The Senate has returned to Springfield for the Spring Legislative Session. After several weeks of filing legislation, we are now moving into the committee process to debate and advance new proposals this session. A few weeks ago, the Governor delivered his annual State of the State and Budget Address, outlining his priorities for the year…
By SUSAN TAYLOR, DENNIS WILMSMEYER, CYNDI BUCHHEIT-COURTWAY and BRENT DONOVAN The advancement of the recently announced America’s Maritime Action Plan (MAP) is embraced by the ports in the bi-state St. Louis region as a unique opportunity to play a role in this comprehensive federal framework. The MAP is a blueprint for rebuilding the nation’s…
Looming energy shortage highlights importance of natural gas; eliminating key generation source would harm economic investment, community well-being The Illinois Manufacturers’ Association (IMA) and a coalition of nearly two dozen businesses and labor groups including the International Union of Operating Engineers filed a petition on Feb. 24, 2026, with the Illinois Commerce Commission (ICC) seeking…
44 percent say they’ve been yelled at by a manager and 28 percent report being brought to tears at work New survey data from Monster® shows that the relationships shaping workplace culture in 2026 are less about office chemistry and more about how employees are treated by their managers day to day. According to Monster’s…
By JOSH BANDOCH and JON JOSKO Illinois Policy Institute Amazon laid off 1,545 Illinois employees. That was most of 2,000 total layoffs across the state in January. Illinois started 2026 with over 2,000 mass layoffs in January, driven by Amazon closing over a dozen Amazon Fresh and Amazon Go stores across Illinois. The firm laid…
The following is a statement from Brittany Henry, board chair of the Illinois Destinations Association (IDA) and executive director of the Jacksonville Area Convention & Visitors Bureau, issued following Illinois Governor JB Pritzker’s Feb. 18 State of the State and FY27 Budget Address: “The State’s Convention & Visitor Bureaus (CVBs) are on the front lines…
Ship.com warns that 2026 carrier rate hikes and hidden surcharges will force ecommerce brands to treat shipping as a core Cost of Goods Sold (COGS). This announcement empowers founders to regain margin control through automation, commercial rate access, and strategic forecasting before unchecked logistics costs destroy profitability. As UPS, FedEx, and other major carriers roll…
By ANUSHA THOTAKURA and LAUREN WRIGHT We are the Illinois frontline service providers and community advocates who have watched in horror as the Trump administration unleashes military-style ICE raids through our neighborhoods while simultaneously dismantling critical supports for our most vulnerable community members. We have supported community members as federal agents conduct sweeping immigration enforcement…
Clerk writes letter to senators, demanding they vote for SAVE Act and support ‘common-sense tools’ for election integrity In an effort to ensure fair elections and strengthen election integrity, Madison County Clerk Linda Andreas is calling on the U.S. Senators who represent Illinois to support the SAVE Act. The Safeguard American Voter Eligibility Act, also…
By KEVIN MARTIN Executive Director, Illinois Insurance Association Illinois families are feeling financial pressures – from groceries to utilities to property taxes – as the cost of everyday life keeps climbing. Homeowners’ insurance is not immune. Severe weather events, rising construction costs and broader inflationary pressures have pushed claims and expenses up across the country…