Illinois
CHICAGO – The Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR) announced today that adult use cannabis sales set a new annual record in 2023, exceeding $1.6 billion. Records were also set in sales to in-state residents and the number of items sold, with that total increasing more than 15 percent compared to 2022. Sales taxes…
Read Full Article 
As we recorded Club Muddy on Thursday evening, Kyle Moore was on the cusp of making a major announcement. The Dodgers fan artfully dodged, but then made it official Friday morning. Brittany, Bobby and Ashley talked about the riverfront saga before we grilled Kyle about running for office and his encounter with President Trump when…
Read Full Article 
The Land of Lincoln distinguishes itself by being among the most unfriendly of the 50 states when it comes to taxes. Illinois has been ranked numero uno as the state with the highest tax burden. Death Taxes and Escaping Illinois Just one of those unfriendly taxes is the estate or death tax. The tax…
Read Full Article 
There are few entertainment experiences that outshine live theater. The Quincy Community Theatre again proved this with its superb production of RENT and outstanding performances by Trey Ehrhart, Lance Frederick and other cast members. I saw RENT on Broadway years ago in the throes of the HIV/AIDS epidemic. The medical progress in confronting HIV/AIDS has…
Read Full Article 
Cash bail will be eliminated in Illinois as of Jan. 1, 2023, due to a criminal justice reform passed in Jaunary 2021, and the Illinois Supreme Court Pretrial Implementation Task Force is planning a series of town halls beginning in two weeks to give an update on what the new pretrial detention system will look like.…
Read Full Article 
State Income Tax Range: 4.95% (flat rate)Average Combined State and Local Sales Tax Rate: 8.83%Median Property Tax Rate: $2,165 per $100,000 of assessed home value Sorry, Illinois, but you’re the least tax-friendly state in the country for middle-class families. For all three taxes we’re tracking – income, sales, and property taxes – you tax middle-income…
Read Full Article 
Daily Dirt for Oct. 15, 2021 True, according to the following report, Illinois is among the rudest states in the nation, but the Prairie State still ranks well behind leader New York. Welcome to Vol. 97 of the Daily Dirt. Here are today’s three thoughts: 1. The rudest people in the nation? Would you believe they’re…
Read Full Article 
We live in one of the most politically dysfunctional states in the union. Our lawmakers in Springfield tax us too much, fritter away too much of our hard-earned money on wasteful spending, and devote most of their energies to serving their cronies in the political class instead of the people of Illinois. If we want…
Read Full Article 
CHICAGO—Using revenue generated from adult-use cannabis sales, the Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority (ICJIA) today announced 21 grants totaling $3.5 million to organizations offering young people and adults (ages 10 to 25) pro-social activities that may reduce violence and victimization or provide increased street intervention this summer. Grant awards will support three months of programming,…
Read Full Article 
from Ted Dabrowski and John Klingner of WIREPOINTS. – llinois has just received a credit rating upgrade from Moody’s to Baa2, a level two notches above junk. It’s the state’s first upgrade in some 20 years and a major turnaround given that just one year ago Illinois faced the prospect of becoming the first state to ever be rated…
Read Full Article 
Gov. JB Pritzker signs a bill making Juneteenth, June 19th, a paid state holiday. (Capitol News Illinois photo by Peter Hancock)Wednesday, June 16, 2021 Day marks anniversary of last enslaved Americans learning of freedom ‘Juneteenth’ becomes official state holiday Day marks anniversary of last enslaved Americans learning of freedom By PETER HANCOCKCapitol News Illinoisphancock@capitolnewsillinois.com SPRINGFIELD…
Read Full Article 
No representation from Quincy, Macomb, Jacksonville or Springfield at state meeting with global companies SPRINGFIELD – The State of Illinois has announced that a delegation from the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, Intersect Illinois and 17 economic development partners will represent Illinois at the 2021 virtual SelectUSA Investment Summit hosted by the U.S. Department of…
Read Full Article 
From THE CENTER SQUARE – In Illinois, 13.8% of the workforce are employed by the government — either at the state, local, or federal level — the ninth lowest share of all states. In keeping with the national trend, the number of government workers in Illinois has decreased in recent years. There are currently 785,800…
Read Full Article 
From ABC7CHICAGO – Gov. JB Pritzker signed the General Assembly’s proposed redistricting maps into law Friday, saying they “reflect Illinois’ diversity.” “Illinois’ strength is in our diversity, and these maps help to ensure that communities that have been left out and left behind have fair representation in our government,” Pritzker said. “These district boundaries align…
Read Full Article 
Pike County has been issued a final property assessment equalization factor of 1.0000, according to David Harris, Director of the Illinois Department of Revenue. The property assessment equalization factor, often called the “multiplier”, is the method used to achieve uniform property assessments among counties, as required by law. This equalization is particularly important because some…
Read Full Article 
House bill decreasing trailer tax, removing trade in cap, advances From The Center Square – Illinois taxpayers with sticker shock from the $100 tax increase on the annual trailer tag implemented two years ago may soon get some relief. A measure that drops the tax on utility trailers from $118 to $36 in exchange for…
Read Full Article 
The number of nonfarm jobs increased over-the-year in all fourteen Illinois metropolitan areas in April according to preliminary data released today by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) and the Illinois Department of Employment Security (IDES). The unemployment rate decreased over-the-year in all metro areas. The official, BLS approved sub-state unemployment rate and nonfarm…
Read Full Article 
By TIM KIRSININKAS- CAPITOL NEWS ILLINOIS SPRINGFIELD – Gov. JB Pritzker announced a new $6 million tourism advertising campaign Wednesday aimed at attracting visitors to the state and sparking economic activity following the COVID-19 pandemic. The multimedia campaign, featured around the theme “Time for Me to Drive,” showcases various destinations in all parts of the…
Read Full Article From Capitol News Illinois SPRINGFIELD – Members of an Illinois Senate committee sparred with officials from Gov. JB Pritzker’s administration Friday in a hearing on tax changes proposed by the governor in an effort to balance the state’s budget for the 2022 fiscal year. The Senate Revenue and Appropriations committees held the joint hearing, questioning…
Read Full Article 
From Illinois Policy The Illinois House unanimously passed a bill to allow financial service companies that operate using cryptocurrency to apply for a charter in Illinois. If the bill becomes law, Illinois will be the second state to allow the practice. “Our state has the opportunity to lead the way on blockchain technology and cryptoassets,…
Read Full Article 
