Mendoza says she’s reviewing federal relief rules
Illinois Comptroller Susana Mendoza says her office is reviewing federal guidance about how the state can use federal tax dollars as part of the COVID-19 relief package enacted earlier this year.
Illinois’ state budget is set to get nearly $8 billion over two years, but federal guidance says it can’t be used for debt.
It’s unclear if guidance will change before the May 31 deadline to pass a budget.
American Community Survey data not accurate enough, researcher says
A researcher with Northern Illinois University says Illinois is in the same pickle as the rest of the country with delayed Census data to draw legislative boundaries.
Normal, IL, USA / www.cities929.com
May 11, 2021 | 3:30 PM
(The Center Square) – Illinois House Republicans are formally asking the Illinois Attorney General to investigate the Pritzker administration’s handling of the COVID-19 outbreak at the LaSalle Veterans’ Home last fall that killed 36 residents.
A letter House Minority Leader Jim Durkin, R-Western Springs, sent Attorney General Kwame Raoul said the outbreak was avoidable.
“The [Inspector General for the Illinois Department of Human Services] is very troubling and saddening,” Durkin said. “Based on the findings made in the report, it is clear that the transfer of COVID-19 to vulnerable patients at LaSalle Veterans’ Home was avoidable. Caring for our aged veterans in our state facilities should always rise to the highest standard of care. That standard of care for our heroic veterans … was not met.”
SPRINGFIELD â Gov. J.B. Pritzker said Thursday that Illinois will enter the âbridgeâ phase to full reopening on Friday, May 14. And barring any reversal of current trends, Phase 5, or full reopening, will begin June 11.
He also announced that residents can now obtain COVID-19 vaccines from their physiciansâ offices, rather than just designated vaccine sites, as public health officials continue to confront hesitancy within many communities to accept the vaccines.
Thursdayâs announcement came as the state reached a new benchmark of having 55% of adults age 16 and over, and 80% of people age 65 and over, having received at least one dose of vaccine, according to the Illinois Department of Public Health. Meanwhile, the daily number of new cases, hospitalization rates and intensive care unit usage have all been falling or leveling off.
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Presented by the Paul Simon-Jim Edgar Statesmanship Award
Good Tuesday morning, Illinois. Another bit of normalcy: Chicago public health Commissioner Allison Arwady told aldermen Monday she expects block parties will return this summer.
TOP TALKER
Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker put the James R. Thompson Center up for sale May 3, 3021, announcing a request for proposals on purchasing the state government building. | Getty Image
Some Republicans in the General Assembly, including House Minority Leader Jim Durkin, are calling for a criminal investigation into the coronavirus-related deaths at the state-run LaSalle Veterans’ Home.
The push for a criminal probe comes after a state investigative report was released Friday that found there were widespread failures at the LaSalle facility and the Illinois Department of Veterans’ Affairs that contributed to 36 resident deaths there since November. […]
“I wouldn’t say we’re at the level of probable cause, but it certainly does warrant further investigation on whether or not criminal negligence did take place because not only were (veterans) injured and became ill, but we did have deaths at that facility,” Durkin, of Western Springs, said at a news conference Friday.