Illinois

Officials talk about the possible return of masks for Illinois

Published

3 years ago

April 16, 2022

Officials talk about the possible return of masks for Illinois

Illinoisans dreading the potential return of an indoor masks mandate can relaxation straightforward, for now.

Metropolis well being officers in Philadelphia have introduced a masks mandate, together with in colleges, that takes impact subsequent week. A number of universities on the East Coast have additionally reinstated masks mandates for college kids and employees.

Though a statewide mandate in Illinois just isn’t being mentioned, Gov. J.B. Pritzker stated on Wednesday that each group within the state ought to contemplate a masks mandate relying on their native circumstances.

“I feel that cities and cities throughout Illinois, to not point out throughout the nation, ought to do what they really feel is important of their communities to maintain individuals secure,” stated Pritzker.

Pritzker stated right now by way of new circumstances statewide, he feels Illinois is in place.

The appearing head of the Illinois Division of Public Well being stated there aren’t any plans to revive a statewide masks mandate, however Dr. Amaal Tokars left the door barely open.

“That isn’t one thing that we’re speaking about right now,” stated Tokars. “Nonetheless, I’d by no means say that nothing is feasible. We’re going to do what we expect is wisest and greatest based mostly on the present circumstances that we see.”

The Biden Administration introduced Wednesday that it’s extending the nationwide masks requirement for public transit for 15 days because it screens the uptick in COVID-19 circumstances.

The U.S. Facilities for Illness Management and Prevention (CDC) stated it was extending the order till Might 3 to permit extra time to check the BA.2 omicron subvariant that’s now accountable for almost all of circumstances within the U.S.

“So as to assess the potential influence the rise in circumstances has on extreme illness, together with hospitalizations and deaths, the well being care system capability, the CDC order will stay in place right now,” the company stated in an announcement.

The CDC recommends that masks be worn in areas which have a “excessive danger” of COVID transmission. There are 19 counties in the USA which can be at present in that prime danger class, with 4 of them in Illinois.

Saline, Gallatin, Pope and Hardin counties, situated within the southern tip of Illinois, are all seeing will increase in COVID circumstances in latest days.

Dr. Anthony Fauci, chief medical advisor to the President of United States, informed ABC Information this previous weekend that the virus just isn’t going to be eradicated and it is not going to be eradicated.

“And what’s going to occur is that we’re going to see that every particular person goes to should make their calculation of the quantity of danger that they wish to soak up going to indoor dinners and going to features,” stated Fauci.

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Illinois

It’s Alabama: Dunlap recruit Mack Sutter chooses iconic college football destination

Published

5 hours ago

June 26, 2025

Press Room

It’s Alabama: Dunlap recruit Mack Sutter chooses iconic college football destination

Sutter chose the Crimson Tide over Illinois, Ole Miss, and Ohio State.
He is the No. 1 prospect in Illinois and the No. 80 prospect nationally, according to 247Sports Composite.
Sutter is the first tight end in Alabama’s 2026 recruiting class.

PEORIA — Roll Tide.

Dunlap four-star tight end Mack Sutter announced his commitment to Alabama on Thursday night before family and friends at Weaver’s Fresh Food and Drink.

Sutter thanks his teammates, coaches, friends and family before choosing the Southeastern Conference power over other finalists Illinois, Ole Miss and Ohio State. He then pulled on a maroon long-sleeved shirt before grabbing a few others and tossing them to the crowd.

“Thank you guys for pushing me every day. I’m so lucky to have a great group of guys to compete with every day,” Sutter said. “… Most of all, my parents, I am just so grateful for them. They’ve guided me and shaped me into the man I am today.”

The 6-foot-6, 225-pound senior-to-be made Alabama his final official visit on June 20. He’ll join the Tide’s 11-member recruiting Class of 2026 that features five-star cornerback Jorden Edmonds and four-star athlete Zyan Gibson.

Sutter becomes the first tight end, and the third highest-ranked Alabama commit in the class of 2026, ranking as the No. 80 prospect nationally, seventh-ranked tight end and the No. 1 prospect in Illinois by 247Sports Composite.

During the last 18 months, Sutter picked up 45 scholarship offers highlighted by a combined 30 offers from the Big Ten SEC. He is one of the most sought-after football recruits in Peoria-area history.

“Mack,” Dunlap football coach Brett Cazalet said, “the reason he had so many offers and so many opportunities is not only because of his physical traits, but also, when a coach sits down and talks to him for just a couple minutes and sees how he wants to be as a player, what kind of young man he is.

“Yeah, it’s a no brainer. You want a guy like that in your program.”

For Sutter, this most recent trip to Tuscaloosa came after he attended a pair of Alabama games during the 2024 season. He was at Alabama’s 41-34 win over Georgia in September, then attended the annual Iron Bowl against Auburn in November where Bama won 28-14.

“It was unreal,” Sutter told the Journal Star in December after attending the Egg Bowl and Iron Bowl on back-to-back days. “They were both pretty electric games, so it was sweet seeing that. … You could tell that it was big-time football down there.”

Sutter joins an Alabama tight end room that should be completely revamped heading into 2026, according to Colin Gay of the Tuscaloosa News. It could be headlined by returnees Marshall Pritchett and Kaleb Edwards, along with West Virginia transfer Jack Sammarco.

“At Alabama, tight end is a ‘developmental’ position, one where freshmen rarely see the field,” Gay wrote, adding that Sutter will “need to develop blocking SEC-level tackles before he sees significant playing time.”

Sutter and Dunlap will open the 2025 campaign on the road against Galesburg at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Aug. 29.

Adam Duvall is a Journal Star sports reporter. Email him at aduvall@pjstar.com. Follow him on Twitter @AdamDuvall.

