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The Latest Breaking News from J.B. Pritzker

Pritzker, Lightfoot join hundreds protesting Russian invasion of Ukraine

"Illinois is taking a stand against the bloodthirsty Russian invasion of the sovereign nation of Ukraine," Pritzker said to the massive throng gathered Sunday outside Saints Volodymyr & Olha Catholic Church in Ukrainian Village.

Chicago Sun-Times

Masks can come off Monday in most places in Illinois

CHICAGO — Just shy of the second anniversary of his proclamation declaring the coronavirus a statewide disaster, Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker will try again to turn the page on COVID-19 restrictions Monday when he lifts his much-contested mask mandate for most indoor public places.

Chicago Tribune

Pritzker halts Illinois' school mask mandate with arrival of new CDC guidance

CHICAGO — Gov. J.B. Pritzker said new federal COVID-19 guidance unveiled Friday will allow the state of Illinois to remove its school mask mandate on Monday, coinciding with the halting of the hotly debated virus mitigation strategy for the general public.

Chicago Tribune

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About face? Pritzker to end school mask edict Monday — after CDC eases guidelines and court denies appeal

Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s move came hours after the Illinois Supreme Court refused to hear his appeal of a decision in a lawsuit challenging Pritzker’s mask mandate. But the state’s top court also tossed a Sangamon County judge’s temporary restraining order, issued earlier this month, that invalidated the mandate.

Chicago Sun-Times

March mildness? COVID-19 cases down 94% from Omicron peak as masks in Illinois come off next week

Under new CDC guidelines, masks are still recommended in 21 counties across southern and central Illinois, but not in any part of the Chicago area.

Chicago Sun-Times

Incumbents in electoral trouble include Pritzker, Lightfoot, Democratic analyst says

Billionaire Ken Griffin has pumped $20 million into the gubernatorial campaign of Aurora Mayor Richard Irvin, who’s seeking the GOP nomination. And Lightfoot could face a challenge from Arne Duncan, the former U.S. education secretary.

Chicago Sun-Times

Illinois parole board frees elderly Chicago gang killer who once told board it could ‘shove’ it

Namor Smith, 74, was convicted of a gang-related shooting in 1968. He was frequently in trouble in prison, once wounding an inmate with a knife. He was previously paroled, only to be sent back to prison.

Chicago Sun-Times

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Great-grandson of a Ukrainian refugee, Pritzker denounces Russian invasion, warns of potential cyberattacks on Illinois

The state has close military ties of its own with Ukraine, with an Illinois Army National Guard task force providing training to troops in the country last year. A group of Illinois National Guard advisors returned from Poland earlier this month after working with a brigade including members of the…

Chicago Sun-Times

Invasion of Ukraine could raise gas prices by 50 cents a gallon, making ‘hard hand’ for Democrats even worse, former Obama adviser says

"It’s a huge political problem for President Biden, because we’re already feeling the effects of inflation related to the pandemic," David Axelrod told the Sun-Times. "As [Winston] Churchill did in Britain, [Biden] needs to explain to people why that sacrifice is necessary."

Chicago Sun-Times

Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul appeals state’s mask mandate ruling to state Supreme Court

Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul filed a petition for appeal, along with a motion for an emergency stay of a Sangamon County judge’s order to block enforcement of the rules. "Today, parents, teachers, school staff, and members of their communities are faced with impossible choices," the appeal argues.

Chicago Sun-Times

Lawyer who helped dismantle Pritzker’s school mask mandate announces run for attorney general

"We’ve got to put an end to this executive fiat of running our state by executives that think tyrannical behavior is OK," said Tom DeVore, whose challenges to Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s COVID-19 restrictions were mostly unsuccessful until this month. "And it’ll get nasty, but that’s OK. I’m not scared."

Chicago Sun-Times

Gov. Pritzker endorses City Clerk Valencia in Illinois secretary of state primary race

While rival candidate Alexi Giannoulias still holds a strong financial advantage over the field in terms of his campaign fund, that could change as the deep-pocketed governor hailed Anna Valencia’s "proven record of success" and declared she "represents the bright future of the Democratic party."

