Gov. JB Pritzker has extended the COVID-19 disaster in Illinois for another 30 days. He says the virus continues to infect and claim the lives of too many Illinoisans each day.

In the latest disaster proclamation, Pritzker wrote the number of new cases has increased recently and is at the highest point in several weeks. He also explained that the COVID-19 situation remains fluid as the BA.2 Omicron subvariant has caused significant surges in cases, hospitalizations and deaths in other parts of the world and is now leading to an increase of cases and hospitalizations in Illinois.

Illinois’ shrinking population could eventually lead to weakened economic prospects, a new study suggests.

According to Pew Charitable Trusts, a third of all states lost population in 2021. Among the 17 states where population declined over the year, losses were greatest in New York (-1.58%) and Illinois (-0.89%).

Democrats currently control Illinois, and incumbents are mostly running unopposed in the upcoming primary. But one race is turning into an interesting fight: secretary of state.

Why it matters: There is a three-way race to replace longtime Secretary of State Jesse White as the Democratic choice in November, the position’s first open primary since 1998.