A new survey shows that the small business rent crisis has reached new heights, especially in Illinois.

The small business referral network Alignable reports that about a third of small businesses in the U.S. were unable to pay rent in full and on time in May, up from 28% in April. Head researcher Chuck Casto says it is even more bleak in Illinois.

For the 12th time since January, Illinois Department of Children and Family Services Director Marc Smith has been held in contempt of court.

Judge Patrick Murphy issued the contempt order following a motion from the Cook County Public Guardian’s office. This latest case involves a 15-year-old girl who has been stuck in a psychiatric hospital even though she was cleared to be released January 14, 2022.

Judge Lisa Holder White has officially joined the Illinois Supreme Court as its first Black female justice.

Holder White was sworn in Thursday morning at the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum in Springfield in an event that drew a full theater and nearly 200 viewers online. The 54-year-old Holder White was picked by outgoing Supreme Court Justice Rita Garman as her replacement and then approved by the full court in May. That follows Illinois tradition for replacing Supreme Court justices.

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.