Jim Dey: “Tongues were set wagging Wednesday during a routine status hearing in Chicago federal court for defendants in the Commonwealth Edison bribery scandal. It was no big deal until a defense attorney suggested — and a federal prosecutor then confirmed — that the U.S. Attorney’s Office may file a new, expanded — called “superseding” — indictment in the case.”

While Republicans continue looking for cuts Pritzker has previously requested from state agencies, Democrats and the governor are looking to end what they call “corporate loopholes” to the tune of nearly $1 billion.

While Illinois teachers unions fought to keep many public schools closed, notably in Chicago, many private schools reopened for in-person learning, often adopting a hybrid model. Now, the teachers unions want to give the state authority to mandate one set of health standards that all schools, public and private, must follow.

The Illinois Department of Employment Security was ill-prepared to handle record numbers of unemployed workers when the COVID-19 pandemic hit, was slow to distribute federal help, exposed Illinoisans’ private information, then lefts thousands on hold awaiting answers.

Pritzker’s reversal came after state lawmakers were gearing up to fight for the money, which is targeted at closing funding gaps between wealthier and poorer schools.

“If Bill HB 2789 becomes law, it empowers the state to impose new health mandates on in-person learning in ALL schools, including nonpublic.”

IDES says are still exploring virtual appointments with no date set yet. And there are no plans to reopen offices for in-person service, due to threats made against the agency and a concern over creating a “chaotic environment.”

The House adjourned after less than 10 minutes of session Friday morning.

“That doesn’t mean recovery happens on June 11th, the potential date for phase five,” RACVB President and CEO John Groh said. “It’s going to be a couple years I think before we make it to full recovery compared to 2019.”

Don Tracy, chairman of the Illinois Republican Party: “But talk is cheap, and some politicians’ promises are apparently meant to be broken. Now that they’re in charge, Pritzker, Welch, and their confidant in the Senate (President Don Harmon) are forging ahead with an overtly partisan redistricting plan. Pritzker and Welch are breaking their commitment, and they aren’t even trying to hide it.”

Senate Bill 1747, introduced by Sen. Melinda Bush as the Illinois Energy Transition Zone Act, creates tax advantaged districts to incentivize “green energy enterprises” in areas previously reliant on coal and nuclear energy.

According to the report, supervisors at the Pulaski County facility “did not consistently enforce precautions including use of facial coverings and social distancing, which may have contributed to repeated COVID-19 transmissions at the facility.” As of May 5, the Pulaski facility reported 114 total cases of COVID-19, zero deaths and two active COVID-19 cases.

With the amendments under HB 158, employees can also use their personal sick leave benefits for their family member’s “personal care.” Personal care includes activities to ensure that the family member’s basic medical, hygiene, nutritional, or safety needs are met, or to provide transportation to medical appointments, for a family member who is unable to meet their own needs.

Although Illinois Senate President Don Harmon recently promised “inclusion” and called “for room at the table,” early indications point to business as usual as Democrats run a hurry-up offense in an effort to draw new congressional maps without added input from Republicans.

Ann Miller, of the Illinois Policy Institute: “Instead of showing his appreciation for our mothers’ sacrifices in these unprecedented times, Pritzker proposes cutting scholarships for low- and middle-income families, the costs of which will disproportionately fall on mothers.”

One month after the first stay-at-home orders, approximately 7% of prime working-age Illinois mothers were missing from the labor force because of COVID-19 and public health measures, compared to 5% on average across the country. This decline in labor force participation for working moms will have negative implications for their lifetime earnings and for the gender employment gap.

Other states have been much quicker to fully reopen, with 15 states lifting all restrictions by the end of March. Those included two of Illinois’ neighbors, Missouri and Iowa. Illinois still had 482,661 idled workers collecting unemployment benefits as of May 1.