News

The Illinois Department of Labor (IDOL) strongly condemns actions by the Trump administration to roll back federal minimum wage and overtime protections for millions of home health care workers. “These reckless rollbacks undermine the economic security of working families across the country,” said IDOL Director Jane Flanagan. “While Illinois has robust minimum wage and overtime protections for home health care workers, if the proposed rule is adopted, it will create inconsistency and confusion across the country. As the federal government weakens worker protections, IDOL is committed to protecting and promoting the wages of all workers in Illinois.”

The Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR) announced today a new program that will grant funds to clean up cemeteries that have been abandoned, neglected, or are otherwise in need of additional care. Units of local government and not-for-profit organizations (including, but not limited to, not-for-profit cemetery authorities) are eligible to apply for ten Cemetery Relief Fund Grants that will be issued yearly. Each grant, valued up to $20,000, is supported by funding allocated in the FY26 state budget signed into law by Governor JB Pritzker. Applicants may apply by completing and submitting the application found online here. The deadline to apply is October 24, 2025.

In order to verify damage from the storms and flooding that occurred August 16-19, preliminary damage assessment (PDA) teams will go door-to-door on Wednesday, Sept. 3 through Sunday, Sept. 7. These teams will include representatives from the Illinois Emergency Management Agency (IEMA), Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), along with local emergency management personnel.

Illinois State Fire Marshal Michele Pankow visited the Shawneetown Fire Department on Friday, August 22, to present checks totaling $350,000 each to Shawneetown and Carrier Mills Fire Departments and $300,000 to the Equality Fire Department through OSFM’s Fire Station Construction and Rehabilitation Grant Program. Shawneetown Fire Chief Terry Golden Video: https://youtu.be/OkgN4MlvKcg Carrier Mills Mayor Tracy Felty Video: https://youtu.be/u1qxKSyRHbI Equality Fire Chief Cole Baker Video: https://youtu.be/NXTshFnZLzw The OSFM awarded $5 million dollars to 17 grantees across the state. This funding will allow fire departments or fire protection districts to repair, upgrade, or construct new fire houses.

Governor JB Pritzker and the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity’s (DCEO) Office of Tourism announced that Illinois welcomed 113 million domestic and international visitors who spent a record $48.5 billion in 2024 – an increase of 500,000 visitors and $1.3 billion in spending from 2023, according to data provided by Tourism Economics. This tourism surge also led to a new all-time high in hotel tax revenue figures in FY25, totaling $367 million – a 14% increase over the previous record set in FY24.

Eleven individuals and organizations have been recognized as 2025 outstanding volunteers of the year for their contributions to conservation on behalf of the Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR). “IDNR is thankful to have so many wonderfully dedicated volunteers and support groups that help maintain and promote state parks, historic sites, the Illinois State Museum, outdoor safety, and conservation projects,” IDNR Director Natalie Phelps Finnie said. “I’m pleased to recognize their extraordinary work and the sacrifices they make for the benefit of the people of Illinois.” The 2025 IDNR outstanding volunteers of the year are:

The State Treasurer’s Office made a record $1.57 billion in investment earnings from the state investment portfolio during Fiscal Year 2025, Illinois Treasurer Michael Frerichs announced today. Treasurer Frerichs is the state’s Chief Investment and Banking Officer. He is responsible for investing state revenue in the state investment portfolio. “Every dollar we earn in interest for the people of Illinois is a dollar that lawmakers don’t have to raise in taxes,” Frerichs said. “We are trying to maximize earnings for our state at a time when the Trump administration is looking to strip away health care for working families to give billionaires a tax cut.”

Illinois State Fire Marshal Michele Pankow visited the Shawneetown Fire Department on Friday, August 22, to present checks totaling $350,000 each to Shawneetown and Carrier Mills Fire Departments and $300,000 to the Equality Fire Department through OSFM’s Fire Station Construction and Rehabilitation Grant Program.

