News

The Illinois Department of Employment Security (IDES) announced on Thursday, March 27, 2025 that the unemployment rate fell -0.1 percentage point to 4.8 percent in February, based on preliminary data provided by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). The revised January unemployment rate was unchanged at 4.9 percent. The Illinois unemployment rate was down -0.1 percentage point from a year ago when it was 4.9 percent. The national unemployment rate was 4.1 percent in February, up +0.1 percentage point from the previous month, making the state's unemployment +0.7 percentage point higher than the national unemployment rate.

Too often people think of jury service as a hassle and a financial burden, rather than an empowering way to participate in justice. Some courts are trying to fix that and, in the process, make it easier to diversify their jury pools.

The Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Illinois Sustainable Technology Center (ISTC) have announced the completion of a new report, Illinois Materials Management and Recycling Opportunities. Following the Materials Management Advisory Committee’s (MMAC) report to the General Assembly in 2021, the Illinois EPA commissioned the ISTC at the University of Illinois to conduct a 2-year study of large volume recyclables that would provide information regarding recycling and diversion efforts in Illinois as well as barriers and opportunities for further diversion.

Get Covered Illinois joined 18 other state-based health insurance marketplaces to issue a joint letter to congressional leaders emphasizing the value to Americans of the enhanced premium tax credits set to expire at the end of this year. The letter, coordinated by the National Academy of State Health Policy (NAHSP), urges Congress to take action to extend the credits, citing their critical role in helping Americans afford health coverage. A record 24 million Americans, nearly 466,000 of whom are Illinoisans, enrolled in healthcare plans through the marketplaces for Plan Year 2025.

The Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) and the Illinois Capital Development Board (CDB) announced $8 million for improvements to Lincoln’s New Salem State Historic Site in Menard County, the popular recreated log village where young Abraham Lincoln lived for six formative years from 1831 to 1837. The funding, made possible by Governor JB Pritzker’s bipartisan Rebuild Illinois?capital?plan, will be used to repair up to 23 log village buildings and update the outdoor theater.

Governor JB Pritzker has declared March 19, 2025, as Illinois Agriculture Trade Day in recognition of the enormous positive contribution agriculture trade makes to the state’s economy, farmers, and communities. Illinois Agriculture Trade Day honors Illinois’ farmers, producers and related agricultural businesses and the role they play in feeding the world.

More than 7,000 students will visit Illinois state parks, natural areas, museums and other natural resources sites this year to learn about nature and conservation thanks to grant funding through the Illinois Biodiversity Field Trip Grant Program. The Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) today announced more than $99,600 funding was awarded for 113 student field trip grants. Grant recipients represent 32 counties in the state. The grants are made possible by private donations from the Daniel F. and Ada L. Rice Foundation of Skokie and the D.F. and M.T. Grohne Family Foundation of Wilmington. The donations and funding for the grants are coordinated by the Illinois Conservation Foundation (ICF).

The Illinois Department of Employment Security (IDES) announced today that nonfarm payrolls were almost unchanged, down -1,100 (0.0%), while the unemployment rate was unchanged at 4.9 percent in January, based on preliminary data provided by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), and released by IDES. The December monthly change in payrolls was revised from the preliminary report, from +8,800 to +12,200 while the revised unemployment rate was 4.9 percent, -0.3 percentage point lower than the preliminary December unemployment rate of 5.2 percent. The January payroll jobs estimate and unemployment rate reflect activity for the week including the 12th.

Illinois Department of Agriculture (IDOA) Director Jerry Costello II, along with key stakeholders representing farmers, research institutions, and food banks, appeared before the General Assembly's House Agriculture & Conservation Committee hearing to discuss federal funding cuts and tariffs – which amount to taxes on working farmers.

Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (Illinois EPA) Acting Director James Jennings announced the investment of more than $112 million through water infrastructure loans to local governments and water districts for the first half of Fiscal Year 2025 (July – December 2024). The Illinois EPA State Revolving Fund (SRF) Program provides low-interest loans which fund wastewater, stormwater, and drinking water projects. Included in these investments is more than $9.9 million in loan forgiveness, provided to those recipients meeting the loan rules for either the Small Community Rate or Hardship Rate.

Illinois State Treasurer Michael Frerichs will host a celebration on Tuesday, March 4 in honor of Women’s History Month. This event is an opportunity to reflect on the great achievements of women in Illinois and present awards to active leaders in the community. The media is invited to attend. The program will be held on Tuesday, March 4, 2025, at noon in the Illinois Room at 555 W. Monroe St., Chicago, IL.

Ascension has officially sold eight of its Illinois hospitals to a California-based health system for more than $370 million. Prime Healthcare said Saturday that a previously announced deal had closed to buy the hospitals, along with four Illinois senior living and post-acute care facilities and physician practices from Ascension.

If you're among the thousands trying to secure a Real ID ahead of the May deadline in Illinois, there are some new options coming -- and you won't need an appointment to get in. As state facilities try to keep up with the "unprecedented" demand, Illinois Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias announced the addition of "Real ID Saturdays" at 12 DMVs in the Chicago area.

State Representative Charlie Meier (R-Okawville) has provided a medical update following the completion of his radiation treatment for prostate cancer: Meier says he is feeling great after completing the final treatment of his first round of radiation for prostate cancer. He notes after announcing his prostate cancer diagnosis earlier this year, he was totally overwhelmed with the outpouring of support, prayers, well wishes, and love from people across the country. Meier says every text, call, and message were a bit of encouragement he needed to get over this bump in the road.

