(SPRINGFIELD) A new study shows that Illinois continues to pump money into education without seeing tangible results. The Reason Foundation found that Illinois’ inflation-adjusted education revenue grew from just over $13,000 per K-12 student in 2002 to over $20,000 per student in 2020, a growth rate that ranked third highest in the nation. The study also showed a lot of the increase is driven by teacher pension debt as the per student spending on benefits over the same time period went up by nearly 200 percent.
(CHICAGO) Crews from the National Weather Service are out investigating reported tornado touchdowns from severe thunderstorms in northern Illinois this past Tuesday night. Damage was reported in several upstate communities, including Mundelein and Geneva. While there were no injuries, the storms uprooted trees, caused damage to homes and other structures, blew down utility poles, and caused multiple power outages.
(SPRINGFIELD) The Illinois Department of Corrections will participate in at least twenty (20) hiring events open to the public in various locations over the next two months for anyone interested in learning about IDOC career opportunities. Department recruiters will be on hand to answer questions and help individuals apply on the spot. The agency is now seeking correctional officers, nurses, wardens, office associates, social workers, and more. Officials say there are job opportunities at more than 30 statewide corrections locations.
(SPRINGFIELD) The Illinois Department of Agriculture will host the annual Illinois Product Expo this weekend in the Orr Building on the State Fairgrounds in Springfield. For 25 years now, the Product Expo has brought together food companies and consumers from throughout the state and this year there will be more than 70 vendors on hand offering samples and selling their products. Plus, the Illinois Wine Experience will feature at least 16 statewide wineries. The cost is $5.00 per person with children age 10 and under admitted free. That’s from 10:00 to 5:00 this Saturday and from 10:00 to 3:00 on Sunday. All invited.