illinois

Brenda Dixon, the Illinois State Board of Education’s chief research and evaluation director, speaks to a Senate Committee on the importance of early childhood education Thursday via videoconference. (Credit: Blueroomstream.com)

Lawmakers discuss lowering compulsory school age

By PETER HANCOCK Capitol News Illinois SPRINGFIELD – Illinois lawmakers may soon consider legislation to lower the state’s compulsory attendance law to include 5-year-olds, a… Login to continue reading Login…

An Illinois Department of Employment Security Graphic shows the number of initial claims this week as compared to the four-week moving average. It also has the numbers for the previous week and a year ago. (Credit: Illinois Department of Employment Security)

COVID-19 hospitalizations at highest level since June

By JERRY NOWICKI , Capitol News Illinois      SPRINGFIELD – Hospitalizations for COVID-19 have jumped sharply, according to the latest data from the Illinois Department… Login to continue reading Login…

Gov. JB Pritzker takes questions about the state's COVID-19 response at an update in Chicago Wednesday. (Credit: Blueroomstream.com)

Pritzker: Positivity rate still too high in Illinois

By JERRY NOWICKI, Capitol News Illinois    SPRINGFIELD – While Illinois’ rolling average COVID-19 positivity rates remain lower than surrounding states, Gov. JB Pritzker said… Login to continue reading Login…

The graph shows the rolling, 7-day positivity rate for tests completed starting on June 1. Illinois Department of Public Health data was used to calculate the averages. (Credit: Jerry Nowicki of Capitol News Illinois)

Illinois surpasses 200,000 COVID-19 cases

By PETER HANCOCK Capitol News Illinois SPRINGFIELD – Illinois has now recorded more than 200,000 cases of COVID-19 since the pandemic first arrived in the… Login to continue reading Login…