By Jim Talamonti | The Center Square
The Center Square

(The Center Square) – The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration has found that nearly one in five non-domiciled commercial driver’s licenses in Illinois were issued illegally.

In a letter to Gov. J.B. Pritzker and the Illinois Secretary of State’s office, FMSCA Administrator Derek Barrs directed the state to come into compliance and revoke the illegally-issued licenses or risk losing $128 million in federal highway funding.

COOK COUNTY TAX PROPERTY BILL ANNOUNCEMENT

Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle and Treasurer Maria Pappas say first installment property tax bills for 2025 will be mailed by March 2 and due April 1, one month later than usual because the most recent bills for 2024 were late.

Preckwinkle and Pappas promised that first installment 2025 collection money would be distributed to local government agencies within 30 days after receipt of the funds.

Preckwinkle’s primary election opponent, Chicago Alderman Brendan Reilly, says delinquent payments from Cook County have cost local governments and taxing districts hundreds of millions of dollars.

CHICAGO LEADS FINANCIALLY-DISTRESSED LIST

Chicago is at the top of a new report on cities with the most people in financial distress. WalletHub evaluated the 100 largest cities across nine key metrics, including average credit scores, changes in bankruptcy filings from September 2024 to September 2025, and the share of residents with accounts in distress.

Chicago had the most people with accounts in distress and the highest average number of accounts in distress. St. Louis ranked 23rd.