Illinois quick hits: Primary election ballot certified; indictments increased in 2025

Illinois quick hits: Primary election ballot certified; indictments increased in 2025

January 8, 2026/

By Jim Talamonti | The Center Square
The Center Square

Primary election ballot certified

The Illinois State Board of Elections certified the March 2026 primary ballot this week, removing several Republican candidates for governor after upholding petition challenges.

Remaining on the GOP gubernatorial ballot is Darren Bailey, Ted Dabrowski, James Mendrick and Rick Heidner. Gov. J.B. Pritzker will be unchallenged in the Democrats’ primary March 17.

For U.S. Senate Candidates, Democrats will have 10 to choose from, Republicans six.

Indictments increased in 2025

The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Illinois says it cracked down on crime and implemented new policies in 2025.

Statistics the office released show indictments were up 34% compared to the previous year.

The office also touts more focus on mass transit safety, health care fraud investigations and immigration enforcement efforts.

Unemployment rate forecast

The Chicago Fed Real-Time Unemployment Rate Forecast is estimating the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics monthly unemployment rate at 4.56% for December, matching the actual BLS unemployment rate for November.

The December 2024 unemployment rate was 4.09%.

Event Calendar

[pdem_events format="calendar" size="xlarge" layout="stacked" exclude_category="sports,library" limit="22" debug="no"]

Events

No events

Leave a Comment





Latest News Stories

Litchfield Logo Graphic.4

Litchfield City Council Sets New Hunting Registration Rules, Allows Two Stands Per Hunter

Litchfield City Council Meeting | February 5, 2026 Article Summary: The Litchfield City Council on Thursday passed an ordinance establishing a mandatory registration system for hunters on city property. Following...
WATCH: LA leaders, lawmakers discuss wildfire legislation

WATCH: LA leaders, lawmakers discuss wildfire legislation

By Madeline ShannonThe Center Square Insurance companies could be compelled to pay homeowners in Southern California who lost their homes in the January 2025 wildfires, if elected leaders have their...
'Fraud tourists' plead guilty in Minnesota fraud case

‘Fraud tourists’ plead guilty in Minnesota fraud case

By Elyse ApelThe Center Square Fraud investigations continue in Minnesota as the U.S. Department of Justice announced Tuesday two "fraud tourists" have pleaded guilty to stealing millions from taxpayers in...
Illinois lawmakers push uniform election reporting to enhance voter confidence

Illinois lawmakers push uniform election reporting to enhance voter confidence

By Catrina Barker | The Center Square contributorThe Center Square (The Center Square) – Illinois lawmakers are considering legislation that would require local election authorities to report election data in...
GOP leaders eye second DHS funding stopgap after Dems reject White House offer

GOP leaders eye second DHS funding stopgap after Dems reject White House offer

By Thérèse BoudreauxThe Center Square With the deadline to fund the Department of Homeland Security only days away, Democrats have refused an offer from the White House to strike a...
Texas sheriff proposes bipartisan solution to border issue

Texas sheriff proposes bipartisan solution to border issue

By Bethany BlankleyThe Center Square As Congress debates Department of Homeland Security funding, bipartisan support could be reached in one area: establishing federal responsibility for recovering dead bodies in border...
Mills fires back at Oz threats of federal intervention

Mills fires back at Oz threats of federal intervention

By Chris WadeThe Center Square Maine Gov. Janet Mills is pushing back on the Trump administration's threats of a federal takeover if it doesn't turn over details of state Medicaid...
Trump warns Canada over bridge, deal he says will eliminate hockey

Trump warns Canada over bridge, deal he says will eliminate hockey

By Brett RowlandThe Center Square President Donald Trump warned Canada over plans for a bridge and a deal with China that he says would eliminate ice hockey and the Stanley...
FBI named high profile man 'co-conspirator' to Epstein, files show

FBI named high profile man ‘co-conspirator’ to Epstein, files show

By Andrew RiceThe Center Square The U.S. Department of Justice unredacted portions of documents in the Jeffrey Epstein files with mentions of high profile figures at the request of Congressional...
Lawmaker: Conversion therapy funding ban ‘hypocritical’ amid youth gender care doubts

Lawmaker: Conversion therapy funding ban ‘hypocritical’ amid youth gender care doubts

By Catrina Barker | The Center Square contributorThe Center Square (The Center Square) – Illinois lawmakers are advancing legislation to prohibit taxpayer funding for conversion therapy, even as the state...

Poll: Americans skeptical of Trump’s 10% credit card cap

By Andrew RiceThe Center Square A significant portion of Americans believe they cannot take on more debt, according to a new survey from WalletHub. The new survey analyzed the latest...
Arizona attorney general refuses to resign despite pressure over her comments on ICE

Arizona attorney general refuses to resign despite pressure over her comments on ICE

By Zachery SchmidtThe Center Square Editor's note: This story has been updated since its original publication. Attorney General Kris Mayes will not resign from office after the state House and...
Consumer group backs Kansas bills aimed at limiting lawfare

Consumer group backs Kansas bills aimed at limiting lawfare

By Tom JoyceThe Center Square A consumer advocacy group is launching a new national campaign as Kansas lawmakers consider legislation supporters say would limit the use of courts to advance...
Illinois Quick Hits: FEMA says no to Illinois disaster declaration

Illinois Quick Hits: FEMA says no to Illinois disaster declaration

By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – The Federal Emergency Management Agency has denied the state of Illinois’ appeal for a major disaster declaration...
West Virginia law enforcement leading in ICE Task Force Model partnership

West Virginia law enforcement leading in ICE Task Force Model partnership

By Bethany BlankleyThe Center Square West Virginia sheriffs are leading in partnering with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement through a federal 287(g) immigration enforcement program. Located more than 1,500 miles...