Happy Wednesday, Illinois. Temps may reach 40 today. Enjoy it before your regularly scheduled arctic chill kicks in again.

Gov. JB Pritzker is expected to announce today that Illinois will pull back on its indoor mask mandate, marking a crossroads in the state’s management of the pandemic.

WGN 9 reports: “Easing restrictions will likely happen in stages with requirements for masking in most indoor public places fully lifted by March 1.”

Pritzker’s “immediate focus” will be in “bars, restaurants, grocery stores, museums and other common indoor areas that draw traffic, which have all been under a mask mandate since August,” reports WBEZ’s Dave McKinney.

The move won’t end the mask wars. Face coverings will likely remain part of going to school, which means the polarizing politics of masks will continue.

“The challenge in schools is that because it’s such a central focus of communities, and literally sometimes thousands of people are interacting in a school in a single day in one location. They spread out in the community when school lets out and on the weekends,” Pritzker said in an unrelated news conference Tuesday. “We want to make sure schools are responsible, have testing available, and that they know when to put masks back on during outbreaks.”

Pritzker’s expected announcement for the rest of the public is today at 2 p.m. during a briefing at the Thompson Center. Illinois would follow New York, New Jersey and California, among other states, which have announced plans to relax mask mandates.

It doesn’t mean Covid is whipped. It just means it’s part of everyday life. And so are face coverings.

And though the debate about masks won’t be as polarizing as the 2020 election period — when Donald Trump refused to wear one and Joe Biden did — masks will remain a tension point in the November election if schoolchildren are still required to wear them.

Republicans say Democrats are presenting a mixed message by allowing some folks to take off masks while children are required to wear them. Those who support masks, however, argue that anything slowing transmission of the virus helps keep schools open for in-person learning.

RELATED:

— School mask ruling roils Illinois districts for a second day, prompting more protests as state’s appeal remains pending, by Tribune’s Karen Ann Cullotta

— In Canada (where they’re so polite), Trudeau’s own party is starting to turn on him over Covid restrictions, by POLITICO’s Andy Blatchford

BOYKIN’s BACK: Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle has an opponent in her reelection bid. She’ll face longtime adversary Richard Boykin, the former Cook County commissioner who helped repeal her controversial soda pop tax back in 2017.

Boykin, who has been out gathering petition signatures to get on the ballot, says he’s running because he’s concerned about how Preckwinkle is handling crime in the county.

“Citizens of Cook County deserve to be safe, and the Cook County Board is responsible for public safety and public health. And quite frankly, I don’t think people are safe in Cook County,” Boykin told Playbook. “People deserve a county board president who cares about them and their struggles.”

Boykin is an attorney and lobbyist and a former chief of staff to Congressman Danny Davis. He served as a county commissioner from 2014 through 2018 and then ran unsuccessfully for clerk of the circuit court in 2020.

He was a thorn in Preckwinkle’s side when he served on the county board, outspoken in his criticism of the 1-percentage-point increase in the sales tax on soda pop. He once likened the board president to a “drunken sailor” using taxpayers’ credit cards.

There was such a public outcry over the tax that commissioners later repealed it.

“People deserve honesty,” Boykin said yesterday. “We never needed the pop tax. We never needed the revenue from it.”

Watch for the pop tax to bubble up in the campaign for board president.

Have a tip, suggestion, birthday, anniversary, new job, or any other nugget for Playbook? Get in touch: [email protected]

At Siebel Center for Design in Champaign at 10:30 a.m. to talk about MAP grants and higher education in the proposed fiscal 2023 budget. At the Thompson Center in Chicago at 2 p.m. to give a Covid-19 update.

At Lyon’s View Manufacturing at 9:30 a.m. for a ribbon-cutting for the completion of the Chicago Smart Lighting Program.

No official public events.

Violent crime to labor shortages: Mayors say Covid’s toll on cities is far-reaching: Mayors across the country sounded off in a new POLITICO survey about the challenges brought on by Covid-19. “There has been an incredible amount of mismanagement in my county and county government officials elected to keep a disproportionate amount of money for their own agency,” Joliet Mayor Robert Patrick O’Dekirk told us.

— Pritzker: Inflation key to pressing tax relief now: “Facing what we think is what about 7% inflation, if we can find ways — property taxes and gas taxes and grocery taxes — to alleviate the pain families are experiencing by lowering those taxes in a moment when they need it most, we ought to be doing that,” he said. The Associated Press’ John O’Connor reports.

