Matt Paprocki, of the Illinois Policy Institute: “Take the 891 convictions for public corruption that have occurred in Illinois since 2000. That’s nearly one public corruption conviction per week for the last 20 years. It’s not any one person’s doing and I’m skeptical that the 892nd conviction will solve our problems. If, instead, we change the system, we change the future of Illinois politics.”

“The glass looks half full when it comes to sports wagering in Illinois at the end of 2020, and bettors are ready for that next pour in 2021.”

“All of Pritzker’s political instincts are averse to budget reductions. He wants to spend more, not less. That’s why he will inevitably propose more tax increases. His party certainly has the votes for that, but the question is whether enough of these always-tax-averse legislators have the will to follow Pritzker’s lead.”

The Sangamon County (which includes the state’s capitol city) Department of Public Health says the coronavirus positivity rate has fallen enough to let the businesses reopen for indoor service at 25% capacity. But Gov. J.B Pritzker’s office says the metrics that would allow the county return to limited indoor service have not been met.

According to new research published by the University of Illinois Springfield, educators say they are leaving the profession due to declining moral, inadequate resources and compromised safety during the pandemic.

Additionally, the Governor today issued pardons for 9,219 low-level cannabis conviction records, for a total of over 20,000 cannabis convictions now pardoned since the signing of the legislation.

“Since the University of Illinois began using its saliva COVID-19 test in July, workers have been collecting test tubes full of spit at more than 15 locations across campus, transporting them to the Veterinary Diagnostic Lab where they processed more than a million results… ‘Clinical test site workers are classified by IDPH as 1A.5 and are therefore a priority,’ McKinley Health Center Director Robert Parker said.”

Brady did not say the reason behind his resignation nor his plans for the future in his letter to supporters.

U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Springfield, said he would urge the incoming Biden administration to continue the ComEd investigation. “I don’t need to know any more detail that it’s timely and they’re actively engaged in it,” Durbin said. It’s unclear what stage the federal probe is in.

The state treasurers office estimates it will cost the state $8 million to start the program and another $1.5 million each year after.

Illinois needs to wait for guidance from the U.S. Department of Labor, IDES spokeswoman Rebecca Cisco said. “While there is language in the new federal stimulus law that allows states to waive certain PUA overpayments, how that new federal law should be applied is unclear and contingent on USDOL issuing guidance to unemployment agencies. USDOL has indicated that guidance of this type could take days or weeks to materialize.”

The 2020 coronavirus pandemic wreaked havoc on retail, restaurant and movie theater chains in Illinois and around the United States.