Get the latest news from around Illinois.
Chicago Tribune: Coronavirus in Illinois updates: In biggest one-day jump yet, 1,209 new known COVID-19 cases and 53 more deaths across the state
Gov. J.B. Pritzker confirmed 1,209 new known COVID-19 cases and 53 more deaths on Friday. That’s 8,904 known infections and 210 dead, in the biggest jump in both cases and deaths in one day since the outbreak began and nearly two weeks into Pritzker’s stay-at-home order.
Additionally, the first loss of a Chicago police officer linked to COVID-19 will be considered an on-duty death, police leaders said Friday, giving the officer’s family access to special financial benefits.
The Center Square: Illinois' economy more vulnerable to COVID-19 pandemic than most other states
Illinois ranked near the top in a new study of state economies most vulnerable to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Personal finance website WalletHub said some states are better positioned economically to deal with the pandemic than others, and ranked Illinois the 10th most vulnerable.
Chicago Sun-Times: Illinois bans activities at state parks amid coronavirus outbreak
Illinois has barred all activities at state parks, fish and wildlife areas, recreational areas and historic sites in another move to stem the spread of the coronavirus.
Colleen Callahan, director of the Illinois Department of Natural Resources, said in a statement that hunters and anglers aren’t allowed to receive refunds on state-issued permits or permit transfers due to administrative guidelines under the state wildlife code.
WBEZ: Illinois hospitals race to increase staff for expected surge of COVID-19 cases
Every day, hospitals in the Chicago area send home nurses and doctors who catch COVID-19 at work or are exposed to it, creating a staffing crunch that will likely get worse soon.
As Illinois expects the number of cases of the coronavirus — and hospitalizations of the sickest patients — to surge in the coming weeks, hospitals are racing to staff up.
The Center Square: Report shows 14,000 layoffs in Illinois, many permanent
The state’s March employment report listed more than 14,700 layoffs in Illinois, an indication of how companies in a variety of industries are struggling amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
Of the 14,702 layoffs reported to the state in the March report, 8,970 were listed as permanent and 5,592 were listed as temporary. Another 140 were listed as a mix of temporary and permanent.
Crain's Chicago Business: Small-biz loan program off to a rocky start
But it’s not clear whether these are temporary birth pains that will be resolved in the next few days, or are signs of more trouble for a sector crucial to the Chicago-area economy. The forgivable loans are a key part of the $2.2 trillion federal COVID-19 relief and stimulus bill.
The Center Square: State senator calls for full year, austere budget for Illinois fiscal year
An Illinois state senator in the minority doesn’t expect the legislature to hit the deadline to pass a budget with simple majorities, which could require more bipartisanship.
From all indications, the second quarter of this year is going to be ugly for the national economy. Illinois traditionally has a weaker performance than the national average, which means budgeting for the coming fiscal year could be tight.
Chicago Sun-Times: Rapid coronavirus testing starting in Illinois
Gov. J.B. Pritzker announced Thursday that Illinois was set to receive 15 machines that process rapid COVID-19 tests developed by North Chicago-based Abbott Labs.
During his daily press briefing, Pritzker said the first shipment was expected later Thursday, adding that representatives from the medical supply firm assured him that its home state “is a priority for them.”
The Center Square: Registration renewals move online as COVID-19 outbreak continues
More Illinoisans are taking care of driver services online since the beginning of the stay-at-home order issued by Gov. J.B. Pritzker to reduce the spread of COVID-19.
The Illinois Secretary of State’s Office reports a 64 percent increase in online vehicle registration renewals compared to last year.
Chicago Tribune: Amid coronavirus outbreak, Mayor Lori Lightfoot says no plans to close Chicago streets to traffic and open them to exercise
Mayor Lori Lightfoot said she doesn’t have plans to close streets to traffic and open them up for people to run and do their exercise there instead.
“That’s not in our immediate plans,” Lightfoot said at a news conference to praise people and businesses who support first responders.
Chicago Sun-Times: Chicago movie studio boss turned FBI mole eyes expansion — across from FBI offices
FBI mole Alexander S. Pissios — the president of Chicago’s largest film studio who secretly recorded conversations to help federal authorities nail longtime Chicago Teamsters union boss John T. Coli Sr. for extortion — wants to build another studio, this time on government land right across the street from the FBI, records show.
Pissios, who heads Cinespace Chicago Film Studios, is negotiating to buy or lease 9.25 acres from the Illinois Medical District, a government agency overseen by Gov. J.B. Pritzker, Mayor Lori Lightfoot and Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle.
Crain's Chicago Business: Cook County drawing on $100M credit line
According to a memo to county commissioners from county Chief Financial Officer Ammar Rizki, “the situation surrounding COVID-19 will most likely result in a need for expedited liquidity. The county will likely see a delay and a decrease in revenues in FY 2020 due to COVID-19. Accordingly, it would be prudent for the county to be prepared to drawdown on the (line of credit) to meet its obligations and expenses over the next several months.”
Chicago Sun-Times: Lightfoot ‘got my man’ in David Brown, but did she subvert process for choosing top cop?
Five months ago, Mayor Lori Lightfoot said the process of choosing Chicago’s next police superintendent “only has legitimacy if you follow it.”
She promised to pick from among the Chicago Police Board’s three finalists without doing her own back-channel search.
Chicago Tribune: The coronavirus pandemic could slow growth of applications for Illinois medical marijuana cards
As Illinoisans stay home amid the coronavirus pandemic, one expert predicts that fewer people will apply for medical marijuana cards.
Medical marijuana patient count has steadily increased for months, as the state’s program grew and the number of qualifying conditions increased. There was also an upswing in early January, after recreational weed became legal, as consumers sought ways around sky-high taxes and priority access to weed during a statewide product shortage.