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

Matchups not yet determined in redrawn congressional races

Matchups not yet determined in redrawn congressional races

By Andrew RiceThe Center Square One week after polls closed in California, several matchups in redrawn congressional districts have yet to be determined. The passage of Proposition 50 in California...
Changes made to Illinois public transport plan sends money downstate

Changes made to Illinois public transport plan sends money downstate

By Sean Reed | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – A law expected to bring reform to public transportation in Illinois took effect at the start of...
Proposal to regulate AI development at federal level gets chilly reception

Proposal to regulate AI development at federal level gets chilly reception

By Thérèse BoudreauxThe Center Square Despite mounting pressure on Congress to establish clear federal standards governing the rapid development of artificial intelligence, a bipartisan proposal to do just that is...
Illinois Quick Hits: Raoul says office shorted about $10M

Illinois Quick Hits: Raoul says office shorted about $10M

By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul says his office has been shorted about $10 million from its overall...
Competency evaluation delays federal case against suspect in Zarutska’s death

Competency evaluation delays federal case against suspect in Zarutska’s death

By Alan WootenThe Center Square DeCarlos Brown Jr., the suspect in the stabbing death of Iryna Zarutska on a Charlotte light rail, says he has been misdiagnosed with schizophrenia and...
Framework of new Bears, megaprojects legislation announced

Framework of new Bears, megaprojects legislation announced

By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – The sponsor of a new plan to keep the Chicago Bears in Illinois says his proposal will...
Fort Bragg soldier’s trial Dec. 7; dismissal motion expected next month

Fort Bragg soldier’s trial Dec. 7; dismissal motion expected next month

By Alan WootenThe Center Square Trial is set for Dec. 7 for an enlisted soldier from Fort Bragg charged with using classified information to win more than $400,000 in a...
From California to New Jersey, Muslim men are being arrested for supporting ISIS

From California to New Jersey, Muslim men are being arrested for supporting ISIS

By Bethany BlankleyThe Center Square From California to Kansas to New Jersey, young Muslim men are being arrested and charged with wide ranging plans to support Islamic terrorism and kill...
Bus driver in I-95 quintuple fatal exits hospital, goes to jail

Bus driver in I-95 quintuple fatal exits hospital, goes to jail

By Alan WootenThe Center Square Jing Sheng Dong, hospitalized since the bus he drove crashed on I-95 in Virginia on May 29, has exited the hospital and is being held...
The U.S. will 'respond' to Iran downing Army chopper; ceasefire in question

The U.S. will ‘respond’ to Iran downing Army chopper; ceasefire in question

By Sarah Roderick-FitchThe Center Square The U.S. will “respond” after President Donald Trump confirmed the U.S. Army helicopter downed over the Strait of Hormuz was shot down by Iran Monday...
Vance refers Minnesota fraud allegations to DOJ for investigation

Vance refers Minnesota fraud allegations to DOJ for investigation

By Elyse ApelThe Center Square Vice President JD Vance said the Department of Justice's Fraud Division will investigate allegations that Minnesota officials failed to stop widespread taxpayer-funded fraud. Vance said...
No state charges for Cities Church protesters, federal charges pending

No state charges for Cities Church protesters, federal charges pending

By Elyse ApelThe Center Square Protesters who disrupted a Sunday worship service at Cities Church in January will not face state criminal charges, according to a decision announced last week...
State officials prepared to drop Housing First grant criteria before HUD notice

State officials prepared to drop Housing First grant criteria before HUD notice

By Tim ClouserThe Center Square Washington state officials were already removing Housing First grant criteria weeks before the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development released new rules that deprioritize...
Independent candidate blasts election measure

Independent candidate blasts election measure

By Catrina Barker | The Center Square contributorThe Center Square (The Center Square) – Independent Illinois gubernatorial candidate Collin Corbett is criticizing a failed election omnibus proposal that he says...
Investigation underway following downed Army chopper near Strait of Hormuz

Investigation underway following downed Army chopper near Strait of Hormuz

By Sarah Roderick-FitchThe Center Square An investigation is underway following a Monday evening downing of a U.S. Army Apache helicopter around the Strait of Hormuz, with President Donald Trump vowing...