May 18, 2026/

Illinois Quick Hits: Independent candidate filing period opens

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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.

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