May 18, 2026/

Illinois Quick Hits: Independent candidate filing period opens

Spread the love

By Jim Talamonti | The Center Square
The Center Square

(The Center Square) – Today is the first day of the filing period for independents and new party candidates seeking state and federal offices in Illinois.

Candidates have had since Feb. 25 to collect signatures and have from today to May 25 at the Illinois State Board of Elections in Springfield.

Election Day is Nov. 3

BP NEGOTIATIONS RESUME AS ILLINOIS GAS PRICES REMAIN HIGH

Negotiations were set to resume today between the BP refinery in Whiting, Indiana, and United Steelworkers Local 7-1.

Along with armed conflict in the Middle East, the ongoing labor dispute and a brief power disruption at the refinery last month were blamed for an increase in gasoline prices across several Midwest states.

According to AAA, the average price for a gallon of regular unleaded in Illinois was $5.05 on Monday. The average price in Indiana was $4.13.

ST. LOUIS FED: CPI, INDUSTRIAL PRODUCTION, CPI ROSE IN APRIL

The Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis is reporting that U.S. industrial production increased 0.7% in April after falling 0.3% the prior month.

Manufacturing activity increased 0.6% and utilities activity rose 1.9%. The consumer price index rose 3.8% year-over-year in April, not seasonally adjusted, the largest increase since May 2023.

METRO EAST CRIME SUPPRESSION RESULTS ANNOUNCED

Illinois State Police have announced the results of a violent crime suppression detail in St. Clair and Madison counties, with a focus on East St. Louis and surrounding Metro East communities.

ISP reported 23 arrests, 11 firearms seized and two stolen vehicle recoveries.

PRITZKER SAYS HE’S HEALTHY AFTER SPRINGFIELD ER VISIT

Gov. J.B. Pritzker says his health is fine after he visited a hospital emergency room in Springfield last Wednesday night.

The governor told reporters in Chicago on Monday that he went to Springfield Memorial Hospital after he felt something that might have been related to a urology procedure he had undergone on May 1.

Pritzker said he is a healthy 61-year-old man and medical personnel at the hospital told him the issue was not serious.

Leave a Comment





Latest News Stories

Senators introduce legislation to codify Antifa terror designation

Senators introduce legislation to codify Antifa terror designation

By Sarah Roderick-FitchThe Center Square More than a month after President Donald Trump designated Antifa a domestic terror organization, a group of senators is proposing legislation to codify the president’s...
DHS proposes billion dollar expanded DNA testing for immigrants

DHS proposes billion dollar expanded DNA testing for immigrants

By Andrew RiceThe Center Square The U.S. Department of Homeland Security issued a multibillion dollar proposal on Monday to increase biometric scanning during the immigration process. The proposal would expand...
Trump administration resumes visa processing despite shutdown

Trump administration resumes visa processing despite shutdown

By Andrew RiceThe Center Square After a month of halted operations, the U.S. Department of Labor will begin processing necessary documents for visa and permanent resident applications again. While agencies...
Muslims in Virginia, New York face decades in prison for supporting Houthis, ISIS

Muslims in Virginia, New York face decades in prison for supporting Houthis, ISIS

By Bethany BlankleyThe Center Square Two cases in Virginia and New York highlight ongoing Islamic terrorist threats at home and abroad, including resulting in the death of two U.S. Navy...
Indian reservation focus of human smuggling probe at U.S.-Canada border

Indian reservation focus of human smuggling probe at U.S.-Canada border

By Bethany BlankleyThe Center Square An Indian reservation that spans the U.S.-Canada border, including Ontario, Quebec and two upstate New York counties, is the focus of another human smuggling operation....
'Temporary Band-Aid': USDA able to cover 50% of November SNAP benefits

‘Temporary Band-Aid’: USDA able to cover 50% of November SNAP benefits

By Thérèse BoudreauxThe Center Square Despite previously denying it had the legal authority to do so, the U.S. Department of Agriculture said Monday that it will use emergency funds to...
WATCH: Family, friends remember Bailey family at celebration of life

WATCH: Family, friends remember Bailey family at celebration of life

By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – Loved ones have paid their respects to members of gubernatorial candidate Darren Bailey’s family at a celebration...
Duffy: We are going to go after the CDL mills

Duffy: We are going to go after the CDL mills

By Alan WootenThe Center Square Safety concerns, two triple-fatals involving 18-wheelers and a closer look at commercial driver’s licenses has led the U.S. Department of Transportation to say, “We are...

WATCH: Amid criticism, Pritzker defends using expletive to tell Trump where to go

By Greg Bishop | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker on Monday defended the use of an expletive that he used in front...
Election integrity advocates urge reform after Illinois scores low in global survey

Election integrity advocates urge reform after Illinois scores low in global survey

By Catrina Barker | The Center Square contributorThe Center Square (The Center Square) – Election integrity advocates are calling for sweeping reforms after a new international report ranks Illinois near...
WATCH: Pritzker's rhetoric criticized; tax amnesty program; status of Guard lawsuit

WATCH: Pritzker’s rhetoric criticized; tax amnesty program; status of Guard lawsuit

By Greg Bishop | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – In today's edition of Illinois in Focus Daily, The Center Square Editor Greg Bishop shares a conversation...
Trump predicts 'ruination' if Supreme Court rules against his tariffs

Trump predicts ‘ruination’ if Supreme Court rules against his tariffs

By Brett RowlandThe Center Square President Donald Trump won't attend arguments in a case before the U.S. Supreme Court challenging his tariff authority, but the U.S. president said if the...
Illinois quick hits: Pritzker uses expletive with teachers union; Paprocki reacts to assisted suicide bill

Illinois quick hits: Pritzker uses expletive with teachers union; Paprocki reacts to assisted suicide bill

By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square Pritzker uses expletive with teachers union Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s use of an expletive telling President Donald Trump and his supporters what...
Congressional Perks: House account spending jumped 21% in 2022

Congressional Perks: House account spending jumped 21% in 2022

By Arthur KaneThe Center Square Spending on U.S. House of Representatives office accounts increased by more than 85% over the past three decades but nearly half of that occurred since...
Everyday Economics: Rate cut debate: Reading mixed signals in a fragile economy

Everyday Economics: Rate cut debate: Reading mixed signals in a fragile economy

By Orphe DivounguyThe Center Square The Federal Reserve cut interest rates last week, but the decision was far from unanimous. Two members of the Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) dissented...