Illinois News & Current Events | Public News Service

Property crime and violence against young people are both up, recent federal data show, but other crime trends are not as clear-cut. (Adobe Stock)

Monday, December 4, 2023

New data: Violent crime is up and also down

By Weihua Li and Jamiles Lartey for The Marshall Project.Broadcast version by Nadia Ramlagan for Illinois News Connection reporting for the Marshall P…

YouthTruth Student Survey finds 74% of the class of 2023 wants to go to college while 66% expect to go to college. The survey also finds the gap is further exacerbated when factoring in race and ethnicity. (Adobe stock)

Illinois high school seniors face big college application challenges

Illinois high school seniors have new hurdles to overcome to get to college. High school students are waiting several extra weeks to get their hands …

The new rule was originally set to go into effect in December, but the NLRB extended the date into February to accommodate legal challenges. (Rafael Henrique/Adobe Stock)<br />

Advocates: New NLRB joint employer rule a win for workers

The National Labor Relations Board recently issued a rule change that may have wide-ranging impacts for workers and businesses. The update to the …

Between August 2022 and July 2023, more than $270 billion in capital investment was announced for utility-scale clean=energy projects and manufacturing facilities in the United States, according to American Clean Power. (Adobe Stock)

IRA investments crucial for clean energy, national security

Military veterans and lawmakers say investing in the clean-energy economy with Inflation Reduction Act funds is the way forward to combat climate chan…

A great egret forages for fish in a shallow pond in Marion County, Ill. (Adobe Stock)

IL wetlands at risk in backlash from spring SCOTUS ruling

States like Illinois are dealing with the fallout of a Supreme Court decision made earlier this year. In May, the U.S. Supreme Court effectively …

The group GreenLatinos is matching federal climate change grants with Latino environmental justice organizations, businesses, universities, unions, and elected officials. (Adobe Stock)

Environmental coalition to match Latino community groups with federal grants

The Biden Administration has earmarked millions of dollars from federal programs to help Latinos and other disadvantaged groups fight climate change…

Farmers in Illinois and across the country are concerned over whether Congress will complete its work on a new Farm Bill by the end of the current term. (Adobe Stock)

Farm Bill delays could affect food benefits for many Americans

The once-every-five-year Farm Bill will likely be extended to six years this time around, as Congress seems months away from finding a path forward…

About 13% of Black students in the United States choose community colleges. Nationally, there are 12 historically Black community colleges and 49 predominantly Black community colleges. (Adobe Stock)

Leaders advocate for increased funding, services for Black community colleges

Historical and predominantly Black community colleges often get overlooked when it comes to funding for higher education. However, leaders nationwide …

Experts recommend women seek screenings at facilities certified as a Breast Imaging Center of Excellence. (Adobe Stock)

Brem Foundation announces new breast cancer screening tool

October has been Breast Cancer Awareness Month and in the wake of a recent study showing an increase in the incidence of cancer at younger ages…

The nonprofit newsgathering organization Climate Central recently analyzed Halloween warming trends in 244 U.S. cities. Around 89% have seen October nights warm up since 1970. (AI/Adobe Stock)

Climate change takes fall chill out of air for Halloween trick-or-treaters

As Halloween approaches, cooler temperatures will spread over Illinois. But weather experts say climate change is making October nights across the …

College students walk on the quadrangle lawn of the Foellinger Auditorium on the University of Illinois campus in Urbana. (Adobe Stock)

America’s 'culture wars' influence students' choice of college campuses

By Jon Marcus for The Hechinger Report.Broadcast version by Roz Brown for Texas News Service reporting for The Hechinger Report-Public News Service Co…

Israeli bombs take out a large building in Gaza City in retaliation for an attack by Hamas that left more than 1,000 people dead. (Flickr)

Jewish groups protest at U.S. Capitol, demand Gaza cease-fire

Thousands of American Jews from Illinois and across the country protested at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C., this week, calling for a cease-…

