events and support their candidates of choice.
Several candidates also began dialing for dollars. But April was not a good month for campaigns. $2.87 million in A-1 reports (contributions of $1,000 or over) were filed in April. That’s about a third of the $7.7 million reported in April of 2016, a similar election cycle.
Just $3.6 million in A-1 contributions were reported this May, which is about a fifth of the $15.5 million reported in May of 2016.
June’s A-1s were showing $1.8 million on June 18, which is well below the $8.2 million reported during the same period four years ago.
If all goes well, the governor’s reopening plan will allow for gatherings of up to 50 people (far more than the current 10) starting June 26, and some politicos are taking advantage.
Rep. Lisa Hernandez (D-Cicero) hosts an annual golf outing to mark her birthday. This year’s fundraiser is tentatively scheduled for July 28 at Gleneagles Country Club in Lemont. Tickets range from $750 for a foursome to $5,000 for a “platinum sponsorship.”
“We’re not doing anything inside,” Rep. Hernandez told me. She said she usually has a dinner during what had been an all-day event, but not this year. She’ll still have a margarita tent set up at the 9th hole and food will be available, but nothing inside.
The Pritzker administration released detailed Phase 3 golfing guidelines in late May, which, among other things, permitted foursomes and restricted golf carts to just one person unless riders were from the same household. Phase 4 golfing guidelines had not yet been issued when I spoke with Hernandez, and she said she’ll need to wait until that happens before she can finalize her preparations.
Rep. Hernandez will not be the first legislator to hold an in-person fundraising event since the crisis began.
I checked around and it looks like Rep. Ryan Spain (R-Peoria) might be the first to try to go back to in-person fundraising. Rep. Spain’s golf outing is scheduled for July 13, according to the House Republican Organization.
Senate Republican Leader Bill Brady has a Springfield fundraiser scheduled two days later at a popular local beer garden.
“All CDC social distancing guidelines will be strictly followed,” reads the Brady event invite. Tickets, ranging in price from $250 to $10,000, will therefore be limited, the invite notes.
Rep. Mike Halpin (D-Rock Island) has a golf outing on July 30. Democratic Sens. Dave Koehler and Tony Munoz are holding August events. Republican Sens. Jason Barickman, Don Dewitte and Sue Rezin are also holding August events. Several other folks are likely to schedule events in August and September, numerous sources say.
But will people show up? Rep. Hernandez, for one, says she’s not worried if people decide not to come. “If it’s a small group, it’s small,” she said. “It’s OK.” Hernandez has no general election opponent. Money is tight, so her event may well be on the small side.
Outdoor events like the one Hernandez is planning are undoubtedly much safer than indoor events. And wearing masks really does work to halt the spread of COVID-19. Hospitalizations are a two-to-three week lagging indicator, and three weeks after the massive civil rights protests began, Illinois hospitalizations were actually declining. That’s probably because most protesters wore face coverings.
But make no mistake, there is real risk here, albeit relatively small for outdoor gatherings. If somebody catches the virus at a campaign fundraiser, the unlucky candidate is gonna be in for some absolutely horrible publicity.
The state has pushed the virus curve down so low that the risks of overrunning our hospitals with sick patients are no longer immediately dire. So, go for it if you want.
Just please be careful out there. You cannot possibly raise enough money to overcome the negative publicity of spreading the virus (and possibly killing people) at your event. Strictly police your fundraiser to make sure you don’t wind up a casualty yourself, physically and/or politically. It just ain’t worth it.
Since I wrote that, the Senate GOP updated their website to add Senate candidate Rep. Terri Bryant’s July 9 fundraiser. So, she could be the first.
* Have a wonderful, joyful and healthy Fathers’ Day! My dad turned me on to the Stones way back in the day. I found Bob Dylan on my own. From a recent NY Times interview of Mr. Zimmerman…
A reference to the Rolling Stones makes it into “I Contain Multitudes.” Just as a lark, which Stones songs do you wish you could’ve written?
Oh, I don’t know, maybe “Angie,” “Ventilator Blues” and what else, let me see. Oh yeah, “Wild Horses.”
The Illinois Fraternal Order of Police (FOP) State Lodge and Labor Council have issued the following statements after police officers in Atlanta, Georgia began walking off the job when an officer was charged with murder in the death of a suspect who fought with police:
“The politicians who have once again caved in to the loudest, most divisive voices in our society may soon realize their vision of a nation without police officers, and that is a horrific vision of uncontrolled violence and mayhem,” said FOP State Lodge President Chris Southwood. “When people are dying and businesses are burning in the very neighborhoods they claim to represent, will those politicians wade into the danger and protect those vulnerable citizens? I think we know the answer to that question.”
“While the union would never endorse or condone any work stoppage, you have to ask this question – what profession is there on earth, other than the U.S. military and intelligence services, where you now face the death penalty for doing your job as you were trained, a job for which you risk your life protecting others?” said FOP Labor Council Executive Director Shawn Roselieb. “Who are you going to call when citizens are being bloodied and burned out by the lawless mobs that are emboldened by this disgusting political charade?”
The Fraternal Order of Police, founded in 1915, is the largest organization of sworn law enforcement officers in the United States. With a proud tradition of officers representing officers, the FOP is the most respected and most recognized police organization in the country. The Illinois FOP State Lodge, chartered in 1963, is the second largest State Lodge, proudly representing more than 34,000 active duty and retired police officers - more than 10 percent of all FOP members nationwide. Visit www.ilfop.org for more information.
The Illinois Fraternal Order of Police Labor Council is a law enforcement union representing more than 12,000 professionals in more than 517 bargaining units who work in the criminal justice system. The Labor Council negotiates and enforces contracts and improves salaries, working conditions, and benefits for law enforcement professionals throughout Illinois. Its members include police officers who work for municipalities, universities, and elected Constitutional officials; county sheriff’s deputies, correctional and court security officers; probation officers; 911 telecommunicators; law enforcement records personnel; and some related support staff. Visit www.fop.org for more information.
* The Question: Do you agree or disagree with the sentiment expressed above? Explain.
The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) today announced 692 new confirmed cases of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in Illinois, including 44 additional confirmed deaths.
