40-year-old Ray E. Tate, Jr., appeared in Wayne County Circuit Court for arraignment yesterday afternoon. He faces 38 counts in connection to the death of Wayne County Deputy Sean Riley in December: 36 counts of first-degree murder, one count of aggravated vehicular hijacking, and one count of unlawful possession of a weapon by a felon. Tate pleaded not guilty to all counts, and a pre-trial conference in the case was set for March 15th at 2 p.m. at the Wayne County Courthouse. Governor J.B. Pritzker says Illinois is on track to lift the state's indoor mask mandate on February 28th. No masks will be needed in bars, restaurants, and grocery stores at that time thanks to a rapid decline in COVID-19 hospitalizations. He says the state will seek to keep the mandate in place for Illinois schools. Any federal or local mask mandates will continue to apply, so they will still be required in places like mass transit, healthcare settings, long-term care facilities, prisons, and daycares. The