Pritzker sends Abbott letter
Gov. J.B. Pritzker has sent a letter to Texas Gov. Greg Abbott urging the Republican’s administration to stop sending migrants to Chicago as temperatures have plunged to dangerous levels.
For several months, the Abbott administration has been contracting with private bus and plane companies to carry asylum seekers from the southern border to Democratic strongholds that have identified themselves as “sanctuary cities.” Abbott says he has done this in response to the chaotic situation in his state’s border communities.
Pritzker in his letter said the migrants have been arriving without heavy clothing and proper footwear.
ACA marketplace remains open
The last day of open enrollment for the ACA Health Insurance Marketplace is Tuesday, Jan. 16.
The enrollment deadline is extended an additional day due to the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday, along with the extra month added again this year, allowing people more time to select coverage.
According to federal CMS enrollment data, more than 378,000 Illinoisans have selected ACA Marketplace plans since the start of Open Enrollment on Nov. 1.
Lead pipe grants announced
The Illinois Environmental Protection Agency has announced the recipients of the third round of funding that will assist 92 additional community water supplies in meeting the requirements outlined in the Lead Service Line Replacement and Notification Act.
The program offers grants to local government units ranging from $20,000 to $50,000 to fund the creation of a complete lead service line inventory. Some of the cities receiving funds include Morris, Harrisburg and Crete.