Currently, IDPH is reporting a total of 135,470 cases, including 6,580 deaths, in 101 counties in Illinois. The age of cases ranges from younger than one to older than 100 years. Within the past 24 hours, laboratories have reported 27,171 specimens for a total of 1,311,003. The preliminary seven-day statewide positivity for cases as a percent of total test from June 12–June 18 is 3%.
Following guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, IDPH is now reporting both confirmed and probable cases and deaths on its website. Reporting probable cases will help show the potential burden of COVID-19 illness and efficacy of population-based non-pharmaceutical interventions. See CDC definition of a probable case on its website. IDPH will update these data once a week.
*All data are provisional and will change. In order to rapidly report COVID-19 information to the public, data are being reported in real-time. Information is constantly being entered into an electronic system and the number of cases and deaths can change as additional information is gathered. Information for a death previously reported has changed, therefore, today’s numbers have been adjusted.
Hospitalization numbers continue to improve. Don’t mess it up by listening to the crackpots. Wear a mask in public when you can’t social distance and wash your hands.
* First she declared that indoor restaurant dining couldn’t return until July 1, then she complained about the governor not allowing indoor dining until June 26th, and now…
Chicago restaurants can open for indoor dining with the rest of the state starting June 26, Mayor Lori Lightfoot announced Friday, an about-face from her plan to allow them to reopen July 1. […]
Restaurants will be restricted to 25% capacity, with a maximum of 50 people per room or floor, and tables must be at least 6 feet apart, with 10 people or fewer per table.
On Friday, the governor’s office said they “are pleased to see that the Mayor has aligned the timing of the city’s plan with the state’s plan, allowing restaurants in Chicago to open indoor dining a week from today.”
According to an email obtained by the Sun-Times, the Illinois Restaurant Association has been pushing for 50% occupancy for indoor restaurants, and the state’s safety guidance is likely to include that rate. That would also include gatherings of less than 50 people with social distancing and other safety provisions.
* Being outside and mostly wearing masks appears to have avoided a problem…
The first protests against George Floyd’s killing in Minneapolis began on May 26, the day after a police officer knelt on his neck for nearly nine minutes and killed the 46-year-old. By the next night, protesters were filling the streets in cities across the country despite concerns over the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.
As the protests went on, worries over a spike in the coronavirus grew. Last week, members of the Trump administration’s coronavirus task force warned governors of a protest-related increase in cases. Dr. Deborah Birx, the task force’s coordinator, said on a call last week that yelling from protesters could present a particular problem and potentially cancel the positive benefits of wearing masks.
But given the virus’s incubation period, it was always going to take time to find out if the protests would lead to a spike in cases. That time has come, and three weeks after the protests began, cities across the country where some of the biggest demonstrations took place are reporting no surge in COVID-19 cases.
Northwestern University researchers have discovered Chicago has a unique COVID-19 virus strain that appears to be directly linked from the early outbreak in China, the university said in a news release Thursday.
Another variant discovered in Chicago COVID-19 patients, which happens to be the predominant variant worldwide, and in the U.S. is centered in New York, generates more of the virus in the upper airways than the Chicago version. […]
“These differences might help us understand where a vaccine might be most effective, because they show where these proteins are under selective pressure,” [Dr. Egon Ozer, an assistant professor in infectious diseases at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine and a Northwestern Medicine physician] said. “That could indicate where you might get the most bang for your buck in the potential vaccine.”
Ozer said that because Chicago is a transportation hub, the city is a melting pot for different variants of the virus.
Illinois is now set to enter the next phase of the governor’s reopening plan as early as next week, which includes allowing even more businesses to open their doors.
Illinois lawmakers have now created a new working group to help with the process.
Lawmakers created the Restore Illinois Collaborative Commission during this year’s special session. Gov. JB Pritzker signed it into law last week.
Their goal is to give Pritzker guidance on reopening the state’s economy.
Illinois has closed the driver’s license facility on Golf Road in Schaumburg. Officials said it’s because an employee tested positive for COVID-19.
The Secretary of State’s Office said the Illinois Department of Public Health has been consulted and that the public is not directly impacted. Employees who work at the facility are quarantining for 14 days.
…Adding… I meant to post this Greg Hinz piece and forgot…
Government leaders and industry officials haven’t been the only ones at the table as the city and state this spring have rolled out a mass of often highly controversial rules as to which businesses can reopen when amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
In a little-noticed development, consultants from Boston Consulting Group and Bain, working through a Chicago civic organization, have effectively staffed working groups that draft proposed rules and submit them to Gov. J.B. Pritzker and Mayor Lori Lightfoot for final approval.
Those rules cover everything from when inside dining will be allowed to how many people can shop at a store, when movie theaters might reopen and how late in the evening drinks-to-go should be allowed.
The pro bono work is defended as proper and a good deal for taxpayers by the two key officials involved—Deputy Gov. Dan Hynes and Deputy Mayor Samir Mayekar. The Civic Consulting Alliance, a business-backed government aid group, has provided such help for years, and is particularly of use now with government officials all but overwhelmed, they say.
A federal appeals court ruled Friday that Cook County Sheriff Tom Dart does not have to comply — at least for now — with a portion of a preliminary injunction precluding group housing or double-celling at the county jail due to the ongoing COVID-19 crisis.
Eager to head back to the lakefront? A rising Lake Michigan — near the historic high water mark — awaits.
CTA and Pace buses will begin collecting fares again, as riders slowly return to public transit
Four Illinois governors owned slaves: Shadrach Bond, the first Illinois governor (1818-1822) had two women indentured to him in 1807, Hannah and Prudence Hansberry, both aged 16. According to the 1820 census, Bond owned 14 slaves. When he died in 1832, he bequeathed 9 slaves to his wife and daughters.
Illinois’ second governor, Edward Coles (1822-1826), inherited 20 slaves from his father prior to living in Illinois. To the shock of family, Coles freed his slaves, came West, and eventually bought 6,000 acres near Edwardsville, hiring some of his freed slaves to work his farm. In Coles’ inaugural address, he asked for the abolishment of the indenture system and black codes; called for the kidnapping of freed blacks to stop; and supported emancipation for descendants of slaves brought to Illinois during the French period. His speech openly accused lllinoisans of practicing a system of slavery that many refused to admit. Two years later, the Illinois legislature had an anti-slavery majority, but little changed.
