News

Governor JB Pritzker, the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO), and Vantive announced that Vantive will invest $23 million and locate its new U.S. headquarters in Deerfield. Vantive, formerly the Kidney Care segment of Baxter International, is a global vital organ therapy company with a 70-year legacy. Today, as a standalone company, Vantive is dedicated to elevating the standards of kidney and vital organ therapies with a vision to enable longer, fuller lives for patients around the world. Today's announcement builds upon Illinois' reputation as a global hub for health innovation, biotech, pharmaceuticals and life sciences.

Illinois students struggling to obtain traditional college loans have a new option to borrow money for in-state higher education costs thanks to a new program Illinois Treasurer Michael Frerichs unveiled today. The new Funding U Illinois No-Cosigner Loan is part of the Student Empowerment Fund, Treasurer Frerichs’ plan to provide private college loans for Illinois residents at lower rates than private competitors and help bridge the gap with federal financial aid. The No-Cosigner Loan joins ISL Education Lending’s Illinois Partnership Loan and Illinois College Family Loan options. “The costs of college continue to rise, and the chaos in Washington is hurting, not helping our families,” Frerichs said at a Thursday news conference at 555 W. Monroe. “Financial aid often doesn’t cover all of the costs, and we are offering a solution to help students bridge the gap.”

A dead rabbit found in central Illinois tested positive for a bacterial disease last week, prompting the local health department to urge residents to monitor their families and pets for signs of the illness. The rabbit infected with tularemia was found in Tuscola, a small community south of Champaign, following weeks of reports of ill and dead squirrels in nearby Urbana. One of the rodents had also tested positive for the disease, which is rare but serious and can affect animals and humans.

The Illinois Gaming Board (IGB) adopted proposed new rules at its April 24, 2025, meeting, including a prohibition on the use of credit cards to fund sports wagering accounts to further support responsible gambling. When legal sports wagering began in Illinois in March 2020, sports betting was authorized in 13 other states, and none prohibited the use of credit cards to fund sports wagering accounts. Since that time, the industry has significantly evolved and today sports betting is legal is 40 states. At the 5-year mark of sports wagering in Illinois, IGB staff is reviewing current sports waging practices and rules to measure effectiveness and identify potential areas for adjustment.

The unemployment rate decreased in eleven metro areas and increased in one over-the-year for the year ending March 2025, according to data released today by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) and the Illinois Department of Employment Security (DES). Over- the-year, total nonfarm jobs increased in six metropolitan areas and decreased in six.

Illinois Lieutenant Governor Juliana Stratton launched her campaign to represent Illinois in the United States Senate.

The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) is reporting the first confirmed measles case of 2025 in Illinois. The case, involving an adult in far southern Illinois, was confirmed through laboratory testing on April 23. This is the only case IDPH is aware of and this is not considered an outbreak at this time. IDPH will update the public should there be any notable developments. The risk of community transmission for the general public in Illinois remains low.

CHICAGO – On April 23, the Illinois Student Assistance Commission (ISAC) sent a letter to Secretary of Education Linda McMahon expressing alarm about potential delays to the timely delivery of critical student financial aid caused by the Trump Administration’s dismantling of the U.S. Department of Education (ED). The letter also conveys deep concerns about the potential risks to student loan borrowers if the $1.6 trillion student loan portfolio is moved to the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA).

Longtime U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin of Illinois, the No. 2 Democrat in the Senate, announced he will retire after his term ends in January 2027. “I truly love the job of being United States Senator, but in my heart, I know it’s time to pass the torch,” Durbin said in a social media video.

A video showing the dangers of distracted driving was announced Tuesday by the Illinois Secretary of State. texting and driving All people looking to receive their learner permit in Illinois will be required to watch the video. It lasts 1 minute and 30 seconds, showing how eating, texting or generally being distracted while driving can cause fatal accidents in seconds.

The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) has issued a standing order that will allow Illinoisans to obtain the HIV preventive medication known as PrEP (pre-exposure prophylaxis) directly from a pharmacist without first requiring a doctor’s prescription. PrEP is one of the most effective means of preventing HIV infection. Studies have shown that when taken as directed, it reduces the risk of HIV infection through sexual transmission by as much as 99 percent. The order, signed by IDPH Director Dr. Sameer Vohra, will make it easier for people at risk of exposure to HIV to obtain either of the two oral medications used in the PrEP regimen. It also streamlines the process for pharmacists to receive reimbursement for providing PrEP services.

