The Week in Review: COVID-19 Vaccinations Begin in Illinois


Illinois surpasses 15,00 COVID-19 deaths as the federal government cuts the state’s next coronavirus vaccine shipment in half. Meanwhile, Moderna’s vaccine receives emergency use approval, which is a shot in the arm for vaccine supplies.  And, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission says companies can require employees to be vaccinated.

In a rare act for politicians, Mayor Lori Lightfoot repeatedly apologizes for a botched Chicago Police Department raid on the wrong woman’s home as she stood naked and cuffed. Activists and aldermen slammed Lightfoot for the raid, the response by people under the mayor and for them trying to block the media from airing footage. Anjanette Young, the social worker whose home was raided, says she’s not convinced by the mayor’s apologies and is suing.  

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In other City Hall news, Dorothy Brown tells the new clerk, Iris Martinez to “stop whining and start managing” the office she left her. An investigation is underway after it was reported Lightfoot emailed about a “really good guy” when Chicago schools needed computers. Meanwhile, only 37% of eligible pre-K through eighth grade students (who are disproportionately white) opt to return for in-person learning after the winter break. The Chicago Teachers Union wants a full hearing after the Illinois Educational Labor Relations Board denies the CTU’s attempt to halt the return to CPS schools by a 2-1 vote.  The school board rewards CPS CEO Janice Jackson with a hefty $40,000 raise.

Gov. J.B. Pritzker floats $700 million in “painful” budget cuts after his so-called “fair tax” amendment failed.  And, with apparently no help coming from Congress, the next stimulus leaves cities and states in the lurch. Joe Biden passes on Rahm Emanuel for transportation secretary, instead going with former Mayor Pete Buttigieg, who proposed to his husband in “romantic” O’Hare Airport. But, Chicago’s former congressman and mayor may get a consolation prize in the form of an ambassadorship.

Guests

Lourdes Duarte, WGN | @LourdesWGN

Craig Dellimore, WBBM Newsradio | @CraigDellimore

Amanda Vinicky, WTTW News | @AmandaVinicky


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