Chicago Sun-Times

Illinois governor's statewide school masking rule undone by courts. Here’s what happened

CHICAGO — Democratic Gov. J.B. Pritzker fully embraced his role in guiding the state through the coronavirus pandemic when he launched his reelection campaign in July, just a month after he had lifted nearly all restrictions as the vaccination effort gained steam and the state had fully reopened.

Chicago Tribune

Richard Irvin’s tough-on-crime campaign for Illinois governor ignores his years as criminal defense attorney

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — As a Republican candidate for governor, Richard Irvin has promoted himself as a no-nonsense, law-and-order candidate who as a onetime prosecutor put “gangsters, drug dealers and wife beaters” in jail.

Chicago Tribune

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Chicago Sun-Times

Ex-Illinois Gov. Edgar warns: To beat Gov. Pritzker, other Dems, GOP gov nominee should not ‘scare part of the state’

Edgar, a Republican, said on the Sun-Times "At the Table" talk show, "There’s no doubt Trump has a huge following in Downstate Illinois."

Chicago Sun-Times

Afternoon Edition: Feb. 18, 2022

Today’s update is a 5-minute read that will brief you on the day’s biggest stories.

Chicago Tribune

Pritzker to take school mask case to Illinois Supreme Court after ruling leaves masking up to local districts

CHICAGO — Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker said he will ask the Illinois Supreme Court to step in after his administration lost an attempt to keep statewide masking and other COVID-19 mitigation measures at schools in place, as more than 500 Illinois districts pivot to mask optional policies.

Chicago Sun-Times

Mask mandates now up to local school districts as Pritzker takes case to state Supreme Court

Chicago Public Schools said it will continue to require face masks.

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The Independent UK

Court upholds challenge to Illinois governor's mask rules

An appeals court has dismissed an appeal of a judge’s ruling that invalidated the Illinois governor’s requirement that masks be worn in schools to prevent the spread of COVID-19

Chicago Sun-Times

Bare-faced battle: Nine Republicans ousted from Illinois House for not wearing masks after heated debate

Democrats accused the nine maskless GOP lawmakers of wasting time on political theatrics, but the Republicans blasted the Democrats as hypocrites knuckling under the "tyrannical rule" of Gov. J.B. Pritzker.

Chicago Sun-Times

Pritzker says legislative panel’s suspension of emergency rules doesn’t affect his school mask mandate

Gov. J.B. Pritzker said his executive order requiring masks in schools and other measures remains in place, at least in districts not named in a pending lawsuit — even though a legislative panel voted Tuesday not to renew a set of emergency rules meant to implement that executive order.

Chicago Tribune

Pritzker school mask mandate losing steam as school districts go mask optional

Despite lawmakers soundly rejecting the Illinois Department of Public Health’s bid to extend its COVID-19 rules for schools this week, Gov. J.B. Pritzker said Wednesday his executive order on masks and other virus protocol still stands and should be followed by Illinois school districts.

Chicago Sun-Times

Bipartisan legislative panel rejects Pritzker’s attempt to reintroduce emergency mask mandate for schools

The decision by the bipartisan legislative oversight committee appears to temporarily suspend the emergency rule for schools across the state. Republicans called it a rejection of "Pritzker’s tyrannical reign," but the governor’s office argued "masks are the best way to preserve in-person learning and keep children and staff safe."

Chicago Sun-Times

Ken Griffin donates $20 million to Richard Irvin GOP governor campaign

Irvin, the Aurora mayor, faces four rivals in the GOP primary for governor.

Chicago Tribune

Illinois' GOP candidates for governor have to campaign in Trump’s shadow, maintain tough-on-crime message

CHICAGO — Illinois’ Republican candidates for governor are seeing their efforts to focus on local issues clouded by the overwhelming shadow of former President Donald Trump and his control over the national GOP.

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