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

Lawmakers join Chicago Teachers Union to push for more school funding

By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – State lawmakers have introduced legislation backed by the Chicago Teachers Union to immediately increase evidence-based funding and...
Illinois proposal makes businesses financially liable for climate change

Illinois proposal makes businesses financially liable for climate change

By Catrina Barker | The Center Square contributorThe Center Square (The Center Square) – A proposal to create an Illinois Climate Change Superfund is drawing sharp criticism from Republican lawmakers...
Illinois unemployment rate tops national average; state ends 2025 with fewer jobs

Illinois unemployment rate tops national average; state ends 2025 with fewer jobs

By Glenn Minnis | The Center Square contributorThe Center Square (The Center Square) – Illinois State Rep. Chris Miller argues numbers tell the story as new U.S. Bureau of Labor...
Illinois Quick Hits: Iowa wants Illinois' counties

Illinois Quick Hits: Iowa wants Illinois’ counties

By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – An Iowa state lawmaker has introduced legislation that would establish a committee to study the potential transfer...
lincoln land community college graphic Logo

Board Approves $440,000 Architect Fee Increase for Campus Master Plan

LLCC Board of Trustees Meeting | December 15, 2025 Article Summary: The LLCC Board of Trustees approved a modification to the agreement with Demonica Kemper Architects, increasing fees by $440,000....
Poll: Majority prefer Trump's immigration policies over Biden's

Poll: Majority prefer Trump’s immigration policies over Biden’s

By Dan McCalebThe Center Square A majority of Americans say they prefer President Donald Trump's approach to border security and immigration than they do former President Joe Biden's, according to...
Illinois eyes smarter park funding: handicap accessibility gets priority

Illinois eyes smarter park funding: handicap accessibility gets priority

By Catrina Barker | The Center Square contributorThe Center Square (The Center Square) – Illinois lawmakers are proposing a change to the way state parks receive funding, one that could...
Nation's first primary states to begin early voting

Nation’s first primary states to begin early voting

By Andrew RiceThe Center Square Early voting has begun or is about to begin in states with the earliest 2026 midterm election primaries. Illinois, North Carolina, Texas, Arkansas, and Mississippi...
Vermont EV buses prove unreliable for transportation this winter

Vermont EV buses prove unreliable for transportation this winter

By Tate MillerThe Center Square Electric buses are proving unreliable this winter for Vermont's Green Mountain Transit, as it needs to be over 41 degrees for the buses to charge,...
Idaho has least childcare regulations, Vermont the most out of the 50 states

Idaho has least childcare regulations, Vermont the most out of the 50 states

By Tate MillerThe Center Square Idaho ranks as the freest of the 50 states when it comes to childcare regulations, while Vermont is the least free, according to a new...
lincoln land community college graphic Logo.3

LLCC Board Approves 2025 Tax Levy; Tax Rate Expected to Decrease

LLCC Board of Trustees Meeting | December 15, 2025 Article Summary: The Lincoln Land Community College (LLCC) Board of Trustees approved a 2025 tax levy totaling approximately $43.4 million during...
Lawsuit investor Burford can upend Sysco’s $50M chicken price settlement

Lawsuit investor Burford can upend Sysco’s $50M chicken price settlement

By Jonathan Bilyk | Legal NewslineThe Center Square A Chicago federal appeals panel will allow Burford Capital, the world's largest third-party lawsuit investor, to force poultry producer Pilgrim's Pride back...
Gas prices projected to rise if Pritzker fails to act on E10 waiver

Gas prices projected to rise if Pritzker fails to act on E10 waiver

By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – Gas prices have dropped across the country in recent months, but the Illinois Fuel and Retail Association...
U.S. LNG exports hit new high as Turkey buys big

U.S. LNG exports hit new high as Turkey buys big

By Alton WallaceThe Center Square U.S. LNG exports reached a fresh record of 525.1 million cubic feet in November, with shipments to trade partners including Turkey, Egypt and several European...
Illinois Quick Hits: CTA passenger set on fire in November leaves hospital

Illinois Quick Hits: CTA passenger set on fire in November leaves hospital

By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – A Chicago Transit Authority train passenger says she has been released from the hospital more than two...