Illinois Quick Hits: Unemployment holds at 5.1% in Illinois | Illinois
(The Center Square) – Based on data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the Illinois Department of Employment Security says the state’s unemployment rate was 5.1% in June, unchanged from the revised May number. Total nonfarm payrolls saw a fourth consecutive over-the-month increase, up 1,500 to 6,164,400. The industry sectors with the largest monthly […]
Feds: Chicago is key in trade fraud fight | Illinois
(The Center Square) – Federal officials came to Illinois this week to announce the results of a major crackdown on trade fraud. At a news conference in the Chicago suburb of Bensenville on Tuesday, U.S. Assistant Attorney General Colin McDonald announced that the Trade Fraud Task Force, which launched in August 2025, recently surpassed $1 […]
$424.9M considered for projects at Fire stadium questioned | Illinois
(The Center Square) – The Chicago City Council may vote Wednesday on deals to spend $424.9 million of tax increment financing on infrastructure for the Chicago Fire soccer stadium site. On March 3, the Fire broke ground on its $750 million, privately-funded stadium in the city’s South Loop neighborhood. Jeffrey Cohen, deputy commissioner of the […]
Report: Felon detained in Pritzker’s backyard | Illinois
(The Center Square) – According to a new report, a 10-time convicted felon on pretrial release was arrested in Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s back yard on the Fourth of July. CWB Chicago reported that Dwayne Milton, 46, was on electronic monitoring for a retail theft case when Illinois State Police detained him on the governor’s property […]
Special investigation petition filed in Springfield after rep’s indictment | Illinois
(The Center Square) – The Illinois House will convene a special investigative committee after 11 House Republicans filed paperwork Friday. House Speaker Emmanuel “Chris” Welch announced the committee late Friday afternoon, saying the House will follow its rules while it investigates Rep. Carol Ammons, D-Champaign. A federal grand jury indicted Ammons earlier this week on […]
School reviews paraprofessional’s social media post about Trump | Illinois
(The Center Square) – A Putnam County Community Unit School District #535 paraprofessional is facing criticism after a social media post referencing President Donald Trump and Air Force One circulated online, prompting questions about school employee conduct outside the classroom and calls from a parent advocacy organization for accountability. The post gained wider attention after […]
Board releases guidance for use of AI in Illinois classrooms | Illinois
(The Center Square) – In the wake of new state laws regulating artificial intelligence, the Illinois State Board of Education released new guidance on how AI tools and technology should and shouldn’t be used in the classroom and on campuses. The guidance comes in response to a bill passed last year, requiring the board to […]
Illinois Quick Hits: Illinois offers disaster tax relief | Illinois
(The Center Square) – Gov. J.B. Pritzker and the Illinois Department of Revenue announced disaster tax relief for individuals and businesses in 11 counties affected by weather-related events between March 10 and June 21. Taxpayers in the counties included in the governor’s recent disaster proclamation may request a waiver of penalties and interest if severe […]
Chicago mayor says head tax would have prevented deficit | Illinois
(The Center Square) – Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson says his proposed corporate head tax would have prevented his administration’s projected budget shortfall of more than $130 million. The mayor announced the projected deficit in this year’s $16.7 billion budget Tuesday and said there were other options. “The corporate head tax, which was projected to bring […]
Seven more counties consider separation, creating new state | Illinois
(The Center Square0 – Voters in seven Illinois counties have a chance to join 33 others that approved referendums to consider forming a new state apart from Cook County. Measures will be on the ballot this November in Coles, Gallatin, Hamilton, Henderson, Macoupin, Monroe and Saline counties. State Rep. Brad Halbrook, R-Shelbyville, said citizens are […]