The latest drought monitor revealed that Illinois is seeing the worst drought conditions in a decade. While severe drought is not unusual in Illinois, the number of counties under severe drought conditions is higher than normal. According to the drought monitor’s data, more than 14 percent […]
With the spring legislative session ending, hundreds of bills that passed the General Assembly now await the Governor’s signature before officially becoming law. Late last week, the Governor acted on more than 80 of those bills, many of which were initiatives of Senate Republicans. From addressing […]
A preexisting Enterprise Zone in the Lee-Ogle Counties area is now safe from potential wind farm projects uprooting years of planning thanks to legislation sponsored and passed by State Senator Win Stoller (R-Germantown Hills). The Lee-Ogle Enterprise Zone is a 2,000-acre designated area along I-39 and […]
Illinois schools now have a new tool to help combat the statewide teaching shortage, making it easier for qualified teachers to step back into classrooms and provide the best education possible for students. Legislation filed by State Senator Tom Bennett (R-Gibson City) has been signed into […]
On Friday, bipartisan legislation by State Senator Erica Harriss (56th-Glen Carbon) and State Representative Jeff Keicher (R-Sycamore) to help victims of human trafficking pursue a normal life after their trauma was signed into law by Governor Pritzker. House Bill 2418 creates a pathway to expunge criminal […]
The Majority Party and the Governor failed to permanently eliminate or even extend the state’s sales tax on groceries this legislative session. That means that beginning July 1, Illinoisans will again be paying more when they check out at the supermarket.The short-term suspension of the one […]
Despite warnings that the state’s spending plan is likely unbalanced and sets Illinois up for an unstable future, the Gov. JB Pritzker proceeded to sign the over $50 billion budget this week—the largest in state history.While the Governor claimed to prioritize fiscal responsibility, Senate Republicans continue […]
Since 2002, the Illinois Conservation Foundation (ICF) has hosted nominations and selections for the Illinois Outdoor Hall of Fame. These nominations include outdoor sportsmen and women, conservationists, or preservationists who have made significant contributions or exhibited dedication in preserving, promoting, enhancing, or supporting natural resources or […]
While some wheat producers across the U.S. have been feeling the effects of hot weather, the Illinois Wheat Association’s recent crop tour showed that Illinois wheat yields are breaking records. Accordingly, the average wheat yields were estimated by the Illinois Wheat Association at approximately 97 bushels […]
In 2020, the Governor announced the Business Interruption Grant (BIG) program. Operated by the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO), the program used federal tax revenue to give $585 million in grants to businesses to provide relief from the COVID-19 pandemic. In a recent […]