Happy Thursday, Illinois! I’m trying to perfect my ping pong serve during this pandemic. I hope you’ve found a hobby, too.

TOP TALKER

In the early days of managing the coronavirus pandemic, Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot and Gov. J.B. Pritzker told the public they were on the same page.

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But behind the scenes there was friction. When he pushed for the St. Patrick’s Day Parade to be canceled, she held off on making the final decision. When Pritzker wanted to close down schools, Lightfoot waited until she was ready.

The two Democrats, the most high-profile in the state, eventually came to a good working relationship, and on Wednesday, Lightfoot acknowledged she and the governor have had their differences.

“We haven’t always agreed on every issue. But we try to do that privately,” she said during a Q&A with CEO Debra Cafaro during a virtual event Wednesday for Economic Club of Chicago members.

“I hope that what we’ve done is strengthen each other and our respective teams, pushed each other and really used each other as a sounding board on really important issues — not just for the city of Chicago but in the entire state.”

The governor’s office did not immediately comment on Lightfoot’s remarks.

Though Pritzker and Lightfoot had been notable names on Chicago’s civic scene, they didn’t run in the same circles. “We didn’t really know each other well before either of us got elected,” Lightfoot said.

As Sun-Times’ Fran Spielman points out, tensions had been brewing for months before Covid-19 saw the two Democrats seeming to butt heads. Insiders say Lightfoot “blindsided” Pritzker with a proposal for a publicly owned Chicago casino. And her proposal for the state to take over the city’s four employee pension funds was quickly rejected by Pritzker.

Covid-19 brought their different management styles to light, Crain’s Greg Hinz recently pointed out: “Pritzker is a consensus-builder, at least to a point, a figure who, according to both government insiders and outside observers, is temperamentally inclined to avoid fights if they at all can be avoided. And Lightfoot is a strong-minded ex-prosecutor who isn’t at all shy about saying what she thinks should be done,” Hinz wrote.

Now after eight weeks managing Covid-19, Lightfoot and Pritzker have found a good working relationship. “I appreciate his partnership and I certainly appreciate his leadership,” Lightfoot said Wednesday.

Does that mean they won’t clash in the future? Probably not, but they know how to work it out.

THE BUZZ

Public transportation as we knew it before March 21, when the stay-at-home order went into effect, will never be the same. No more packed buses and L trains as commuters opt for the seclusion of their cars, gas guzzlers that they are, or as businesses continue to allow employees to work from home.

“If that’s happening, it’s going to reduce the stresses on the transportation system,” Mayor Lori Lightfoot said recently on “Meet the Press.” Still, she added, “The cleaning of the transportation system, the frequency of the trains and buses — so that we don’t have people packed in like sardines — that’s an issue and a challenge that we’re just going to have to meet.”

It’s going to be painful, say transportation experts. The biggest hurdle, though, will be gaining the trust of riders — what every mass transit agency is hoping will rebound.

Mass transit will have to modify how it operates, state Sen. Donald DeWitte, the Republican spokesperson for the Illinois Senate Transportation Committee, told Playbook.

It’s not just a case of wiping down poles or railings. Riders may be required to spread out to every other seat and wear masks the way they are on airplanes. “The systems are just going to have to modify to safer environments, and people are going to just have to get comfortable that the measures being taken are sufficient to protect them,” DeWitte said.

Look for transit agencies to add extra service to bus lines and additional cars to trains, too.

“Either way it’s going to be more expensive, and that doesn’t bode well for service boards or ridership,” said DeWitte. “The last thing service boards want to do is raise fees on their riders be it train service or bus service. But there will be serious financial considerations and these service boards being able to adapt will be the norm for protecting riders.”

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WHERE’S LORI

No official public events.

WHERE’S J.B.