Illinois’ third governor, Ninian Edwards (1826-1830), bought and sold indentured servants, rented them out for forced labor, and did not free his slaves, who worked on his Kentucky plantation. In fact, in an 1832 register of Blacks, Edwards lists his slave, Charles, as “my property.”
Illinois’ fourth governor, John Reynolds (1830-1834), owned seven slaves and emancipated them over a period of 20 years.
The last emancipation documented in the Archives’ Illinois Servitude Index did not occur until 1863, when Marva Reed was legally freed from Aaron Shook in St. Clair County. That same year the Illinois legislature proposed a resolution objecting to Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation, but then-Governor Richard Yates dismissed the General Assembly before such resolutions could be enacted. It wasn’t until 1865 that Illinois and the rest of the country ratified the Thirteenth Amendment, which outlawed slavery in the nation.
Illinois is what I would call a quasi-slave state. And what’s surprising to people is that it existed here within the law. It begins with the colonial slave laws that came from France (because Illinois was a French territory). And so slavery, at least the enslavement of Africans and then later African American people, started in the French settlements, at least as early as 1720, maybe even before that. And then the Northwest Ordinance (an act that provided a path for much of the Great Lakes region to be admitted to the Union) stated that there shall be neither slavery nor indentured servitude, nor involuntary servitude, except as the punishment of crime. And so people seem to think, “Well, that does it for slavery.” But people still brought slaves in, in violation of the law.
But then as early as 1803, a loophole was created that [essentially] said: “Bring your slaves to Illinois. It’s fine. Just go through the formality of an indenture contract.” Some contracts were for 99 years.
But most indentured people really weren’t given a choice. If your master, or someone who’s claimed to be your master, or has told you they were your master for, you know, 20, 30, 40 years, tells you to put your mark [signature] on a paper that says you’re willing to continue as my indentured servant, it’s not likely that someone would refuse. […]
(W)hat really surprised me as I began researching slavery in Illinois was there weren’t the big cotton plantations, but at the same time there was slavery. And so our image of slavery is not necessarily wrong, but it’s a lot more complicated. It’s a lot broader. I think that what we tend to do oftentimes is think of slavery and racism as something they have down South and kind of with a judgmental attitude: “You know, we’re not like that [in Illinois]. We don’t have slavery here. We didn’t have slaves.” Actually, we did. It was just a different form that was adapted to meet the needs that we had for enslaved people. […]
Here in Union County, although it’s not officially documented, when our first log cabin courthouse was built on the square in Jonesboro, the person that received the contract to build that log cabin was a slaveholder named Thomas Cox. He would have sent enslaved people to work, cutting the trees and building the cabin. Slaves can work in cornfields just as well as they can work in cotton fields. […]
1848 was the year that the [state] Constitution was passed in Illinois. That was truly our first “free” constitution. The 1818 Constitution was called a “free” constitution, but it allowed indentured servitude. The 1848 Constitution ended that and made Illinois a free state that did not permit slavery.
But then in 1853, the state legislature passed a law which made the settlement of African Americans in Illinois a crime. If African Americans remained in Illinois beyond 10 days, they could be arrested and fined. If they couldn’t pay the fines, they were to be auctioned off. It only lasted five years that we were truly a free state. […]
In the 1820s, Illinois had a state law that said all white men are required to stop any black person and have them prove that they were free. I can remember a woman asking me once if I thought this was the beginning of policing of black communities, and I never really saw the connection before she mentioned that. But every white man was required to do it. If people could not prove their freedom documentation, they were placed under arrest — basically a citizen’s arrest — taken to a justice of the peace, put on trial, advertised in the newspapers as a runaway, and then the white person would receive a reward.
in 1853, under the leadership of southern Illinois Democrat John A. Logan, the General Assembly adopted the draconian “Black Law” of 1853. For the most part, the law simply brought together in one place several existing laws. Under this law, no black from another state could remain within the Illinois borders for more than ten days. Beyond ten days and he or she was subject to arrest, confinement in jail, and a $50 fine and removal from the state. If unable to pay the fine, the law directed the sheriff to auction the offending African-American to the bidder willing to pay the costs and the tine and to work the “guilty” party the fewest number of days. If the convicted man or woman did not leave within ten days after completing the required service, the process resumed, but the fine was increased $50 for each additional infraction. Although most newspapers opposed the measure, there is but little doubt that it reflected the views of much of the state’s population.
For the next twelve years, Illinois African-Americans labored under one of the harshest laws in the nation. […]
The Illinois Black Laws continued in force until the end of the Civil War. Indeed, in the midst of the Civil War, Illinois held a constitutional convention and a new constitution was submitted to the people of the state for ratification. One of the most remarkable features of that document were three provisions that wrote the Black Laws into the proposed constitution. Although Illinois voters rejected the constitution, they overwhelmingly approved the anti-black provisions. Eventually, however, with prodding from John Jones and the logic propelled by the results of the Civil War, the Illinois General Assembly repealed the Black Laws in early 1865. The repeal, however, did not confer suffrage or civil rights on the state’s African-Americans; they had to await the Fourteenth and Fifteenth Amendments to the U.S. Constitution and the Illinois Civil Rights Act of 1885.
In 1819, the Gallatin County salines at Equality, using over 1,000 slaves, produced nearly 300,000 bushels of salt. The Great Half Moon salt lick was one of the largest in the United States and covered about 13 acres. This was a crescent-shaped depression in the earth that was caused by numerous animals over the years coming to the spot and licking away at the earth to gain access to the salt it contained.
Landowner and illegal slave trader John Hart Crenshaw leased the state-owned salt works located at the Illinois Salines, two saline springs along the Saline River near Equality that were important sources of salt since prehistory. Salt was vital to the early American frontier economy, both as a nutrient and as a means to preserve food. Illinois was a free state, and the Illinois State Constitution bans slavery. However, the law permitted the use of slaves at the salt works since the labor was so arduous that no free men could be found to do it. As the lessee of the salt works, Crenshaw was one of a small minority of Illinois residents legally entitled to keep slaves, and Crenshaw became remarkably wealthy. At one point, Crenshaw’s taxes amounted to one-seventh of the revenue of the entire state.
