Hotel files petition to convert to apartments

The owners of MainStay Suites on South Dirksen Parkway have filed a zoning petition with the city of Springfield for a permit to convert the extended-stay hotel into apartments. Hazur Hospitality is seeking to turn the 109 hotel units in the property at 3185 S. Dirksen Parkway into 109 apartments,...

Illinois Rings In 2027 With New Rules On Rent, Groceries And Medical Bills

New year, new rules: Illinois renters get fee transparency, grocery shoppers get coupon alternatives, and families get a break on medical liens.

Only One Illinois City Lands In The Top 25 Of Safest Cities List

One Illinois city cracked the nation's top 25 for safety, beating out bigger counterparts with a solid ranking.

Illinois Roofing Company to Pay $700K in Workplace Harassment Settlement

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...

New Chain of Rocks Bridge opens to four lanes on I-270

New Chain of Rocks Bridge opens after years of work, with another lane still to come

THC Drinks Are Set to Be Removed From Illinois Liquor Stores This Week

Hemp-derived THC beverages containing more than 0.4 milligrams of total THC per container will be pulled from liquor stores and other traditional retail outlets in Illinois beginning Nov. 12, following the passage of a new state law that places tighter restrictions on intoxicating hemp products. The Illinois Hemp Act, signed by Gov. JB Pritzker in […]

Walk Beneath Historic Air Force Planes For Free At This Illinois Aviation Museum

A Boeing 367-80 tanker, a relative of the famous 707 prototype, sits on a grassy lawn in Illinois, and you can walk right under it. No ticket booth. No turnstile. No base badge required. The neighbors are just as impressive. A C-141 Starlifter and a C-130 share the same neat...

Illinois renters signing leases from Jan. 1, 2027 cannot be charged more than $50 to apply for an apartment unless a third-party background check actually costs more

Illinois landlords cannot charge more than $50 for a rental application on leases signed from Jan. 1, 2027, unless a third-party background check costs more than that and the landlord can show the actual bill. The cap covers background-check charges bundled into the application. Gov. JB Pritzker signed House Bill 3564 at the end of […] The post Illinois renters signing leases from Jan. 1, 2027 cannot be charged more than $50 to apply for an apartment unless a third-party background check actually costs more appeared first on The Money Overview .

Illinois voters pass proposals objecting to state anti-BDS law

Voters in eight municipalities in Illinois approved ballot measures last week registering formal objections to the state’s law barring state pension investments in companies that boycott Israel. The ballot measures will have no effect on state policy. But pro-Palestinian groups are celebrating the wins as demonstrations of shifting public...

Illinois court cases under scrutiny after investigation into police misconduct disclosures

An investigation by the Invisible Institute raises questions about whether Illinois prosecutors are violating defendants' constitutional rights by failing to disclose misconduct histories of officers called to testify.

Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker pausing public events for medical procedure

Black People Magic: Juliana Stratton & Election Day Firsts

Celebrating a magical, history-making Election Day with many firsts making history this week. Our nation got its first Muslim senator, first Latina governor, first Native-American woman governor and senators, several states got their first black governors including our neighbors in Wisconsin and (my Soror!) Keisha Lance Bottoms became the first black woman governor in the nation.

Second annual Vetstock celebrates veterans

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WICS/WRSP) - Vetstock 2026, a celebration hosted by the Vetstock Committee and Operation Hometown Heroes, occurred at the Salvation Army Community Center in Springfield Saturday. It is the second year the event has been hosted. Hundreds of veterans attended. The event provided veterans and their families with community...

Illinois Students Help Turn Abandoned Barbershop into Museum Honoring the First Black Man to Vote in the State

David Strother, the barbershop’s original owner, became the first Black voter in Illinois after the 15th Amendment was ratified in 1870

Homeowners 65 and older get an extra $60,000 off school taxable value in Texas, $20,000 in West Virginia, and up to $9,000 in North Dakota and $8,000 in Illinois

Homeowners 65 and older can have a slice of their home’s value taken out of the property tax calculation, and the size of that slice depends heavily on the state. Texas school districts must give an extra $60,000 homestead exemption, West Virginia exempts the first $20,000 of assessed value, North Dakota reduces taxable valuation by […]

Saba Haider wins Illinois House seat with 71.2% of vote

Indian American Democrat Saba Haider has won election to the Illinois House of Representatives, defeating Republican Brian Scopa in the November 3 midterm elections. Her victory in the 84th House District marks another milestone in the growing political representation of Indian Americans in Illinois. Haider defeated Republican candidate Brian Scopa...

Ameren urges veterans, active-duty military members to apply for utility bill assistance

As the nation pauses to recognize veterans this week, Ameren officials are reminding those who have served that help is available for households struggling to keep up with utility bills. Ameren’s Military Assistance Fund is accepting applications from eligible active-duty military members and veterans who are customers of Ameren Missouri...

Illinois Opens $240 Million in Heating Aid to All Eligible Households, With Applications Running Through Aug. 13

Illinois' $240 million LIHEAP is open to all income-eligible households since Nov. 1, with applications through Aug. 13, 2027 or until funds run out.

Illinois reports $311.1 million in alcohol sales tax revenue for 2024

Illinois collected $311.1 million from alcoholic beverage sales taxes in 2024, accounting for 0.5% of the state’s total tax revenue of $66.9 billion, according to the U.S. Census Bureau's Annual Survey of State Government Tax Collections (STC). The State Government Tax Collections (STC) survey tracks five major tax categories...