Unemployment rate holds at 5.5%The September jobs report from the Illinois Department of Employment Security (IDES) found a net creation of 7,400 new Illinois payroll jobs for the month. In…

Illinois moves closer to REAL ID complianceIllinois is among more than a dozen states considered out of compliance with the 2005 federal law requiring a state ID card (such as…

Report indicates tax revenues on the decline The latest monthly revenue report issued by the Commission on Government Forecasting and Accountability (COGFA), the General Assembly’s nonpartisan budget watchdog office, indicated…

Moody’s grades U of I credit among the best in IllinoisAs the state continues to grapple with low credit ratings, there was some good news for one state institution. In…

Illinois improving its information technology systemsThe nonpartisan Center for Digital Government recently surveyed all 50 states and rated their status on digital technology issues. In this year’s survey, Illinois improved…

Illinois expands employee leave for certain family situations The Child Bereavement Leave Act was signed into law earlier this summer. Under the Act, Illinois employers who have at least 50…

New hunting laws take effectSome pieces of legislation affecting Illinois hunting and fishing opportunities were signed over the summer. The new laws include legislation centered on youth trapping; bow hunting…

New concussion guidelines are in effect for contact sportsAs awareness of the dangers of concussions in youth sports have grown, so too has the need to take action to better…

Legislation, executive order, aims to help kids in DCFS systemThere are approximately 16,000 children in the care of the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS). Ideally, when a…

New legislation increases veterans services, honors Gold Star familiesSeveral pieces of legislation to aid Illinois veterans have been signed into law over the past couple of weeks. The bills provide…