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

Soaring costs and short supply shut millennials out of housing market

Soaring costs and short supply shut millennials out of housing market

By Brett RowlandThe Center Square Baby Boomers continue to dominate the U.S. housing market, buying and selling more homes last year than any other generation, while homeownership remains out of...
Vought testifies before lawmakers on Trump's $2.1T budget request

Vought testifies before lawmakers on Trump’s $2.1T budget request

By Thérèse BoudreauxThe Center Square Office of Management and Budget Director Russ Vought met with U.S. lawmakers Wednesday to discuss the president’s $2.1 trillion budget proposal for the next fiscal...
SNAP eligibility changes spark debate on gap for impacted recipients

SNAP eligibility changes spark debate on gap for impacted recipients

By Sean Reed | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – A coalition of non-profits and community organizations across the state are warning that more than 200,000 Illinoisans...
Trump puts spotlight on China, Iran's top oil consumer

Trump puts spotlight on China, Iran’s top oil consumer

By Sarah Roderick-FitchThe Center Square With the blockade of Iranian ports moving toward its third day, China, Iran’s largest importer of oil, is vowing not to send weapons to the...
Lawmakers, auditors offer fraud prevention solutions

Lawmakers, auditors offer fraud prevention solutions

By Andrew RiceThe Center Square Lawmakers and auditors called on the federal government to implement legislation preventing fraud in programs run by the state. The U.S. House Oversight Subcommittee on...
Illinois unions seek to kill Waymo-friendly bill in Springfield

Illinois unions seek to kill Waymo-friendly bill in Springfield

By Sean Reed | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – Leadership and rank-and-file from multiple labor unions called on lawmakers to kill legislation aimed at welcoming autonomous...
Rich States Poor States: Tax policy largely determines states’ economic competitiveness

Rich States Poor States: Tax policy largely determines states’ economic competitiveness

By Morgan SweeneyThe Center Square No matter what a state offers in terms of natural beauty, work and social opportunities, tax and economic policy — as unglamorous as they sound...
78 pro-life orgs ask DOJ to stop undermining state laws by favoring aborting drug industry

78 pro-life orgs ask DOJ to stop undermining state laws by favoring aborting drug industry

By Tate MillerThe Center Square Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America led 77 of its pro-life organization colleagues in sending the acting U.S. attorney general a letter asking the Department of...
Illinois Quick Hits: Two of ComEd four released; new trial expected

Illinois Quick Hits: Two of ComEd four released; new trial expected

By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – A U.S. appellate court has ordered two defendants in the ComEd Four case to be released pending...
Casey Westfield Baseball Graphic

Casey-Westfield Launches Seven Home Runs in 18-4 Rout of Tri-County

The Casey-Westfield varsity baseball team put on an absolute offensive clinic Tuesday afternoon, launching a staggering seven home runs en route to a commanding 18-4, five-inning non-conference victory over host...
City Council Meeting Briefs.Purple

Meeting Summary and Briefs: Casey City Council for April 6, 2026

Casey City Council Meeting | April 6, 2026 The Casey City Council met on Monday, April 6, to push forward multiple high-impact infrastructure and economic development initiatives. The council approved...
Chicago suit vs oil cos. may yet survive SCOTUS ruling, judge hints

Chicago suit vs oil cos. may yet survive SCOTUS ruling, judge hints

By Jonathan Bilyk | Legal NewslineThe Center Square Even as the Supreme Court considers a Colorado case that oil companies believe will decide if city and state governments can sue...
Two of ComEd Four released. new trial pending

Two of ComEd Four released. new trial pending

By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – A U.S. appellate court has ordered two defendants in the ComEd Four case to be released pending...
GOP candidate Bailey urges Trump to apologize to pope; bishop calls for dialogue

GOP candidate Bailey urges Trump to apologize to pope; bishop calls for dialogue

By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – After President Donald Trump refused to apologize for his social media criticism of Pope Leo XIV, a...
Senator says taxpayers fleeced by corrections department

Senator says taxpayers fleeced by corrections department

By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – The Illinois Department of Corrections is facing questions over its failure to comply with state law while...