Advocates are pushing Illinois lawmakers to pass

Advocacy groups push IL lawmakers to pass domestic violence firearms bill

Domestic violence and gun violence prevention advocates are urging the Illinois General Assembly to pass a bill to strengthen state laws protecting pe…

Several lawsuits claimed the Illinois General Assembly used data from a private think tank rather than the U.S. Census Bureau to draw political district maps in 2023. (Adobe Stock)

Watchdog group gives IL lawmakers 'F' for redistricting process

A national watchdog group studied how all 50 states handle the biennial process of redrawing their congressional district lines - and has given Illino…

The United States saw 626 trespass-related fatalities and almost 550 trespass injuries in 2022, according to the Federal Railroad Administration. (Adobe Stock)

Safety expert warns drivers, pedestrians of dangers at IL railroad crossings

Illinois ranks third in the nation for collisions at railroad crossings, and safety experts urged pedestrians and motorists to follow some basic …

This year Illinois lawmakers passed a bill ending life sentences without parole for people in Illinois who were under 21 when they were arrested. (Adobe Stock)

More work needed on juvenile justice reform

Advocates for juvenile justice reform recently gathered in Chicago to find ways to keep young people out of the criminal justice system. Herschella …

In 1873, the Congress passed the Comstock Act, a federal law making it illegal to possess

Banned Books Week: IL librarians face demands to remove titles

It has become almost routine in modern America: activist groups demanding libraries pull what they consider "objectionable books" from their shelves…

The solar power market in Illinois is valued at $3.7 billion and growing, with a total capital investment in wind, solar, and energy storage projects exceeding $17 billion. (Adobe Stock)

Report: Illinois leads Midwest in building 'clean power' capacity

A new report ranks Illinois first among 11 Midwestern states for the amount of clean power capacity under construction, and second for new clean …

Most insurance companies and Medicare allow open enrollment during specified times of the year, usually between October and December. (Adobe Stock)

Open enrollment for public, private health insurance begins soon

Open enrollment begins soon for most employer-sponsored health care coverage and benefits plans for the calendar year 2024. In Illinois, there will …

Researchers at Loyola University in Chicago say almost 175,000 people are held in pretrial detention each year in Illinois. (Adobe Stock)<br />

Backers hope IL 'no cash bail' makes justice equitable, less expensive

A set of controversial reforms to Illinois' cash bail system went into effect this week, changing a decades-old system of holding people in jail …

Many librarians are concerned that groups pushing them to pull certain titles from their shelves are promoting authoritarianism rather than democracy. (Adobe Stock)

State Officials Testify in Senate On Illinois Anti-Book-Ban Legislation

A pair of Illinois state officials testified Tuesday before the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee on the state General Assembly's adoption of a bill to …

In 2023, the average debt load per student loan borrower in Illinois was $37,757, the seventh-highest amount in the country. (Karen Roach/Adobe Stock)

Thousands in IL Eligible for New Student Loan Repayment Plan

A new student loan repayment plan is expected to help thousands of borrowers cut their monthly payments by half. More than four million student loan …

U.S. House Budget Threats Jeopardize Proposed PFAS Regulations

Environmental groups say a proposal to cut $4 billion from the Environmental Protection Agency budget would gut the regulations designed to clean up t…

As of August, the federal government says 75 disasters occurred in the United States and its territories so far in 2023, compared with 55 in the same period last year. (Wikimedia)

Report: Older Adults Lack Emergency Plan for Natural Disasters

Emergency rescue officials say many older adults in Illinois and elsewhere are not as prepared as they should be to respond to natural and man-made di…

A University of Illinois report says such factors as climate change, fluctuating markets and the cost of operations are major stressors that farmers can't always control. (Adobe Stock)

Illinois Expands Farmers' Access to Mental-Health Services

Research shows that farmers die from suicide at a rate twice as high as the rest of the population, and Illinois officials are taking steps to help …

The state of Illinois offers a $4,000 rebate on electric vehicles, in addition to federal incentives. (Adobe Stock)

