Gov. J.B. Pritzker imposed tighter restrictions designed to stop the spread of the virus amid a sustained surge in COVID-19 cases that has shown no sign of slowing down. “The virus is winning the war,” Pritzker said.
Stories by Heather Cherone
Ethics Board Investigating Ald. Brookins’ Decision to Represent Former Ald. Moreno
Former 1st Ward Ald. Proco Joe Moreno, facing felony charges of obstruction of justice and insurance fraud, has a new lawyer — 21st Ward Ald. Howard Brookins, who is now under investigation himself.
Lightfoot Celebrates Win By Biden, Harris: ‘Has a Nice Ring To It, Doesn’t It?’
As throngs of Chicagoans poured into the street in jubilation on Saturday, Mayor Lori Lightfoot joined in the celebrating the election of Democrats Joe Biden and Kamala Harris as president and vice president.
Aldermen Skeptical Lightfoot’s Year-Old Public Safety Reorganization Will Work
Mayor Lori Lightfoot’s plan to create a new public safety office in an effort to save money by making the city’s law enforcement agencies more efficient has yet to show results — and aldermen are losing patience.
Chicago’s Recycling Rate Stuck Between Bad and Terrible: Officials
Between 8% and 9% of the trash produced every year by Chicago residents is kept out of landfills, officials said Friday — acknowledging that the city’s efforts to boost Chicago’s recycling rate remain stalled.
COVID-19 Cases Reach All-Time High in Chicago: Officials
“If we don't slow this down, and soon, we will have hundreds of thousands of new COVID cases by the end of the year in Chicago,” said Dr. Allison Arwady, commissioner of the Chicago Department of Public Health.
Lightfoot: Use $10M in Federal Funds To Help Restaurants, Bars Threatened by COVID-19
Struggling restaurants and bars would be able to apply for $10,000 grants from the city under the plan Mayor Lightfoot unveiled at a Thursday afternoon news conference.
COVID-19 Cases Increasing ‘Exponentially’ Across Illinois, Officials Say
“This amount of disease in our community, it’s hard to think you could go anywhere and not be exposed,” said Dr. Ngozi Ezike, the state’s top doctor.
After Defeat of ‘Fair Tax’ Pritzker Says There Will Be Painful Cuts
The defeat of a constitutional amendment to overhaul how Illinois taxes income will mean painful cuts and will not avert tax increases, Gov. J.B. Pritzker said Wednesday.
Illinois Congressional Races: Dems Look to Cement Gains in Suburbs
Two years after challengers ousted long-serving suburban Chicago Republican congressmen, helping Democrats to seize control of the U.S. House of Representatives, Democrats are looking to cement those gains.
Election Day Unfolds Smoothly, Chicago Officials Say
After months of anticipation, weeks of record early voting and vote-by-mail totals, Election Day is here, and in Chicago it has been “smooth and uneventful,” Chicago election officials said Tuesday.
Watchdog Says CPD Delaying Records He Needs for Probe of Protests
Inspector General Joseph Ferguson told aldermen Monday that the Chicago Police Department has delayed his office’s probe of how it responded to the protests and unrest that swept Chicago this year.
Officials Shut Down 3 Large Parties for Violating COVID-19 Restrictions
The largest party shut down by inspectors took place at the Chicago Sports Complex in Brighton Park, where 600 people gathered, none of them wearing masks, city officials said.
Early Voting, Voting By Mail in Chicago Smashes Records: Officials
With 24 hours to go before polls open on Election Day, Chicago voters have flooded election officials with early ballots and mail-in ballots, deluging records set in 2016 and promising a huge final turnout.
Frustrated Aldermen Demand More Street Paving Money Amid Budget Crisis
Aldermen urged city transportation officials on Friday to help them repave more Chicago streets, spotlighting a perennial gripe about potholes and rough rides during a budget season like no other.
Chicago Activates Emergency Operations Center, Prepares for Halloween, Election-Related Violence
The city is prepared to deploy garbage trucks, salt spreaders, snow plows and water trucks to protect the city’s commercial districts if the election triggers unrest and violence, Mayor Lori Lightfoot said.
Progressive Caucus Objects to Lightfoot’s Budget Plan, Calls for Cuts to CPD
Mayor Lori Lightfoot’s $12.76 billion spending plan for 2021 fails to craft a “compassionate, bold” solution to the long-standing inequities that plague Chicago, according to the City Council’s Progressive Caucus.
Pritzker: As COVID-19 Surges in Illinois ‘People’s Lives Hang in the Balance’
Gov. J.B. Pritzker issued a grave warning on Thursday as Illinois officials reported 6,363 new confirmed cases of COVID-19, telling residents that the pandemic has entered the most dangerous phase since the spring.
Springfield Area Hit with COVID-19 Restrictions Starting Nov. 1
Nine of the state’s 11 regions have triggered the state’s fail-safe metrics designed to stop the spread of the coronavirus, with the addition of much of West-Central Illinois, including Springfield and Quincy, on Thursday.
As State Restrictions Take Effect, Lightfoot Allows Businesses to Stay Open to 11 p.m.
Restrictions ordered by Gov. J.B. Pritzker to stop the spread of COVID-19 take effect at midnight Friday. Mayor Lightfoot altered her plan to align with the restrictions laid out by the Illinois Department of Public Health.
Elimination of Library Fines Pays Off, Library Officials Tell Aldermen
Mayor Lori Lightfoot’s decision to eliminate library fines in order to coax patrons back to the Chicago Public Library has paid off in spades, aldermen heard Wednesday.
Another Ratings Agency Sounds Alarm About Chicago’s Budget
A second Wall Street ratings agency sounded the alarm over Chicago’s budget on Wednesday as aldermen continued weighing Mayor Lori Lightfoot’s $12.76 billion spending plan for 2021.
Lightfoot: I Didn’t Ask For ‘Special Treatment’ from Pritzker During COVID-19 Surge
Mayor Lori Lightfoot says she spoke with Gov. J.B. Pritzker for about an hour on Wednesday, a day after the serious split between the officials leading the effort to stem the pandemic spilled into public view.
Lightfoot Pushes Back After Pritzker Suspends Indoor Dining, Drinking in Chicago
Mayor Lori Lightfoot pushed back late Tuesday on Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s order to suspend indoor dining and drinking in Chicago, the latest sign of a serious split between the officials leading the effort to stem the pandemic.
Florida Added to Chicago’s Quarantine Order as COVID-19 Surge Continues
City officials added Florida to Chicago’s COVID-19 quarantine order as confirmed cases of the coronavirus continue to surge in Chicago, Illinois and throughout the nation.
Aldermen Balk at Plan for Property Tax Hike, Layoffs To Fill Budget Gap
Mayor Lori Lightfoot’s plan to close a projected $1.2 billion budget gap by hiking property taxes and laying off employees got a cool reception Monday from aldermen, who pleaded for other options amid a raging pandemic.
