(SPRINGFIELD) Illinois’ population has continued to narrowly grow this year, despite a significant number of cities in the state losing residents to other states. In fact, the majority of metropolitan areas in Illinois lost residents last year in 2025, with Census Bureau data estimates showing only two major areas with any real domestic growth, Rockford and the Illinois portion of the St. Louis metro. Many believe increasing tax rates are driving people out of Illinois.
(SPRINGFIELD) A federal court in Illinois has allowed a civil rights lawsuit to move forward against the City of Evanson’s reparations program. Judicial Watch filed the class action suit in May 2024, challenging the city’s use of race as an eligibility requirement for the program. The city is proposing $25,000 direct cash payments to black residents and to descendants of black residents who lived in Evanston between 1919 and 1969. The ruling said the case must be heard.
(SPRINGFIELD) The U.S. Small Business Administration has opened disaster loan outreach centers in Chicago, suburban Cook County, and online after approving a disaster declaration for storms and flooding that impacted northeastern Illinois late last summer. The SBA says the declaration includes the counties of Cook, DuPage, Kane, Lake, McHenry, and Will, all for the damages suffered in that part of the state suffered August 16th through the 18th, 2025.
(SPRINGFIELD) Tickets sales began early this morning for the 2026 John Deere Classic golf tournament to be held in the Quad Cities area, including concerts on the course featuring Carrie Underwood on July 4th and Old Dominion on July 5th, plus much more. For more information, ticket packages, and other important details, go online to the johndeereclassic.com website.