Ill State News

State Treasurer Michael Frerichs announces winners of 2025 Cream of the Crop Photography Contest

SPRINGFIELD – Illinois State Treasurer Michael Frerichs has announced the winning photographers for the 2025 Cream of the Crop Photography Contest, which provides Illinois students with a creative opportunity to share their vision of agriculture in our state. The top nine photographers, ages 8 to 18, will be awarded Bright Start 529 college savings scholarships.   […]

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SkillsUSA Illinois announces Bryna Ryan as interim executive director

PEKIN – The Board of Directors of SkillsUSA Illinois has announced Bryna Ryan is its new Interim Executive Director. SkillsUSA Illinois’ mission is to help employers statewide address a growing skills gap with its nonprofit partnership of students, instructors, and industry to introduce and encourage young people about employment needs and the skilled workforce required to meet

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Stay cool and follow the rules at the pool this summer!

SPRINGFIELD, Ill- The popularity of residential pools has increased over recent years raising the risk for accidental drownings meaning homeowners and parents need be extra vigilant to protect kids who have access to the water. Public pools are a popular summer destination for people to beat the heat, but they can pose some hidden dangers. Over 4,500

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Southern Illinois Builders Association celebrates 80 years of building the industry and the region

O’FALLON, IL–The Southern Illinois Builders Association (SIBA) is proudly celebrating its 80th anniversary in 2025—marking eight decades of service to the construction industry and economic development across Southern Illinois.   Founded in 1945 by a small group of contractors determined to improve working conditions and stimulate growth in their communities, SIBA has grown from just

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Illinois unemployment falls as payroll jobs set another record high

SPRINGFIELD – The Illinois Department of Employment Security (IDES) announced today nonfarm payrolls totals reached a record high in June, increasing over-the-month up +9,400 to 6,175,200. June’s record payroll job total surpassed the previous high set in March, marking another milestone in Illinois’ record-setting year for total payroll employment. The May monthly change in payrolls was

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24 additional license types added to new licensing system

CHICAGO – The Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR) announced today that 24 more professions are now available for licensure via the Department’s new online licensing system, CORE (Comprehensive Online Regulatory Environment). Today’s announcement marks the successful completion of CORE’s Phase 2.3, with the final part of Phase 2 set for completion this summer.

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Illinois state treasurer returns record $303 million

SPRINGFIELD – Illinois State Treasurer Michael Frerichs returned a record $303.8 million in missing money to nearly 312,000 residents, businesses and organizations through the I-CASH program during Fiscal Year 2025.   Frerichs marked the record-breaking total by presenting a check for more than $200,000 to the Orphans of the Storm animal shelter in Riverwoods. The

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DRA makes more than $12 million available for infrastructure, workforce and business development needs

  DRA makes more than $12 million available for infrastructure, workforce and business development needs   CLARKSDALE, MISS. – The Delta Regional Authority (DRA) is making more than $12 million in funding available through its States’ Economic Development Assistance Program (SEDAP), a funding opportunity supporting economic and community development needs across DRA’s eight-state service region.    As one of DRA’s

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