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.