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Illinois

Miami Heat Draft Illinois’ Kasparas Jakucionis: What He’ll Bring

Published

22 hours ago

June 26, 2025

Press Room

Miami Heat Draft Illinois’ Kasparas Jakucionis: What He’ll Bring

On Wednesday, the Miami Heat drafted Illinois guard Kasparas Jakucionis with the 20th pick in the NBA Draft. After he was projected in the No. 8-12 range, Jakucionis’ slip to 20 was a bit of a surprise, but the Heat snatched him up in what figures to be an excellent match for both player and franchise.

With the 20th pick of the NBA Draft the @MiamiHEAT select Kasparas Jakučionis!
2025 #NBADraft presented by State Farm LIVE on ABC & ESPN!
— NBA Draft (@NBADraft) June 26, 2025

Here’s what Miami can expect to get from Jakucionis:

Offensively, Jakucionis is a dynamic scorer and a game-altering playmaker. Although he isn’t a superb athlete, he has solid burst in his first step and plays with a distinct herky-jerky change of pace, while possessing highly coveted positional size (6-foot-6 at point guard). Terrifically crafty and exceptionally patient in the paint, Jakucionis has in his bag seemingly every up-fake, step-through and spin known to mankind.

With the ability to finish with either hand and in practically any manner (same hand, same foot, high off the glass, etc.), Jakucionis finishes well at the rim and is even better at drawing fouls (he shot 5.1 free throws per game last season) – an ability that will only be enhanced by offense-lenient whistles in the league.

As a shooter, Jakucionis has a smooth stroke and always appears to be balanced on his jumper. Although he shot just 31.8 percent from deep, Jakucionis did connect on 1.6 threes per game, and notably took ill-advised jumpers – often step-backs – at times. Between the eye test and his excellent free throw percentage (84.5 percent), he can be expected to boost that percentage as an NBA player – perhaps quickly.

The top table-setter in this draft class, Jakucionis has that third eye – the ability to see a play unfold before it actually happens – and subsequently can move defenders around like pieces on a chess board. He’s an on-target passer, able to deliver dimes with either hand.

Jakucionis brings together the best pieces of his game – change of pace, craftiness, feel and passing – to create a dominant ball handler in screen-and-roll situations. He makes consistently strong decisions in the two-man game, understanding when to hit his roller, the spot-up shooter in the corner or finish off a play with a bucket himself.

Yet Jakucionis is hardly a perfect player – and the shortcomings in his game are quite apparent. He led the Big Ten in turnovers per game last season (3.7) and has a tendency to dribble himself into poor situations too often – or simply lose his handle altogether. With a high dribble and an occasionally overconfident attitude toward ball security, Jakucionis is prone to getting his pocket picked. He also forces passes into tight windows, which can make him look like Magic Johnson’s heir apparent but just as often makes him look like an alter ego: Tragic Johnson.

Still, the turnovers can be cleaned up over time, and they often aren’t a stat that deters NBA front offices – especially in young point guards. The biggest question mark surrounding Jakucionis in the early going will be his lack of athleticism and, in turn, his ability to effectively defend at the next level.

His quick burst on the offensive end hasn’t translated to defense, and he isn’t a high flyer. Jakucionis’ tendency to fall asleep in help-side certainly doesn’t bolster his case. But given his high-IQ offense, there’s potential for him to develop into an average NBA defender who can rely on anticipation to stay afloat, while making sure his presence is felt on the other end.

Come back to Illinois on SI for news, analysis, social media reactions and more coverage of Illinois in the NBA Draft.

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Illinois

A new study finds Illinois needs to build 45,000 homes for five years to address its housing shortage

Published

2 days ago

June 25, 2025

Press Room

A new study finds Illinois needs to build 45,000 homes for five years to address its housing shortage

A new study shows Illinois has a housing shortage of 142,000 homes and would need to build 45,000 homes each year for the next five years to meet demand.

Researchers from the Illinois Economic Policy Institute and the Project for Middle Class Renewal at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign found that rising incomes, employment growth and higher rates of homeownership have increased demand for housing.

The study shows employment in Illinois has increased more than 9% since 2010, and the state now has more than 5 million households — a 4% growth over the past five years.

Frank Manzo IV, co-author of the report and economist with the Illinois Economic Policy Institute, said there aren’t enough houses on the market to accommodate rising interest in homeownership.

“The number of active listings of homes that are for sale are 64% lower than they were prior to the pandemic,” Manzo said. “So, a huge drop-off in the number of homes for sale right at the time when more people are working and more people are earning incomes and wanting to buy their first homes or upgrade to better homes.”

The study shows a 37% increase in the average value of an Illinois home over the past five years.

It also shows the state has averaged only 19,000 building permits for new homes annually since 2020, which is below pre-pandemic levels.

Manzo said the homes that are available cost more as time goes on.

“Improving affordability would require a substantial increase in housing supply to boost inventory, the number of homes for sale and the number of homes being built,” he said. “Illinois could take a number of steps, and these could be statewide.”

He also said easing zoning restrictions, fast-tracking permits and increasing surtaxes on short-term rentals like Airbnb and Vrbo could bring more homes to the market.

While the report shows Illinois is more affordable than most other states, Manzo said there are some factors that can’t be controlled, such as mortgage rates or tariffs on building supplies.

However, Manzo said taking steps to increase affordability will benefit both current and future residents.

“They can take action to reduce the barriers for prospective buyers, for renters, for developers,” he said. “And the data certainly argues in favor of policy changes that boost the number of homes that are available for people to purchase and the number of homes that are affordable for people to purchase.”

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