More than one-third of the proceeds Illinois businesses and nonprofits received through the federal Paycheck Protection Program went to less than 2% of the state’s borrowers, according to data released late Tuesday by the Small Business Administration.
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Pantagraph: More than one-third of PPP money in Illinois went to employers that got $1 million or more, new SBA data shows
Almost 4,000 businesses in Illinois received loans of $1 million or above, adding up to about $8.67 billion, or about 37% of the total. In Illinois, the SBA approved more than 221,000 loans worth nearly $23 billion, according to the newly published data.
CBS Chicago: Over 74,000 Unemployment Claims Filed In Illinois For Week Of Nov. 22, Amid COVID-19 Pandemic
The Illinois Department of Employment Security reported 74,131 new unemployment claims were filed across the state last week, the week of Nov. 22.
Illinois’ estimated claims were among 712,000 total filed across the country last week.
Sun-Times: Lightfoot leaves little doubt: Speaker Madigan must give up the gavel
Mayor Lori Lightfoot didn’t come right out and say it Thursday, but she left little doubt she believes it’s time for embattled Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan to give up the gavel.
“Our democracy depends upon the people believing … that the leaders stand for them. That we are working hard every single day on behalf of the people and not on behalf of ourselves. That is the only way that our democracy will survive and flourish — if people have confidence in the people they elected to do the right thing for them,” the mayor said.
The Center Square: Pritzker says Illinois spending cuts happening behind the scenes
Gov. J.B. Pritzker said reductions in state spending are happening behind the scenes.
He didn’t provide any specific examples. He also said he needs the legislature to reconvene in order to make real reductions in the state’s spending.
Asked on Tuesday why his office has
Chicago Tribune: Embattled Madigan to make his case before supportive House Black caucus on Saturday
Embattled House Speaker Michael Madigan, his bid for reelection to the post in jeopardy, will appear Saturday at a “candidate’s forum” hosted by one of his most loyal constituencies — the House Black caucus.
With 19 of the projected 73 Democrats who will sit in the next session of the House opposing Madigan’s reelection — leaving him six short of approval — the move by the nation’s longest-serving speaker is aimed at both shoring up and demonstrating support from a highly active caucus of House Democrats.
Chicago Tribune: How did your neighbors vote for president, Senate and the graduated-rate income tax amendment?
Joe Biden won Illinois by nearly 17 percentage points, Sen. Dick Durbin sailed to reelection over Republican challenger Mark Curran and the graduated-rate income tax amendment fell by a wide margin.
The statewide results were mirrored in final tallies from Chicago and the collar counties. Biden defeated President Donald Trump in those areas by a 57.4% to 40.7% margin; Durbin had 54.5% of the vote to Curran’s 38.8%; and Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s proposed income tax amendment fell 53.4% to 46.6%.