ILLINOIS SUPREME COURT:
Chief Justice Anne Burke announced her retirement from the Illinois Supreme Court. Her last day on the bench will be November 30, 2022. Chief Justice Burke served on the Supreme Court since 2006 and as Chief Justice since October 2019. Her term as Chief Justice concludes on October 25, 2022. Justice Burke’s full statement on her retirement is available here.
The Supreme Court has constitutional authority to fill interim judicial vacancies and appointed First District Appellate Justice Joy Cunningham to fill the seat vacated by Chief Justice Burke. Justice Cunningham, whose term is effective December 1, 2022 – December 2, 2024, will be the second Black woman to serve on the Illinois Supreme Court. The first, Justice Lisa Holder White, was appointed earlier this year.
GOVERNOR’S HIGHLIGHTS:
Disaster Proclamation: Governor JB Pritzker issued an emergency disaster proclamation and activated approximately 75 members of the Illinois National Guard to ensure all state resources are available to support asylum seekers arriving to Chicago from the State of Texas. The proclamation enables the Illinois Emergency Management Agency and other state agencies, in close coordination with the City of Chicago, Cook County, and other local governments, to ensure the individuals and families receive assistance including transport, emergency shelter and housing, food, health screenings, medical assessments, treatments, and other necessary care and services.
COVID Relief Funds: Over 1,200 small cities, towns, and villages across Illinois – known as Non-Entitlement Units (NEUs) – will receive $371 million as part of the second round of funding COVID funding through the federal American Rescue Plan Act. The full list of recipients and funding amounts is here. In total, NEUs are receiving a total of $742 million between the two rounds of allocations.
Unsewered Community Construction Grants: The Illinois Environmental Protection Agency is offering $20 million in grants through the Unsewered Communities Construction Grant Program for projects that will provide wastewater collection and/or treatment facilities for areas where there are currently none. A Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) has been posted to the Illinois EPA website.
COVID-19 Update: Governor Pritzker updated testing requirements for school and childcare personnel, rescinding the requirement that unvaccinated employees in these sectors test twice weekly. This change goes into effect Friday, September 15.
ILLINOIS GENERAL ASSEMBLY:
The House Appropriations-Higher Education Committee will hold a hearing on September 29 at 10:00 am in the Bilandic Building in Chicago to discuss assessing students’ awareness of financial literacy.