US: Illinois Gov. on coronavirus variant, protest security

Gov. J.B. Pritzker has confirmed the first case of the more contagious COVID-19 variant in Illinois.

The governor made the announcement Friday at a briefing where he also said that 250 Illinois National Guard troops have been deployed to the state capitol in Springfield to guard against unrest in the days leading up to the presidential inauguration in Washington.

Pritzker says there haven't been any specific threats made about Springfield or Chicago, but there is concern about calls for armed protestors to gather at all state capitols.