August 12, 2025/
Illinois quick hits: Report shows rate of businesses leaving state

Illinois quick hits: Report shows rate of businesses leaving state

By The Center Square
The Center Square

Report shows rate of businesses leaving state

Illinois businesses are moving to other states at triple the rate they did before the pandemic, according to new research from the Illinois Policy Institute.

In 2023, 218 businesses left Illinois, more than any state in the country after New York and California.

Despite having the most business applications filed in the Midwest, only 5.6% of applicants in Illinois actually opened a business and became operational within 12 months.

Former mayor sentenced for corruption

A federal judge has sentenced former McCook Mayor and Cook County Commissioner Jeff Tobolski to four years in prison for public corruption.

Tobolski pleaded guilty to extortion conspiracy and tax charges in 2020. Tobolski admitted that he abused his elected positions to benefit individuals who paid him more than $250,000 in bribes.

Towns make crowd-free boating list

Three Illinois towns made the list of Best Small Towns for Crowd-Free Boating.

BoatBooker’s 2025 study reviewed online reviews of small boating towns nationwide and found Port Barrington, Illinois came in at No. 6, Morris at No. 10 and Warrenville at No. 18.

Events

Clark County Fair
Clark County Fair
18 Aug 25
Country Farm Antiques Show
Country Farm Antiques Show
23 Aug 25
Back to School Block Party
Back to School Block Party
23 Aug 25
Back to School Block Party
Back to School Block Party
23 Aug 25
Absent Ground @ Casey Popcorn Festival
Absent Ground @ Casey Popcorn Festival
29 Aug 25
All 90s Trivia at Casey Popcorn Festival
All 90s Trivia at Casey Popcorn Festival
30 Aug 25
Casey Popcorn Festival Jeep Showdown
Casey Popcorn Festival Jeep Showdown
30 Aug 25
Tyler Farr at Casey Popcorn Festival
Tyler Farr at Casey Popcorn Festival
31 Aug 25
Emo Night LIVE w/ All American Throwbacks
Emo Night LIVE w/ All American Throwbacks
31 Aug 25
Colton Dixon at Popcorn Festival
Colton Dixon at Popcorn Festival
1 Sep 25
01 Sep
Casey City Council Board Meeting
1 Sep 25
Bird of the Fall - winging it
Bird of the Fall - winging it
6 Sep 25

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