GOVERNOR’S HIGHLIGHTS:
COVID-19 Updates:
Region 4 is the first of Illinois’ 11 regions to reach resurgence criteria triggering new mitigation measures effective August 18th. Region 4 includes Bond, Clinton, Madison, Monroe, Randolph, St. Clair and Washington counties. The Governor’s latest Executive Order governing Region 4 is here . Additional information on the new guidelines is here.
Region 4 mitigation measures include the following:• Meetings, social events, and other gatherings are now limited to the lesser of 25 individuals or 25 percent of overall room capacity.• All bars, restaurants, gaming facilities, and casinos will close at 11 pm, matching the newly imposed closing times for St. Louis. • All reception halls closed.• Party buses not allowed to operate.• Reservations required for each party at restaurants and bars, and no congregating indoors or outdoors.• Indoor tables reduced to six people or less.• No dancing indoors. • Removal of bar stools at bars to help prevent congregating.• Tables should continue to be six feet apart.
On Thursday, the Illinois Department of Public Health announced 1,832 new cases of COVID-19 in Illinois, including 27 additional deaths. The preliminary seven-day statewide positivity for cases from August 13 – August 19 climbed to 4.4%. As of Wednesday night, 1,519 people in Illinois were reported to be in the hospital with COVID-19. Of those, 357 patients were in the ICU and 124 patients with COVID-19 were on ventilators.
COVID-19 Testing: Illinois is processing approximately 50,000 nasal swab tests per day. The University of Illinois received emergency FDA approval for their salvia based COVID-19 testing. The test produces faster results than current nasal swab and the University is working with partners to make the testing method broadly available as soon as possible.
COVID-19 Travel Map: The Illinois Department of Public Health launched its new COVID-19 travel map to help inform residents of potential risks associated with traveling during the pandemic. The map indicates areas with increased risk of COVID-19 based on case rates. Locations that have an average daily case rate of 15 cases per 100,000 or greater are designated as “higher risk” on the map.
Capital Projects: Governor JB Pritzker and the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity announced $39.5 million in new grants awarded for 27 capital development projects. $24.8 million is allocated from the Fast-Track Public Infrastructure Capital program and $14.7 million is allocated for projects located in Opportunity Zones.Funding is supported by the Rebuild Illinois capital plan and will be used to accelerate shovel-ready public works projects as well as long-term infrastructure upgrades in underserved communities around the state. More information is here.
Moratorium on Evictions: Governor Pritzker is expected to extend the moratorium on evictions for another 30 days when the current order expires on August 22nd.
101st GENERAL ASSEMBLY:
Bartlett resident Seth Lewis was selected by local Republicans to run for the 45th State Representative District, which includes all or parts of Addison, Bartlett, Bloomingdale, Carol Stream, Itasca, Roselle, West Chicago, and Wood Dale. The move comes after Dr. Michael Camerer, who won the Republican nomination for the 45th District in March, passed away. Lewis will face first-term Democratic Representative Diane Pappas in November.
State Senator Terry Link announced he will resign as leader of the Lake County Democratic Party effective September 15th. Link is facing federal tax evasion charges. It is rumored that Link will also be stepping down from this Senate seat, but there has been no official announcement at this time.
Last week a collation of Democratic legislators from the Illinois House and Senate revealed their ethics reform package. The group called upon the Joint Commission on Ethics Reforms to consider and approve the measures for consideration in the Fall Veto Session. The Joint Commission began their work earlier in the year, but their efforts halted due to the pandemic.
The reforms were crafted by Senators Manar, Steans, Martinez, Lightford, Fine and Feigenholtz along with Representatives Ramirez, Cassidy, Morgan, Didech, Edly-allen, Gabel, Gong-Gerschowitz and LaPointe.The proposal includes 9 items in the areas of lobbying reform, legislative reform and leadership reform.
The ethics packing includes:· Prohibiting legislator lobbyists.· Stopping the legislator -lobbyist revolving door.· Better defining who is a lobbyist.· Increasing disclosure of outside income.· Initiating an official censure.· Strengthening the Legislative Inspector General.· Ending the exemption from the Human Rights Act for legislative employees.· Enacting term-limits for legislative leaders.· Removing leaders and committee chairs during any criminal investigation relevant to job duties.More information is here.
Rep. Cabello filed HB5821 which extends the powers of home rule to non-home rule communities with the exception of the powers to tax, impose fees and incur debt.