Comment: We will publish our response to the anti-state bankruptcy voices as soon as they have finished having their say. Our view is that the concept should continue to be explored but that judgement should be based based on the specifics of any particular proposal, because there are so many possible forms it could takeand the details make all the difference in the world.

Democratic state Rep. Mike Zalewski admits that there is an “acute need” in communities and growing demand for economic activity to resume. “I won’t deny that. I think people are very genuinely scared about their livelihoods and what they will be going back to when they return to work,” said Zalewski. But he disagrees with criticisms of the governor’s process and plan.

Former Illinois Gov. Bruce Rauner believes it’s time reopen the state amid the coronavirus pandemic, blaming politics for the decision to keep restrictions in place.

The percentage of vulnerable jobs is slightly higher in Illinois than nationally, but overall, the trends in the state mirror what is going on around the country.

“Normally, the 177-member House and Senate would be scurrying to pass the budget and wrap up the January-to-May spring session. Not now.”

Currently, Grundy County is in a region with Cook County and they are requesting state officials to move them into the North-Central Health Region.

“To be clear this is unacceptable,” Elmhurst Mayor Steven Morley said in a letter to Pritzker. “Governor you represent all Illinoisans, not just the city of Chicago. We are asking you to understand the needs of all communities.”

Public finance watchdogs at Wirepoints analyzed the state’s data and found that much of the state has been largely spared COVID-19 deaths. President Ted Dabrowski said the data show nursing homes have been hardest hit and should prompt the state to come up with better strategies to target the mitigation of vulnerable populations.

The state’s employed share of the population suddenly dropped 17% to 51% from February to May 2.

Said the Governor, “The Supreme Court is not saying they’re not going to rule on this ever, they’re just saying that they don’t want to skip over the Appellate Court is my understanding.”

Writes Mark Konkol: “If we can’t trust the feds, and hospitals across the state still have no idea how the governor’s team plans to mobilize an effective testing plan that experts say is the only way to ease our way out of this pandemic-induced economic gridlock — God help us all.”

Attorney Thomas DeVore said he has more than a hundred businesses that want to file similar challenges to the orders that that have kept restaurants closed to dine-in service since March 16 and other businesses considered nonessential since March 21.

Northwestern leaders projected the school will experience $90 million budget shortfall this year. Though the U.S. Department of Education has awarded stimulus money to universities struggling during the pandemic. NU turned down an allocated $8.5 million, following the lead of other wealthy schools such as Harvard and Yale.

The owner says he accepted a phone call from the health department a minute after opening, asking that he “voluntarily stop seating people”. “He said, “Rob will you voluntarily stop seating people?” I said, “What does voluntarily mean? No, I will not.” He said, “Well, than I will have no choice but to pull your food license.” I said, “you can’t do that!” He said, “yes I can, and I will.”

If passed Tuesday, the resolution would lift any “general stay-at-home directive” in Madison County while requiring any businesses, churches or other entities that want to reopen to send a notice to the County Health Board along with a plan detailing how it will reopen in a safe and responsible way, with phasing.

To move forward, Illinoisans need certainty. They need details on what a safe return to work and other activities will look like, and when that will take place.

A republication of our Wirepoints article.

The staff and Pritzker will still self-isolate for “an appropriate period” based on guidance from the Illinois Department of Public Health, according to the office. In the meantime, Pritzker will hold his weekday briefings at 2:30 p.m. — but now they’ll be held via video conference with no reporters present.

“Illinois’s spending on its pension, merely with respect to the state-run systems for state employees, universities, and teachers outside of Chicago, totals $10 billion in 2020 (if the state makes all its scheduled contributions), including debt service for pension obligation bonds. Of this, roughly, $4 billion is for new pension accruals and $6 billion for debt service — out of a total budgeted general revenues of $40 billion. Where’s the money coming from?”