State ends FY26 with $1B in excess; other data shows Illinois ‘lags’ | Illinois
(The Center Square) – A state commission report showed Illinois brought in more revenue than expected to begin the 2027 fiscal year. A co-chair of the commission says the increase in funds and multiple new credit upgrades are in part a result of lawmakers adding and expanding taxes and fees for residents yearly. The Commission […]
NASCAR’s Chicago exit draws praise from Illinois fiscal advocate | Illinois
(The Center Square) – NASCAR will not return to the streets of downtown Chicago in 2027, a decision one Illinois fiscal policy advocate says could save taxpayers money as the city and state face ongoing budget pressures. The NASCAR Chicago Street Race debuted in 2023 and ran for three years through 2025. After taking a […]
091426 UNION GROWTH (copy) | Illinois
(The Center Square) – A new study says union membership is rising and helping taxpayers along the way. The 12th annual State of the Unions study from the Illinois Economic Policy Institute and the Project for Middle Class Renewal at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign said the U.S. added more than 411,000 union workers last […]
Illinois Quick Hits: Illinois remembers Sept. 11, 2001 | Illinois
(The Center Square) – Memorial ceremonies were scheduled across the state on Friday, marking the 25th anniversary of the attacks on the United States that happened Sept. 11, 2001. A n annual moment of remembrance ceremony was scheduled to begin at 11:30 a.m. at the September 11 Memorial Walkway of Southern Illinois in Belleville. The […]
House GOP again calls for ethics reforms after legislative watchdog resigns | Illinois
(The Center Square) – Following confirmation that the state’s top ethics watchdog overseeing lawmakers in Springfield filed to resign, GOP state lawmakers in the House are again calling for strong reforms to legislative ethics standards and rules. Legislative Inspector General Michael McCuskey confirmed Tuesday he filed his resignation late last month, leaving the role vacant […]
DHS disputes report on immigration enforcement impact | Illinois
(The Center Square) – University of Illinois Chicago researchers say heightened federal immigration enforcement corresponded with about $1.26 billion in foregone retail and restaurant activity in Cook County, but the U.S. Department of Homeland Security dismissed the correlation between a good economy and illegal immigration. Matthew Wilson co-authored the report by UIC’s Great Cities Institute […]
GOP rep, Pritzker targeted with AI photo, death threats | Illinois
(The Center Square) – A Republican state lawmaker and the governor took a photo with a constituent at the DuQuoin State Fair after its opening, which was used to allegedly create an AI-generated photo of the two officials that sparked threatening comments about the lawmaker. State Rep. Dave Severin, R-Benton, said he connected with a […]
Illinois Quick Hits: Gaming board renews Joliet casino license | Illinois
(The Center Square) – The Illinois Gaming Board has renewed Hollywood Casino Joliet’s license for four years to 2030. The casino opened its new land-based facility near Interstates 80 and 55 in August 2025. In meeting Friday, the IGB also approved new rules regarding the board’s oversight of fantasy contests and adopted amendments to the […]
Illinois students being failed by low academic standards, lawmaker says | Illinois
(The Center Square) – State Rep. Regan Deering is calling for greater accountability in Illinois schools following concerns about academic performance at Hillcrest High School in Country Club Hills. While appearing on Newsmax, education whistleblower and author Geno Young said a tenured Hillcrest teacher told him the school was testing at about a fourth-grade level […]
Illinois Quick Hits: State offers $35M to encourage transit use by students | Illinois
(The Center Square) – The Illinois Department of Transportation and the Illinois State Board of Education announced on Friday that a total of $35 million in funding is available for agencies to establish programs that encourage public school students to use transit outside of the Chicago area. The Downstate Reduced Fare Grant Program and the […]