— Gov visits ISU to discuss investments in higher education: “ISU President Dr. Terri Goss Kinzy says one highlight of the proposal is increased funding for the Monetary Award Program, which provides grants to Illinois students with financial need,” by WJBC’s Neil Doyle.

— Many Metro East warehouses don’t have tornado shelters despite a low price tag, reports St. Louis Public Radio’s Eric Schmid

—  Amtrak’s newest trains: Faster Wi-Fi but slimmer seats, writes the Points Guy’s Chris Dong

Lawmaker wants to end standardized tests for younger students: “Studies show that younger children are best engaged when encouraged to explore and play, and that’s not prioritized when teachers are worried about preparing students for a test,” said Sen. Cristina Pacione-Zayas, via ABC 20.

Welch and Harmon seek to intervene in Madison County’s subcircuit challenge: “Michael Kasper, an elections lawyer with deep, longstanding connections to the state Democratic Party and former Speaker Michael J. Madigan, petitioned to intervene in Madison County’s challenge to the law, as counsel to House Speaker Chris Welch (D-Chicago) and Senate President Don Harmon (D-Chicago),” by Madison-St. Clair Record’s Seve Korris.

— Thompson falsely claimed bank funds as mortgage loan, feds say; defense counters he was simply ‘frazzled’:“He said it was the bank that created false documents, not Thompson, and that the alderman did what most other taxpayers do when it’s time to file a return. ‘He threw ’em all in a big folder along with a lot of other stuff and he sent it to his accountant to sort it out,’ Thompson’s attorney said,” by Tribune’s Jason Meisner.

— He picked up checks in Bridgeport bank president’s office, worker testifies: “Alicia Mandujano said the bank president told her to let Thompson into the bank before business hours so he could pick up the first payment. She said Thompson also picked up the second and third payment in the president’s office, which was on the second, non-public floor of the bank,” by Sun-Times’ Jon Seidel and Tim Novak.

— ‘Sloppiness and mistakes,’ lawyer says of Thompson’s defense, by ABC 7’s Craig Wall

— Lightfoot asks working group to ‘reimagine’ Museum Campus — with or without the Bears: “The 23-member group will be chaired by Mesirow Chairman and CEO Richard Price. Former Chicago Plan Commission Chairman Martin Cabrera, CEO of Cabrera Capital, will serve as so-called ‘athletic facilities lead,’” by Sun-Times’ Fran Spielman.

— Catholic school principal removed by Archdiocese after telling students masks are optional, parents say: “Parents on the Far Southwest Side are protesting the archdiocese’s decision to put Queen of Martyrs Principal M. Jacob ‘Doc’ Mathius on administrative leave,” by Block Club’s Joe Ward and Colin Boyle.

— Sueños Festival of Latin Reggaeton music announced for Grant Park this summer: Headliners are J Balvin, Ozuna and Wisin & Yandel, by Tribunes Doug George

… Lightfoot is promoting it on Twitter.

— ‘Dibs’ to be removed in Chicago starting Friday, by Sun-Times’ Cindy Hernandez

Tribune sues city over records that were withheld despite AG’s opinions in the paper’s favor: “These records are clearly public,” Tribune Executive Editor Mitch Pugh said. “Two attorney general opinions make that abundantly clear, yet the city has refused to follow the law.” Tribune’s Ray Long reports.

— Lawyers spar over use of recordings in Ald. Edward Burke corruption probe: “Federal prosecutors built their case around evidence from wiretaps of Burke’s cellphone and City Hall offices…. Burke’s attorneys on Tuesday argued the government failed to show probable cause for the wiretaps, and instead pushed their own narrative,” by Tribune’s Jason Meisner and Annie Sweeney.

— Oh, how the mighty three Eddies have fallen: “The tales of Vrdolyak, Burke, and Kelly are a lesson in what happens to politicians who outlive their power,” by Chicago magazine’s Edward McClelland.

— New research maps wealth gaps in Chicago and Cook County: “A typical household’s wealth in the richest part of the Chicago area is 206 times that in the poorest area, according to the Urban Institute,” by WBEZ’s Charmaine Runes.

— Plans for Waukegan’s temporary casino to be unveiled later this month: “The council unanimously approved the appointment of the Polsinelli law firm of Chicago to help the city negotiate the real estate-related issues associated with the venture during a virtual meeting Monday, taking the next step toward making the long-awaited casino a reality,” by Lake County News-Sun’s Steve Sadin.

— Illinois Municipal League backs local gas tax proposal: “[The] League is promoting legislation that would allow small municipalities to implement a 3 cent per gallon gas tax,” via WGEM’s Lizzie Seils.