Coronavirus videoconference briefing at 2:30 p.m. Watch here

Where’s Toni

Speaking at a virtual City Club event at 11 a.m. Watch here

THE LATEST NUMBERS

The Illinois Department of Public Health announced 192 new deaths Wednesday, the largest number of fatalities in one day due to Covid-19. The number is high, according to the IDPH, because testing has increased. Also, there were 1,677 new cases of coronavirus disease in Illinois. The state has a total of 84,698 cases, including 3,792 deaths, in 99 counties. Within a 24-hour period, laboratories reported 17,668 specimens for a total of 489,359. The statewide 7-day rolling positivity rate is 17 percent. Each of the four regions in Illinois must remain below 20 percent positivity for a 28-day period to move to the next phase of the state’s reopening plan.

CORONAVIRUS UPDATES

— Cook County on pace to overtake Queens as county with most Covid-19 cases nationwide: “On Wednesday, Queens County reported 56,899 cases, according to data kept by Johns Hopkins University, while Cook County’s tally stood at 56,406 confirmed to have the virus. But while data suggests New York’s outbreak is on a downward trend from its peak, Wednesday marked Illinois’ worst day yet with 192 coronavirus deaths,” by Sun-Times’ Caroline Hurley and Mitchell Armentrout.

— Pritzker’s geographical grouping in Covid-19 fight rankles many officials: ‘Ladies and gentlemen, we are not Cook County,’ they say in the Tribune’s report by Robert McCoppin and John Keilman.

— Wisconsin now without Covid-19 restrictions after state Supreme Court strikes down Gov. Tony Evers’ stay-at-home order: “The 4-3 decision marked the first time a state’s highest court has overturned a stay-at-home order amid the coronavirus pandemic and sided with Republican leaders who argued the governor’s administration had overstepped its legal authority,” writes Tribune’s Bill Ruthhart.

— U.S. judge sides with Pritzker in religious challenge as governor moves more lawsuits to federal court: “U.S. District Judge Robert Gettleman found Pritzker’s order ‘has nothing to do with suppressing religion and everything to do with reducing infections and saving lives,’” by Sun-Times’ Jon Seidel.

— Archdiocese of Chicago, Dioceses of Joliet and Rockford announce plans for gradual reopening: “Catholic churches throughout northern Illinois could begin the first of three phases as soon as May 23, per a Wednesday announcement,” by Sun-Times’ Ben Pope.

— ABOUT THE RETURN TO SPRINGFIELD: House Speaker Michael Madigan called for a special session to be held May 20-22 to address the state budget and other issues, including a coronavirus relief package, hospital assessment and mail-in voting, according to the special session proclamation. “We are all looking forward to a return to some semblance of normalcy — and certainly, as legislators, we are particularly interested in resuming normal operation of the House — but we must also recognize that these are not normal times,” Madigan wrote in a memo announcing the session. He also called on legislators to sign a pledge that they’d follow the health recommendations.

… Those plans include the House convening at the Bank of Springfield Center while the Senate meeting in the Capitol. “This global pandemic has decimated our state and local economies regardless of political affiliation,” Senate President Don Harmon said in a statement. “From far flung living rooms, kitchen tables and home offices, Senators have been working together while apart to figure out what we can and need to do now.”

… Lawmakers are to follow health guidelines that include Covid-19 testing and temperature checks and that they all wear face coverings. Legislators “who are at higher risk for serious illness from Covid-19 should consider not traveling to Springfield for session,” Madigan wrote.

… Gov. J.B. Pritzker said he’d be traveling to Springfield, too, for the legislative session next week. And he expects to do his daily briefing from the capitol, he said during a one-on-one discussion on Rep. Emanuel “Chris” Welch’s Facebook Live show, Coming up Friday, Pritzker will do another one-on-one with Sen. Ram Villivalam.

— Pritzker wants state Covid relief package: “[Gov. J.B.] Pritzker called for the legislature to ‘pass a comprehensive plan to support families, small businesses and small towns,’ as the novel coronavirus has shuttered the economy and pushed thousands of Illinoisans out of jobs. Except one thing remains uncertain – how will it be paid?” Details from State Journal-Register’s Kade Heather.

— An update on nursing homes cases: “IDPH is testing all residents and staff at facilities where there are no known cases to potentially identify the early presence of Covid-19 and prevent outbreaks, Pritzker said Wednesday,” by WTTW’s Kristen Thometz.

