The rising metrics statewide are being driven in large part by the worsening situation downstate, according to officials. All of those counties have lower vaccination rates, and two of them have less than 30% of their populations fully vaccinate

A handful of people on the video urged District 12 officials at Tuesday’s meeting to make masks optional for all students, whether or not they’ve been vaccinated against COVID-19. Some raised concerns about cardiac issues resulting from COVID-19 vaccines and argued that kids don’t spread the virus. District 12 has decided to make face coverings optional for all students, but has recommended that those who have not gotten vaccinated continue to wear masks.

“Republicans were quick to blame super-majority Democrats for refusing to take strong action on ethics, a fair criticism because Democrats control state government in Illinois. Unfortunately, there has long been a bipartisan lack of enthusiasm for writing rules that restrict legislators’ ability to feather their own nests.”

The wholesale price of natural gas—in the Chicago area the key commodity that sets the price of power in addition to keeping homes and businesses warm in the winter—is double what it was a year ago. Futures contracts for delivery of the fuel months in advance show prices well above last winter’s persisting through the coming cold-weather months.

Sales taxes, income taxes, property taxes gasoline taxes and cell phone taxes are all among the nation’s highest in Illinois. An Illinoisan over a lifetime will pay $693,792 in taxes, which is 43% of everything that person will earn and is one-third more than the U.S. average.