— Column: Cicero, of all places, is ranked as a top ‘burb’ for singles: “Ex-Cicero President Betty Loren-Maltese, who is single and 73, says report counting the town’s eligible daters is fake news,” writes Patch’s Mark Konkol.

— Jonathan Swain kicks off bid to succeed Rep. Bobby Rush in jammed Democratic primary: “Swain’s campaign said he kicks off his bid having raised just over $200,000 from about 75 donors — with the war chest giving him a potentially meaningful running start,” by Sun-Times’ Lynn Sweet.

— FIRST IN PLAYBOOK: State Rep. Delia Ramirez has been endorsed by EMILY’s List, a group that advocates for Democratic women candidates. The organization called Ramirez “an experienced social service administrator, community organizer, and policy advocate who has the courage to take on tough fights.”

— What Jason Van Dyke’s life will be like on parole in Illinois, which has some of the strictest rules in the nation: “Although ex-inmates often land back in prison, one expert said ‘I would be surprised if Van Dyke, a white former police officer, has the same experience as the average returning resident, who is likely a lower-income, black or brown person reconnecting with loved ones after years locked up,’” by Sun-times’ Andy Grimm

… The ‘Laquan Nine’ face fines: “Five women and four men who call themselves the ‘Laquan Nine’ are facing federal fines for loitering in the lobby of the Dirksen U.S. Courthouse in the Loop as ex-cop Jason Van Dyke was being released from prison last week,” by Tribune’s Tatyana Turner.

— Man accused of heading smash-and-grab burglary ring that tossed cash registers on governor’s street: “Tacarre Harper, 27, was free on bond at the time of his arrest and had four outstanding warrants, prosecutors said. He was held without bail in the other pending cases,” by Sun-Times’ Tom Schuba and David Struett

— Matteson man stole IDs to file nearly 300 bogus unemployment insurance claims, indictment says, by Daily Southtown’s Mike Nolan

— No pension for CPD officer fired for beating of bartender caught on video, court rules,m by Sun-Times’ Andy Grimm

Illinois cannabis sales drop 14% from December: “In January 2021, sales were $88.8 million in total, while December sales topped $137 million,” by Green Market Report’s Debra Borchardt.

We asked if you’ve ever gotten in a physical fight:  Erik Wallenius wrote: “I’m from the South Side. So I’ve certainly had plenty of people try to fight me. But I’m not sure if what happened to them after that could be fairly called ‘a fight.’”

When have you been the most nervous speaking in public? Email [email protected]

Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi is behind a resolution that would prohibit members of Congress from buying stock, investing or serving on for-profit boards while in office.

— McConnell pushes back on RNC resolution censuring Kinzinger and Cheney, via POLITICO VIDEO

— Left splits over Supreme Court pick pushed by top Biden ally, by POLITICO’s Burgess Everett and Laura Barrón-López.

— Climate change will be expensive. Who should pay?POLITICO’s Lorraine Woellert reports

— Diane M. Shelley has been named by the White House as a regional administrator for the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s work in the Midwest. She previously was a judge in Cook County’s 5th Judicial Subcircuit. In her new role, Shelley oversees policy and is a liaison to the White House on housing issues.

— Alex Hanns is a principal at Kivvit in Chicago. He previously managed digital communications for Gov. JB Pritzker and the state’s ‘All In Illinois’ campaign, which was shortlisted for two PRWeek US Awards.

— Sam Royko’s law firm, The Royko Group, is joining L&G Law Group to form The Royko Group at L&G. Royko is the son of Pulitzer Prize-winning Chicago columnist Mike Royko.

— Greg Klamrzynski is now chief executive partner of the law firm Chapman and Cutler LLP, succeeding partner Tim Mohan who served twelve years as CEP. Klamrzynski has practiced law at Chapman for his entire career and has served on the Policy Committee, Partner Review Committee, and as a practice group leader.

TUESDAY’s ANSWER: More than one correct answer today. Congrats to Jarod Hitchings and Gordana Krkic for answering that Gov. Thomas Ford served on the Illinois Supreme court; Matthew Beaudet and Patricia Watson answered Gov. John Reynolds. No one guessed Gov. Ninian Edwards: the first governor of the Illinois territory, the third governor of the state of Illinois, and chief justice of the Kentucky Court of Appeals (now the Kentucky Supreme Court).

TODAY’s QUESTION: Who’s the naturalist essayist who taught school in Buffalo Grove? Email [email protected]

State Treasurer Office COO Aimee Pine, and lobbyist Scott Marquardt.

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