By Dave Dahl

SPRINGFIELD – Expect more unemployment – this time in the public sector – unless help comes from Washington.

That’s what Gov. JB Pritzker is threatening. He says he hopes Congress helps out before they leave for fall campaigning.

“Police and fire across the state – if we don’t receive support from the federal government for our cities and our counties – you’ve already seen challenges in our police departments, our fire departments across the state, cities, and counties. If they don’t receive federal support, they won’t be able to maintain their workforce.”

That’s become a local problem in many communities.

And let’s talk about sports.

“We have the lowest – we have the lowest – positivity rate in the Midwest. Still – too – high. Look at (the other Midwest states). They all have very high positivity rates, double digit positivity rates in most,” Pritzker said. “Those states, fine, if they have decided to endanger children and families by allowing certain contact sports to take place, that’s their decision. That’s not something that is good for the families and the children of Illinois.”

This, as central and western Illinois U.S. Rep. Darin LaHood (R-Dunlap) has announced he is taking his sons to Indiana to play soccer, and as football coaches plan rallies Saturday at the Capitol and in Chicago to urge the governor to reinstate football this fall.

Dave Dahl can be reached at [email protected]