*screams into pillow* chicagotribune.com/coronavirus/ct…

Welch takes the reins in the House: the new speaker on how he rallied enough support from House Dems to put him over the top & how he plans to lead: chicagotribune.com/politics/ct-ho…

Pritzker mobilizes 250 National Guard members to protect state capital amid FBI warning of potential armed protests chicagotribune.com/news/ct-pritzk…

Plywood goes up around the Illinois State Capitol as Gov. JB Pritzker announced Friday that he has activated members of the Illinois National Guard amid threats of armed protests. sj-r.com/story/news/202…

Prosecutors say grand jury selection in ComEd bribery case was not affected by the pandemic after defense team raised concerns the grand jury was not “representative of the community.” trib.al/OknF8Gz

My story: New state House Speaker Emanuel ‘Chris’ Welch made commitments for reform to force out Madigan. Can he keep them? - Chicago Tribune chicagotribune.com/politics/ct-il…

State Sen. Heather Steans, Chicago Democrat who was the driving force behind marijuana legalization, resigns her seat trib.al/Ori2Gug

Capitol Avenue now closed to traffic in front of the Illinois State Capitol.

During his first hours in office, President Joe Biden will sign a series of executive actions that will reverse his predecessor’s orders on immigration, climate change and the handling of the coronavirus pandemic. trib.al/qU0HvZL

WASHINGTON (AP) — Biden signs executive orders on COVID-19 response, authorizes broader use of Defense Production Act to speed vaccine.

Meanwhile on Capitol Hill, Bernie Sanders had this to say of the viral photo of him bundled up on Inauguration Day: It "makes people aware that we make good mittens in Vermont." He added, “We have some good coats as well.”

Illinois regions continue to hit bench marks allowing them to shed coronavirus restrictions, with Will & Kankakee counties & a central IL region seeing less stringent rules take effect today today and the Metro East poised to advance tomorrow: chicagotribune.com/coronavirus/ct…

BREAKING: House Speaker Nancy Pelosi plans to send the article of impeachment against Donald Trump to the Senate on Monday, launching the start of the former president's trial on a charge of incitement of insurrection over the deadly Capitol riot. apne.ws/Y52IoBO

Chicago and suburban Cook County are officially open for indoor dining for the first time since late October trib.al/icY1FTk

Eight more cases of the highly contagious coronavirus variant, first found in the U.K., have now been identified in Illinois: chicagotribune.com/coronavirus/ct…

The White House is boosting purchases of the two approved COVID-19 vaccines to deliver enough doses to vaccinate 300 million Americans by the end of the summer or early fall, President Joe Biden said Tuesday. trib.al/o0s8L8H

Every Illinois police officer would be required to wear a body camera by 2025 under bill awaiting Pritzker’s signature. But without penalties, will departments comply? Story with Jamie Munks. chicagotribune.com/politics/ct-il…

Filing a complaint against a Chicago cop? You wouldn’t have to sign your name to it under bill awaiting Gov. Pritzker's signature. Jeremy Gorner has the details. chicagotribune.com/news/criminal-…

My 82-year-old grandpa secured an appointment today to get his first dose of the vaccine on Friday. I was frantically trying to make one for him near where he lives in the northwest suburbs, to no avail, and he was able to make his own! A good day.

Illinois regions 8 & 9, which are DuPage & Kane + Lake & McHenry counties, are moving back to Phase 4 under the state's coronavirus reopening plan. Tighter restrictions were put in place during the resurgence that began in the fall & now most of the state has returned to Phase 4.