Rauner signs bill lifting ban on industrial hemp
Rauner signs bill lifting ban on industrial hemp
The Industrial Hemp Act will plant the seeds for the growth of commercial hemp production across Illinois.
Small business owners give Illinois an ‘F’ in friendliness
Small business owners give Illinois an ‘F’ in friendliness
A recent survey found Illinois to be the least accommodating state in the nation for small businesses.
Rest of the nation sees 31 percent faster jobs growth vs. Illinois in 2018
Rest of the nation sees 31 percent faster jobs growth vs. Illinois in 2018
Illinois experienced its sixth consecutive month of jobs growth in July, yet continues to trail the pace of growth in the rest of the nation for 2018.
Rauner signs bill preventing professional license suspension for student loan delinquencies
Rauner signs bill preventing professional license suspension for student loan delinquencies
A new law will ensure Illinoisans don’t lose their right to practice their professions if they fall behind on student loan payments.
Free beer: How Illinois could become the country’s craft capital
Free beer: How Illinois could become the country’s craft capital
State lawmakers should seize the momentum in Illinois. Let your people brew. And transport. And sell.
Chicago stopping more than 2,400 Airbnb hosts from listing their rooms
Chicago stopping more than 2,400 Airbnb hosts from listing their rooms
City bureaucracy – not consumer complaints – has left thousands of Chicago hosts barred from the Airbnb platform.
Rauner signs pro-growth bill restricting state regulators
Rauner signs pro-growth bill restricting state regulators
State agencies can no longer pile rules and regulations onto Illinois businesses without first taking into account their economic effects.
Rauner signs bill relaxing outdated liquor license restrictions
Rauner signs bill relaxing outdated liquor license restrictions
Gov. Bruce Rauner signed Senate Bill 2436 on Aug. 2, a move that will increase local control over liquor licensure.
Illinois metro areas gain 14,200 jobs in June
Illinois metro areas gain 14,200 jobs in June
While a majority of Illinois metro areas experienced expanding payrolls in June, the state still lags the nation in post-recession jobs growth.
Illinois jobs growth spikes in June, double the growth of the rest of the U.S.
Illinois jobs growth spikes in June, double the growth of the rest of the U.S.
Illinois added 18,100 new jobs in June, the highest monthly increase since summer 2017, but the Prairie State still lags behind the rest of the nation for the post-recession period.
Most of Lake County’s largest communities are shrinking
Most of Lake County’s largest communities are shrinking
Many communities in the northern Illinois border county are having trouble attracting and retaining residents.
Jobs data: After 2017 income tax hike, Illinois slows while nation grows
Jobs data: After 2017 income tax hike, Illinois slows while nation grows
As national jobs growth kept up a steady clip, Illinois saw jobs growth dip after lawmakers passed a historic tax hike.
Chicago minimum wage rises to $12 per hour
Chicago minimum wage rises to $12 per hour
The city has seen a 45 percent increase in its minimum wage since 2015.
Prime working-age Illinoisans leading the state’s population decline
Prime working-age Illinoisans leading the state’s population decline
The current and future workforce is shrinking in Illinois, but growing across the U.S. Making the Prairie State more attractive for families seeking to work and invest is key to fixing this problem.