Illinois State Treasurer Michael Frerichs returned $22 million to nearly 19,000 people in January through I-CASH, the state’s missing money program. “Returning this money to the rightful owners is better than keeping it in our bank vaults,” Frerichs said. “It helps our state’s economy when people have a little more money in their pockets to spend at local businesses.” Companies and banks turn over uncashed rebate checks, unpaid life insurance claims, forgotten checking accounts and the contents of overlooked safe deposit boxes to the Illinois Treasurer’s Office after a few years. The state treasurer is legally required to return unclaimed property to its owners or their heirs, no matter how long it takes.

State higher education leaders are pleased with Governor JB Pritzker’s proposed fiscal year 2026 budget, which includes a higher education budget of $2.73 billion. The higher education budget emphasizes college affordability and supports ongoing initiatives by including a $10 million increase for the Monetary Award Program (MAP) and a $46 million, or 3 percent, increase to operational funds for public universities ($37 million) and community colleges ($9 million). “The governor's proposed higher education investments will help us build on the progress we've made toward a more affordable and equitable higher education system and thriving Illinois economy for each family and student in our state,” said Illinois Board of Higher Education (IBHE) Executive Director Ginger Ostro. “Even at a time when the state has to make difficult fiscal decisions, Governor Pritzker has prioritized investing in our students because they are the future of our state.”

Illinois State Treasurer Michael Frerichs today announced that investment earnings on the state portfolio are up more than 11% as state government faces tough budgeting decisions this spring. Investment earnings stand at $803.8 million for the first six months of Fiscal Year 2025, up from $723.2 million the first six months of Fiscal Year 2024. That’s an increase of $80.65 million.

Gov. JB Pritzker has proposed growing spending by about $2 billion without new income or service taxes in the upcoming fiscal year – though his administration acknowledged policy changes by the Trump administration could drastically alter the fiscal landscape. Spending and revenues would each grow by about 3% under the proposal laid out Wednesday during the governor’s annual budget address, with total general revenue fund spending growing to $55.2 billion.

Illinois State Treasurer Michael Frerichs today hosted a celebration to commemorate Black History Month and honor leaders in the African American community. The event, held at the Marine Bank Building at 1 E. Old State Capitol Plaza, was an opportunity to reflect on the great achievements of Black leaders. The eight honorees included a businessman and director of vocational services at a Springfield nonprofit, a former Illinois secretary of state, a former Metro East mayor, a retired Edwardsville school superintendent and college basketball referee, a state senator, a Marion community leader, a Peoria school administrator and former professional basketball player, and a sculptor and art educator.

The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) announced that it has posted the 2024 Fourth Quarter Report of Nursing Home Violations. Details on the 305 violation reports completed in the fourth quarter of 2024 may be found HERE on the IDPH website. The six facilities listed below were cited with type “AA” violations of the Nursing Home Care Act during the fourth quarter of 2024, the most severe type of violation. An “AA” violation is cited when there is a condition or occurrence at the facility that proximately caused a resident’s death. Click on the links below to view the completed “AA” violation reports.

More than $40,000 in grants for 26 Illinois schoolyard habitat action projects have been awarded by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) and the Illinois Conservation Foundation (ICF) for the 2025 application period. The Illinois Schoolyard Habitat Action Grant program supports the development or enhancement of wildlife habitat on school grounds or other public places. Funding is provided through donations to the ICF. “The Illinois Schoolyard Habitat Action Grant program provides students and educators with opportunities to create native habitat in their schoolyards and increase the use of native plants in Illinois landscapes while benefitting wildlife species,” said IDNR Director Natalie Phelps Finnie. “By participating in these projects, students learn that their efforts can make a positive difference in the world, and they gain experience in problem-based learning by planning, developing, and maintaining the habitat.”

The Illinois Department of Agriculture (IDOA) is issuing a 30-day suspension, effective today, Tuesday, February 11, 2025, on the exhibition or sale of poultry at swap meets, exhibitions, flea markets, and auction markets in response to the ongoing threat of H5N1 avian flu. The move is intended to reduce and prevent the spread of the disease, which has been detected in commercial and backyard flocks in Illinois. “Prevention is our most effective tool to mitigate the spread of avian flu. By being proactive in biosecurity and limiting poultry movement and exposure, we are protecting the public as well as the poultry industry,” said Dr. Mark Ernst, IDOA State Veterinarian. Avian flu is caused by an influenza type A virus which can infect poultry (such as chickens, turkeys, pheasants, quail, domestic ducks, geese, and guinea fowl) and wild birds (especially waterfowl). Avian flu virus strains are extremely infectious, often fatal to chickens, and can spread rapidly from flock to flock.

As the State of Illinois celebrates the fifth anniversary of the legalization of adult use cannabis in Illinois, the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR) announced today that 2024 marked the fourth consecutive year of record-setting sales. Overall, dispensaries report that more than $2 billion of cannabis product was sold in 2024, a 2.5% increase from last year. The $2 billion of product includes a record-setting $1.722 billion in adult use cannabis sales in 2024, with medical cannabis sales exceeding $285 million. Sales taxes collected at Illinois cannabis dispensaries totaled more than $490 million in 2024, per the Illinois Department of Revenue.

At the Illinois Gaming Board’s (IGB’s) first meeting of the year, it reported that the State and local governments earned more than $1.7 billion in tax revenue (excluding December sports wagering numbers) from Illinois’ 16 licensed casinos, approximately 8,700 video gaming terminals, and 14 operating sportsbooks in 2024.

The Illinois Housing Development Authority (IHDA) announced it is accepting applications from eligible local governments and nonprofit organizations to participate in the state’s Home Repair and Accessibility Program (HRAP). Through HRAP, IHDA will provide funding to approved agencies who will then provide grants to low- and extremely low-income homeowners to make health and safety, accessibility, and energy efficiency repairs to their homes.