Expert: Illinois Electric Vehicle Sales Accelerating, Not Slowing Down

Experts say consumer interest and sales of electric vehicles in Illinois and across the country are not slowing down. Illinois is among the top 10 …

Illinois Environmental Group Seeks Ban on Pesticides Harmful to Bees

An Illinois group reported toxic pesticides are causing irreversible damage to young, developing bees, putting the bee population in decline and food …

The CDC reported Maternal death rates in the United States rose from 2018 to 2021, noting more than 80% of pregnancy-related deaths are preventable. (Adobe Stock)

CDC: 1 in 5 Women in IL, US Report Mistreatment During Maternity Care

Women from some racial and ethnic minority groups are more likely to have negative health care experiences during pregnancy and delivery affecting qua…

Workplace publication Business Insider lists AI tools like ChatGPT as future replacements for such jobs as switchboard operators, data entry clerks, day traders and customer service agents. (Adobe Stock).

IL Telecom Workers Fight to Keep Their AT&T Jobs

Hundreds of workers employed in the Midwest by a telecommunications giant are facing the possibility of losing their jobs since the company announced …

Illinois has an incarceration rate of 497 per 100,000 people, including prisons, jails, immigration detention and juvenile justice facilities. This means the state locks up a higher percentage of its people than almost any democracy on earth. (Adobe Stock)

Federal Funding Restored to Educate People in Prison

By Max Lubbers for Chalkbeat Chicago.Broadcast version by Terri Dee for Illinois News Service reporting for the Chalkbeat Chicago-Public News Service …

According to the 2018 Illinois Autism Project Report, the prevalence of autism in Cook County was 1 in 46 children, which is higher than the statewide prevalence rate. (Adobe Stock)

Back-to-School Tips for Families of IL Kids with Autism

For a child on the autism spectrum, returning to school after the summer break may be viewed with anxiety and hesitancy. However, parents can pave …

The Kaiser Family Foundation estimates between 8 million and 24 million people will lose Medicaid coverage as the COVID-related Continuous Enrollment Provision unwinds. (Adobe Stock)

Thousands of IL Recipients Face Sudden Medicaid Loss

Millions of Medicaid recipients are losing coverage as the program's pandemic-era Continuous Enrollment Provision unwinds. In Illinois, the number …

The solar power sector added more than 12,000 workers in 2022. (Adobe Stock)

Report Shows Clean-Energy Job Gains in Illinois

A new look at clean-energy jobs in the U.S. shows growth in Illinois and the prospect of greater gains in the future. The Department of Energy …

A measure passed in 2021 allows students in Illinois public schools to take up to five

Teachers' Group Seeks to Bolster Public Education in IL, US

A new campaign backed by public school educators aims to bolster public edu cation and student learning. The American Federation of Teachers' Real …

The New York Times reports six of the nine deadliest mass shootings in the United States since 2018 were by people who were 21 or younger, a shift from earlier decades. (Adobe Stock)

IL Works to Take Youth into Account in Life Sentences

It's only been a few months since Gov. J.B. Pritzker signed a bill ending life sentences without parole for people in Illinois who were under 21 when …

In 2020, Illinois ranked seventh among states for its use of coal to produce energy. According to Earthjustice, the state has about 76 coal ash disposal sites. (Adobe Stock)

Agreement Outlines Coal Ash Cleanup for Middle Fork Vermilion River

People who spend summers fishing and canoeing on the Middle Fork Vermilion River should be pleased to know its water quality should be improving in th…

AgeOptions Illinois focuses on helping low-income seniors and people with disabilities in the townships around Chicago find and apply for a wide variety of programs and benefits. (zinkevych/Adobe Stock)

Illinois Seniors Can Get Help Finding Benefits, Resources

If you're an older adult, or if there's a senior in your life, you may not realize there are many benefits available in Illinois to make life a …

