January 30, 2026/

Illinois Quick Hits: Unemployment up over last year

Spread the love

By Jim Talamonti | The Center Square
The Center Square

(The Center Square) – According to preliminary figures from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Illinois’ statewide unemployment rate for December 2025 was 4.8%, up from 4.4% in December 2024.

Over the year, non-farm jobs decreased in nine of the state’s metropolitan areas and increased in three.

The Chicago-Naperville-Schaumburg area has reported 18 consecutive months of job growth.

CHILD PORNOGRAPHY CHARGE

A church official from Illinois is facing a charge of producing child pornography.

Michael William Mohr, 54, is president of the Central Illinois District of the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod.

The affidavit in support of the complaint alleges that searches of residences used by Mohr revealed cameras disguised as electronic devices and videos of juveniles in the bathroom.

STATE AG GRANTS

The Illinois Department of Agriculture has announced plans to distribute $3.6 million in grants to support local food processing, aggregation and distribution.

Grants will be available for collaborative projects from $1,000 to $250,000 and for individual projects from $1,000 to $75,000. Eligible entities include businesses with fewer than 50 employees, nonprofits and units of local government.

The funds were appropriated in the 2026 state budget.

Leave a Comment





Latest News Stories

Reforms prompt big money appeals in IL biometrics cases

Reforms prompt big money appeals in IL biometrics cases

By Jonathan Bilyk | Legal NewslineThe Center Square Even as reforms seem to have edged down the number of biometric privacy lawsuits targeted at businesses in Illinois, appeals courts are...
Trump delivers message of peace, hope during historic Knesset address

Trump delivers message of peace, hope during historic Knesset address

By Sarah Roderick-FitchThe Center Square Hope and joy dominated the streets of Israel on Monday as 20 hostages were freed, and President Donald Trump addressed the State of Israel. The...
Meeting Briefs

Meeting Summary and Briefs: Casey City Council for October 6, 2025

The Casey City Council approved a 3-cent per kilowatt-hour increase for the city’s electric utility at its meeting on Monday, October 6, 2025, a move officials said was necessary to...
Casey Council Meeting Graphic.1

Casey Amends Nuisance Ordinance to Standardize Penalties

Article Summary: The Casey City Council has approved an ordinance to ensure penalties for nuisance violations are consistent across all sections of the city code. The "clean-up" measure follows a...
Everyday Economics: Data blackout: Why the growth narrative doesn't hold up

Everyday Economics: Data blackout: Why the growth narrative doesn’t hold up

By Orphe DivounguyThe Center Square The federal shutdown has darkened the dashboard. Key September releases are delayed – most notably CPI now slated for Oct. 24, just days before the...
Appeals Court rejects Trump administration bid to lift TRO in Illinois’

Appeals Court rejects Trump administration bid to lift TRO in Illinois’

By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – The Seventh Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals has denied the portion of the Trump administration’s emergency motion...
Those doxxing, threatening ICE agents, arrested, indicted

Those doxxing, threatening ICE agents, arrested, indicted

By Bethany BlankleyThe Center Square Individuals rioting, doxxing and threatening U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers and their families continue to be arrested and indicted. Legal action is being taken...
'The Art of the Heal': How TrumpRx, most-favored nation pricing, Big Pharma intersect

‘The Art of the Heal’: How TrumpRx, most-favored nation pricing, Big Pharma intersect

By Morgan SweeneyThe Center Square AstraZeneca has now joined Pfizer in agreeing to sell its drugs to state Medicaid programs at “most-favored-nation” pricing and deeply discounted rates on TrumpRx.gov But...

GOP stands up for U.S. military strikes on suspected drug boats

By Brett RowlandThe Center Square President Donald Trump and the Pentagon show no signs of changing course on using military strikes to destroy suspected drug boats in the Caribbean. "We...
IL lawmakers could address energy prices, transit, taxes during veto session

IL lawmakers could address energy prices, transit, taxes during veto session

By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – The Illinois General Assembly’s fall veto session begins Tuesday, and taxes are expected to be part of...
Screenshot 2025-10-08 at 9.41.03 AM

Council Approves Over $86,000 in Infrastructure Contracts

Article Summary: The Casey City Council awarded three separate contracts totaling over $86,000 for sidewalk replacement, city-wide tree removal, and stump grinding. The winning bids were selected from multiple submissions...
Trump says US troops will get paid Oct. 15 despite funding lapse

Trump says US troops will get paid Oct. 15 despite funding lapse

By Brett RowlandThe Center Square President Donald Trump said Saturday that America's 1.3 million military service members will get paid on Oct. 15 despite a congressional budget lapse that led...
$4.5B awarded in new contracts to build Smart Wall along southwest border

$4.5B awarded in new contracts to build Smart Wall along southwest border

By Bethany BlankleyThe Center Square Roughly $4.5 billion in contracts have been awarded to expand border wall construction, including adding advanced technological surveillance along the southwest border. Ten new construction...
Do No Harm expects FTC to take action to protect minors from transgender procedures

Do No Harm expects FTC to take action to protect minors from transgender procedures

By Tate MillerThe Center Square (The Center Square ) – After submitting comments to the Federal Trade Commission's public inquiry on how the child transgender industry has harmed and deceived...
2024 was deadliest year for journalists on record

2024 was deadliest year for journalists on record

By Bethany BlankleyThe Center Square Last year was the deadliest year for journalists on record, with the Gaza Strip being the deadliest location, according to multiple reports. Totals vary depending...