Echoing recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Illinois health officials are recommending COVID-19 booster shots for older adults, as well as front-line workers and people who live in group settings.
Stories by kristen thometz
Illinois Investing $44M in Job Training, Programs for At-Risk Youth
A new $40 million workforce recovery grant program seeks to help job seekers get back to work, while another $4.4 million program aims to increase access to career training programs for at-risk youth, Gov. J.B. Pritzker announced Thursday.
10 Things To Do This Weekend: Sept. 23-26
German beers and brats, live jazz, a freestyle dance contest and a boozy art show usher in the weekend. Here are 10 things to do in and around Chicago.
2021 Chicago Summer Festival Guide
Neighborhood street festivals, art shows, outdoor concerts are returning this summer as the Chicago area reopens. Here’s your guide to summer fun.
Bobby Rush: Honor COVID-19 Vaccine Development with Congressional Gold Medal
Bipartisan legislation to be introduced Friday by U.S. Rep. Bobby Rush would honor those whose efforts led to the successful development of COVID-19 vaccines, including researchers, scientists, doctors and vaccine trial volunteers.
10 Things To Do This Weekend: Sept. 16-19
Tacos, music fests, bloody marys and an art tour by bike usher in the weekend. Here are 10 things to do in and around Chicago.
Pritzker, Lawmakers Vow to Protect Women’s Rights, Call Texas Abortion Law an ‘Abomination’
U.S. Reps. Underwood, Foster and Krishnamoorthi call for federal reproductive health law
In the wake of a new law banning nearly all abortions in Texas, Gov. J.B. Pritzker and members of Illinois’ congressional delegation vowed to protect women’s rights while calling for a federal reproductive health law. “Nobody should be forced to cross state lines to see a doctor,” Pritzker said.
10 Things To Do This Weekend: Sept. 9-12
Street festivals, dance classes, outdoor concerts and unique eats usher in the weekend. Here are 10 things to do in and around Chicago.
Pritzker Extends Deadline for Vaccine Requirement for Teachers, Health Care Workers
All pre-K through 12th grade teachers and staff, higher education employees and students, and health care workers in settings such as hospitals and nursing homes now have until Sept. 19 to receive their first COVID-19 vaccine dose.
Illinois Records Nearly 6,000 COVID-19 Cases in a Day
The number of new COVID-19 infections has been steadily increasing for weeks and on Friday neared 6,000 for the first time in a 24-hour period since January, according to state health officials.
Chicago Animal Shelters See Uptick in Pets in Need of Care
Animal shelters across the city are seeing an increase this year in the number of pets coming through their doors. What’s behind that trend — and how shelters are trying to keep pets in homes.
12 Things to Do This Weekend: Sept. 2-6
Beefy burgers, music festivals, cycling on Lake Shore Drive and mini golf usher in the holiday weekend. Here are a dozen things to do in and around Chicago.
Illinois Records More than 5,000 COVID-19 Cases for First Time Since January
The number of new COVID-19 infections has been steadily increasing for weeks and on Wednesday surpassed 5,000 for the first time in a 24-hour period since January, according to state health officials.
Illinois to Require Insurance Coverage for Mental Health, Substance Use Disorders
Advocates: “Mental health care is health care.”
A new law in Illinois will require health insurers to cover medically necessary services and treatments for mental health conditions and substance use disorders. Advocates say the legislation comes at a critical moment and will help remove obstacles to such care.
The Last Word: Dion Dawson
The founder and executive director of Dion’s Chicago Dream talks about the importance of providing fresh, quality produce to fight food insecurity — and the lessons nonprofits should be learning from the pandemic.
Daily Illinois COVID-19 Cases Near 5,000 Amid Surge
The 4,942 new confirmed and probable cases of the virus reported Friday mark the highest single-day total since Jan. 23, when the state reported 5,152 cases.
CDC Identifies Source of Salmonella Outbreaks Linked to Italian-Style Meats
Health officials are advising people not to eat Fratelli Beretta brand prepackaged uncured antipasto trays, which have been linked to salmonella outbreaks that have sickened 36 people across the country.
Pritzker Issues Indoor Mask Mandate for All, Vaccine Requirement for Teachers
Governor: “We are running out of time as our hospitals run out of beds”
After a weekslong surge in COVID-19 infections and hospitalizations, Gov. J.B. Pritzker on Thursday announced an indoor mask mandate for all Illinois residents and a vaccine requirement for pre-K through 12th grade teachers and staff, among others.
10 Things to Do This Weekend: Aug. 26-29
Greek eats, house music, circus acts and retro tunes usher in the weekend. Here are 10 things to do in Chicago.
Pritzker Warns ‘Significant’ COVID-19 Mitigations Could Return if Hospitalizations Keep Rising
As the COVID-19 surge continues across the state and more people are hospitalized by the virus, Gov. J.B. Pritzker warned new mitigations could be on the horizon.
Salmonella Outbreaks Linked to Italian-Style Meats: CDC
Federal health officials are investigating multistate salmonella outbreaks linked to Italian-style meats, including salami and prosciutto, that have sickened 36 people across the country, including four in Illinois.
Suburban Cook County Brings Back Indoor Mask Mandate
Starting Monday, everyone in suburban Cook County, regardless of vaccination status, will be required to wear a mask indoors, officials announced Friday.
Illinois Records Nearly 5,000 Cases for First Time Since January
The number of new COVID-19 infections has been steadily increasing over the past month and on Friday neared 5,000 for the first time in a 24-hour period since January, according to state health officials.
City Health Officials: Opioid-Related Deaths Dropped in First Half of 2021
Chicago public health officials reported 467 opioid-related deaths in January through June 2021, compared with 573 during the first six months of 2020 — an 18.5% decrease. About 90% of the incidents involved fentanyl, officials said.
Advocates: Providing Free Feminine Hygiene Products to the Homeless a ‘Step in the Right Direction’
A new Illinois law will make feminine hygiene products available for free at homeless shelters. Advocates say the legislation spotlights an often-overlooked issue, but they’re calling for funding to “put some teeth behind it.”
10 Things to Do This Weekend: Aug. 19-22
Acrobatic airplanes, colorful murals, street festivals and a floating river party usher in the weekend. Here are 10 things to do in and around Chicago.
