Illinois quick hits: State sues over frozen funds; Nicor Gas seeks rate hike

Illinois quick hits: State sues over frozen funds; Nicor Gas seeks rate hike

State sues over frozen funds

Illinois is one of five states suing the Trump administration over a freeze of more than $10 billion in federal funding for child care and welfare programs.

The lawsuit, filed Friday in U.S. District Court in Manhattan by New York Attorney General Letitia James, seeks to block the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services from withholding money from New York, California, Colorado, Illinois and Minnesota amid ongoing federal scrutiny into the child care programs.

The $10 billion total includes nearly $1 billion being frozen for Illinois.

Nicor Gas seeks rate hike

Nicor Gas has filed a rate hike request of approximately $221 million with the Illinois Commerce Commission.

The gas utility says the additional funds would help enhance the safety, reliability and resilience of its natural gas system.

Nicor says the rate hike would add less than $6 per month to customers’ energy delivery charge. The ICC has 11 months to review the request.

Site Selection Magazine rankings

Site Selection Magazine has named Illinois one of the top states in the nation for Workforce Development, but the Land of Lincoln is nowhere near the top for Business Climate or manufacturing.

Site Selection surveyed 30 national site consultants and found that Texas received the most votes for Best Business Climate in America and best state for manufacturing projects.

The magazine named Illinois third in the nation for workforce development in 2026.

The Chicago-Naperville-Elgin metro ranked fourth in the North American Tech Hub Index.

Chris Wade contributed to this report.

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

WATCH: WA to distribute its store of abortion pills to clinics, possibly nationwide

By Carleen JohnsonThe Center Square Washington Senators have passed a bill that would allow the state to distribute millions of abortion pills, it purchased after the U.S. Supreme Court decision...
Texas now leading in border security in the Arctic

Texas now leading in border security in the Arctic

By Bethany BlankleyThe Center Square Texas is again leading on border security, this time in the Arctic. New icebreakers are being built for the U.S. Coast Guard in Galveston and...
Federal debt expected to climb, but how much debt can U.S. carry?

Federal debt expected to climb, but how much debt can U.S. carry?

By Brett RowlandThe Center Square The latest projections show U.S. debt will continue to grow over the next decade, hitting 120% of gross domestic product by 2036, raising questions about...
Op-Ed: If Illinois wants clean energy, it needs data centers

Op-Ed: If Illinois wants clean energy, it needs data centers

By LyLena Estabine | Illinois Policy InstituteThe Center Square If Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker wants to reach his environmental and economic goals, data centers will need to be central to...
Bill lets Arizonans vote on right to refuse medical mandates

Bill lets Arizonans vote on right to refuse medical mandates

By Zachery SchmidtThe Center Square A new bill proposes giving Arizonans the chance to vote on whether the right of refusal in medical situations should be guaranteed in the state...
Illinois senator’s bill on transgender ‘mental illness’ sparks debate

Illinois senator’s bill on transgender ‘mental illness’ sparks debate

By Catrina Barker | The Center Square contributorThe Center Square (The Center Square) – State Sen. Andrew Chesney, R–Freeport, is pushing legislation that would classify transgenderism as a mental illness...
Dems cheer end to Minnesota immigration operation; GOP calls it success

Dems cheer end to Minnesota immigration operation; GOP calls it success

By Elyse ApelThe Center Square Democrats are applauding White House border czar Tom Homan’s Thursday announcement that immigration enforcement operation in Minnesota will end next week. The announcement comes more...
GOP leader seeks federal probe into Michigan grants, Dearborn nonprofits

GOP leader seeks federal probe into Michigan grants, Dearborn nonprofits

By Elyse ApelThe Center Square Michigan Senate Republican Leader Aric Nesbitt is calling on the U.S. Department of Justice to review grant oversight and administration involving several Michigan state agencies...
Arizona committee advances Charlie Kirk plaza bill

Arizona committee advances Charlie Kirk plaza bill

By Zachery SchmidtThe Center Square The Arizona state Senate Government Committee advanced a bill to rename a Phoenix plaza in honor of conservative leader Charlie Kirk. The committee members voted...
Lawmaker says Illinois behind 44 states in legislative transparency

Lawmaker says Illinois behind 44 states in legislative transparency

By Catrina Barker | The Center Square contributorThe Center Square (The Center Square) – Illinois House Minority Leader Rep. Tony McCombie, R-Savanna, is renewing her bid to increase transparency in...
Transportation officials say a loophole closed on CDL drivers

Transportation officials say a loophole closed on CDL drivers

By Alan WootenThe Center Square CDL drivers causing 17 fatal crashes and 30 deaths in 2025 are no longer eligible to get a nondomiciled commercial driver’s license, according to a...
Illinois Quick Hits: Foreign national faces harboring, forced labor charges

Illinois Quick Hits: Foreign national faces harboring, forced labor charges

By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – A Honduran citizen residing in Waukegan has been indicted for allegedly bringing illegal aliens into the United...
Immigration enforcement surge to end in Minnesota, Homan says

Immigration enforcement surge to end in Minnesota, Homan says

By Andrew RiceThe Center Square White House Border Czar Tom Homan said on Thursday the monthslong immigration enforcement operation in Minnesota will end in the next week. On Dec. 4,...
Litchfield Logo Graphic.3

City Approves Emergency Fire Engine Repairs and Temporary Rental

Litchfield City Council Meeting | February 5, 2026 Article Summary: The Litchfield City Council authorized emergency spending to repair a fire department squad truck suffering from a blown head gasket...
Trump holding out hope deal can be reached with Iran

Trump holding out hope deal can be reached with Iran

By Sarah Roderick-FitchThe Center Square President Donald Trump is urging diplomacy with Iran following a meeting Wednesday with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The allies met for a seventh time...