January 13, 2026/

Illinois Quick Hits: IDPH accountability officer fired

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By Jim Talamonti | The Center Square
The Center Square

(The Center Square) – The former chief grant accountability officer for the Illinois Department of Public Health is being held accountable for working a private job on the taxpayer dime.

The Illinois Office of Executive Inspector General’s latest newsletter highlights the case against IDPH Chief Accountability Officer Vena Nelson failing to disclose outside employment and conducting that employment while working for the state.

Both Nelson and her supervisor were terminated before the investigation concluded.

TEACHER PENSION LIABILITY

The Illinois Teachers’ Retirement System’s unfunded ratio is decreasing.

The latest Illinois Auditor General report for TRS released Tuesday shows a total liability of $162 billion, with $77.3 billion on hand. That makes the funding ratio 47.7%, which is up from 45.5% the previous year.

Also released Tuesday was the audit for the State University Retirement System, which is 45.5% funded.

GAS PRICES DROP

The average gas price in Illinois has dropped below $2.90 per gallon.

According to the Automobile Association of America, the state’s current average of $2.89 for regular unleaded is down from $2.93 one week ago and $3.06 one month ago.

The per-gallon price in Illinois remains higher than the national average of $2.82 and higher than the price in every other Midwestern state. The Land of Lincoln has the second-highest gas tax in the nation.

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