Illinois now knows its gubernatorial candidates for the upcoming November election, but voters might not know about another question on the ballot that threatens to impact businesses across the state.

Amendment 1, referred to as the “Workers’ Rights Amendment,” is a proposed change to the Illinois Constitution up for passage via referendum on Election Day, Nov. 8. The amendment would place a financial burden on Illinois business owners and change the operational landscape for many by giving government unions more power than any other state has granted.

Enforcers are out checking Illinois gas pumps for a state-mandated sticker announcing the delayed gas tax increase, but there are no reports of $500 daily fines being issued yet for businesses that don’t post the notice.

Illinois Fuel and Retail Association’s Josh Sharp said now more than a week in, he’s heard from most of his members that they’re complying with the mandate. And, he hears inspectors with the Illinois Department of Agriculture are out to enforce.

Four months before the general election, six incumbent state lawmakers appeared primed for an early rejection by voters based on unofficial tallies this week.

The longest-serving of the incumbents to lose their primary election was Democratic Rep. Mike Zalewski, of Riverside, a founding member of the House’s “Mod Squad” of moderate Democrats. He was unseated by a more liberal challenger, Abdelnasser Rashid, of Justice, who had the backing of the progressive group Our Revolution, which has roots in the 2016 presidential campaign of U.S. Sen Bernie Sanders.

The national average price for a gallon of regular gasoline broke records repeatedly during the first two weeks of May, according to the American Automobile Association. AAA is a privately held not-for-profit national member association and service organization with more than 60 million members in the United States and Canada. AAA’s nationwide survey on gas prices found that, as of May 16, 2022, nearly every state has passed the $4 per gallon price.

Gas price fluctuations—up 30.8% per gallon in the U.S. from one year ago—are felt on a personal level, but they’re often influenced by sudden events and major policy shifts across the country and world. Natural disasters like hurricanes that shut down refineries along the Gulf of Mexico—where roughly half of America’s crude oil is processed—can drive prices up almost immediately. As during the First Gulf War with Iraq in 1990-91 or with Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February, military conflicts involving oil-producing countries can also cause ripple effects worldwide.

The head of the Illinois Department of Human Services has been ordered to return to Sangamon County Circuit Court on charges of ignoring another court order to transport a county jail inmate into state custody.

The court ruled Friday that Grace Hou, secretary of IDHS, must appear in court July 15 to respond to charges of ignoring an order to place Christopher Hall, 38, of Beloit, Wisconsin, in the Andrew McFarland Mental Health Center for psychiatric treatment.

State tax revenues grew by $5.5 billion in the fiscal year that concluded on June 30, exceeding $50 billion for the first time in Illinois’ history, according to a new report from a state budgeting agency.

The 12 percent base revenue growth in Fiscal Year 2022 gave lawmakers near-unprecedented flexibility in the current budget year.