News

The Illinois Department of Employment Security (IDES) announced today that the unemployment rate was 5.0 percent in February, up +0.1 percentage point from January, and up +0.3 percentage point from the same month, one year ago, based on data provided by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). The revised January unemployment rate was 4.9 percent.

State lawmakers, utilities, and industry stakeholders convened to examine the rapid growth of data centers and their implications for Illinois’ electric grid, consumer costs, and long-term energy policy.

Governor JB Pritzker and the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) announced more than $4.85 million in grant funding has been awarded to 66 grantees through three grant programs – the Tourism Attractions Grant Program ($2 million), Tourism Marketing Partnership Grant Program ($2.25 million), and Tourism Private Sector Grant Program ($598,900) – as part of the State’s efforts to build upon the record-breaking tourism industry and welcome more visitors to Illinois.

A poll conducted from March 16-19 shows overwhelming bipartisan support among Illinois voters for stronger oversight of data centers, including protections against rising utility costs and increased water usage, highlighting growing public demand for legislative action. Click on the title to read the story.

Stay informed on the latest legislative developments from Springfield. This report highlights ISACo-tracked bills that were approved by the House from April 6-10, 2026. Click on the link to read the report.

The Illinois Department of Employment Security (IDES) announced that the unemployment rate was 4.9 percent in January, up +0.2 percentage point from December, and up +0.2 percentage point from the same month, one year ago, based on data provided by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). The revised December unemployment rate was 4.7 percent.

A House committee has advanced legislation aimed at converting underutilized commercial properties into housing, signaling continued momentum around affordability solutions in Illinois. While lawmakers expressed interest in the concept of adaptive reuse, concerns remain about statewide mandates and the need to preserve local control. The bill now heads to the House floor as discussions continue, with potential implications for local governments, zoning authority, and local infrastructure planning. Click on the title to read the story.

Stay informed on the latest legislative developments from Springfield. This report highlights ISACo-tracked bills that successfully cleared House committees from March 24-27, 2026. Click on the link to read the report.

On Thursday, the Illinois Commerce Commission (ICC) approved its annual five-year Crossing Safety Improvement Program (FY 2027-2031) to implement life-saving safety upgrades at highway-rail crossings. The plan authorizes $376 million in funding for grade crossing safety improvements and highway-rail grade separations at approximately 387 crossing locations.

The Illinois Department of Agriculture (IDOA) is relaunching the Infield Conservation for Operationalizing Vital Ecosystem Resilience (I-COVER) Program to promote the early establishment of cover crops using new techniques and/or technology. IDOA secured a $7 million USDA Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS) Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP) grant to launch the program, which offers cost-share/financial incentives to producers and landowners who are new adopters of cover crops or who utilize new techniques for earlier establishment of cover crops. I-COVER is a three-year program for cover crops planted in 2026, 2027, and 2028.

Illinois voters are sending a clear message: housing affordability is a growing concern, and they want action. A new poll highlighted by Capitol Fax shows strong, bipartisan support for increasing housing supply and lowering costs—while also raising important questions about the balance between state initiatives and local zoning authority. Click on the title to read more about what this could mean for counties and local decision-making.

Illinois State Treasurer Michael Frerichs is calling on young Illinois photographers to submit their agriculture-related photos for the 2026 Cream of the Crop Photography Contest. Winners in three different age categories will be awarded Bright Start college savings account scholarships ranging from $250 to $1,000.

The surge in data center development in Illinois has led to a wave of public hearings across several counties and municipalities, particularly in the Chicago metropolitan area and central Illinois. These hearings typically focus on zoning amendments, noise ordinances, and environmental impact assessments. This resource identifies Illinois local governments that have held or are currently planning public hearings related to data centers. The list will be updated as necessary. Click on the title to view information about the hearings.

This resource features a curated collection of news stories highlighting the rapid growth of data centers and their impacts on communities, infrastructure, and public policy. As this issue continues to evolve, additional articles will be added to provide county officials with timely insights into emerging trends, local concerns, and statewide and national developments. Click on the title to view the news coverage.

