pandemic

Education services extended for special needs students (Chicago, IL) - Students with special needs will be able to finish their last year of high school regardless of when their birthday falls on the calendar, while those who lost a year or more of in-person schooling due to the pandemic and have since aged out of special education eligibility will be given another year to complete their schooling.

Illinois Republicans blast Pritzker, Lightfoot for Chicago's unemployment rate (Springfield, IL) - Illinois Republicans are pointing a finger at Gov. J.B. Pritzker and Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot for the state’s shrinking job market.

Pritzker has ‘no plans’ for added mitigations; ‘local control’ is focus of new school guidelines (Springfield, IL) - The wide availability of COVID-19 vaccines has changed the state’s approach for mitigating the virus’ spread statewide and in schools.

State revenues surged in previous fiscal year (Springfield, IL) - Revenues flowing into state coffers surged in the fiscal year that ended June 30, spurred largely by an influx of federal funds, the delayed deadline for filing income tax returns last year and an economic recovery that boosted income and sales tax collections beyond what had been estimated.

Teacher Ashlee Thompson had a lot to worry about this year: A deadly virus. A poor district under threat by the state. And now, a new mandate for her students: Learn to read or flunk the third grade.

Illinois economy surges in first quarter (Springfield, IL) - The Illinois economy showed strong signs of recovery during the first quarter of 2021 as businesses continued to reopen from the pandemic and direct government payments flowed to businesses and individual consumers.

Guest: Mental Health Forum - George joins Senators Sims & Joyce and Stacy Jones from Counseling Works for a discussion about mental health during the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Bennett: 'I ask Gov. Pritzker to help our small businesses now' (Springfield, IL) - Veteran state Rep. Tom Bennett (R-Watseka) is pushing the governor to help small businesses that are still struggling across the state.

Preckwinkle Details COVID-19 Financial Impact and Recovery with Preliminary Budget Forecast (Cook County, IL) - Outlining an optimistic budget recovering from the financial strain of the coronavirus pandemic, Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle today released the preliminary forecast for the County’s Fiscal Year 2022 showing a projected gap of approximately $121.4 million.

DePaul College Prep's Stanton-Anderson: No decision yet on mandatory vaccines (Chicago, IL) - DePaul College Prep Principal Dr. Megan Stanton-Anderson recently responded to a parent’s concern that the school would make COVID-19 vaccinations for students mandatory.