Despite record claims, smaller staff, embattled IDES in better spot than seven months ago new director says – State Journal-Register* (Springfield)

“Opening our offices is going to be done with a real sensitivity toward making sure we have a safe environment for claimants and department employees,” she said. “It’s no secret that there have been acts of violence, threatening activity leveled at agency offices and that is hugely concerning. I have a real reticence to do anything that will put people in harm’s way.”

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New York hospital executive officially appointed as next Cook County Health leader, vows to be ‘fiscally, financially resilient’ – Chicago Tribune*

Israel Rocha Jr., will have to grapple ballooning costs from uncompensated medical care, of which the two hospitals provide the majority within the region, as well as likely budget cuts due to revenue shortfalls from the coronavirus pandemic. There also is the potential repeal of the Affordable Care Act; The county health system could lose about $1.4 billion should the ACA be dismantled.

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Hours after Lightfoot announces new COVID-19 restrictions, Birx warns during Chicago visit that closing public spaces won’t be enough – Chicago Tribune*

“It won’t be as simple as closing public spaces because public spaces … were very safe over the summer and probably remain safe,” White House coronavirus response coordinator Dr. Deborah Birx said. “This is really something that has happened in the last three to four weeks. What has happened in the last three to four weeks is that people have moved their social gatherings indoors.”

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Chicago Cops Haven’t Been Wearing Masks For Months, But Lightfoot Vows To Crack Down – Block Club Chicago

“And if they don’t get the message, you need to take decisive action up to and including discipline. … And where they fail, the time for educating people into compliance is simply over. If you’re an officer, you’re a firefighter, a paramedic, if you’re a city employee, I’m telling you now: As your mayor, as your boss, you must wear a mask. Period.”

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Pritzker: State headed into COVID-19 peak ‘potentially beyond’ April highs – Capitol News IL

Illinois State Police will “not only issue warnings but also issue citations if necessary…We are asking state’s attorneys to simply follow through on those citations, those are monetary citations,” Pritzker said. “We also … will look to remove people’s liquor license and their gaming license if they will not follow the resurgence mitigations.”

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Nursery founder says Illinois’ progressive tax proposal is like “pouring money down a dark hole” – Illinois Review

With a growing burden of state regulations and taxes, Illinois’ tone towards small businesses has changed over the 51 years Midwest Groundcovers has been in Illinois, owner Peter Orum said. “Illinois used to be a good place to do business. We have a bunch of rules, like other states, but we could still get by…It seems like now there’s something new every week.”

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Column: Legislature’s mistake on election holiday may be taxpayers’ gain – Champaign News-Gazette

Jim Dey: “Municipal league Executive Director Brad Cole called the holiday legislation a “massive unfunded mandate” that “created a lot of uncertainty” because it was “poorly written.”…What Cole means is that municipal entities can decide for themselves how to proceed on Election Day, and it seems likely that many will opt not to spend money they don’t have on unscheduled overtime or days off.”

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Google cranks up Chicago hiring with emphasis on minorities – Crain’s*

The company will hire 10,000 staffers in Chicago, New York, Washington, D.C., and Atlanta over the next five years as part of an effort to more than double its number of Black employees and “invest in the long-term growth of U.S. locations that contribute to a high quality of life for Black+ Googlers,” CEO Sundar Pichai said in a blog post today. Google will hire 1,000 of those workers next year. The company didn’t offer specifics about the number or type of jobs it would add in Chicago.

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‘It’s About One-Party Rule’: Why Illinois Supreme Court Justice Tom Kilbride Is In The Fight Of His Career – WBEZ (Chicago)

Kilbride characterized his relationship with Madigan as only a distant one. “And the only thing I’ve ever talked to him about is baseball and Notre Dame football and health, staying healthy. I’ve never discussed a case with him. He’s never asked me about a case. No one on his behalf has ever inquired about a case.”

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Commentary by Wirepoints: A 60% tax hike on Illinois’ richest won’t be a free lunch for the rest of us – Chicago Tribune*

Illinois’ wealthy don’t need defending. They know how to take care of themselves just fine. But don’t assume that a tax hike on them will be a free lunch for the rest of us. If too many wealthy leave, our reform-shunning legislature will only have one place to make up for the loss in tax revenues: Illinois’ middle-income earners.

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Some restaurants in Illinois are defying closure orders as ban on indoor service spreads to Chicago suburbs – Chicago Tribune*

One Will County restaurant’s Facebook page states that it will remain open for indoor dining and stand by more than 30 employees who depend on the restaurant for their livelihoods: “We are NOT trying to be rebellious or are anti-masks, anti-people’s health or any of the other nonsense. This is a decision out of survival.”
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Illinois Policy Institute exec: Fair Tax will give low-income workers relief equal to $6 ‘fast food meal’ – Chicago City Wire

“Separation makes you vulnerable and progressive tax regimes allow for that separation,” said Austin Berg, vice president of marketing with the Illinois Policy Institute. “Claims that this tax is in any way helpful to the working poor in Illinois is insulting…They would be stuck paying the highest tax burden in the Midwest for low-income workers and the third highest tax burden in the nation for low-income workers.”

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