Alvin
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (CAPITOL CITY NOW) – A discussion about Sangamon County’s budget for the next fiscal year this week resulted in a criticism of sorts for the commission that was formed to look at various potential reforms in the wake of the death of Sonya Massey. Sangamon County...
Former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich is revisiting the corruption scandal that sent him to prison, sharing his side of the story and why he maintains he was framed.
New Illinois laws governing the operation and classification of micromobility devices such as e-bikes and e-scooters are set to take effect on Jan. 1.
MADISON COUNTY — The Illinois and Missouri departments of transportation were joined by local leaders and industry partners today to cut the ribbon on the new Interstate 270 Chain of Rocks twin bridges crossing the Mississippi River, the centerpiece of a combined $531.6 million investment to improve safety and mobility while creating jobs and economic opportunity along a critical freight and travel corridor. The bridges are the latest achievement made possible by Gov. JB Pritzker’s historic Rebuild Illinois capital program, which is delivering billions of dollars in major projects across the state this fall.
Some Illinois diners have fed the same towns for so long that grandparents and grandkids order the same burger at the same counter. The places on this list are more than old buildings with grills. Each one has stayed in family hands across generations, and that history shows up on...
Springfield Art Association is rearranging the seating at its Edwards Place headquarters, loaning its Lincoln Courting Couch to Indiana State Museum for an upcoming exhibit.
(The Center Square) – A strong labor market is helping to boost Illinois tax revenues, but an economics professor says states with budget difficulties should be prepared in case unemployment rises. The Commission on Government Forecasting and Accountability said Illinois sales tax revenues grew $175 million, or 17.1% in October and corporate income tax receipts increased $100 million, or 43%. David Yaskewich, professor of economics and chair of accounting, economics and finance at Southeast Missouri State University in Cape Girardeau, said income tax and sales taxes are the primary generators of revenue at the state level. “If we have a healthy labor market where people are working, that would be something that would tend to generate revenue. So in a low unemployment period, if a state were having difficulties with its budget, that would be potentially worrisome, because if unemployment were to rise, it could only really get worse from that standpoint,” Yaskewich told The Center Square. The Illinois state budget is $55.9 billion for fiscal year 2027, up from $39 billion in 2019. The Illinois Flash Index increased from 101.5 in September to 101.7 in October, reflecting continued strength in state revenues and an improving labor market. Yaskewich said
Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker marked Veterans Day on November 11 by honoring generations of American veterans, including members of his own family who served in the United States Navy. His statement connected his family’s military history to the freedoms Americans experience today while highlighting the responsibility to continue improving the country for future generations. Pritzker […]
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (CAPITOL CITY NOW) – A number of proposals introduced in recent months by Sangamon County Board member Sam Cahnman were rejected, in some cases, because they didn’t follow normal board procedures. With this one, more than the third time was the charm, sort of. A new...
Illinois high school officials are weighing 24 proposed changes to the IHSA Constitution and By-Laws for 2026-27. Proposals touch on school classifications, cooperative teams, transfer eligibility and regular-season schedules. After statewide town meetings, the IHSA Legislative Commission will decide which measures go to a vote of member schools. By the...
Illinois regulators are preparing to potentially transfer patients out of Gateway Regional Medical Center in Granite City and ambulances are being sent to other hospitals. The hospital is still open, but the Illinois Department of Public Health confirmed Gateway and another medical center owned by the same company are on bypass status due to “staffing instability.” St. Louis-based KMOV first reported the development. The operators of the 278-bed safety net hospital have been late paying staff. An IDPH spokesman said that the agency had alerted the state’s labor and employment security departments about unmet payroll at Gateway and at Vista Medical Center in Waukegan, Illinois. Both hospitals are owned by California-based company American Healthcare Systems. “Gateway and Vista are private, for-profit hospitals whose operations and finances are managed by American Healthcare Systems. Their lack of communication, transparency, and responsible financial management and contingency planning is extremely concerning,” the spokesman for the IDPH said in an email. “The Illinois Department of Public Health’s highest immediate priority is the health and safety of the patients and has been working and communicating with hospital administrative leaders in this regard.” Representatives from Gateway Regional Medical Center and American Healthcare Systems did not respond to
This year's U.S. Capitol Christmas tree is being hauled through the Midwest this week on its way to be displayed in Washington D.C. for the holidays. The 76-foot tall Engelmann spruce began its journey in October from the Nez Perce-Clearwater National Forest in Idaho. The caravan, which has made stops in Paducah in previous years, is taking a northerly route this year.
(The Center Square) – A ban on the sale of intoxicating hemp products by some retailers in Illinois took effect Thursday, forcing some across the state to shut down. The law also pushes products toward more regulation and heavier taxation as hundreds of businesses challenge the ban’s legality. Hundreds of businesses won the temporary ability to continue selling the banned products in a court decision days before the law took effect. Craig Katz, president of the Illinois Healthy Alternatives Association, said the ban won’t impact the roughly 300 businesses represented in the lawsuit until at least Nov. 19 – the day the case will come before a federal judge. “We have our hearing set in federal court and the temporary restraining order on the 19th, so that's why that date was chosen,” Katz said. “If she were to take it under advisement and not rule at that time, we would certainly ask that the agreement continue until she does rule.” If the businesses lose or the temporary block isn't renewed, the products could only be sold by licensed dispensaries in the state which are more heavily taxed, making products more expensive and harder to obtain. Before the law took effect,
One stand on this list piles the fries right on top of the hot dog and still won’t hand you ketchup. Another claims credit for putting a batter-dipped hot dog on a stick along old Route 66. I love that kind of stubbornness. Illinois has plenty of flashy food...
The state of Illinois has passed a new law limiting where E-Bikes can be driven. This new legislation comes as accidents involving the increasingly popular vehicle including two in Bloomington-Normal. It states that bikes that can go above 15 miles per hour are prohibited from being used on sidewalks. Usage on shared pathways, such as the Constitution Trail, is up to local government.
ILLINOIS (WCIA) — Taps and the 21-gun salute are sounds that military families know all too well. They’re played when it’s time to honor the ones who made the ultimate sacrifice for our country. However, it’s a tradition that is becoming hard to uphold. That’s why Operation Honor Guard exists. “I lost a buddy shortly […]
Monday, November 9th, 2026 — An Illinois roofing contractor has agreed to pay $700,000 to resolve a federal lawsuit involving allegations of racial and sexual harassment, including repeated misconduct by a company vice president and management's failure to address employee complaints. The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) announced...
Some state lawmakers are pushing for independent oversight of the Illinois Department of Corrections — a new pair of eyes that the department’s director said isn’t necessary. On Tuesday, the House Restorative Justice and Public Safety Committee held a subject matter hearing on a bill introduced by...
Illinois HB 3564 requires every non-optional fee on a lease's first page from Jan. 1, 2027, caps application fees at $50 and bans a list of other charges.