The slave-mined salt works were, at one time, the state government’s largest revenue source.
Crenshaw was widely believed to be involved in the kidnapping and sale of free black citizens in free states as slaves in the south, an enormously profitable trade later known as the Reverse Underground Railroad. Crenshaw was twice prosecuted for kidnapping, but never convicted.
Long-Term Care Facilities (LTCF) may allow outdoor visitation for residents when certain conditions are met. Visitations must be limited to two visitors at a time per resident. The maximum number of residents and visitors in the outdoors space at one time is predicated on the size of the outdoor space. The LTCF must ensure that a minimum distancing of six feet is achievable in the outdoor space when determining the maximum number of residents and visitors who can simultaneously occupy that outdoor space. The LTCF must clearly communicate and enforce social distancing of six feet between the resident and all visitors. The facility must set the maximum number of visitors allowed in a single day.
Visitors must schedule an appointment with the facility to visit a resident. The LTCF must prescreen visitors via phone with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) symptom checklist not more than 24 hours in advance. The facility must also screen visitors on arrival with the CDC symptom checklist and a temperature check. Residents with active COVID-19 infection, either laboratory confirmed or symptomatic, are not allowed to participate in outdoor visits. Residents receiving visitors should also be screened with the CDC symptom checklist prior to visitor’s arrival. Visitors displaying symptoms should not visit the facility.
Visits must be limited to outdoor areas only. However, they may take place under a canopy or tent without walls. Outdoor spaces must have separate ingress and egress which does not require the visitor to enter the LTCF building. Visitors must not enter the facility at any time during their visit. For the duration of each visit, the resident and visitor must wear a face covering. The facility may set the time duration of each visit.
The facility should have staff supervision during each visit to ensure the use of face coverings and social distancing. The facility may determine whether supervision is continuous or intermittent.
Four of the five new cases of COVID-19 reported in Piatt County this week have been tentatively tied to a gathering held at an assisted living facility in Savoy.
“We looked at it again, and our (health department) contact tracing person found that four of five were associated with a birthday party at an assisted living facility in Savoy,” said DeWitt/Piatt Bi-County Health Department Administrator David Remmert.
And while he understands the strain of not being able to see loved ones during the current pandemic, he added, “I don’t know why an assisted living facility would have outside people come into the facility.”
First time I’ve agreed with Remmert.
*** UPDATE *** Health Care Council of Illinois…
Guidance on open-air visitations at long term care facilities was released yesterday by Governor J.B. Pritzker’s office and the Illinois Department of Public Health. Long-awaited reunions for nursing home residents and their loved ones may begin once facilities assess their current status and implement the requirements determined by the state, according to the Health Care Council of Illinois (HCCI), a non-profit member association representing more than 300 licensed skilled nursing facilities.
“This is a positive step in the recovery process for nursing homes. After many months of virtual contact with their spouses, children and other loved ones, we know our residents will have many joyful reunions in the days ahead,” said Pat Comstock, Director of COVID Response for HCCI.
Under the Illinois Department of Public Health’s current COVID-19 regulations, all nursing homes must create a written plan prior to any visitation at their facility. Families will be able to see their loved ones by appointment in a supervised outdoor setting that ensures a minimum distance of six feet between residents and visitors, with one or two visitors per resident at a time or as determined by the nursing home. The number of visits allowed per day and the duration of the visit will be determined on an individual basis by each facility based on occupancy and space availability.
Visitors will be prescreened via phone with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) symptom checklist no more than 24 hours in advance of their visit, as well as undergo an additional screening and temperature check upon arrival at the facility. Residents receiving visitors should also be screened with the CDC symptom checklist prior to visitor’s arrival.
“We understand that families are eager to see their loved ones after months apart, and our members are working tirelessly to create a framework for visitation that keeps their residents, staff and families safe,” said Comstock. “Our members have taken positive steps toward recovery status in the past several weeks, and we cannot afford to compromise this progress and the health of our most vulnerable population.”
Visits must be supervised by staff and follow the strict infection control procedures already in place, including requiring face coverings at all times and prohibiting visitors inside the facility. Visits will be allowed only for residents without a current case of COVID-19. Full visitation guidelines can be found of the IDPH website.
* Restore Justice took a look at Illinois’ early release program during the pandemic…
As the global COVID-19 pandemic caused Illinois to shut down, Governor JB Pritzker acknowledged the dangers of our state’s over-crowded prison system. He encouraged Illinois Department of Corrections (IDOC) facilities to release incarcerated people in an effort to slow the spread of the virus.
Analysis of prison population and release datasets shows IDOC is not actually releasing many people early, and, of those released, there are startling racial inequities. […]
While 54 percent of the people incarcerated in the Illinois Department of Corrections (IDOC) are Black, only 46 percent of those released early are Black. White people comprise just 32 percent of the Illinois prison population but 43 percent of early releases.
White people released early had 80 days cut from their sentences, based on the median. Latino people released early had 60.5 days, and Black people had 49 days.
Latino people account for 13 percent of the IDOC population and 10 percent of those released early. Non-Latino and Non-Black people of color make up one percent of releases.
Just 31 percent of those released early through [Earned Discretionary Sentence Credits] are Black. That discrepancy grows when looking at people who had substantial time, more than three months, cut from their sentences. […]
Between March 1 and June 4, 74 percent of the people released early were convicted of Class 4, 3, and 2 felonies. One possible explanation for this is that some research indicates that Black people are often overcharged and over-sentenced, which makes consideration of “low-level offenders” a de facto review of predominantly white people in prison.
* I asked the governor’s office for a response. Pritzker press secretary Jordan Abudayyeh essentially agreed with the group’s analysis about the possible cause of the racial imbalance…
As this report and many others before it proves, the criminal justice system results in inequitable outcomes for black and brown people. That’s why the Governor supports comprehensive criminal justice reform. The Department of Corrections has used the powers given to the director under statute to grant early release to inmates at the end of their sentences. We know that black and brown people disproportionately face longer sentences and we will work to address this issue as we move forward with advocates on criminal justice reform.
What is less certain — but should not be — is that union contracts for public employees will have to be reopened to reduce costs. Every possible solution to the current crisis must be on the table, including a reconsideration of a host of contract provisions.
