Get the latest news from around Illinois.
Daily Herald: Illinois businesses still struggling two years into COVID-19
Argie Karafotias came to the United States with nothing. He opened several businesses, including the Golden Brunch restaurant in Arlington Heights. Before the pandemic hit, he was thriving and growing fast.
“I live the American dream. We were worth, our restaurant, more than $1 million,” Karafotias said. “But it was a striking moment when we heard the governor say, ‘Everyone’s closing down.’ We lost more than $500,000 and now we’re trying to bring back the business by changing our menus … Now we’re just trying to survive.”
The Center Square: Illinois Chamber: Record inflation hurting large and small businesses
Illinois businesses are reeling from record high inflation.
The yearly inflation rate hit 8.5% in March – a four-decade high, according to the U.S. Department of Labor. Combined with the cascade of labor shortages, rising gas and rent, Illinois businesses are struggling.
NPR: How Illinois is addressing the nationwide substitute teacher shortage
Schools don’t have enough short-term teachers to fill in the gaps. Districts in Illinois are now holding one-day online training to get short-term subs, even ones without teaching backgrounds.
WBBM: Local watchdog official weighs in on ComEd's potential rate hike
The director of a watchdog organization says ComEd’s request for a rate increase should be rejected.
The rate increase would be $199 million should it be allowed to go through, which is one million short of what the utility had to pay for the bribery scandal.