State of Illinois

Local State of Illinois

Unemployment rate 15.2 percent in May; state on pace to enter Phase 4 on June 26

By JERRY NOWICKICapitol News Illinoisjnowicki@capitolnewsillinois.com SPRINGFIELD — Illinois’ unemployment rate fell to 15.2 percent in May, according to the state Department of Employment Security, representing a 2 percent drop from the previous month. Nonfarm payrolls added 62,200 jobs in May based on preliminary data provided by the U.S. Bureau of […]

Local State of Illinois

Illinois residents can now preregister online for driver’s license or identification card

In an attempt to cut down on wait times and long lines at the DMV, Secretary of State Jesse White announced that Illinois residents can preregister online when applying for a driver’s license or identification card. Customers may go to www.cyberdriveillinois.com to access the preregistration application for driver’s licenses and […]

Local State of Illinois

Pritzker signs budget, touts spending of federal funds on child care grants

Financial uncertainty still swirls as COVID-19 continues to impact tax revenues By JERRY NOWICKICapitol News Illinoisjnowicki@capitolnewsillinois.com SPRINGFIELD — Gov. JB Pritzker signed a state budget for fiscal year 2021 Wednesday, but there is no more financial clarity now than there was when lawmakers passed the measure last month. The $42.9 […]

Local State of Illinois

Phase 3 Guidance on Illinois summer school released

By Dani Tietzdani@mahometnews.com The Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) and Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) released guidance on in-person instruction for summer school Thursday. Part Two of the Transition Plan Advisory Workgroup’s recommendations for transitioning to in-person instruction provides recommendations for how schools can comply with IDPH health […]

Local State of Illinois

Black Caucus: ‘Far too much to accomplish’ to let looting take away from message

‘Burned out storefronts and looted shops’ can’t be monument to George Floyd, leaders say By JERRY NOWICKICapitol News Illinoisjnowicki@capitolnewsillinois.com SPRINGFIELD — Members of the Illinois Legislative Black Caucus detailed their ongoing fight for racial equality and made calls for the end of looting at a news conference held at a […]

State of Illinois

In conference call, Pritzker tells Trump his rhetoric is ‘making it worse’ as protests rage on

Trump tells governors ‘you have to do retribution’ in response to destructive actions at protests By JERRY NOWICKICapitol News Illinoisjnowicki@capitolnewsillinois.com SPRINGFIELD — A conference call between U.S. governors and Republican President Donald Trump led to the latest in a series of spats between Illinois’ governor and the president Monday. “You […]