Author: Samuel Wonacott

  • Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker to self-quarantine after staff member tests positive for coronavirus

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    On May, 11, 2020, Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker (D) announced that he and members of his office would self-quarantine after a staff member tested positive for COVID-19 last week. All senior members of Pritzker’s staff have tested negative for the virus. Pritzker received a test Sunday, May 10, which also came back negative. Ballotpedia tracks…

  • Pennsylvania extends stay-at-home order for parts of the state through June 4

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    Gov. Tom Wolf (D) announced Thursday that he was extending Pennsylvania’s stay-at-home order through June 4 for counties in the red phase of the state’s reopening plan. The order was passed on April 1 and was originally scheduled to expire on April 30. Wolf extended the statewide order through May 8 on April 20. Counties…

  • Maryland closes schools to in-person instruction for the remainder of the year

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    On Wednesday, Maryland Superintendent of Schools Karen Salmon announced that schools in Maryland would be closed to in-person instruction for the rest of the academic year. Online and distance learning will continue for students, however. Gov. Larry Hogan (R) first ordered schools closed on March 12. Maryland has a divided government. The Republican Party holds…

  • Supreme Court of Florida delays jury trials through July 2

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    On May 4, 2020, Charles Canady, the Chief Justice of the Florida Supreme Court, issued a new emergency order extending the suspension of jury trials through July 2. The order also increases the number of proceedings that will be conducted remotely. The list includes non-jury trials, hearings in juvenile delinquency cases, and pretrial conferences. For…

  • New Jersey closes schools to in-person instruction for remainder of academic year

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    New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy (D) announced Monday that schools would be closed to in-person instruction for the remainder of the academic year. The order applies to both public and private schools. Private schools with longer school years must remain closed through June 30. Forty-six states have closed schools to in-person instruction for the remainder…

  • Maine extends revised stay-at-home order

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    At a press conference Tuesday afternoon, Maine Governor Janet Mills announced that she was extending the state’s stay-at-home order through May 31. The new order, which Mills called a “Stay Safer at Home Order,” relaxes restrictions on some businesses as part of the first stage of the state’s new reopening plan. Gatherings with more than…

  • Massachusetts extends business closure and stay-at-home advisory

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    At a press conference on April 28, 2020, Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker (R) announced he was extending his order closing nonessential businesses and advising people to stay home through May 18. The order, which closed nonessential businesses and limited gatherings to no more than 10 people, was set to expire on May 4. Baker announced…

  • Hawaii extends stay-at-home order

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    On April 25, 2020, Hawaii Gov. David Ige (D) announced he was extending the statewide stay-at-home order through May 31. The order was originally scheduled to expire on April 30. The order states that Hawaii residents can only leave home for essential purposes, such as buying food or receiving medical care. Outdoor activity is permitted…

  • Michigan extends stay-at-home order

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    On April 24, 2020, Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer (D) announced at a press conference that she was extending the state’s stay-at-home order through May 15. The order, which took effect March 25, had already been extended once before through April 30. The new order relaxes some restrictions on businesses and individuals, while establishing a new…

  • Illinois and North Carolina extend stay-at-home orders

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    On April 23, 2020, Illinois and North Carolina became the latest states to extend stay-at-home orders into May. At a press conference, Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker (D) announced that he would extend the state’s stay-at-home order through May 30. The new order includes some modifications to the original stay-at-home order. Beginning May 1, anyone over…