Illinois Quick Hits: Illinois lags behind nation in roads and bridges

Illinois Quick Hits: Illinois lags behind nation in roads and bridges

March 20, 2026/Newspaper Staff/

By The Center Square
The Center Square

(The Center Square) – Illinois’ roads and bridges continue to lag behind most of the country, ranking 37th overall in the Reason Foundation’s 29th Annual Highway Report.

The state dropped one spot from last year. Illinois improved its capital and bridge spending ranking from 45th to 35th and its maintenance spending from 24th to 18th, but still trails most neighboring states in overall performance.

MENTAL HEALTH LEAVE

A police officer who is also a state legislator has filed a bill to ensure police are guaranteed paid mental health leave following traumatic incidents encountered in the line of duty.

House Bill 4715 from state Rep. Patrick Sheehan would establish the statewide standard granting officers five days of paid mental health leave a year, confidentially and without retaliation.

PREWORK ACTIVITIES

The Illinois Supreme Court answered an appeals court question about whether the law regulating minimum wage has exclusions involving an employee being paid for prework activities.

The court Thursday said they “answer the question in the negative.” The case Johnson v. Amazon dealt with a warehouse employee being required to complete preshift COVID-19 screenings they were not compensated for.

Leave a Comment





Latest News Stories

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...
U.S. House probes Michigan noncitizen voting claims

U.S. House probes Michigan noncitizen voting claims

By Andrew RiceThe Center Square The U.S. House Oversight Committee is investigating claims of noncitizen voting in Michigan. U.S. Reps. James Comer, R-Ky., and John James, R-Mich., sent a letter...
Chicago aldermen discuss delayed payments, cash flow issues

Chicago aldermen discuss delayed payments, cash flow issues

By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – A Chicago alderman is urging city officials to support legislation in Springfield that would require Cook County...
Ex-COPA deputy who revealed boss’ anti-cop bias can’t sue over firing

Ex-COPA deputy who revealed boss’ anti-cop bias can’t sue over firing

By Scott Holland | Legal NewslineThe Center Square A federal judge has tossed a lawsuit from a former top investigator for the Chicago city office responsible for investigating police misconduct...
Deadline approaches for Colorado River negotiations

Deadline approaches for Colorado River negotiations

By Liam HibbertThe Center Square Officials negotiating to protect and redefine use of the Colorado River face a major deadline approaching on Feb. 14. And experts said an agreement is...
California Assembly OKs $90M bill for Planned Parenthood

California Assembly OKs $90M bill for Planned Parenthood

By Madeline ShannonThe Center Square The California Assembly on Monday afternoon approved $90 million in funding for Planned Parenthood. The contentious debate on the Assembly floor highlighted the rift between...
Massie doubles down on calls for Lutnick to resign

Massie doubles down on calls for Lutnick to resign

By Morgan SweeneyThe Center Square Longtime Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Ky., continued pushing Monday for Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick’s resignation over his relationship with deceased child sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Massie...
Seahawks' Super Bowl win temporarily jolts local Seattle economy

Seahawks’ Super Bowl win temporarily jolts local Seattle economy

By Brett DavisThe Center Square The Seattle Seahawks’ win over the New England Patriots in Super Bowl LX at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif., on Sunday is expected to...
Next oil and gas lease sale for U.S. Gulf scheduled for March

Next oil and gas lease sale for U.S. Gulf scheduled for March

By Alton WallaceThe Center Square The next sale of oil and gas leases in the Gulf of America is set for March 11, one of dozens scheduled over the next...
Lawsuit demands Pritzker’s office release docs over pic with criminal

Lawsuit demands Pritzker’s office release docs over pic with criminal

By Jonathan Bilyk | Legal NewslineThe Center Square Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker's office has illegally attempted to scrub from the public record photos and other proof that he posed at...
Pritzker announces bond expansion, says progress has been made with Bears

Pritzker announces bond expansion, says progress has been made with Bears

By Jim TalamontiThe Center Square Gov. J.B. Pritzker says progress has been made in conversations with the Chicago Bears. Pritzker announced the expansion of sales tax and revenue bonds for...
Illinois Quick Hits: Statewide bag tax proposed

Illinois Quick Hits: Statewide bag tax proposed

By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – State Rep. Laura Faver Dias, D-Grayslake, has proposed legislation to impose a 10-cent fee on carryout bags...
Pacific Palisades continues to rebuild one year after fire

Pacific Palisades continues to rebuild one year after fire

By Chris WoodwardThe Center Square When disasters happen, things take time to recover. Pacific Palisades is no exception, although a Los Angeles City Council member is pleased with the progress...
Report: U.S. added nearly $700 billion to national debt in four months

Report: U.S. added nearly $700 billion to national debt in four months

By Thérèse BoudreauxThe Center Square The U.S. government added $696 billion to the national debt over the past four months, borrowing $94 billion in the month of January alone, the...