Stay informed on the latest legislative developments from Springfield. This report highlights ISACo-tracked bills that successfully cleared House committees from March 19-21, 2026. Several appropriations and shell bills were also advanced to the House floor. Click on the title for the full update.

Governor JB Pritzker, the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO), and Illinois film industry leaders announced that film production expenditures in Illinois reached a record-breaking high of $703 million in 2025, supporting an estimated 18,000 in industry hires. This represents a 25 percent increase in film expenditures since before the pandemic in 2019.

The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) has approved a disaster declaration for the severe storms and flooding that impacted six counties in northeastern Illinois from Aug. 16–18, 2025. This declaration will allow homeowners, renters, businesses, and certain non-profit organizations to apply for low-interest loans to help cover damages not covered by insurance.

The Illinois Department of Veterans Affairs (IDVA) and the USDVA Women's Health Department at Jesse Brown VA Medical Center today announced the 25 Illinois Women Veteran Leaders in 2026 at Malcolm X College. Women veterans were nominated for their extraordinary leadership, contributions, and commitment to the women veteran community.

Storms finally reached the Champaign-Urbana area around 2:00 a.m. on Wednesday. By that time the National Weather Service in Central Illinois had canceled the Tornado Watch. Still, the rain was steady with some lightning and thunder.

Illinois Treasurer Michael Frerichs today announced that an estimated 250,000 Illinoisans with a disability are now eligible to open ABLE accounts that allow them to save and invest money to improve quality of life without risking federal benefits. The Achieving a Better Life Experience (ABLE) Act Congress passed in 2014 required that people had to have acquired their disability before their 26th birthday. A change in the law effective this year raised the age limit to before a person’s 46th birthday, meaning about 6 million more people across the country can start ABLE accounts.

The Illinois Student Assistance Commission (ISAC) and global education company Kaplan today announced that Illinois’ first-in-the-nation free test preparation program – the Prepare for Illinois’ Future Program – will continue through the end of the academic school year. Additionally, Governor JB Pritzker has proposed to fund the program through the FY27 budget for another year as part of his Affordability Agenda and commitment to strengthening access to postsecondary opportunities.

Thunderstorms, tornadoes, lightning, floods, and power outages are all possible during Illinois' spring weather season. That is why the Illinois Emergency Management Agency and Office of Homeland Security (IEMA OHS) is urging all residents to take steps to prepare during Severe Weather Preparedness Month this March. “Millions of dollars in storm damages within the last year shows just how quickly severe weather can impact our communities,” said IEMA OHS Acting Director Theodore (Ted) Berger. “We understand that severe weather can be overwhelming, but you don’t have to face it unprepared. Taking time now to plan and gather essentials can help protect the people and places you care about most.”

March 1 Illinois fishing licenses go on sale Statewide Illinois fishing licenses are available for purchase online and at designated vendors across the state. Standard resident licenses are only $15. Exemptions are available for military and those with disabilities. Learn more at ifishillinois.org.

The Illinois Environmental Protection Agency’s (Illinois EPA) Office of Energy is offering up to $1,500,000 in grant funding available to support energy efficiency projects at publicly owned public water supply (PWS) facilities, commonly referred to as drinking water treatment plants (DWTP). Awarded projects will range from $50,000 to $500,000 with match a requirement of 10-20% based on geographic location. Application materials are available at the Illinois EPA Office of Energy PWS Energy Efficiency Grant Program webpage. The application period closes at 5:00 pm on May 4, 2026.

The Illinois Housing Development Authority (IHDA) and the Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC) are thrilled to unveil the latest group participating in the Next Generation Capacity Building Initiative (Next Gen). As the nation faces an ongoing shortage of affordable housing, Illinois needs to build more than 225,000 units over five years to meet growing demand. Next Gen is a flagship program designed to strengthen the pipeline of emerging affordable housing developers across the state and a crucial component of Governor Pritzker’s Affordability Agenda.