As new cases of COVID-19 surge and hospitalizations spike, Illinois public health experts are watching New York City’s move to require proof of vaccination for entering indoor restaurants and gyms, but there’s no plan for local governments to replicate it, officials said.

New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio on Tuesday announced the new rule that applies to people with at least one dose of vaccine and also includes indoor entertainment facilities with enforcement to begin Sept. 13. “If you’re unvaccinated, unfortunately, you will not be able to participate in many things,” de Blasio said.

Illinois’ flawed pension funding system weighs heavily on the ratings of some struggling local government ratings and legislative action to date has made little headway in solving the quagmire, S&P Global Ratings warns.

State legislative action consolidating suburban and downstate public safety funds and moving Chicago to an actuarial-based contribution help but they fall short of alleviating the pressures bearing down on municipalities to achieve better-funded ratios.

Student loans are burying Americans in debt and forcing them to delay marriage, parenthood and home ownership.

That was the message from Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul, who testified on Tuesday during a hearing on student loan bankruptcy held by the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee.

A lawsuit was filed this week by former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich.

The former Governor is suing the state over not being allowed to run for elected office in Illinois.