Union should take the lead
It is, as we see it, wholly in the interest of the unions to join in this effort. The finances of the state and city were unsustainable even before the pandemic. Now they are close to collapsing, threatening the very existence of those good union jobs and pensions.
By joining in this effort, the unions would be in a position to shape negotiations in ways that work best for their members. They might reasonably insist, for example, that a big portion of any savings from contract changes be put toward paying down pension obligations.
And while we’ve heard the argument that reworking union contracts wouldn’t make a dent in the financial problems of the state and the city, we’re not so sure. Let’s see how scalpel-like revisions in dozens of contracts add up.
The editorial board then goes on to make suggestions for over $100 million in cuts for the city, plus doing away with all state and local government pay raises for a year.
* Chicago Federation of Labor President Bob Reiter responded…
The Sun-Times is just as wrong in its divisive attempt to frame the issue as “union versus non-union” We need to come together to combat COVID-19, not be pitted against one another. And workers need a strong voice through their unions now, when workplace health and safety is literally a matter of life and death.
Instead of standing up for working people at this crucial moment, the Sun-Times board presents this crisis as an opportunity for employers to unilaterally reopen contracts and impose changes. This could set a dangerous precedent that may erode workers’ rights in countless ways, even after the pandemic passes.
The labor movement, especially public sector unions, have worked closely with the city, county, and state for years to recommend and implement cost-saving measures. We will continue to find ways to provide the services the public needs as efficiently as possible.
But this isn’t the time for cuts that prolong the crisis and degrade the services we all depend on. Instead, let’s work together to ensure passage of the HEROES Act, and take the necessary steps to protect and strengthen our city, county, and state for the long term.
According to a Crusader analysis, the positivity rate remains under 10 percent in 16 [Chicago] zip codes of predominately Black neighborhoods, or communities with large Black populations. In eight of those zip codes, the positivity rate is less than five percent; another eight zip codes have a positivity rate between five and 10 percent.
However, in four zip codes, the percentage of new cases remain above 10 percent. They include South Shore, Roseland/West Pullman, South and North Lawndale and South Deering.
As businesses reopen across the city and state and COVID-19 infection rates have slowed, new cases in Illinois’ Latino communities have continued to climb. In fact, the total number of infections among Latino residents in Illinois is on track to comprise half of all COVID-19 cases in the state, according to the Latino Policy Forum.
To date, more than 44,000 cases labeled “Hispanic” on the Illinois Department of Public Health dashboard account for about 33% of all cases of the virus in Illinois. Hispanics and Latinos represent about 17% of the state’s population. In Chicago, Latinos represent about 29% of the population, but account for 44% of cases per the city’s data portal.
Now, as Latino communities scramble to understand why the coronavirus has hit them so hard, they’re calling upon elected officials to do more to help reverse the trend of rising infection rates.
And there is concern that the often-incomplete racial and ethnicity data being used to track these cases is masking even greater numbers of Latino cases of infection.
According to IDPH data, as of June 18, cases in which ethnicity data was “left blank” account for more than 31,000, or about 23%, of all confirmed cases in Illinois.
Illinois regained 62,200 jobs from mid-April to mid-May, but they were unevenly distributed and minority workers were suffering the most.
White workers during that time recovered 13% of the jobs lost, but black workers recovered only 2% and Hispanic workers only 1%, according to data released June 18 by the Illinois Department of Employment Security in conjunction with the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The rebound has been similar for male and female workers.
Dr. Ngozi Ezike didn’t let her kids see their friends until this week.
And that was a carefully supervised backyard get-together — with masks.
She’s all for outdoor dining with the safety guidance she helped craft. And she got a manicure behind plexiglass from a woman who has done her nails for 15 years.
But handshakes?
“Not now. Between a year and never again,” the head of the Illinois Department of Public Health told the Sun-Times in a wide-ranging interview about her personal do’s and don’ts as she helps Illinois navigate through the pandemic. […]
She’s OK with outdoor restaurants, with guidance she helped to craft. But she said she’d wait at least three months to feel safe in any indoor restaurants.
It started late Saturday night with sweating, shivering, teeth-chattering and feet that felt like they were on fire. That was followed by a cough that wouldn’t quit and a sore throat Kwame Raoul described as “out of this world.”
Raoul, Illinois attorney general, said Thursday he’s now “stuck in solitary confinement in my bedroom” as the highest-ranking Illinois politician known to have tested positive for the coronavirus.
He’s feeling “a little bit better” since he was tested late Monday. The results came Tuesday morning. His fever, which spiked at 101.4 degrees, has come down. But after a “meeting or two” on Zoom, he feels “exhausted afterwards, as if I played a football game.”
“I tire very easily. But overall, I have not had any breathing difficulties, which is a plus because I’ve heard of others having such breathing difficulties. Just feeling beat down, though,” he said. […]
The attorney general said he has no idea where he might have contracted the virus. He noted having “stopped by to support a couple of restaurants” in recent weeks. But, he refused to identify them for fear of discouraging sorely-needed business at a time when restaurants are fighting for survival and have reopened to outdoor dining.
The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) today announced 593 new confirmed cases of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in Illinois, including 55 additional confirmed deaths.
- Cook County: 1 female 20s, 1 male 30s, 2 males 40s, 1 female 50s, 3 females 50s, 2 males 60s, 3 females 70s, 2 males 70s, 6 females 80s, 4 males 80s, 3 females 90s, 1 male 90s, 1 unknown 90s, 1 female 100+
- DeKalb County; 1 male 50s, 1 female 70s
- DuPage County: 1 male 60s, 1 female 70s, 1 male 70s, 1 female 80s, 1 male 80s, 2 females 90s, 1 male 90s
- Grundy County: 1 male 90s
- Kane County: 1 female 50s, 1 male 50s, 2 females 80s, 2 females 90s
- Kankakee County: 1 female 90s
- Lake County: 1 female 70s, 2 males 80s
- McHenry County: 1 male 50s
- St. Clair County: 1 male 70s
- Will County: 1 female 60s
Currently, IDPH is reporting a total of 134,778 cases, including 6,537 deaths, in 101 counties in Illinois. The age of cases ranges from younger than one to older than 100 years. Within the past 24 hours, laboratories have reported 25,504 specimens for a total of 1,283,832. The preliminary seven-day statewide positivity for cases as a percent of total test from June 11–June 17 is 3%.
