Ill State News

IL OSHA releases updated fact sheet for fire departments

SPRINGFIELD – The Illinois Department of Labor’s (IDOL) Division of Occupational Safety and Health (IL OSHA) has released an updated fact sheet detailing the top 20 fire department safety violations.   The standards cited by IL OSHA occurred during fire department inspections between 2022-2023.   IL OSHA inspects municipal fire departments and fire protection districts across […]

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IDOC hosts first Corrections Wellness for Families Course

CARTERVILLE, Ill. – On Friday, the Illinois Department of Corrections (IDOC) hosted its first ‘Corrections Wellness for Families’ class for adult family members of frontline employees in the southern region of Illinois. IDOC’s Staff Wellness Response Team (SWRT) presented the course to the family members from seven correctional facilities, who spent the day at John

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Governor Pritzker announces resignation of Prisoner Review Board member LeAnn Miller

CHICAGO—Governor JB Pritzker Monday announced the resignation of Prisoner Review Board (PRB) member LeAnn Miller. Miller conducted the recent Crosetti Brand hearing and prepared a draft order provided to a panel of two additional members for concurrence, as per PRB procedure.   “The Prisoner Review Board must be able to operate independently as they review

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Study finds Illinois cities have among the worst financial advisors in the country

SIOUXFALLS, South Dakota – Financial advisors in Illinois have an average review score of 4.3, below the national average (4.4).   Countless Americans entrust financial advisors with their financial well-being and the management of their finances. Interestingly, the choice of a financial advisor is often made through a brief internet search rather than through personal

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Illinois EPA announces funding opportunity for vehicle charging infrastructure

SPRINGFIELD —Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (Illinois EPA) Director John J. Kim has  announced Round Two of grants available to fund the purchase and installation of electric vehicle charging infrastructure at publicly accessible locations. This opportunity is funded by Governor Pritzker’s bipartisan Rebuild Illinois capital plan and authorized under the Climate and Equitable Jobs Act (CEJA).

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ICC’s Crossing Safety Improvement Plan aims to protect Illinoisans

CHICAGO, Ill. – The Illinois Commerce Commission approved its annual five-year Crossing Safety Improvement Program (FY 2025-2029) to implement life-saving safety upgrades at highway-rail crossings across Illinois. Over $410 million from the Grade Crossing Protection Fund (GCPF) and Rebuild Illinois (RBI) will help local communities and railroads pay for much-needed safety improvements at 1,310 crossing

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ICC releases 2023 Hazardous Material Incident Report

CHICAGO, Ill. – The Illinois Commerce Commission released its annual report on accidents and incidents involving hazardous materials (hazmat) on Illinois railroads. Of the 9,004 rail cars inspected in 2023, the ICC found violations in only 0.8 percent of all inspections, down from 1.3 percent last year. When the ICC’s hazmat inspections first started in

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Commission on Equity and Inclusion launches inaugural business enterprise program and veterans business program certification educational webinar series

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — The Illinois Commission on Equity and Inclusion (CEI) announces its new Business Enterprise Program (BEP) and Veterans Business Program (VBP) Certification Educational Webinar series, in collaboration with Chief Procurement Offices (CPOs).   “We’re meeting a need and closing the knowledge gap for our business vendor community. Our webinar series will equip business

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Illinois payroll jobs increase, unemployment rate up slightly in February

SPRINGFIELD – The Illinois Department of Employment Security (IDES) announced today that the unemployment rate increased +0.1 percentage point to 4.8 percent, while nonfarm payrolls increased +23,100 in February, based on preliminary data provided by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), and released by IDES. The January revised unemployment rate was 4.7 percent, unchanged from

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Illinois EPA announces Notice of Funding Opportunity for new year of residential sharps collection program

SPRINGFIELD —Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (Illinois EPA) Director John J. Kim today announced an additional funding opportunity to provide grants to units of local government to conduct household waste collection and disposal of sharps for their residents. Sharps, including needles, syringes, and lancets, collected from private citizens are a household waste. Through the grant program,

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