The Illinois Department of Juvenile Justice (IDJJ) today announced that youth in custody earned certifications in various career fields, including solar installation, personal training, shipping and receiving, construction, and culinary arts. Classes offered by community partners on topics such as public speaking, podcast production, music production, audio engineering, and constitutional law also contributed to skill building and knowledge for high school graduates working to make the most of their time while incarcerated.

The Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority (ICJIA) today announced the release of the 2025-2029 Statewide Violence Prevention Plan. The 2025-2029 Statewide Violence Prevention Plan serves as a framework for grantmaking that can create more resilient, safe, and thriving communities. The plan supports the Governor's goals of breaking the cycles of violence caused by years of failed criminal justice policies, overincarceration, and economic disinvestment in minority communities.

Governor JB Pritzker, the Illinois Board of Higher Education (IBHE), the Illinois Community College Board (ICCB) and the Illinois Student Assistance Commission (ISAC) launched One Click College Admit – a statewide direct admissions program for Illinois public universities and community colleges. Through One Click College Admit, high school seniors and community college transfer students in Illinois will receive college acceptances into the state’s public universities by meeting only one criterion for admission: grade point average (GPA). This new program waives applications, application fees, essays and letters of recommendation for students.

The Illinois Department of Employment Security (IDES) announced today that total nonfarm payrolls were nearly unchanged over-the-month in July, down -2,500 (0.0%) to 6,165,600. The June monthly change in payrolls was revised from the preliminary report, from +9,400 to +2,300. The industry sectors with the largest over-the-month jobs increases included: Construction (+2,900), Trade, Transportation and Utilities (+1,700), and Private Education and Health Services (+1,100). The industry sectors with the largest monthly payroll jobs decreases included: Professional and Business Services (-3,500), Government (-2,900), and Leisure and Hospitality (-1,200).

DuPage County’s new $25.8 million Crisis Recovery Center stands out in more ways than one. With a glass-paneled entrance, the lobby is filled with mood-boosting daylight and instantly puts visitors at ease. It’s the first sign that this place is a refuge.

The Illinois Law Enforcement Training and Standards Board (ILETSB) is pleased to announce the passage of Senate Bill 1491, a new law that will enhance crisis and emergency response capabilities across the state through the integration of certified therapy dog teams. Senate Bill 1491 was recently signed into law by Governor JB Pritzker on Friday, August 1, 2025.

As public lands nationally face threats to their existence, the Illinois Conservation Foundation (ICF), in partnership with the Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR), is launching a new endowment to protect, preserve and enhance Illinois state parks. “From our wooded trails and caverns to our beaches and mighty rivers, our state parks are a great source of pride for Illinoisans – and these spaces must be protected,” said Governor JB Pritzker. “Thanks to the support from our state partners, this endowment will fund critical infrastructure and conservation efforts to ensure future generations can enjoy the beauty and historical significance of our state parks.”

Illinois EPA Acting Director James Jennings is announcing eight upcoming Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) one-day collection events for the Fall of 2025. These collection events are co-sponsored by units of local government and provide residents the free opportunity to safely dispose of unused or leftover hazardous products commonly found in homes.

The Illinois Gaming Board (IGB) adopted new rules that expand existing restrictions on advertising, marketing and promotions for licensed casino, video gaming, and sports wagering operators including a ban on advertising on college campuses and new requirements to protect the public, especially young people and problem gamblers. “By adopting these measures, the IGB is building upon existing regulations to implement additional safeguards and standards that further protect the public and encourage responsible gambling habits,” said IGB Administrator Marcus D. Fruchter. “These regulations provide for clear, consistent, ethical, and transparent advertising and marketing guidelines for all casino, video gaming, and sports wagering operations under IGB jurisdiction.”

SPRINGFIELD —The Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (Illinois EPA) announced $983,750 in grant funding has been awarded to four grantees through the Illinois Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant (EECBG) Program. The Illinois EECBG Program supports municipalities and counties with the development of strategic energy or climate action plans, as well as energy efficiency audits and publicly owned building upgrades. Illinois’ EECBG program was funded by the U.S. Department of Energy through the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA). “The steps being taken by grantees are meant to help communities across Illinois design, update, and finalize their comprehensive energy plans,” said Illinois EPA Acting Director James Jennings. “These plans will help maximize energy reduction and Return on Investment, enable better selection of advanced, location-specific technologies, and enhance resilience to future grid demands.”