Illinois has faced an alarming surge in hate and extremism, following national trends. Hate crimes have skyrocketed 125% statewide since 2021, with bias based on race, religion, sexual orientation, and gender identity driving over 95% of incidents. Now, the Illinois Department of Human Rights (IDHR) and Illinois Commission on Discrimination and Hate Crimes (CDHC) urgently call on all residents to report acts of hate through the Help Stop Hate initiative—a safe, confidential service that provides support and resources.

Annually, Illinois adds more than 100 new, active Tier 2 chemical facilities and the Illinois Emergency Management Agency and Office of Homeland Security (IEMA-OHS) tracks each one of them. “We monitor stored chemicals as well as all reports of releases or spills,” explained IEMA-OHS Interim Director Adnan Khayyat during Hazardous Materials Safety Month.

Nonfarm Payrolls Surpass Previous Record, Unemployment Rate Unchanged

Michigan officials confirmed a new measles outbreak Thursday near Grand Rapids, bringing the U.S. to eight states with active outbreaks of the vaccine-preventable disease. Earlier this week, Pennsylvania declared an outbreak in Erie County as well.

Measles Outbreak Projections in Illinois Schools Select a school from the list of relevant schools below to generate a simulation.

Local governments are reaching a breaking point with legacy enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems that have grown increasingly costly and challenging to maintain. These aging financial and operational systems, often built decades ago, struggle to keep up with today's demands for agility, transparency and data security.

The architects of the Pretrial Fairness Act, part of the broader SAFE-T Act, are sounding the alarm over new guidance from Cook County State’s Attorney Eileen O’Neill Burke. She’s directing her prosecutors to object “on the record” whenever a judge opts for electronic monitoring instead of pretrial detention.

Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker has signed a trade agreement with the United Kingdom, in addition to an agreement with the State of Mexico signed last week, in an effort to strengthen economic ties with global trading partners.

Join the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS), Prevent Child Abuse Illinois, Hospital Sisters Health System, the Poshard Foundation for Abused Children, elected officials, child welfare stakeholders and more for a month-long observance to share child abuse and neglect prevention awareness messages and promote prevention efforts during Child Abuse Prevention Month in April. This year’s theme, Powered by Hope, Strengthened by Prevention, is a call to action to commit to a future where every child grows up safe, loved and full of hope.

Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (Illinois EPA) Acting Director James Jennings announced on Wednesday, April 2, 2025, a funding opportunity that will provide grants to units of local government for the collection and disposal of household sharps from their residents. Sharps, including needles, syringes, and lancets, collected from private citizens are a household waste. Through the grant program, Illinois EPA will reimburse grantees that operate a sharps collection station as defined in Section 3.458 of the Illinois Environmental Protection Act. A Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) has been posted Illinois EPA website.

The Illinois Commerce Commission (ICC) approved its annual five-year Crossing Safety Improvement Program (FY 2026-2030) to implement life-saving safety upgrades at highway-rail crossings across Illinois. Over $400 million from the Grade Crossing Protection Fund (GCPF) and Rebuild Illinois (RBI) will help local communities pay for much-needed improvements at over 900 crossing locations. “Illinois’ rail system is made up of more than 10,000 public crossings. The ICC’s Crossing Safety Improvement Plan is an essential tool for improving our state’s rail infrastructure and reducing the risk of collisions,” said ICC Commissioner Michael T. Carrigan. In 2024, preliminary Federal Railroad Administration data indicates there were 80 collisions at public crossings in Illinois, down from 89 in 2023.

Governor JB Pritzker has proclaimed the month of April as Innovation and Technology Month in Illinois, underscoring the significance of IT and the dedicated efforts to establish the state as a thriving innovation and technology hub, delivering statewide services to agencies, boards, commissions, and residents.

SPRINGFIELD — President Donald Trump’s administration is pulling back $477 million from Illinois that was to be used to prevent infectious disease and treat mental health and substance abuse issues. The Illinois Department of Public Health announced this week the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is taking back $125 million allocated to IDPH and 97 local health departments for infectious disease prevention. Another $324 million appropriated by Congress for “future use” in preventing and treating infectious disease also is being blocked.

While at this time there have been no measles cases in Illinois, the US is experiencing a significant surge in cases in 20 other states and jurisdictions. The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) has been closely monitoring the situation and taking proactive steps to protect Illinois residents. As of this time, the vast majority of cases nationwide (416 of 483) are in New Mexico and Texas. I would like to reassure you and the public by highlighting IDPH activities as we collaborate to prevent measles cases in Illinois.