Complying with the Illinois Freelance Worker Protection Act
By SCOTT CRUZ The Illinois Freelance Worker Protection Act (the “Act”) took effect on July 1, 2024, and applies to contracts that took effect between a “contracting entity” and a “freelance worker” on or after July 1, 2024, if the value of the freelance worker’s services is equal to or greater than $500 over a…
Read MoreIDOA relaunches cover crop discount program
By HANNAH SPANGLER FarmWeek Illinois farmers who planted cover crops this fall can once again earn a break on next year’s crop insurance premiums through the Illinois Department of Agriculture’s (IDOA) Fall Covers for Spring Savings program. IDOA will offer up to a $5-per-acre discount on 2026 crop insurance premiums for verified cover crop…
Read MoreBudzinski announces $789,426 for central, southern Illinois fire departments
Congresswoman Nikki Budzinski (D-IL-13) recently shared news of $789,426 in federal grant funding for fire departments in Illinois’ 13th Congressional District. The funds will be awarded to the City of Wood River, Chatham Village, the City of Collinsville, the Mount Olive Fire Protection District, and the Girard Fire Protection District as part of the Federal…
Read MoreEdwardsville Children’s Museum seeks partners for all free admission program
The program, which ensures all children have access to learning, welcomed a record 1,500 guests in 2025 In 2025, Edwardsville Children’s Museum (ECM) provided free admission to more than 1,500 guests in 2025 who otherwise would not have been able to visit due to financial constraints through its ECM For All program. Thanks to the…
Read MoreHow budget season can be one of the strongest growth levers for businesses
By LINDA FARHA As businesses enter the early stages of 2026 planning, many leaders find themselves engaged in the same annual ritual: reviewing past spending, finalizing departmental budgets and shaping priorities for the year ahead. While this process may feel procedural, economic indicators suggest it is far more consequential, particularly in states like Illinois where…
Read MoreFoundral launches with a mission to unite commercial contractors across the Midwest
Backed by McNally Capital, the platform builds upon Smith & Oby, a leading mechanical contractor in Northeast Ohio Foundral, a newly formed platform dedicated to building and rapidly scaling a family of union-backed mechanical contracting companies, recently announced its official launch. Integrating experienced teams throughout the Midwest and surrounding growth markets and supporting them with…
Read MoreSenator Erica Harriss named 2025 Prairie State Policy Champion
State Senator Erica Harriss (R-56th-Glen Carbon) has been named a 2025 Prairie State Policy Champion by the Americans for Prosperity Illinois Chapter (AFP-IL), recognizing her leadership on lower taxes, educational freedoms, and policies that make Illinois a stronger, more prosperous state. “I am deeply honored to be named a Prairie State Policy Champion,” said Harriss.…
Read MoreFrom AG Raoul: Former Metro East police officer pleads guilty to theft, wire fraud
Attorney General Kwame Raoul announced on Dec. 10, 2025, that a former Metro East police officer pleaded guilty to stealing nearly $58,000 from the Alton Police Department Benevolent and Protective Association while employed by the Alton Police Department. Jeremiah T. Dressler, 42, of Brighton, Ill., pleaded guilty on Tuesday [Dec. 9, 2025] to one count…
Read MoreOperation Midway Blitz: The economic and human costs to Illinois communities
Operation Midway Blitz, the Trump Administration’s deployment of federal agents that began in September, turned Illinois neighborhoods into militarized zones and upended daily life for thousands of residents. Federal agents carried out mass arrests in the middle of the night, often detaining people with no criminal background– including U.S. citizens. Businesses emptied as workers and…
Read MoreLetter to the Editor: Fix Tier 2 and protect public safety
By CHUCK SULLIVAN President, Associated Fire Fighters of Illinois As families across Illinois celebrate the holidays, thousands of professional firefighters and paramedics are spending their days and nights protecting our communities — often missing their own celebrations to respond when lives are on the line. While most people are gathered around their tables, firefighters are…
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