Building on efforts to ensure quality healthcare accessibility for the people of Illinois, Governor JB Pritzker signed legislation on Friday that protects patients by limiting the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in therapy and psychotherapy services. The Wellness and Oversight for Psychological Resources Act prohibits anyone from using AI to provide mental health and therapeutic decision-making, while allowing the use of AI for administrative and supplementary support services for licensed behavioral health professionals. This will protect patients from unregulated and unqualified AI products, while also protecting the jobs of Illinois’ thousands of qualified behavioral health providers. This will also protect vulnerable children amid the rising concerns over AI chatbot use in youth mental health services.

The Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services (HFS) is recognizing August as Child Support Awareness Month, marking historic progress on key performance metrics as the state celebrates the milestone 50th year of the program. Illinois’ Child Support Services program is entering its next decade with a goal of addressing the needs of the families it serves more holistically, including providing additional assistance to the parents who pay support. The mission of the program is to improve the lives of children and create a more stable and successful future for families in the state of Illinois.

On Friday, August 1, the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) Director Heidi Mueller, legislators, DCFS staff, caregivers and students gathered to celebrate this year’s scholarship recipients at the department’s annual scholarship luncheon. This year, 347 current or former youth in care received scholarships provided by the Illinois DCFS Scholarship Program, including up to five consecutive years of tuition and mandatory fee waivers valid at Illinois public universities, community colleges and vocational schools. The program also provides student recipients with financial assistance for books and school supplies, a monthly grant payment to supplement other expenses and an Illinois Medicaid card.

The Illinois Department of Labor’s (IDOL) Division of Occupational Safety and Health (IL OSHA) has released a new fact sheet highlighting the top 20 safety violations identified during water and sewer department inspections conducted in recent years. IL OSHA inspects municipal water and sewer departments across the state to help ensure employees working in high-risk environments are protected from hazards that can lead to serious injury or death. The fact sheet provides a summary of the most frequently cited standards and offers corrective recommendations that municipal departments can use to improve workplace safety and health. Common violations cited in the latest fact sheet involve working in tight spaces, breathing safely, protection from moving machine parts, and making sure machines that are turned off stay off. “Many of these hazards can be mitigated with proper training, written procedures, and regular maintenance,” said IL OSHA Division Chief Erik Kambarian. “We encourage departments to use the fact sheet as a proactive tool to identify and correct safety gaps before an incident occu

The Illinois State Fair, in collaboration with the Illinois State Police, is introducing updated security measures to help ensure a safe and enjoyable experience for all guests. The following items will not be allowed on the Illinois State Fairgrounds and will be confiscated if found: Firearms (concealed carry is prohibited) Weapons of any kind (including but not limited to knives, pepper spray, stun guns, brass knuckles, batons, bats) Illegal substances Drones or laser pointers Fireworks or flammable materials

The hunting and trapping seasons for gray fox (Urocyon cinereoargenteus) are closed effective immediately. Surveys and preliminary results of current research indicate a substantial decline in gray fox distribution and abundance in the last ten years. Even though Illinois hunters and trappers harvest very few gray foxes, this closure will remove any additional pressure and additive mortality from harvest. The Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) will continue to conduct annual surveys and evaluate the gray fox population in Illinois. On June 30, Gov. JB Pritzker signed into law Public Act 104-0019, which changed language in the Illinois Wildlife Code and allows IDNR to open or close the gray fox season by administrative rule. This bill was an IDNR initiative with broad support from diverse conservation groups including the Illinois Trappers Association and support from legislators across the state. On July 9, the department filed administrative rules indefinitely closing the hunting and trapping seasons for gray fox.

The Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR) announced today that 25 more license types are now available for licensure via the Department’s new online licensing system, CORE (Comprehensive Online Regulatory Environment). Today’s announcement marks the successful completion of CORE’s Phase 2, during which IDFPR added 88 license types to CORE. The license types added today are: