Illinois quick hits: State sues over frozen funds; Nicor Gas seeks rate hike

Illinois quick hits: State sues over frozen funds; Nicor Gas seeks rate hike

Spread the love

State sues over frozen funds

Illinois is one of five states suing the Trump administration over a freeze of more than $10 billion in federal funding for child care and welfare programs.

The lawsuit, filed Friday in U.S. District Court in Manhattan by New York Attorney General Letitia James, seeks to block the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services from withholding money from New York, California, Colorado, Illinois and Minnesota amid ongoing federal scrutiny into the child care programs.

The $10 billion total includes nearly $1 billion being frozen for Illinois.

Nicor Gas seeks rate hike

Nicor Gas has filed a rate hike request of approximately $221 million with the Illinois Commerce Commission.

The gas utility says the additional funds would help enhance the safety, reliability and resilience of its natural gas system.

Nicor says the rate hike would add less than $6 per month to customers’ energy delivery charge. The ICC has 11 months to review the request.

Site Selection Magazine rankings

Site Selection Magazine has named Illinois one of the top states in the nation for Workforce Development, but the Land of Lincoln is nowhere near the top for Business Climate or manufacturing.

Site Selection surveyed 30 national site consultants and found that Texas received the most votes for Best Business Climate in America and best state for manufacturing projects.

The magazine named Illinois third in the nation for workforce development in 2026.

The Chicago-Naperville-Elgin metro ranked fourth in the North American Tech Hub Index.

Chris Wade contributed to this report.

Leave a Comment





Latest News Stories

Illinois quick hits: Woman charged in Metro East murder; taxpayer funded homeowner relief fund announced

Illinois quick hits: Woman charged in Metro East murder; taxpayer funded homeowner relief fund announced

By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square Woman charged in Metro East murder A Belleville woman is under arrested in connection with a homicide in East St. Louis,...
WATCH: Former state lawmakers endorse, donors support GOP candidate Dabrowski

WATCH: Former state lawmakers endorse, donors support GOP candidate Dabrowski

By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – While Gov. J.B. Pritzker remains unchallenged in the 2026 Democratic Party primary, Republican candidates for governor are...
Louisiana native awaits Senate confrmation

Louisiana native awaits Senate confrmation

By Alton WallaceThe Center Square Louisiana native David LaCerte, an official in the U.S. Office of Personnel Management, is still awaiting a confirmation vote in the U.S. Senate.LaCertie was nominated...
Portland protests Trump’s plan to send federal troops to protect ICE facilities

Portland protests Trump’s plan to send federal troops to protect ICE facilities

By Carleen JohnsonThe Center Square Several hundred Portland, Ore., residents took to the streets Sunday afternoon to protest President Donald Trump's order to deploy federal troops to the city to...
With potential mass transit service cuts looming, IL legislators seek reforms

With potential mass transit service cuts looming, IL legislators seek reforms

By Glenn Minnis | The Center Square contributorThe Center Square (The Center Square) – Illinois taxpayers may be put on the hook to pay for a more than three-quarters of...
Trump asks Supreme Court to review birthright citizenship case again

Trump asks Supreme Court to review birthright citizenship case again

By Andrew RiceThe Center Square The Trump administration is asking the U.S. Supreme Court to consider legal challenges on an executive order seeking to end birthright citizenship. The administration asked...
Trump's limited drug tariffs might not bring back U.S. manufacturing

Trump’s limited drug tariffs might not bring back U.S. manufacturing

By Brett RowlandThe Center Square President Donald Trump's 100% tariffs on imported medicines include a carveout for generic drugs, which could limit the move's effectiveness. Monica Gorman served as special...
Government shutdown deadline days away, but Dems don't budge on demands

Government shutdown deadline days away, but Dems don’t budge on demands

By Thérèse BoudreauxThe Center Square Less than 48 hours until the federal government runs out of money, Democratic congressional leaders show no signs of folding on their budget demands. President...
Report: 25 state governments don’t have enough money to pay their bills

Report: 25 state governments don’t have enough money to pay their bills

By Bethany BlankleyThe Center Square Half of U.S. states don’t have enough money to cover their bills, according to a new report published by the nonprofit Chicago-based Truth in Accounting....
Officials react to DOJ voter roll lawsuit

Officials react to DOJ voter roll lawsuit

By Christina LengyelThe Center Square People are speaking up about a lawsuit filed against the commonwealth Thursday by the U.S. Department of Justice for failure to comply with a request...
Defense says more time needed for Tyler Robinson case

Defense says more time needed for Tyler Robinson case

By Dave MasonThe Center Square The defense won’t waive its right to a preliminary hearing but needs more time before a date is set, the court-appointed attorney for Tyler James...
Tribal members want 15 minutes for oral arguments in tariff case

Tribal members want 15 minutes for oral arguments in tariff case

By Brett RowlandThe Center Square Blackfeet Nation members asked the Supreme Court on Monday to set aside 15 minutes during oral arguments in the case challenging President Donald Trump's tariffs....
Welfare reform pilot to reduce government dependency is ‘step forward’, scholar says

Welfare reform pilot to reduce government dependency is ‘step forward’, scholar says

By Tate MillerThe Center Square (The Center Square ) – A Cato scholar called the Department of Health and Human Service’s redesigned welfare pilot that intends to reduce government dependency...
Illinois quick hits: Pritzker monitoring federal deployments; IDOT discusses Chicago to Rockford plans

Illinois quick hits: Pritzker monitoring federal deployments; IDOT discusses Chicago to Rockford plans

By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square Pritzker monitoring federal deployments Gov. J.B. Pritzker says he is closely monitoring federal deployments in the Chicago suburb of Broadview. Protesters...
WATCH: Homeland Security arrests ICE protesters with guns; Bailey seeks Pritzker rematch

WATCH: Homeland Security arrests ICE protesters with guns; Bailey seeks Pritzker rematch

By Greg Bishop | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – In today's edition of Illinois in Focus Daily, The Center Square Editor Greg Bishop unpacks some of...