State News

Gov. Rauner expands registered nursing practice authority

Thursday, September 21 by Jc Tinsley

Gov. Bruce Rauner today signed HB 313, which will grant greater authority to registered and licensed nurses in administering health services and lift burdensome licensing regulations.“This will empower nurses to administer the services that they are fully equipped and educated to...

Gov. Rauner enacts civil asset forfeiture reform

Wednesday, September 20 by Jc Tinsley

Gov. Bruce Rauner today signed HB303, bipartisan legislation aimed at reforming Illinois’ asset forfeiture system. The reforms will increase transparency and shift burdens of proof to protect innocent citizens while maintaining the proper use of asset forfeiture as a tool for law enforcement....

Illinois Residents Encouraged to Register for ‘The Great ShakeOut’ Earthquake Drill

Wednesday, September 20 by Jc Tinsley

On Oct. 19 at 10:19 a.m., millions of people in the U.S. and around the globe will take a few minutes to practice three simple actions that could save their lives during a major earthquake. The Illinois Emergency Management Agency (IEMA) and municipal...

Lincoln Presidential Library obtains collection of southern Illinois documents, including 1796 atlas

Tuesday, September 19 by Jc Tinsley

The Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum has obtained an amazing trove of documents that trace one southern Illinois family’s history, from arriving in America to surviving fires and floods to suffering tragic losses in war.

White, Wabash, Wayne Counties among those getting IEMA grants

Tuesday, September 19 by Jc Tinsley

Emergency management agencies in 32 counties will be getting thousands of dollars each to beef up their emergency operations centers.In a news release, the Illinois Emergency Management Agency says the total of $500,000 in grant money it is awarding will be spent on personal...

EDGE tax credit overhaul gets Gov. Rauner’s signature

Tuesday, September 19 by Jc Tinsley

Gov. Bruce Rauner today signed legislation (HB162) that overhauls the EDGE Tax Credit Program and provides much-needed transparency and taxpayer protections.“The EDGE Tax Credit Program overhaul is a bipartisan job creation program that is innovative and competitive for businesses,” Gov. Rauner...

American Red Cross Central and Southern Illinois Region Supporting Hurricane Relief Efforts

Friday, September 15 by Jc Tinsley

The American Red Cross continues the massive relief effort to provide safe shelter, food and comfort to thousands of people affected by Hurricanes Harvey and Irma. The Red Cross is part of a large team of agencies and organizations responding to provide help...

Governor, Lt. Governor offices announce new consolidated policy organization

Friday, September 15 by Jc Tinsley

A new team of experts has been assembled in the Rauner-Sanguinetti Administration to focus on issue areas key to state policy development.The new policy teams – in economics, health and social services, criminal justice, and infrastructure and regulation – will integrate...

Illinois job growth stuck in neutral

Friday, September 15 by Jc Tinsley

The Illinois Department of Employment Security (IDES) announced today that the unemployment rate increased +0.2 percentage points to 5.0 percent in August and nonfarm payrolls decreased by -3,700 jobs over-the-month, based on preliminary data provided by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) and...