Don’t ditch that mask just yet.

Gov. J.B. Pritzker is preparing an update for people who are fully vaccinated against COVID-19 to allow them to shed masks when taking part in outdoor activities. However, masks would still be required for large groups outside.

Gov. J.B. Pritkzer said Illinois could soon loosen COVID-19 restrictions if the state continues to see a drop in cases and hospitalizations.

To move into a “bridge phase” toward full reopening, the state needed to meet two measurements: 70% of residents 65 and older had to receive their first COVID-19 vaccine dose, and hospitalizations, COVID-19 illnesses and deaths had to see no significant increase over 28 days.

Illinois Comptroller Susana Mendoza says the state’s bill backlog has been virtually paid off.

At its height, Illinois’ bill backlog neared $17 billion. Mendoza says, as of Wednesday, about $3.5 billion in bills are outstanding, which is within the thirty day payment cycle commonly found in the private sector. The oldest commercial vouchers owed to vendors in the comptroller’s office are dated Monday, April 26.

An Illinois judge has ruled that Illinois’ Firearm Owners Identification (FOID) card law is unconstitutional.

The 2017 case, The People of Illinois vs. Vivian Claudine Brown, comes after Vivian Brown was accused of possessing a firearm without a FOID card.

A state Representative demanded the state’s unemployment offices under Gov. J.B. Pritzker be reopened immediately.

His demand was met with applause in the House chamber on Wednesday.