The Latest Breaking News from J.B. Pritzker

Edgar, a Republican, said on the Sun-Times "At the Table" talk show, "There’s no doubt Trump has a huge following in Downstate Illinois."

Today’s update is a 5-minute read that will brief you on the day’s biggest stories.

CHICAGO — Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker said he will ask the Illinois Supreme Court to step in after his administration lost an attempt to keep statewide masking and other COVID-19 mitigation measures at schools in place, as more than 500 Illinois districts pivot to mask optional policies.

Chicago Public Schools said it will continue to require face masks.

An appeals court has dismissed an appeal of a judge’s ruling that invalidated the Illinois governor’s requirement that masks be worn in schools to prevent the spread of COVID-19

Democrats accused the nine maskless GOP lawmakers of wasting time on political theatrics, but the Republicans blasted the Democrats as hypocrites knuckling under the "tyrannical rule" of Gov. J.B. Pritzker.

Gov. J.B. Pritzker said his executive order requiring masks in schools and other measures remains in place, at least in districts not named in a pending lawsuit — even though a legislative panel voted Tuesday not to renew a set of emergency rules meant to implement that executive order.

Despite lawmakers soundly rejecting the Illinois Department of Public Health’s bid to extend its COVID-19 rules for schools this week, Gov. J.B. Pritzker said Wednesday his executive order on masks and other virus protocol still stands and should be followed by Illinois school districts.

The decision by the bipartisan legislative oversight committee appears to temporarily suspend the emergency rule for schools across the state. Republicans called it a rejection of "Pritzker’s tyrannical reign," but the governor’s office argued "masks are the best way to preserve in-person learning and keep children and staff safe."

Irvin, the Aurora mayor, faces four rivals in the GOP primary for governor.

CHICAGO — Illinois’ Republican candidates for governor are seeing their efforts to focus on local issues clouded by the overwhelming shadow of former President Donald Trump and his control over the national GOP.