An IDES news release stated: “The number of nonfarm jobs decreased in all 14 Illinois metropolitan areas. Total nonfarm jobs were down in Peoria (-9.8 percent, -16,800), Elgin (-9.1 percent, -24,200), and Rockford (-8.2 percent, -12,400). In Chicago-Naperville-Arlington Heights, jobs were down 7.2 percent (-275,700). No industry sector saw job gains in a majority of metro areas.”

“As millions of Americans have learned over the course of this year, the threat posed by COVID-19 is too great to keep doing things the way they have always been done. But it’s not a justification for ducking responsibility or putting off important tasks. It’s an urgent reason for finding new ways to do what needs to be done.”

Last week’s Senate Veterans’ Affairs hearing was the first subject matter hearing on the governor’s handling of the COVID-19 crisis all year.

“We are still very much in a precarious place and we have got to take the time to evaluate any Thanksgiving effect before we make any premature adjustments,” Pritzker said. Stricter Tier 3 coronavirus mitigation measures will remain in place across Illinois until mid-December, at least.

Truth In Accounting Research Director Bill Bergman said a federal bailout is still uncertain, and Illinois’ economic recovery could lag the rest of the nation as it after the Great Recession from over a decade ago.

Beyond the 2,300 jobs at stake, the Byron School District’s budget relies on $19.1 million a year in property revenue generated by the plant. That accounts for more than 70% of the school district’s budget.

Five bars and restaurants in Bloomington are accused of violating the state’s ban on service and will appear at a Bloomington Liquor Commission hearing on Dec. 8. They could be fined or have their liquor licenses suspended or revoked.

“What sticks out is the number of times quote ‘our friend’ is mentioned having asked for something, responded somehow,” said state Rep. Tom Demmer, R-Dixon. “So that the speaker’s letter saying he couldn’t answer questions about conversations he wasn’t a part of, these documents show he was part of quite a few conversations.”

“(I)t appears the State of Illinois was paying down its bill backlog in June with the proceeds of a loan denied to entities ‘failing to pay undisputed debts as they become due.’ Will Governor Pritzker sign a similar certification letter if and when the latest loan is finalized?”

“Only an outside investigation will get to the bottom of the chain of events, and who knew what, when. Yet Pritzker’s administration assigned the investigation task to the acting inspector general of the Department of Human Services. The person in that role was appointed by Pritzker last year. He reports to Pritzker.”

Neil Steinberg: “‘There wasn’t a glitch at IDES,’ replied Jordan Abudayyeh, press secretary to Gov. J.B. Pritzker, snapping at the bait…’What we’re seeing around the country is that personal information that lives on the dark web due to various data breaches is being used in mass to file for unemployment claims under this system. This isn’t specific to Illinois, this is happening around the country, here are some examples:'”