News

Nonfarm Payrolls Surpass Previous Record, Unemployment Rate Unchanged

Michigan officials confirmed a new measles outbreak Thursday near Grand Rapids, bringing the U.S. to eight states with active outbreaks of the vaccine-preventable disease. Earlier this week, Pennsylvania declared an outbreak in Erie County as well.

Measles Outbreak Projections in Illinois Schools Select a school from the list of relevant schools below to generate a simulation.

Local governments are reaching a breaking point with legacy enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems that have grown increasingly costly and challenging to maintain. These aging financial and operational systems, often built decades ago, struggle to keep up with today's demands for agility, transparency and data security.

The architects of the Pretrial Fairness Act, part of the broader SAFE-T Act, are sounding the alarm over new guidance from Cook County State’s Attorney Eileen O’Neill Burke. She’s directing her prosecutors to object “on the record” whenever a judge opts for electronic monitoring instead of pretrial detention.

Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker has signed a trade agreement with the United Kingdom, in addition to an agreement with the State of Mexico signed last week, in an effort to strengthen economic ties with global trading partners.

Join the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS), Prevent Child Abuse Illinois, Hospital Sisters Health System, the Poshard Foundation for Abused Children, elected officials, child welfare stakeholders and more for a month-long observance to share child abuse and neglect prevention awareness messages and promote prevention efforts during Child Abuse Prevention Month in April. This year’s theme, Powered by Hope, Strengthened by Prevention, is a call to action to commit to a future where every child grows up safe, loved and full of hope.

Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (Illinois EPA) Acting Director James Jennings announced on Wednesday, April 2, 2025, a funding opportunity that will provide grants to units of local government for the collection and disposal of household sharps from their residents. Sharps, including needles, syringes, and lancets, collected from private citizens are a household waste. Through the grant program, Illinois EPA will reimburse grantees that operate a sharps collection station as defined in Section 3.458 of the Illinois Environmental Protection Act. A Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) has been posted Illinois EPA website.

The Illinois Commerce Commission (ICC) approved its annual five-year Crossing Safety Improvement Program (FY 2026-2030) to implement life-saving safety upgrades at highway-rail crossings across Illinois. Over $400 million from the Grade Crossing Protection Fund (GCPF) and Rebuild Illinois (RBI) will help local communities pay for much-needed improvements at over 900 crossing locations. “Illinois’ rail system is made up of more than 10,000 public crossings. The ICC’s Crossing Safety Improvement Plan is an essential tool for improving our state’s rail infrastructure and reducing the risk of collisions,” said ICC Commissioner Michael T. Carrigan. In 2024, preliminary Federal Railroad Administration data indicates there were 80 collisions at public crossings in Illinois, down from 89 in 2023.

Governor JB Pritzker has proclaimed the month of April as Innovation and Technology Month in Illinois, underscoring the significance of IT and the dedicated efforts to establish the state as a thriving innovation and technology hub, delivering statewide services to agencies, boards, commissions, and residents.

SPRINGFIELD — President Donald Trump’s administration is pulling back $477 million from Illinois that was to be used to prevent infectious disease and treat mental health and substance abuse issues. The Illinois Department of Public Health announced this week the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is taking back $125 million allocated to IDPH and 97 local health departments for infectious disease prevention. Another $324 million appropriated by Congress for “future use” in preventing and treating infectious disease also is being blocked.

While at this time there have been no measles cases in Illinois, the US is experiencing a significant surge in cases in 20 other states and jurisdictions. The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) has been closely monitoring the situation and taking proactive steps to protect Illinois residents. As of this time, the vast majority of cases nationwide (416 of 483) are in New Mexico and Texas. I would like to reassure you and the public by highlighting IDPH activities as we collaborate to prevent measles cases in Illinois.

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.