Brushing off concerns of overspending, Pritzker signs $53.1 billion state budget
Illinois’ largest-ever spending plan increases education, human services, infrastructure funding.
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Illinois residents can claim bigger state tax credit next year under new budget
The 2025 spending plan to which the Illinois House gave final legislative approval last week includes funding for once again tying the standard exemption to inflation, meaning the exemption that individuals can claim for tax year 2024 will grow from $2,425 to $2,775.
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Flash Index shows Illinois economy’s growth rate is up for the third month in a row.
The University of Illinois Flash Index to the state’s economy rose for the third time in as many months, reaching 103.0 in April. The index based on state tax receipts had dropped to 102.5 in January, but has been rising steadily since then. Any Flash Index reading above 100 indicates growth in the Illinois economy.
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Celebration of William Patterson’s life planned for Krannert Performing Arts Center on April 14
The public is invited to remember the Urbana native and STEM educator on Sunday, April 14 from 3 to 7 p-m at Krannert Center for the Performing Arts.
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Quaker Oats is closing its Danville plant, sending pink slips to more than 500 workers
One of Vermilion County’s largest employers is closing down and laying off its workforce. Production has ceased at the Quaker Oats plant in Danville, leaving approximately 510 employees without work. Chicago-based Quaker Oats, a unit of Pepsico since 2001, opened the plant in 1969. In recent years, the Danville plant manufactured Quaker Oats granola bars,…
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Activists want to keep a Champaign post office and dozens of employees from moving to Chicago
People have until March 27 to provide input on the proposed changes to the post office on Mattis Avenue.
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Capitol Briefs: Pritzker touts manufacturing training funding, announces cultural districts
Proposed budget includes another $24 million for manufacturing training academies.
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Wanted: an airline to fly a leisure route out of Willard Airport
Willard Airport is in the process of raising money to attract an airline that will provide leisure-class passenger service between Champaign-Urbana and tourist destination spots such as Florida.
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Accounting investigation under way at ADM and its top financial executive has been placed on leave
ADM said that an investigation was initiated in response to a voluntary document request by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. The company said late Sunday that it’s cooperating with the SEC. ADM named Ismael Roig as interim CFO.
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Illinois high court hands lawmakers a rare pension-overhaul victory
The 2019 consolidation law pooled money from municipal funds to boost investment returns and cut administrative fees. The plaintiffs argued their loss of local control was impairment.
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The secret life of gift cards: Here’s what happens to the billions that go unspent each year
Bankrate found that 47% of U.S. adults had at least one unused gift card worth an average of $187. That’s a total of $23 billion in unspent money.
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Decaying Pillsbury mill in Illinois that once churned flour into opportunity is now getting new life
The group called Moving Pillsbury Forward has $6 million in commitments and plans for obtaining the balance of the $10 million needed to raze the plant and redevelop the site.
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Racial covenants limited housing options for Black residents in Champaign; a local group aims to repair that harm
Racial covenants restricted almost 800 pieces of land in Champaign County from being owned by anyone who wasn’t white. The Champaign-Urbana Reparations Coalition is starting to advocate for reparations for this for African Americans in the area.
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Pritzker designates additional $160M for migrant response as winter approaches
New spending focused on building Chicago’s shelter capacity, getting migrants to permanent housing.
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Advocates hail regulatory ‘earthquake’ as state slashes requested gas rate increases
Company profits cut, low-income customers set to receive new discounts.
