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/
Spread the love

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%.

Leave a Comment





Latest News Stories

New law sparks debate over Illinois school mergers, communities fear loss

New law sparks debate over Illinois school mergers, communities fear loss

By Catrina Barker | The Center Square contributorThe Center Square (The Center Square) – A new law that could push school districts to study possible consolidation, aiming for efficiency and...
Illinois in Focus: Rest area burglary arrests made; overdose awareness events planned

Illinois in Focus: Rest area burglary arrests made; overdose awareness events planned

By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square Rest area burglary arrests made Two men have been detained in connection with a reported burglary at the northbound Interstate 57...
Nonprofit files complaints against Trump attorneys but almost no public discipline

Nonprofit files complaints against Trump attorneys but almost no public discipline

By Arthur KaneThe Center Square Two nonprofits run by an attorney with long-time Democratic connections have been filing ethics complaints against lawyers who represented Trump officials or issues, seeking to...
Everyday Economics: Softer tape, PCE in focus, and the Fed’s next move

Everyday Economics: Softer tape, PCE in focus, and the Fed’s next move

By Orphe DivounguyThe Center Square This summer, economic signals leaned softer. Hiring looks frozen, retail sales volumes are flat to slightly negative, and existing-home sales are essentially unchanged from a...
Marine's mother takes on troop transport duties for family visits

Marine’s mother takes on troop transport duties for family visits

By Brett RowlandThe Center Square When Army Specialist Dakota Barnes considered flying home to California for Christmas last year, she knew she couldn't afford it without giving up her yearly...
Trump plans to clean up Democrat-run cities over local objections

Trump plans to clean up Democrat-run cities over local objections

By Brett Rowland | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – President Donald Trump plans to clean up major U.S. cities that he says are plagued by crime....
Energy advocate applauds oil and gas commingling updates

Energy advocate applauds oil and gas commingling updates

By Tate MillerThe Center Square Oil and gas commingling rules have been updated in accordance with the Big Beautiful Bill in order to strengthen energy production and safety, with energy...
Texas legislature passes redistricting map, governor to sign into law

Texas legislature passes redistricting map, governor to sign into law

By Bethany BlankleyThe Center Square )The Center Squar) – The Texas Senate passed HB 4, the state’s congressional redistricting plan, which changes nearly all districts and could flip up to...
Dow hits record high after Fed Chair hints at September rate cuts

Dow hits record high after Fed Chair hints at September rate cuts

By Morgan SweeneyThe Center Square The Dow Jones Industrial Average clinched a record high Friday for the first time this year hours after Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell hinted that...
WATCH: Newsom optimistic about redistricting despite poll

WATCH: Newsom optimistic about redistricting despite poll

By Dave MasonThe Center Square Gov. Gavin Newsom on Friday said he’s proud of how quickly the California Legislature passed a congressional redistricting proposal that he signed, but he was...
Newsom meets with Danes, talks about Trump but not 2028

Newsom meets with Danes, talks about Trump but not 2028

By Dave MasonThe Center Square California Gov. Gavin Newsom came to his hometown of San Francisco Friday to talk about the state’s new green energy partnership with Denmark. But another...
CA bill to give interest on insurance payments to homeowners

CA bill to give interest on insurance payments to homeowners

By Jamie ParsonsThe Center Square The California Legislature this week passed a bill to give at least 2% of interest on insurance payments to owners of homes that need rebuilding...

WATCH: Trump says ‘dangerous’ Chicago next after addressing crime in D.C.

By Greg Bishop | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – President Donald Trump says Chicago is next on his list of cities to focus on cleaning up...
DOJ releases Maxwell interview transcripts, audio; described Trump as 'gentleman'

DOJ releases Maxwell interview transcripts, audio; described Trump as ‘gentleman’

By Sarah Roderick-FitchThe Center Square The U.S. Department of Justice on Friday released the audio and transcript interviews with Ghislaine Maxwell, “in the interest of transparency,” in which she claims...
Erik Menendez denied parole; brother appears before board

Erik Menendez denied parole; brother appears before board

By Dave MasonThe Center Square Lyle Menendez faced a California Board of Parole hearing Friday, after two commissioners Thursday evening denied parole to his younger brother Erik Menendez after a...