After more than a month under tighter restrictions aimed at slowing the spread of COVID-19, the Metro East region will return to phase four rules that allow indoor dining and bar service and gatherings of up to 50 people, state officials said Friday.

Here’s a link to the story at the Chicago Tribune.

The battle over the Supreme Court vacancy will play a role in defining the contentious 2020 presidential race, and campaign advocacy groups on both sides of the aisle have already poured tens of millions of dollars into a fight whose outcome is almost certain, according to an analysis of spending by Fox Business.

Here’s a link to the story at Fox News.

In a statement posted to Facebook Friday morning, U.S. Rep. Mike Bost announced he has contracted COVID-19.

Here’s a link to the story at the Southern Illinoisan.

Seven Southern Illinois counties are on Illinois Department of Public Health’s list of counties considered to be at a warning level for COVID-19.

Here’s a link to the story at the Southern Illinoisan.

New York Times reporter Alex Burns revealed the highly anticipated opinion of the Biden-Harris ticket on packing the Supreme Court.

Here’s a link to the story at Fox News.

Nearly 50,000 voters in Franklin County — Ohio’s most populous county — received incorrect absentee ballots in the mail, elections officials said Friday, revealing a major glitch that appeared to affect one in five ballots the county had sent so far.

Here’s a link to the story at Fox News.