April is Alcohol Awareness Month, a national initiative established in 1987 by the National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence (NCADD) to raise awareness about the dangers of alcohol misuse and to reduce the stigma surrounding addiction.
The Social Security Administration (SSA) has reversed course on a proposed plan to eliminate phone-based applications for Social Security benefits—thanks in large part to pressure from AARP and tens of thousands of Illinois residents.
The Illinois Department of Employment Security (IDES) announced Thursday that nonfarm payrolls in the state reached a new record high in March, with 6,172,300 jobs — an increase of 14,800 (+0.2%) from the previous month. This surpasses the state’s prior record set in December 2024.
Illinois wheat producers have voted overwhelmingly in favor of a voluntary wheat check-off program aimed at boosting research, market development, and production. The Illinois Department of Agriculture (IDOA) announced Thursday that the referendum passed by a margin of 207 to 69.
Illinois has been consistently in the bottom 10 for all 18 editions of the report. Illinois now suffers the nation’s third-lowest job growth. Utah claimed the top spot in ecnonomic outlook with 18 consecutive years. Louisiana made the biggest move from 31st to 18th overall
The Illinois Department of Labor’s Division of Occupational Safety and Health (IL OSHA), in partnership with several key fire service organizations, has introduced a new sample standard operating guideline (SOG) aimed at improving safety and effectiveness during structure fire operations.
The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) has released its updated Illinois School Vaccination Coverage Dashboard, providing the public with an interactive tool to monitor immunization trends across the state during the 2024–25 school year. The dashboard uses data collected by the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) to show vaccination coverage at the state, county, and school district levels. IDPH Director Dr. Sameer Vohra emphasized the importance of the tool in light of ongoing measles outbreaks elsewhere in the country.
Illinois K-12 schools that use Native American names, mascots, or imagery — like the Mt. Zion Braves or Cahokia Comanches — could soon be required to make a change under a bill passed Thursday by the Illinois House of Representatives.
Governor JB Pritzker reassured Illinois residents and international partners on Tuesday that despite the challenges posed by President Donald Trump’s tariffs, Illinois will remain a stable and reliable trading partner in the global market. Speaking from his Statehouse office, Pritzker acknowledged the ongoing uncertainties but emphasized that Illinois thrives on certainty and offers a solid foundation for businesses to flourish.
“Each year, the Poster, Poetry, and Prose Contest provides us the opportunity to recognize the creative and artistic talents of environmentally engaged fifth and sixth grade students throughout Illinois,” said Illinois EPA Acting Director James Jennings. “We also want to thank the teachers and families for their participation, and for incorporating this important environmental topic into the classroom so the students can learn the importance of reducing the amount of waste they create.”