Helicopter removes Old State Capitol flagpole As part of $2.5 million in renovations to the Old State Capitol in Springfield, a helicopter removed the flag pole Monday. The renovations, funded in part by increased taxes from the Rebuild Illinois construction plan, brings exterior repairs to the historic dome cap. Other projects in Springfield include tens…
(The Center Square) – Holiday shopping gets underway in earnest this weekend with many expected to visit brick-and-mortar stores in Illinois. The National Retail Federation predicts over 166 million people will shop from Thanksgiving Day through Cyber Monday, which is 8 million more than last year. “While there is much speculation about inflation’s impact on…
(The Center Square) – One Illinois farmer is celebrating a record harvest, but inflation is taking a toll. In Dekalb County, Mark Tuttle, a fifth-generation farmer, said he’s had the best soybean crop he’s ever had in 44 years of farming. “Good yields, good weather, good quality. One of the best bean yields we’ve had…
(The Center Square) – With Illinois state lawmakers set to return to Springfield after Thanksgiving for one more week of session before the new year, questions remain on what will change with the Pretrial Fairness Act set to eliminate cash bail statewide on Jan. 1. The Safety, Accountability, Fairness, and Equity Today, or SAFE-T, Act,…
(The Center Square) – A new analysis shows the federal tax dollars sent to Illinois and other states since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. The funds were used to support public health, education and to temporarily aid Illinois’ financial condition. According to Pew Charitable Trusts, of the $5.2 trillion that the U.S. government has…
Another U of I student scammed The University of Illinois Police Department is reporting that two students were recently scammed out of a collective $25,000 by unknown people who called them. Officials said one student received a call from someone claiming to represent the Chinese embassy and was threatened with arrest if she didn’t pay…
The U.S. defense budget – by far the largest of any country in the world – is the subject of regular controversy. But while multi-billion dollar weapons development programs that blow past budgets and deadlines will always be subject to political scrutiny, much of America’s annual military spending is less controversial. Nearly one-quarter of the…
(The Center Square) – The outgoing Illinois state superintendent of education’s legacy is being remembered in different ways. Friday, Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s office announced Illinois State Superintendent of Education Carmen Ayala’s retirement for Jan. 31, 2023. Pritzker said Ayala guided schools through the COVID-19 pandemic and “kick-started” academic recovery after learning loss from suspended in-person…
(The Center Square) – A former Illinois governor says “no” to the Chicago mayoral race to focus on other issues. There was speculation that former Gov. Pat Quinn would announce his campaign to be Chicago’s next mayor. During a news conference Thursday, Quinn said he would not be challenging Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot but did…
(The Center Square) – An Illinois non profit is offering taxpayer-funded legal services to get cannabis arrests and convictions cleared from individual’s records. New Leaf Illinois utilizes nearly $1.3 million in taxpayer funds to work toward expunging cannabis arrests and convictions. The group’s website says 18 nonprofit organizations in Illinois are offering free and legal…