State News

State Senator Christopher Belt’s legislation that would require service providing companies to give consumers a two-hour service window for appointments advanced through the Senate Judiciary Committee. “People shouldn’t have to stay home from work all day waiting around for the cable guy to show up.” said Belt (D-Swansea). “This is about basic respect for families…

State Senator Erica Harriss (R-56th-Glen Carbon) released this official statement today following Illinois Governor JB Pritzker’s State of the State and Budget Address: “As a working parent in a family of five, I know affordability is not a slogan. It is about whether families can pay their bills, plan for the future, and feel secure…

FY27 budget focused on affordability, fiscal discipline, and delivering for working families Today, Illinois Governor JB Pritzker unveiled his eighth balanced budget proposal — a fiscally responsible plan centered on making Illinois more affordable for working families while protecting the state’s long-term financial stability. At a time when families are facing higher costs driven by…

Move solidifies St. Louis’ role as national hub for aerospace and defense technology —— Key takeaways: Boeing announces move of its Defense, Space & Security Headquarters from the Washington DC area to St. Louis Adds to St. Louis’ aerospace and defense tech strengths, including NGA and Scott AFB Advances broader mission to create more and…

After receiving submissions from across the 114th District, State Representative Kevin Schmidt (R-Millstadt) has chosen Hoffen Funeral Home in Millstadt for his “Business of the Month.” With decades of experience, Rep. Schmidt said the team that operates the family-owned funeral home goes above and beyond with their services to help care for families. “When a…

Illinois Governor JB Pritzker today announced that the State of Illinois has erased over $1.1 billion in medical debt for more than half a million Illinoisans through the Illinois Medical Debt Relief Program. The announcement comes ahead of Governor Pritzker’s State of the State and proposed budget address tomorrow, previewing a focus on improving affordability.…

Class settlement and the U.S. Supreme Court case are independently necessary and mutually reinforcing elements in multi-pronged strategy to significantly contain the litigation / Funding of the class totals up to 7.25 billion U.S. dollars; Monsanto will make declining capped annual payments for up to 21 years giving it greater financial certainty / Class agreement requires…

Annual bracket-style tournament showcases products made in Illinois The Illinois Manufacturers’ Association (IMA) has launched the 2026 “Makers Madness” contest, a bracket-style tournament that lets voters choose what locally-made product should be crowned The Coolest Thing Made in Illinois. Nominations for The Coolest Thing Made in Illinois are now being accepted at www.makersmadnessil.com, where voting will…

  By TAMMIE SLOUP FarmWeek  Newly released proposed 45Z guidelines include key details on how biofuels and other companies can qualify and potentially sets up farmers to benefit from the tax credits by factoring in feedstocks’ carbon intensity. The Treasury Department and Internal Revenue Service on Feb. 3 issued proposed regulations for domestic producers of…

  By TAMMIE SLOUP FarmWeek  Demand for ag labor through the H-2A temporary visa program in Illinois and the nation continues to rise. During fiscal year 2025, 559 more positions were certified in Illinois over fiscal 2024, bringing the total to 5,757, according to an American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) Market Intel report. Nationwide, 398,258…