The Illinois Department of Juvenile Justice (IDJJ) will host employment screening events for its Juvenile Justice Specialist Intern positions. The positions are full-time, year-round, shift-work positions and there are job openings at the following Illinois youth centers: Chicago, Warrenville, St. Charles, Grafton, Harrisburg, and Lincoln. The position has a starting salary of $65,004; and interested applicants must attend an upcoming required screening event to be considered. The screening dates and locations are listed below:

The Illinois Board of Higher Education (IBHE) approved a fiscal year 2027 recommended budget that increases funding to continue to support the implementation of the higher education strategic plan, A Thriving Illinois, meant to remove barriers and advance equity across the state’s higher education system. The approved budget recommends an overall 4.5% increase, which represents an increase of $121.5 million, in higher education funding, excluding the State University Retirement System (SURS) pensions.

ISACo President Matt Prochaska and Executive Director Joe McCoy joined county leaders from across the nation for a series of policy and advocacy discussions from January 14-16 hosted by the National Association of Counties (NACo) in Washington, D.C. The conversations focused on federal and state legislative priorities, fiscal pressures facing counties, and the growing importance of narrative-driven advocacy to strengthen county voices and advance effective intergovernmental partnerships. Click on the title to read the article.

Governor JB Pritzker has signed the bipartisan Clean Slate Act (HB 1836) into law, marking a major shift in how Illinois handles record sealing for certain non-violent offenses. The new law automates a process that has long been complex and uneven across counties, expanding access to employment, housing and education for eligible individuals while preserving public safety safeguards. Illinois now joins a growing number of states implementing Clean Slate policies aimed at reducing recidivism, strengthening communities and promoting economic opportunity. Click on the title to read the article.

Over-the-year, total nonfarm jobs decreased in 8 metropolitan areas and increased in 4, leading to consecutive months with year-over-year growth in Chicago (17 consecutive months) and Lake (6 consecutive months). Over-the-year, the unemployment rate increased in 10 metro areas and decreased in 2 for the year ending November 2025, according to data released today by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) and the Illinois Department of Employment Security (DES). The was no October 2025 metro area release due to the federal government shutdown.