Following guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, IDPH is now reporting both confirmed and probable cases and deaths on its website. Reporting probable cases will help show the potential burden of COVID-19 illness and efficacy of population-based non-pharmaceutical interventions. See CDC definition of a probable case on its website. IDPH will update these data once a week.
A data breach that exposed Social Security numbers and other private information of 32,483 Illinois unemployment applicants resulted in at least one case of identity theft, according to a class-action federal lawsuit.
Briana Julius is suing Deloitte Consulting, alleging the contractor failed to secure personally identifying information which led to fraudulent charges on her bank account and her debit card being shut off. Deloitte was paid $22 million to build and manage the system for the Illinois Department of Employment Security to handle claims from self-employed and gig workers, but soon after the system went online May 11 it was found to be publicly exposing private applicant information.
Julius is from St. Clair County. She is suing in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Illinois, with St. Louis attorney Tiffany Yiatras representing her, according to the Madison-St. Clair Record. The class-action suit on behalf of Julius is the third lawsuit against Deloitte for the May data breach. Two groups of Ohio residents also filed lawsuits.
Colorado also experienced a data breach, officials there said.
All three breaches happened around the same time. Click here for more on the Ohio lawsuits.
Julius alleges Deloitte failed to properly secure and safeguard personally identifying information. As a result of the data breach, her bank notified her of fraudulent charges on her bank account that she did not make.
There’s no proof offered in the suit that the two things were related. The state maintains that the only person who saw the data was the person who reported the problem. I guess we’ll find out.
May’s jobs report should be encouraging to American workers, as it shows that the U.S. actually gained 2.5 million nonfarm payroll jobs. This demonstrates that the process of beginning to reopen states has gone smoothly, and businesses are rehiring employees that they temporarily laid off while their buildings remained closed. There are still 21 million Americans unemployed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, though, which hopefully will be reduced as states proceed to open more in the coming months. Last week, there were 1.5 million new unemployment claims nationwide, compared to 6.9 million during the peak of the pandemic (a 78% reduction).
To identify which states’ workforces are experiencing the quickest recovery from COVID-19, WalletHub compared the 50 states and the District of Columbia across three metrics based on changes in unemployment claims.
Illinois was the 9th most-recovered state since the start of the crisis. Georgia, which reopened before just about every other state, finished dead last.
The Arizona health department reported a new single-day high of 2,519 coronavirus cases and 32 additional deaths Thursday morning. […]
Of the PCR samples collected this week that have been processed, 15% have come back positive, matching last week’s mark, which was a pandemic high.
The weekly PCR positive rate has risen every week since the week starting May 10, when it was 5%. […]
Overall hospital bed usage remained at a pandemic high of 85% on Wednesday for the second consecutive day, and the percentage of ICU beds in use reached a high point of 84%.
On May 15, inpatient bed usage was at 74% and ICU bed usage was at 72%.
By comparison, Illinois’ total (COVID and non-COVID) hospital bed usage is 59 percent and total ICU bed usage is at 55 percent. Occupancy has been falling for weeks. The protests started almost three weeks ago, so you’d think we’d be seeing an overall uptick in hospitalization numbers by now. So far, that’s not the case.
Also, Illinois’ positivity rate for June 10–16 is 3 percent.
At his regular coronavirus press conferences, Gov. Pete Ricketts makes a point of urging Nebraskans to wear a mask when they go to a store.
But when it comes to the state’s 93 courthouses and other local government offices, he doesn’t want local officials to require masks. In fact, he’s told local governments that they won’t receive any of the $100 million in federal COVID-19 money if their “customers” are required to wear masks.
In Illinois, the governor caught heat when he threatened to withhold CARES Act funding from local governments if they defied his stay at home/reopening orders.
A new coalition of health, labor, aging and public interest organizations launched “Open Safe Illinois” on Thursday to amplify the voices of Illinois residents, the majority of whom support public health-driven decision making by Gov. J.B. Pritzker, the Illinois Department of Public Health, and local leaders.
While a small, vocal minority has pushed to rapidly reopen businesses and recreational activities across the state, polls show that the majority of the public remain very concerned about the coronavirus, are taking precautions, and support policy informed by the most up-to-date and relevant medical science. While many states are experiencing surges in new infections, Illinois recently had the greatest two-week decline in new cases across the country. According to data compiled by ProPublica, Illinois is the first state to meet all five of the metrics the White House suggested should be required to safely reopen.
“Gov. Pritzker’s measured, public health-driven approach has slowed the spread of COVID-19 and saved lives,” said Tom Hughes, Illinois Public Health Association executive director. “It’s critical that we stay the course and continue to make decisions based on the best available data and public health analysis.”
Illinois can look to other states, many of which just now are reaching their highest rates of infections and deaths, to see what happens if we don’t remain vigilant. Illinoisans, especially frontline workers, older adults, people with existing health conditions, and Latino and African American communities who face disproportionate risks, can’t afford a surge of infection.
The coalition boasts 25 members, including AgeOptions, AIDS Foundation Chicago, Alzheimer’s Association - Illinois Chapter, Business and Professional People in the Public Interest, Chicago Federation of Labor, Chicago Jobs Council, Citizen Action Illinois, Coalition for the Homeless, Common Cause Illinois, Elevate Energy, Everthrive Illinois, Friends of the Forest Preserves, Heartland Alliance, Illinois AFL-CIO, Illinois Association of Area Agencies on Aging, Illinois Coalition of Immigrant and Refugee Rights, Illinois Environmental Council, Illinois PIRG, Illinois Public Health Association, Prairie Rivers Network, Rainbow Push Coalition, Respiratory Health Association, SEIU HealthCare, Sierra Club Illinois, and United Food and Commercial Workers 881.
“We have not defeated the coronavirus, only slowed its spread,” said Abe Scarr, Illinois PIRG director and coalition coordinator. “Until we have an effective vaccine or treatment for COVID-19, which could take years, it’s critical that decision makers stay the course to protect the health and well-being of Illinoisans.”
