Gov. J.B. Pritzker ended speculation about re-election, announcing he and Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton will seek a second term. While the governor has been criticized by some for decisions he's made regarding the pandemic, Pritzker made it clear he will promote his record.
State leaders are also watching the COVID-19 variants that are resulting in more cases. The concerns come as students prepare to return to classrooms next month. School districts have been given local control of safety measures and that's resulted in a patchwork of protocols across the state.
Host Sean Crawford is joined by NPR Illinois Statehouse Editor Hannah Meisel, UIC Professor Chris Mooney and Mark Maxwell, Capitol Bureau Chief for WCIA-TV. Charlie Wheeler is on vacation.