Young people who are adjudicated as delinquent may be placed in multiple types of facilities, from youth prisons and detention centers, to residential treatment facilities or group homes. (Jan H. Andersen/Adobe Stock)

IL Sees Significant Long-Term Decline in Youth Incarcerations

Illinois is seeing a steady drop in youth arrests and therefore, fewer adolescents locked up in juvenile and adult detention facilities. Josh Rovner…

At 80 universities and colleges, the net price more than doubled for the lowest-income students, while at 19 it more than tripled, and at 10 it quintupled, according to analysis of federal data by The Hechinger Report. (Gorodenkoff/Adobe Stock)

Lower-Income Students See Higher Tuition than Higher-Income Peers

By Jon Marcus for The Hechinger Report.Broadcast version by Farah Siddiqi for Illinois News Connection reporting for The Hechinger Report-Public News …

The new Kids Count Data Book says 54% of 3- and 4-year-olds in the U.S. are not enrolled in preschool, which prepares young learners for elementary school. (New Africa/Adobe Stock)

Report: Childcare Biggest Challenge for IL Families

Having access to reliable, affordable, high-quality child care benefits both children and adults, but a new report said it is not the norm for …

Feeding Illinois, which operates a network of food banks across the state, says one in 12 Illinois residents struggles with food insecurity, including one in nine children. (Aaron Doucett/Unsplash)

Increased Work Requirements Mean Fewer SNAP Benefits for Ilinoisans

Almost 2 million people in Illinois receive SNAP food assistance, but several hundred thousand are expected to lose access to it at the end of …

Illinois is one of 13 states charging state sales taxes on grocery items. (Pcess609/Adobe Stock)

Illinois Grocery Tax Makes Controversial Comeback

Most Illinois residents will soon be paying the one-percent state sales tax on their groceries again. Governor JB Pritzker's temporary tax relief is …

Breaking down big tasks into smaller steps helps children develop what experts refer to as executive function skills. (Delete/Adobe Stock)

For Some IL Students, Summer Means Practicing School Preparedness

Tasks like packing a suitcase for summer travel may be difficult for some Illinois children. Experts said parents and caregivers can help kids over …

In 2020, the U.S. population's median age was 38.8, an increase of more than 10 years over the past five decades. (N Lawrenson/peopleimages.com)

Illinois Senior Centers: Not Just for Aged

Some Illinois senior centers aren't just focusing on the 65+ demographic but are beginning to include people aged 50+. The U.S. Census indicates the …

Some Illinois condo dwellers think corporations purchase units in their buildings with a longer-term strategy of increasing fees and assessments to displace other owners, who cannot afford the higher costs or the litigation to fight them. (aleutie/Adobe Stock)

Condo Owners: IL Condominium Property Act Needs Updating

Some Illinois real estate corporations are getting large paydays by charging homeowners assessments for "common expenses," and the owners allege they …

A wetland and marsh area at Chain O' Lakes State Park. Illinois' Interagency Wetland Policy Act of 1989 set a goal of no net loss of wetlands due to projects funded by the state. (GoodFreePhotos.com)

SCOTUS Lands Gut Punch to EPA Wetland Protections

A U.S. Supreme Court decision is shaking up the environmental community in Illinois and across the country. The high court ruled 5-4 on Thursday …

Illinois state agencies will be required to use the Middle Eastern or North African classification for reporting workforce or hiring data as of July 1, 2025. (Marko/Adobe Stock)

Middle Eastern, North African Race Checkbox Added to IL state forms

Illinois is making history as the first state to collect Middle Eastern and North African representation data on all state forms and surveys…

Illinois had almost 1,000 juveniles incarcerated in adult correctional facilities in 2021, at an annual cost of almost $33 million, according to a Human Rights for Kids report. (napatacha/Adobe Stock)

IL Lawmakers Pass Bill to Prevent Unfair Youth Sentencing

Illinois could soon be the fourth state to pass a law to prevent unfair youth sentencing. The legislation encourages criminal courts to recognize …

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