(SPRINGFIELD) The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has denied the State of Illinois’ appeal for a major disaster declaration following severe storms & flooding that affected the five upstate counties of Cook, Boone, Kane, McHenry, and Will in August last year. FEMA reaffirmed its initial decision that supplemental federal aid was not warranted.
(SPRINGFIELD) A federal judge has upheld an Illinois law to prohibit interchange fees from being charged on portions of credit and debit card transactions that include gratuities and taxes. The Illinois Retail Merchants Association applauds the ruling against swipe fees, saying it would save consumers & businesses millions of dollars a year. The Illinois Bankers Association, Illinois Credit Union League, & others who challenged the law promised to appeal the decision.
(SPRINGFIELD) State Senator Chapin Rose of Mahomet has filed a series of bills designed to lower energy costs for families, restore local control over energy projects, and protect the Mahomet Aquifer from energy-intensive data centers. Most all of the proposals have support of most all other downstate lawmakers, but all face stiff opposition to most all upstate lawmakers.
(SPRINGFIELD) The Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity is awarding nearly $4 million in grants to local tourism bureaus for Route 66 activities throughout the state. The taxpayer-funded award comes as state officials and tourism partners celebrate the 100th year anniversary of the highway’s creation. The DCEO’s Illinois Office of Tourism has invested $19 million in Route 66 projects throughout the state in the past five years, since 2021.