Chicagoans won’t be willing to return to the office until they feel it’s safe, something that will require not only widespread, subsidized testing for COVID-19 but also flexible hours, discounted parking, investments in public transit and “clear guidelines” from the government.
Limits on corporate liability, extra help for emerging minority-owned businesses, buying local and “fair property tax reform” would help, too.
That’s the formula for reopening Chicago’s economy that the city’s largest business group laid out today in a report that has its share of flowery verbiage but also is surprisingly provocative in some ways.
As new Gov. J.B Pritzker prepared to take office in January 2019, there was a feeding frenzy among aspiring politicos for jobs in his administration.
Many of them were looking for an inside track to get on Democratic House Speaker Michael Madigan’s list of “recommendations for the new administration.”
An examination of that list by Chicago public radio station WBEZ shows that 37 people of the all-powerful Madigan’s list of 76 choices were accepted by Pritzker. […]
The record shows that Cullerton, Brady and Durkin made little effort to influence Pritzker’s personnel choices and had even less success.
Of Cullerton’s three recommendations, just one was appointed to a nonpaying post. Two of Brady’s 11 recommendations were accepted. Durkin’s sole recommendation was rejected. Meanwhile, nearly half of Madigan’s recommendations were accepted.
1) If he’s so “all-powerful,” then how come he batted below .500?
2) If you believe that John Cullerton only asked for three jobs, I have a bridge to sell you.
The original story generated a ton of social media push-back from the administration. Click here for Jordan Abudayyeh’s take.
* The ILGOP’s response…
Yesterday, it was revealed that upon winning the gubernatorial election in 2017 [sic], Speaker Madigan sent Governor Pritzker a list of individuals he wanted hired in state government. Pritzker complied with the Speaker’s wishes and hired 35 of them.
WBEZ: Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker Hired 35 People From House Speaker Michael Madigan’s Clout List - “Despite repeatedly promising to be “independent” of longtime Democratic boss Michael Madigan, first-term Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker filled many prominent roles in his administration with people recommended by the state House speaker and party chairman, a WBEZ investigation has revealed.
As Pritzker won the election in 2018 and was sworn into office last year, Madigan’s office sent him the names of scores of job seekers and the positions in state government they desired. Madigan’s successful recommendations far outnumbered those from other legislative leaders, with records showing the new governor made nearly three dozen hires and board appointments off the speaker’s clout list.
Illinois taxpayers are paying those Madigan-endorsed public officials a total of more than $2.5 million a year, WBEZ’s investigation found.”
ILGOP Chairman Tim Schneider responded to the news by releasing the following statement:
“It was obvious long before Governor Pritzker was elected that he would do Speaker Madigan’s bidding. Now we have proof. When Madigan asked, Governor Pritzker delivered for him. Just as they have been for decades, the taxpayers of Illinois were left out of that equation.
The only appropriate response for when Madigan’s chief emailed his clout list was for Pritzker’s chief to email back, ‘no thanks.’ Instead, the Governor hired half of them, gave them cushy jobs as department heads and board commissioners, and is paying them $2.5 million in taxpayer funds annually. All 35 Madigan Patronage hires should resign immediately.”
To my eyes, most of these folks were no-brainers. Jim Edgar, Shirley Madigan and David Harris stand out in that regard. And quite a few were actually supported by Madigan’s members. Also, Tiffany Newbern-Johnson spent two years on Madigan’s legal staff, but she really made her name at Mayor Emanuel’s office.
* But Pritzker was super reluctant to appoint Local 150’s Jim Sweeney to the Toll Highway Authority. The governor wanted more diversity at the tollway. Madigan had to intervene…
Chairman Evans and Davis are African-Americans. But except for Santoy, the rest are Anglos. Also, two women, seven men.
Normally, I wouldn’t do a count like that, and I don’t have a problem with any of these members, but the governor is the one who made such a big deal about diversity. Also too, Local 150 wins again.
So, yeah, there’s some fire with all that smoke. And I would assume there’s more.
By the way, Cesar Santoy, who was backed by then-Sen. Marty Sandoval and others, eventually had to step down. The tollway board is more white now than it was back then.
In the midst of an almost deafening national and local outcry over police abuses, the Illinois Supreme Court may order the city of Chicago to destroy all records of complaints against police officers that are more than five years old, potentially undermining attempts to identify problematic officers
A decision is scheduled to be issued Thursday in a legal challenge brought by the union representing Chicago police officers, asserting that their contract with the city requires the destruction of old complaints.
University of Chicago Law Professor Craig Futterman said the case is fundamentally about a question being asked all over the country, whether police unions and city governments should be able to bargain away the rights of the public to have effective oversight of police officers.
“If the Fraternal Order of Police has its way, hundreds of thousands of Chicago police misconduct records will go up in smoke like a great bonfire, destroying the very information that’s needed to identify and stop police officers who’ve been engaged in patterns of abuse,” Futterman said. “And this reality should be particularly unthinkable and appalling to everyone in this moment where we have people in Chicago and around the world raising their voices to affirm that Black Lives Matter. … What’s at stake is the reality that the very records that we need right now to … prevent more black pain and deaths at the hands of the police could disappear.”
* Today…
NEWS: The Illinois Supreme Court has ruled against the Chicago Fraternal Order of Police, finding that its contract provision requiring the destruction of police disciplinary records after five years violates public records law.
While parties are generally free to make their own contracts, this court has long held that when a conflict exists between a contract provision and state law, as it clearly does in this case, state law prevails.
The U.S. Department of Labor estimates 44,639 new unemployment claims were filed during the week of June 8 in Illinois, according to the DOL’s weekly claims report released Thursday.
While this number is based on advanced estimates, the Illinois Department of Employment Security (IDES) will be releasing a final number later Thursday.
There were 1,508,000 new claims filed across the country last week, a decrease of 58,000from the previous week.
The U.S. Department of Labor estimates 44,814 new unemployment claims were filed during the week of June 1 in Illinois.
