January 28, 2026/

Illinois quick hits: John Deere to build in North Carolina

Spread the love

By Jim Talamonti | The Center Square
The Center Square

John Deere to build in North Carolina

Illinois-based John Deere has announced that it will open new facilities in North Carolina and Indiana. The company said future generation excavators previously produced in Japan will be manufactured in Kernersville, North Carolina.

John Deere recently broke ground on a new distribution center near Hebron, Indiana. The company’s primary North American Parts Distribution Center remains in Milan, Illinois, at a site open since 1973.

The Center Square Managing Editor Alan Wooten contributed to this story.

EV rebate extended

Illinois Environmental Protection Agency Acting Director James Jennings has announced an extension to the Electric Vehicle Rebate Program application cycle from Jan. 31, 2026, to May 31, 2026. After Jan. 31, the state EPA says it will again prioritize low-income applications as specified in the program requirements.

The agency says current applications represent a fraction of the $14 million appropriated to the Illinois EPA for fiscal year 2026.

Legal fight over gender name

The Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression is seeking to overturn a state law banning groups from calling themselves Republicans or Democrats unless they get permission from party establishment.

Democrats for an Informed Approach to Gender said Illinois Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias blocked them from registering as a nonprofit because they lacked approval from the Democratic Party of Illinois as required by state law.

Democrats for an Informed Approach to Gender has registered as a nonprofit at the national level. The group opposes the Democratic Party’s stance on transgender issues and gender identity.

Leave a Comment





Latest News Stories

Senate votes to reopen government, sending funding bills to House

Senate votes to reopen government, sending funding bills to House

By Thérèse BoudreauxThe Center Square After spending nearly seven weeks in a political deadlock, U.S. senators finally passed legislation to end the record-long government shutdown. Eight senators in the Democratic...
Illinois quick hits: Bailey to stay in governor's race

Illinois quick hits: Bailey to stay in governor’s race

By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square Bailey to stay in governor's race Republican candidate Darren Bailey has decided to stay in the race for Illinois governor. In...
Airlines warn flight reductions could cost U.S. economy

Airlines warn flight reductions could cost U.S. economy

By Brett RowlandThe Center Square Flight delays and cancelations are frustrating Americans and could be costing the U.S. economy millions of dollars each day, according to a new report from...
Report: Less than half of CPS students performing at grade level

Report: Less than half of CPS students performing at grade level

By Glenn Minnis | The Center Square contributorThe Center Square (The Center Square) – Illinois Policy Institute policy analyst Hannah Schmid is sounding the alarm about the state’s dimming prospects...

WATCH: IL comptroller candidates focus on transparency, timely reporting

By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – Transparency is a key talking point for Illinois comptroller candidates. One Republican and five Democrats have filed...
With shutdown ending, debate on Obamacare subsidies to begin

With shutdown ending, debate on Obamacare subsidies to begin

By Tom JoyceThe Center Square As Congress moves to reopen the federal government this week, debate is shifting toward how to pay for the federal health care programs that helped...
Democratic senators under fire explain why they supported GOP bill to end shutdown

Democratic senators under fire explain why they supported GOP bill to end shutdown

By Thérèse BoudreauxThe Center Square After breaking from the rest of the Democratic Caucus to help Republicans advance a deal that would end the government shutdown, the eight U.S. senators...
FDA to remove ‘black box’ warnings on menopausal hormone therapies

FDA to remove ‘black box’ warnings on menopausal hormone therapies

By Morgan SweeneyThe Center Square The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is removing the “black box” warnings from hormone replacement therapy products for menopause, health administration officials announced Monday. A...
Giannoulias ramps up campaign for state regulation of auto premiums

Giannoulias ramps up campaign for state regulation of auto premiums

By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – Illinois Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias has expanded his campaign to regulate auto insurance rates. Giannoulias visited...
Trump demands air traffic controllers return to work

Trump demands air traffic controllers return to work

By Sarah Roderick-FitchThe Center Square After a reduction of up to 10% of flights in and out of the nation’s top airports, causing major travel disruptions, President Donald Trump is...
Analysis: Trump's proposed tariff rebate would cost twice as much as tariffs

Analysis: Trump’s proposed tariff rebate would cost twice as much as tariffs

By Brett RowlandThe Center Square President Donald Trump has again floated the idea of sending Americans $2,000 from tariff revenue, but a new analysis suggests the import taxes won't bring...
Trump pardons 77 people linked to 2020 presidential election challenge

Trump pardons 77 people linked to 2020 presidential election challenge

By Sarah Roderick-FitchThe Center Square President Donald Trump issued a proclamation providing pardons for a slew of people accused of trying to overturn the 2020 presidential elections, including Rudy Giuliani...
Supreme Court agrees to hear election law challenge

Supreme Court agrees to hear election law challenge

By Andrew RiceThe Center Square The U.S. Supreme Court agreed on Monday to hear a case challenging state laws that allow ballots to be counted if they are received after...
Supreme Court declines to hear same-sex marriage challenge

Supreme Court declines to hear same-sex marriage challenge

By Andrew RiceThe Center Square The U.S. Supreme Court declined a petition on Monday to hear a case aimed at overturning the legalization of same-sex marriage. Kim Davis, a former...
Illinois quick hits: Illinois U.S. senators split on shutdown vote

Illinois quick hits: Illinois U.S. senators split on shutdown vote

By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square Illinois U.S. senators split on shutdown vote Illinois U.S. Senators Dick Durbin and Tammy Duckworth differed as the Senate voted to...