— Downstate legislator cites 2001 letter from then-AG Jim Ryan in amended lawsuit contesting stay-at-home order: “The 2001 letter from then-Attorney General Jim Ryan to the state Emergency Management Agency director appears to respond to questions about foot-and-mouth disease and whether the governor could ‘exercise emergency powers in excess of 30 days after the declaration of a disaster,’” by Tribune’s Jamie Munks.

— Kendall County sheriff won’t bust gatherings, businesses for not following governor’s Covid-19 orders, by Aurora Beacon-News’ Megan Jones.

— Politicians pushing to reopen faster are ‘idiots,’ says infectious disease expert, blaming those not following rules for continued rise in Covid-19 cases, via Sun-Times’ Tom Schuba.

— Pritzker apologizes for criticizing baseball players amid negotiations over MLB start date, via NBC/5.

TAKING NAMES

Anne Caprara, chief of staff to Gov. J.B. Pritzker, is featured in the Broad Cast podcast talking about the governor’s office during the early days of the pandemic. “We made the decision very early to have the governor get out every day at a particular time to talk about what was going on,” Caprara says. “I think back to George Bush and 9/11. You want to tell people it’s going to be OK… I remember Bush saying ‘You’ve got to go out and go to shopping malls and get out.’ And I remember taking that advice. It was my patriotic duty. This [pandemic] is such a different thing. One of the first things the governor said was ‘This is going to affect your daily life. It’s not going to be like nothing has changed.’ It was really important to say that. We needed people to change their behavior. And that’s an incredibly difficult thing to do.” The discussion begins at the 22-minute mark. At about 40 minutes, Caprara talks about President Donald Trump and how the governor’s office became experts at acquiring personal protective equipment.

CAMPAIGN MODE

— eBay founder Pierre Omidyar’s investment firm, Omidyar Network, has donated $500,000 to the Vote Yes for Fair Tax organization that supports the graduated income tax referendum, according to the State Board of Elections.

— Margaret Croke is among the political candidates dipping their toes back into fundraising. The candidate for Illinois’ 12th state rep District seat is holding a Virtual Trivia night fundraiser May 20. Details here

— Obama emerges as central figure in 2020 presidential race, via the AP

CHICAGO

— Next phase of reopening Chicago will go slowly, keep lakefront closed, Lightfoot says: “During a virtual speech to the Economic Club of Chicago, the mayor said, ‘Unfortunately at this point, we will not be ready to reopen our lakefront’ because a ‘resurgence in cases is more than a risk,’” by Sun-Times’ Fran Spielman.

— Does the mayor want to add a 5th red star to Chicago’s iconic flag? She’s brought it up twice in a week, notes Tribune’s Gregory Pratt.

— Teachers union calls on state to force CPS to bargain over remote learning: “The Chicago Teachers Union is insisting that Mayor Lori Lightfoot and the school district is required to bargain over the terms of remote learning — and they are asking the state to make this happen,” by WBEZ’s Sarah Karp.

— Obamas and Oprah join top names reading children’s books for Chicago Public Library: “Jeff Tweedy and Jane Lynch are also featured in the library’s growing collection of videos featuring celebrities and librarians reading children’s books,” by Sun-Times’ Mitch Dudek.

— Aldermen OK new leader for Office of Financial Analysis as budget crunch looms: “The City Council’s Budget and Government Operations Committee voted unanimously on Wednesday to advance Ald. Pat Dowell’s pick to lead the office, Kenneth Williams…an analyst in the office since September, after serving as an aide to Dowell, chair of the Budget Committee,” by WTTW’s Heather Cherone.

— Community rallies to help Chicago’s Tamale Guy after shutdown: “When bars shut down in mid-March due to the Covid-19 pandemic, Claudio Velez, like so many others, found himself without a source of income and shifted his business model to home delivery. With the help of others, he began taking pre-orders and sold hundreds of tamales, including at two curbside pick-up events organized by the West Loop Community Garden,” by Tribune’s Laura Rodríguez Presa and Elvia Malagón.

