Nearly 300,000 Illinoisans filed first-time claims in past two weeks By PETER HANCOCKCapitol News Illinoisphancock@capitolnewsillinois.com SPRINGFIELD – First-time unemployment claims skyrocketed again in Illinois and throughout the nation in the last week of March as businesses closed their doors or scaled back operations in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic. […]
Tag: JB Pritzker
Illinois Department of Employment Security utilizes new alphabetized benefit schedule
Designated times set to handle overwhelming surge in unemployment claims By REBECCA ANZELCapitol News Illinoisranzel@capitolnewsillinois.com SPRINGFIELD — The Illinois department tasked with overseeing unemployment benefits is employing an alphabetized schedule to handle “an unprecedented volume” of claims. Claims now must be filed online and by phone on days and at […]
State, national unemployment spikes amid COVID-19 outbreak
More than 114,000 Illinoisans file new claims in one week By PETER HANCOCKCapitol News Illinoisphancock@capitolnewsillinois.com SPRINGFIELD — More than 114,000 workers in Illinois filed first-time unemployment claims in the week ending March 21 as the United States saw its biggest one-week spike in recorded history. 3.2 million workers filing for […]
Pritzker paints two budget pictures: One with graduated tax, one without
By JERRY NOWICKIand PETER HANCOCKCapitol News Illinoisnews@capitolnewsillinois.com SPRINGFIELD – Gov. JB Pritzker has tied his second-year state budget proposal to the unfinished marquee policy initiative of his first year – a constitutional amendment that allows the state to impose higher income tax rates on higher income earners. If voters approve […]
Illinois to require student to file FAFSA prior to graduation
BY DANI TIETZdani@mahometnews.com Illinois high school graduates in the class of 2021 and beyond will be required to fill out a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) or an alternative state form created by the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) as a part of their requirements to be […]
New Illinois law will allow students to miss school to vote
BY DANI TIETZdani@mahometnews.com Beginning June 1, 2020, high school students of voting age will be allowed to be excused from school for two hours to vote in primary, general and special elections or any election in which propositions are submitted to a popular vote. Students can be excused to exercise […]
Grant to help fund Phase I Barber Park Renovation
BY DANI TIETZdani@mahometnews.com Mahomet Parks and Recreation has received a $400,000 Open Space and Land Acquisition Development (OSLAD) grant from the Illinois Department of Natural Resources for Phase I of the Barber Park Master plan. The grant matches dollar-for-dollar up to one-half of a project’s funds. Mahomet was one of […]