Illinois Quick Hits: State police investigating 2025 fatal ICE-involved shooting | Illinois
(The Center Square) – Illinois State Police have begun investigating the fatal shooting of Silverio Villegas Gonzalez last September by a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer in Franklin Park. In a statement to The Center Square, ISP said the Franklin Park Police Department requested ISP’s Public Integrity Task Force to investigate. ISP said the […]
Plan would have state taxpayers provide $50M for ICE-impacted businesses | Illinois
(The Center Square) – The Illinois Senate is considering legislation that would provide $50 million in state taxpayer funds to businesses affected by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement actions during Operation Midway Blitz. State Sen. Mike Simmons, D-Chicago, said Senate Bill 2810 would help small businesses make up for lost earnings. “The Illinois Accountability Commission […]
Illinois AI regulations have mild industry support, could draw federal ire | Illinois
(The Center Square) – Experts in artificial intelligence spoke to state lawmakers recently, providing guidance on four bills introduced in the House, which would regulate and unlock legal remedies against AI companies, platforms and products. The new legislation may bring more federal scrutiny to Illinois if lawmakers pass the bills. A repeated point of contention […]
Chicago loses 2,100 restaurant jobs as industry fights mandated wage hikes | Illinois
(The Center Square) – As Chicago’s efforts to phase out sub-minimum wages are proposed nationwide, a restaurant industry advocate says the city’s mandate has led to job losses and empty storefronts. According to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data, Chicago’s restaurant industry lost 2,100 jobs in the last year. Illinois Restaurant Association President and CEO […]
‘Farm Bill’ may ease cost burden for farmers; Ag groups urge US Senate action | National
(The Center Square) – Many farm-focused organizations say they support a GOP-led legislative package on agriculture that narrowly passed through the U.S. House. The Illinois Farm Bureau has urged the U.S. Senate to get to work on passing the Food, Farm and National Security Act of 2026, commonly referred to as the “Farm Bill.” It would […]
Illinois lawmaker warns medical records bill could delay care | Illinois
(The Center Square) – State lawmakers are clashing over an Illinois proposal that would restrict how certain sensitive medical information is shared, with supporters arguing it protects patient privacy and critics warning it could jeopardize care. House Bill 5295, also known as the Reproductive Health Records Privacy Act, would require health providers to segregate records related […]
Illinois Quick Hits: Civic federation funds ‘persistent structural imbalance’ in Illinois | Illinois
(The Center Square) – A new Civic Federation report has identified a persistent structural imbalance in the Illinois budget, with expenditures projected to grow faster than core revenues. The Chicago-based government research organization examined how Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s budget proposal for fiscal year 2027 advances the state’s goals for financial stability. The report said Illinois’ […]
Illinois Quick Hits: Gas prices rise again | Illinois
(The Center Square) – AAA says the average price for regular unleaded gasoline in Illinois has jumped 14 cents in one day. The organization’s daily gas prices website listed the average per-gallon price at $4.67 on Thursday, up from $4.53 the day before. The Illinois average one year ago was $3.41. Iowa and Missouri remain […]
Illinois Quick Hits: Ex-East St. Louis librarian sentenced for fraud, theft | Illinois
(The Center Square) – The former director of the East St. Louis public library has been sentenced to 15 months in prison and ordered to pay $102,249 in restitution after she pleaded guilty to embezzling money from the library and from the Illinois Department of Human Services. Kenyada T. Harris, 42, pleaded guilty in March […]
Congressional progressives introduce $25 federal minimum wage plan | Illinois
(The Center Square) – Progressive lawmakers in Washington D.C. introduced legislationTuesday that would increase he federal minimum wage to $25 per hour. The proposal – put forward by of Illinois members of Congress – could have severe impacts on businesses across the country, according to critics. U.S. Reps. Delia Ramirez, D-IL, Chuy Garcia, D-IL, and […]