Mayor Lightfoot has made this claim before. Yet the state is allowing all regions to reopen for indoor dining on June 26 when we reach Phase 4. The city says indoor restaurants can open July 1. So how is this Pritzker's fault? https://t.co/K2FuRUHrny
* Illinois Chamber CEO Todd Maisch and Illinois Treasurer Michael Frerichs spoke at the Mid-Year Economic Summit hosted by the Des Plaines Chamber of Commerce yesterday. From the Daily Herald’s coverage…
Both Maisch and Frerichs talked about the progressive tax referendum that will be on the Nov. 3 ballot. Maisch said the state chamber is against the change from the current flat tax because the top 20% of taxpayers already pay two-thirds of all taxes. In addition, he noted the current system provides “treatments,” such as the earned income tax credit, that favor low- and middle-income earners.
“Even though the rate is flat, you can actually graduate your system if you give some people tax treatments and not give others those treatments,” he said.
Frerichs added one argument for the progressive tax is the consideration of taxing retirement income of those who can afford it. He said he knows people who receive 6-figure yearly pensions and do not pay income taxes, but the current system doesn’t differentiate between them and retirees who barely get by on their savings or pensions.
“One thing a progressive tax would do is make clear you can have graduated rates when you are taxing retirement income,” he said. “And, I think that’s something that’s worth discussion.”
The “fair tax” is being sold as a tax on the wealthy, but if voters on Nov. 3 remove the Illinois constitution’s flat tax protection they will be granting state lawmakers broad new taxing power that would make it easier to go after seniors and their retirement income.
Illinois lawmakers in 2019 approved a defining feature of Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s policy agenda by agreeing to ask voters to amend the Illinois Constitution and remove its flat tax protection. They also set introductory rates that start hiking taxes on residents making over $250,000.
Among several other negative policy outcomes, the adoption of a progressive income tax would make it significantly more likely that Illinois will adopt a retirement income tax in the future. That’s because removing the flat income tax protection also removes a key political barrier to imposing a tax on retirement income. […]
Public opposition has historically killed proposals to tax retirement income in the Prairie State. A 2019 poll from the Paul Simon Public Policy Institute found 73% of Illinoisans somewhat or strongly opposed eliminating the retirement exemption, while only 23% somewhat or strongly supported the change.
Would you favor or oppose applying the state income tax to retirement income if it exempted from taxes the first $100,000 earned per year?
Favor 36%
Oppose 34%
Other/don’t know 3%
That adds up to only 73 percent.
…Adding… From comments…
Rich, the Paul Simon poll only added up to 73% because it was only asked of the 73% of respondents “who had indicated they were opposed to taxing retirement income in the previous question.” So the poll assumed that 59% of Illinois adults supported taxing retirement income over $100,000: the 36% yes to the specific question plus the 23% who were in favor of taxing all retirement income. Totals on that question are 59% in favor vs. 34% oppose vs. 7% other/don’t know.
*** UPDATE 1 *** From Quentin Fulks, Chairman of Vote Yes For Fairness…
Vote Yes For Fairness believes all seniors should have the opportunity to retire with dignity after years of hard work, and opposes any tax on retirement income. That’s why we are dedicated to passing the Fair Tax, which does not tax retirement income or make it any easier to implement a tax on retirement income. The Fair Tax is about fixing our broken tax system that allows millionaires and billionaires to pay the same rate as our working families, while updating it to the one used by a majority of states and the federal government that works for all Illinoisans.
*** UPDATE 2 *** AARP Illinois…
AARP Illinois supports the current graduated income tax proposal which, in no way, taxes retirement income or makes it any easier to implement a tax on retirement income.
Illinois state law continues to protect retirement income from taxation , including Social Security, pensions, 401(k)s, and IRAs.
In AARP Illinois surveys, 89 percent of older adults said they opposed taxing retirement income, and 71 percent of voters 25 and older were also against it.
With this in mind, AARP Illinois supports a graduated income tax as a step in the right direction toward addressing our state’s budget crisis.
A graduated income tax protects lower and moderate income taxpayers and their families by giving them a tax break. It also ensures that only those who can afford it – the wealthiest 3% — will pay more under this plan.
AARP Illinois continues to oppose taxing retirement income and will fight any efforts to do so.
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Mayor Lori Lightfoot blasts this tweet: “If that kind of tweet, which is clearly racist, had been put forward by a right-wing group, we would rightly be denouncing them. I think our scorn should be no less because it was put out by the CTU." https://t.co/VLYlwkwrXl
The Illinois Nurses Association and the State of Illinois have agreed on a series of COVID-19 related compensation and safety measures for registered nurses who work in state mental health facilities, correctional centers, Illinois Youth Centers, veteran’s administration homes, the Department of Healthcare and Family Services and Department of Public Health.
“These are incredibly challenging times for nurses and INA’s negotiating team has been working hard to win safety measures and other benefits to address working conditions during the COVID-19 pandemic,“ said Victorian Dameron, RN, one of the lead nurse negotiators.
The team was able to successfully negotiate important safety provisions for all nurses, as well as premium pandemic pay for nurses not covered under the Families First Coronavirus Response Act, she said.
INA and the State agreed on a 12% increase to an employee’s base salary for days worked between April 16th, 2020, and June 30th, 2020.
In addition to the pandemic pay, nurses excluded from the Families First Coronavirus Response Act who worked the full time from May 1st through May 31st, 2020 will be granted an additional personal business day; this will be added to their accrued benefit time January 1st, 2021. To be eligible for this benefit, nurses must have worked the full time and not taken days off during this period.
This is the second group of nurses for which INA has negotiated enhanced pandemic pay. In early April, INA and the University of Illinois Hospital agreed on a premium pay scale to reward nurses who were working through the pandemic at the hospital.
More than 100 nurses have tested positive for COVID-19 and two have died since the pandemic began earlier this year.
New criminal charges related to the bribery case against former state Rep. Luis Arroyo are expected “in the near future,” lawyers told a federal judge Tuesday.
That brief disclosure appeared in a one-page status report filed jointly by prosecutors and Arroyo’s defense attorney. Chicago’s federal court is trying to get back to business after months of delays during the coronavirus pandemic, and U.S. District Judge Steven Seeger asked for the report earlier this month.
The report offers no hint at who might be charged — or what accusations might be made. But the lawyers told the judge they hoped for a status hearing around August 10.
“The parties anticipate that additional, related charges will be brought in the near future and request a status hearing on or after August 10, 2020, with defendant’s presence waived,” it said.
