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Illinois Dentists Report Worker Shortages Due to COVID-19 Pandemic

As dentists across Illinois experience staffing shortages and an increased demand for dental appointments, they are asking state officials to consider teledentistry and other services to help fill the demand. 

Crain’s Headlines: McDonald’s Faces Legal Battles

McDonald’s faces a lawsuit that claims systemic racism in the company’s practices. Ann Dwyer has details on that story and more.

Some Illinois Workers Are Forced to Take Unpaid Leave as COVID-19 Drags On

In the first half of January, an estimated 8.8 million U.S. workers were reported to have stayed home either because they were sick with COVID-19 or were caring for someone who was sick. The news comes as some workers are running out of employer-provided sick days, or don’t have enough earned sick days to begin with. 

Stocks Climb Back After Steep Slide on Fed, Ukraine Jitters

The stock market extended its three-week decline and put the benchmark S&P 500 on track for a so-called correction — a drop of 10% or more from its most recent high. 

Gov. J.B. Pritzker Announces Compromise on Paid Leave For Vaccinated School Employees

Under a new statewide compromise, public school and higher ed employees across Illinois won’t have to expend their sick time if they are forced to miss work due to COVID-19 — as long as they’re fully vaccinated.

Council Committee Agrees to Pay $14M to 2 Men Who Spent 43 Years in Prison for Murder They Didn’t Commit

The City Council’s Finance Committee voted unanimously Monday to recommend the settlement, which is set for a final vote by the full City Council on Wednesday.

US Puts 8,500 Troops on Heightened Alert Amid Russia Tension

At President Biden’s direction, the Pentagon is putting about 8,500 U.S.-based troops on heightened alert for potential deployment to Europe amid rising fears of a possible Russian military move on Ukraine.

8-Year-Old Girl Among 6 People Killed in Chicago Over The Weekend: Police

Melissa Ortega, a third-grade student at Emiliano Zapata Academy in Little Village, died Saturday after she was shot in the head by a suspect who Chicago police say was aiming at a 26-year-old man.

US Pharmacies, Health Centers Begin Rollout of Free N95 Masks

The first free N95 masks have started to arrive at U.S. pharmacies, with more on the way in the coming days, as the Biden administration seeks to ramp up access to high-quality masks amid the spread of the highly-transmissible omicron variant.

Justices To Hear Challenge To Race in College Admissions

The conservative-dominated Supreme Court on Monday agreed to hear a challenge to the consideration of race in college admissions, adding affirmative action to major cases on abortion, guns, religion and COVID-19 already on the agenda.

Mysterious Ice Formations Showed Up in Chicago This Week

You’ve heard of blizzards and maybe even the polar vortex, but have you heard of ice pancakes? What about ice bites or ice jams? These unique names sound fascinating but require specific weather conditions.

After Weekend Snowfall, Forecast Calls for Another 2 to 3 Inches During Monday Morning Commute

As of 6 a.m. Sunday, snowfall totals measured 3.6 inches at Midway Airport, 3.5 inches at O’Hare Airport and 2.8 inches in Romeoville, according to the National Weather Service. Another round of snow is expected Monday morning. 

FDA Considers Limiting Authorization of Certain Monoclonal Antibody Treatments for COVID-19

The US Food and Drug Administration could decide in the coming days to take steps to curb the use of antibody treatments produced by Eli Lilly and Regeneron, the source said, pointing to the growing body of evidence that shows their monoclonal therapies don't effectively neutralize the virus’ omicron variant.

US Women’s Olympic Hockey Team Once Again Led by Hilary Knight, Who Grew Up in Lake Forest

Hilary Knight, who grew up in north suburban Lake Forest, is making her U.S. women’s hockey record-matching fourth Olympic appearance in which she’s won a gold and two silvers.

New Conservative Target: Race as Factor in COVID Treatment

The wave of infections brought on by the omicron variant and a shortage of treatments have focused attention on the policies. Medical experts say the opposition is misleading. Health officials have long said there is a strong case for considering race as one of many risk factors in treatment decisions. And there is no evidence that race alone is being used to decide who gets medicine.