Ill State News

Building on Governor Pritzker’s Affordability Agenda, the FY27 Proposed Budget will fund free test preparation courses through June 2027   CHICAGO – The Illinois Student Assistance Commission (ISAC) and global education company Kaplan today announced that Illinois’ first-in-the-nation free test preparation program – the Prepare for Illinois’ Future Program – will continue through the end of the academic school year. […]

SPRINGFIELD – As millions of Illinoisans prepare their 2025 state tax returns, the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) is reminding them of the state’s voluntary contribution program to support one or more health-related programs.   Schedule G of the 2025 Illinois tax form allows Illinois taxpayers to designate a portion of their state tax refund to

SPRINGFIELD – The Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) is accepting applications for instructors for 2026 summer fishing clinics at locations throughout Illinois for the department’s Urban Fishing Program.   Fishing instructors are the department’s boots on the ground at free clinics hosted in communities throughout Illinois. These are temporary positions not to exceed six months,

SPRINGFIELD – The Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) is seeking campground hosts for the 2026 camping season for state parks, recreation areas and historic sites across Illinois.   Campground hosting is a perfect position for anyone who enjoys camping and helping others. Hosts are often the first to greet state park visitors. They check on

SPRINGFIELD – Illinois EPA Acting Director James Jennings is pleased to announce seven Spring Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) one-day collection events scheduled over the upcoming months. These collection events are coordinated by Illinois EPA and local co-sponsors to provide residents the free opportunity to safely dispose of unused or leftover hazardous products that are common in

CHICAGO — The Illinois Lottery today announced its results for the first six months of Fiscal Year 2026, reporting nearly $2.0 billion in sales and generating an estimated $430 million in returns to the State of Illinois during the period, which is a new first half-year sales record for the Illinois Lottery.   “The Illinois Lottery

SPRINGFIELD – The Illinois State Museum in Springfield will host this month’s virtual session of the Centennial Speaker Series, “Route 66 at 100 – An American Story,” at 1 p.m. Tuesday.   The session features historian and author Cheryl Eichar Jett, whose work highlights the often-overlooked contributions of women along historic U.S. Route 66. Drawing from

SPRINGFIELD – The Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR) Division of Professional Regulation issued the very first license under a new pathway that will allow internationally trained physicians to provide care to the people of Illinois.   “Today marks the beginning of what we hope will become the standard among states in not

SPRINGFIELD – Thunderstorms, tornadoes, lightning, floods, and power outages are all possible during Illinois’ spring weather season. That is why the Illinois Emergency Management Agency and Office of Homeland Security (IEMA OHS) is urging all residents to take steps to prepare during Severe Weather Preparedness Month this March.   “Millions of dollars in storm damages within the last