Illinois quick hits: Report shows rate of businesses leaving state

Illinois quick hits: Report shows rate of businesses leaving state

August 12, 2025/

By The Center Square
The Center Square

Report shows rate of businesses leaving state

Illinois businesses are moving to other states at triple the rate they did before the pandemic, according to new research from the Illinois Policy Institute.

In 2023, 218 businesses left Illinois, more than any state in the country after New York and California.

Despite having the most business applications filed in the Midwest, only 5.6% of applicants in Illinois actually opened a business and became operational within 12 months.

Former mayor sentenced for corruption

A federal judge has sentenced former McCook Mayor and Cook County Commissioner Jeff Tobolski to four years in prison for public corruption.

Tobolski pleaded guilty to extortion conspiracy and tax charges in 2020. Tobolski admitted that he abused his elected positions to benefit individuals who paid him more than $250,000 in bribes.

Towns make crowd-free boating list

Three Illinois towns made the list of Best Small Towns for Crowd-Free Boating.

BoatBooker’s 2025 study reviewed online reviews of small boating towns nationwide and found Port Barrington, Illinois came in at No. 6, Morris at No. 10 and Warrenville at No. 18.

Events

No events

Leave a Comment





Latest News Stories

Judge denies Madigan’s motion to remain free pending appeal

Judge denies Madigan’s motion to remain free pending appeal

By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – U.S. District Court Judge John Robert Blakey has denied former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan’s request to...
The U.S. Department of Education launches nationwide tour

The U.S. Department of Education launches nationwide tour

By Esther WickhamThe Center Square The Department of Education launched a national tour this month in its continuing efforts to dismantle the agency and revert power back to the states....
Trump takes aim at Chicago crime, no-cash bail while singling out Pritzker

Trump takes aim at Chicago crime, no-cash bail while singling out Pritzker

By Greg Bishop | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – President Donald Trump says Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker is incompetent, that he may send the national guard...
Burrows: Only thing standing in the way of disaster relief are missing Democrats

Burrows: Only thing standing in the way of disaster relief are missing Democrats

By Bethany Blankley | The Center Square contributorThe Center Square (The Center Square ) – Texas House Speaker Dustin Burrows, R-Lubbock, gaveled in the Texas House on Monday, and again,...
Trump confirms Nvidia chip agreement

Trump confirms Nvidia chip agreement

By Andrew RiceThe Center Square Nvidia will pay the United States 15% of the money it makes from selling artificial intelligence chips to China, President Donald Trump said in a...
States challenge federal report promoting coal plants

States challenge federal report promoting coal plants

By Elyse ApelThe Center Square Michigan has joined a coalition of states challenging a Department of Energy report claiming the U.S. will face a significantly increased risk of power outages...
U.S. Supreme Court could rule on Texas lawsuits brought in Democratic-led state courts

U.S. Supreme Court could rule on Texas lawsuits brought in Democratic-led state courts

By Bethany Blankley | The Center Square contributorThe Center Square (The Center Square) – If courts in Democratic-led states don’t honor a request by the Texas House of Representatives to...
WATCH: Illinois In Focus Daily | Monday Aug. 11th, 2025

WATCH: Illinois In Focus Daily | Monday Aug. 11th, 2025

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 reviews the latest...
Illinois quick hits: Judge denies Madigan's motion; legislator urges action on DCFS interns

Illinois quick hits: Judge denies Madigan’s motion; legislator urges action on DCFS interns

By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square Judge denies Madigan's motion U.S. District Court Judge John Robert Blakey has denied former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan’s motion to...
Everyday Economics: CPI takes center stage as tariff-driven price pressures mount

Everyday Economics: CPI takes center stage as tariff-driven price pressures mount

By Orphe DivounguyThe Center Square The economy was already slowing, and that was before higher tariffs kicked in last week, raising import taxes to the highest level since the Great...
Details pending on billions in foreign investments coming from trade deals

Details pending on billions in foreign investments coming from trade deals

By Brett RowlandThe Center Square When President Donald Trump announced a string of trade deals with key U.S. trading partners recently, he touted pledges for billions of dollars in U.S....
Negative net migration is harmful to the economy, economists say

Negative net migration is harmful to the economy, economists say

By Morgan SweeneyThe Center Square Though the economy and immigration were issues that helped President Donald Trump secure the White House, some economists have said that too steep a decline...
WCO-Finance-Aug-5.1

Will County Health Department Seeks $1 Million to Avert ‘Drastic’ Service Cuts from Expiring Grants

ARTICLE SUMMARY: The Will County Health Department is requesting an additional $1 million in county funding for its 2026 budget to prevent the elimination of 11 critical staff positions, warning...
WCO-Cap-Imp-8.5.1

Will County’s “First-in-Nation” Veterans Center to House Workforce Services, Sparking Debate

ARTICLE SUMMARY: The new Will County Veteran's Assistance & Support Center will also become the home for the county's Workforce Services department, a move officials say will save approximately $250,000 in...
WCO-Finance-Aug-5.2

Improved Vendor Service Creates $1.2 Million Shortfall in Sheriff’s Medical Budget

ARTICLE SUMMARY: The Will County Sheriff’s Office is facing a more than $1.2 million shortfall in its budget for inmate medical services, a problem officials attribute to an ironic cause:...