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

Kavanagh: Mayes must resign, her comments endanger ICE

Kavanagh: Mayes must resign, her comments endanger ICE

By Zachery SchmidtThe Center Square Senate Majority Leader John Kavanagh, R-Fountain Hills, called on Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes to resign after she said people who feel they are in...
Riots continue in Twin Cities

Riots continue in Twin Cities

By Elyse ApelThe Center Square Rioting is crippling Minneapolis with local lawmen standing down in the wake of the second shooting by federal agents in the Twin Cities. Local law...
Former GOP lawmaker urges regulators to block potential Netflix-Warner Bros. merger

Former GOP lawmaker urges regulators to block potential Netflix-Warner Bros. merger

By Tom JoyceThe Center Square A new report from a technology watchdog group is urging federal regulators to block a potential merger between Netflix and Warner Bros., warning the deal...
U.S. withdrawal from WHO completed over COVID-19 mishandling

U.S. withdrawal from WHO completed over COVID-19 mishandling

By Tate MillerThe Center Square The United States completed its withdrawal from the World Health Organization due to the group’s mishandling of the COVID-19 pandemic, with a medical group praising...
Judge ends anti-ICE case, jumps into IL Dems’ bid to freeze ICE

Judge ends anti-ICE case, jumps into IL Dems’ bid to freeze ICE

By Jonathan Bilyk | Legal NewslineThe Center Square After a federal appeals court signaled it would rebuke her decision restraining ICE from using force against those interfering with immigration enforcement...
U.S. Supreme Court to define decades-old consumer law

U.S. Supreme Court to define decades-old consumer law

By Andrew RiceThe Center Square The U.S. Supreme Court agreed on Monday to decide how a 1988 video privacy law applies to the modern age. Salazar v. Paramount Global seeks...
WATCH: Candidate investigates Medicaid spending; Diversity program audit urged

WATCH: Candidate investigates Medicaid spending; Diversity program audit urged

By Greg Bishop | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – In today's edition of Illinois in Focus Daily, The Center Square's Greg Bishop shares a conversation with...
TCS stories about Illinois' diversity agency prompts call for audit

TCS stories about Illinois’ diversity agency prompts call for audit

By Jared Strong | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – Illinois diversity commissioners are paid tens of thousands more than other state boards but aren't required to...
DOE issues emergency orders to mitigate blackouts in New England, Texas

DOE issues emergency orders to mitigate blackouts in New England, Texas

By Bethany BlankleyThe Center Square U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright issued emergency orders to mitigate blackouts in New England and Texas as 24 states have declared an emergency due to...
Will County Board Graphic.03

Landfill Committee Advances Plan to Purchase Fourth Compressor for RNG Plant

Will County Landfill Committee Meeting | Jan. 13, 2026 Article Summary: The Landfill Committee voted to move forward with engineering estimates for a fourth compressor at the Prairie View Renewable...
Will County Board Graphic.03

Ad-Hoc Committee Retains Noise Ordinance Despite Enforcement Frustrations

Will County Ad-Hoc Ordinance Review Committee Meeting | Jan. 13, 2026 Article Summary: The Ad-Hoc Ordinance Review Committee voted to retain the county’s public nuisance noise ordinance despite members describing...
Everyday Economics: Fiscal reality meets Central Bank caution in week ahead

Everyday Economics: Fiscal reality meets Central Bank caution in week ahead

By Orphe DivounguyThe Center Square At Davos, Citadel CEO Ken Griffin pointed to Japan's bond selloff – where super-long yields surged and 40-year yields hit record highs – as an...
Tariff uncertainty here to stay regardless of Supreme Court ruling

Tariff uncertainty here to stay regardless of Supreme Court ruling

By Brett RowlandThe Center Square Even as small businesses wait for the U.S. Supreme Court to rule on President Donald Trump's tariff authority, a supply chain expert says uncertainty around...
Nearly 1M without power as massive winter storm rages

Nearly 1M without power as massive winter storm rages

By The Center SquareThe Center Square Nearly a million American homes are without power as a massive winter storm sweeps the country. According to poweroutage.com, the most impacted areas are...
Walz deploys 1,500 National Guard troops in Twin Cities

Walz deploys 1,500 National Guard troops in Twin Cities

By J.D. DavidsonThe Center Square About 1,500 Minnesota National Guard troops went from standby to active following the second fatal shooting by federal agents in Minneapolis on Saturday. Gov. Tim...