August 26, 2025/

Illinois quick hits: Chicago businesses at 10-year low; school admin survey closes soon

Spread the love

By Jim Talamonti | The Center Square
The Center Square

Chicago businesses at 10-year low

The number of businesses operating in Chicago has reached a 10-year low.

Citing city license data, the Illinois Policy Institute said Chicago had 44,840 businesses operating in the city last year, down from 54,135 in 2015.

The Magnificent Mile area saw the largest decline with a 51% drop over the past decade.

School admin survey closes soon

The Illinois State Board of Education is asking school district administrators to complete the board’s Modernization District Survey this week.

ISBE says the request is part of an effort to modernize data systems, reduce duplication and build secure, user-friendly tools.

The survey closes on Friday, Aug. 29.

Increased U of I football security

The University of Illinois Division of Public Safety and the Division of Intercollegiate Athletics have added walk-through metal-detection systems for home football games at Memorial Stadium.

Officials say Fighting Illini fans will have a similar entry experience to those at other major sports venues around the country.

The Illini home opener is scheduled this Friday evening against the Leathernecks of Western Illinois.

Leave a Comment





Latest News Stories

Illinois reps move bill to give remedy to young victims of hidden cameras

Illinois reps move bill to give remedy to young victims of hidden cameras

By Sean Reed | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – Lawmakers advanced a proposal aimed at giving Illinois families new legal recourse when minors are secretly recorded...
Illinois Quick Hits: Chicago Election Board says 94% of ballots casts were for Dems

Illinois Quick Hits: Chicago Election Board says 94% of ballots casts were for Dems

By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – The Chicago Board of Election Commissioners have announced the official results of the primary election in the...
Casey Westfield Baseball Graphic

Casey-Westfield Pitching Shines in 7-0 Shutout Over Cowden-Herrick/Beecher City

The Casey-Westfield varsity baseball team utilized a dominant pitching performance and capitalized on defensive miscues to defeat Cowden-Herrick/Beecher City (CHBC) 7-0 in Tuesday’s home non-conference matchup. The hosts delivered a...
Casey Westfield Softball Graphic

Goble’s Gem and 16-Hit Attack Propel Casey-Westfield Past Salt Fork 10-1

The Casey-Westfield varsity softball team fired on all cylinders Tuesday afternoon, combining a relentless 16-hit offensive assault with a dominant pitching performance to secure a 10-1 non-conference road victory over...
Chicago office vacancy rates worsen, card swipe numbers offer hope

Chicago office vacancy rates worsen, card swipe numbers offer hope

By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – As Chicago’s downtown office vacancy rate hits another record high, homeowners in the city can expect to...
Illinois Quick Hits: Illiois gas prices keep rising

Illinois Quick Hits: Illiois gas prices keep rising

By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – The average gas price in Illinois has risen 89 cents per gallon in the last month. According...
IL Supreme Court says it can remove Cook Co. judge for pro-Trump column

IL Supreme Court says it can remove Cook Co. judge for pro-Trump column

By Jonathan Bilyk | Legal NewslineThe Center Square The justices on the Democrat-dominated Illinois Supreme Court are asking a federal judge to declare they have the constitutional authority to abruptly...
FBI: Illinois’ cyber crime losses reached $535M in 2025

FBI: Illinois’ cyber crime losses reached $535M in 2025

By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – The FBI Internet Crime Report for 2025 ranks Illinois fifth in the U.S. for cyber crime complaints...
Minnesota, Illinois AGs challenge federal orders to keep coal plants running

Minnesota, Illinois AGs challenge federal orders to keep coal plants running

By Elyse ApelThe Center Square Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison is challenging the Trump administration over orders requiring coal-fired power plants in Indiana to remain open past their planned retirement...
FBI finds Americans lose billions to cryptocurrency scams

FBI finds Americans lose billions to cryptocurrency scams

By Brett RowlandThe Center Square Americans lost more than $20 billion to cryptocurrency and other online scams in 2025, a 26% increase over the year before, according to the latest...
Illinois lawmakers seek to regulate, tax prediction markets amid federal lawsuit

Illinois lawmakers seek to regulate, tax prediction markets amid federal lawsuit

By Sean ReedThe Center Square Illinois may soon allow prediction markets to operate in the state, but lawmakers and the federal government are at odds with how they want it...
Report: Teacher’s union gives nearly 2M to org that trains for May Day protests

Report: Teacher’s union gives nearly 2M to org that trains for May Day protests

By Tate MillerThe Center Square An education group has uncovered that teacher’s union the National Education Association has given nearly two million dollars in donations since 2020 to an organization...
Illinois Quick Hits: Downtown Chicago office vacancies hit another record high

Illinois Quick Hits: Downtown Chicago office vacancies hit another record high

By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – Downtown Chicago’s office vacancy rate has risen to a record high for the 15th consecutive quarter. Crain’s...
Trump issues dire warning to Iran as deadline looms

Trump issues dire warning to Iran as deadline looms

By Sarah Roderick-FitchThe Center Square “A whole civilization will die tonight, never to be brought back again,” President Donald Trump warned the Iranian regime as the clock ticks toward the...
Report: Iran, inflation concern small businesses

Report: Iran, inflation concern small businesses

By Andrew RiceThe Center Square U.S. small businesses reported reduced spending and hiring amid concerns over military strikes against Iran and looming inflation data, according to a new report. The...