(BELLEVILLE) An Alaska transportation company has agreed to pay $3.5 million to settle allegations of impersonating military members to obtain federal government business administered through Scott Air Force Base near Shiloh, Illinois. Prosecutors say Denali Group, Incorporated submitted false customer satisfaction surveys while posing as Department of War and Coast Guard personnel, giving the company an unfair advantage over other constractors, therefore shortchanging families moving through the downstate base east of Belleville.
(SPRINGFIELD) The Illinois Worker Adjustment & Retraining Notification (WARN) Act for October reports that more than 1,600 employees will be losing their jobs around the state. The job losses include 318 workers at print wholesaler Baker & Taylor in Momence, 185 jobs lost at DeKalb wiring manufacturer Panduit, and 180 positions lost at Virgin Hotels based in Chicago.
(CHICAGO) Teacher absenteeism rates are rising in Chicago and throughout the rest of the state. Citing data from the Illinois State Board of Education’s Illinois Report Card, the Illinois Policy Institute says 43.2% of Chicago Public School teachers missed ten days or more during the 2024-2025 school year while 34% of other statewide public school teachers missed ten days or more.
(SPRINGFIELD) The Illinois State Treasurer’s Office has announced that Illinois’ Bright Start 529 College Savings Plan earned its seventh gold rating from the Morningstar Financial Firm. The State Agency also added that the Chicago-based company listed Bright Star as one of only five gold-rated 529 plans in the nation, noting the investment options are highly cost-effective.