— Rush hospital system latest to make cuts amid Covid-19 financial struggles, by Tribune’s Lisa Schencker.

— Column: ‘New police union chief is the wrong man for the difficult job ahead,’ writes Tribune columnist Eric Zorn. “City police officers, who have been without a contract for two and a half years, need a union leader representing them in public and at the bargaining table whose record commands respect not only in the ranks but also in City Hall and among the top brass. They need a trusted figure to defend them and advance their interests, not a walking example of the worst among them.”

COOK COUNTY AND COLLARS

— Cook County Board to vote on waiving 1.5% interest fee on late property tax payments through Oct. 1: “Cook County officials plan to waive late penalties on property taxes due in the summer for two months, potentially easing the strain on homeowners and commercial property owners battered financially by the coronavirus pandemic. The 1.5% interest rate on late property tax payments would normally be charged each month starting Aug. 3, when the second installment of 2019 bills is due. The proposal would halt the interest fees until Oct. 1, and any payments made by then would be considered on time,” by Tribune’s Alice Yin.

— Summer camp files for bankruptcy as parents clamor for refunds: ‘I think it’s going to be like getting blood from a stone,’ by Tribune’s Madeline Buckley

THE STATEWIDES

— Illinois debates vote-by-mail ballots for 2020 election amidst pandemic: “State Sen. Julie Morrison, a Democrat from Lake Forest, plans to introduce a bill that would allow the state to mail a ballot to every registered voter in Illinois. Under the provisions of the bill, select polling places would remain open for early voting and on Election Day for those who don’t feel comfortable casting ballots by mail,” by NBC Chicago’s Katie Kim and Lisa Capitanini.

— What the Gov: Should apartment dwellers notify management if they have Covid-19? “People who live in multi-unit residential buildings share more spaces with their neighbors than those who live in single-family homes. Do they need to inform management if they test positive for the novel coronavirus?” By Better Government Association’s Kiannah Sepeda-Miller.

— Horse racing could come spinning out of the turn — with coronavirus precautions in place, Pritzker says: “Pritzker wants to know, ‘how far apart do people need to be, can they safely distance on the backstretch … and when they’re lined up in a race, how far apart do they really need to be? Do they need to be in stalls that are two apart?’” By Sun-Times’ Mitchell Armentrout.

— Teachers pad digital skills, helping earn recertification: “The Illinois Education Association is urging teachers to file for professional-development “clock hours” in mastering the new digital skills they’ve needed to instruct students at home,” by One Illinois’ Ted Cox.

NATION

— Republicans and Democrats barrel toward collision on voting by mail, by POLITICO’s Zach Montellaro

— State, local governments slash services as demand rises, by POLITICO’s Eleanor Mueller and Kellie Mejdrich

— Multimillion-dollar food bank delivery contracts go to firms with little experience, by POLITICO’s Helena Bottemiller Evich and Ryan McCrimmon

EVENTS

Tonight: Sun-Times political reporters Tina Sfondeles, Lynn Sweet and Laura Washington talk about Covid-19 and how lawmakers are managing it. Details here

IN MEMORIAM

— Remembering lives lost to the coronavirus in Illinois, by Tribune staff

— Nigerian immigrant working as CNA dies of Covid-19 months before becoming nurse, citizen: “Nearly five years after emigrating from Nigeria, Ijeoma Afuke was within reach of realizing two major goals. The certified nursing assistant was studying to become a nurse in the United States,” by Tribune’s Christy Gutowski.

— Zay N. Smith, graceful Sun-Times writer on Mirage tavern series, QT column, has died at 71: “His work as ‘Norty the Bartender’ with legendary reporter Pam Zekman in the investigation of everyday Chicago corruption cemented his place in newspaper history,” writes the Sun-Times’ Mark Brown.

— The Guardian pays tribute to Victor Skrebneski, the famed Chicago photographer who died earlier this month.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY

Better Business Bureau CEO Steve Bernas, philanthropist and political donor Susan Crown, and movie director-producer George Lucas.