Kwame Raoul: “I have been frustrated by my confinement and the exhaustion that makes phone calls or Zoom meetings feel like I just played a basketball game…I want to issue a strong warning: COVID-19 is not gone.”

Pritzker has been the target of so many threats over his handling of the COVID-19 pandemic that the Illinois State Police needed a PowerPoint presentation to detail them all. Some blustered that the governor needs his “a— whooped.” Others detailed plans to assassinate him, using everything from knives or 12-gauge shotguns to nuclear devices.

Other Springfield officials said the lack of hotel and convention activity because of limits on gatherings of 50 or more is costing the city tens of millions of dollars in economic activity and millions in city revenue.

The report by the Illinois Economic Policy Institute, a nonprofit organization with strong ties to organized labor, blames primarily a pre-existing shortage of nurses and argues that the state would be in a better position if nurses at more hospitals were unionized.

Mark Glennon: “The point, instead, is that this is yet another instance of bad “science and data,” which routinely go unquestioned. Instead of working toward a true understanding of what’s behind the course of the virus, we get politicized claptrap from politicians.”

“While it won’t cover everything, I think, at a minimum, these businesses that have already suffered under COVID, they ought to be compensated, or at least be given a small tax credit to make up for at least a portion of their losses,” said State Sen. Dave Syverson, R-Rockford, who has filed legislation to allow for a property tax credit in the same amount as whatever financial hit was taken.

“Based on the data it’s not too soon for us to move into Phase 4 the data suggest we should’ve moved into phase 4 weeks ago and as far as what people should be doing right now they should continue to wash their hands continue to social distance,” said Senator Steve McClure, R-Springfield.

If voters Nov. 3 were to remove the Illinois Constitution’s flat tax protection and allow lawmakers greater power to set tax rates, it will raise taxes on over 100,000 small businesses in Illinois by up to 47%. Small businesses were responsible for 60% of Illinois’ job creation since the Great Recession.

The entire “Starting the 2020-2021 School Year” guidance document from the Illinois State Board of Education and the Illinois Department of Public Health can be found on ISBE’s website. Here are 10 highlights.