Prairie State Wire

Illinois ranked 16th in VA home loans in the first quarter of 2024 with 1,793 loans issued, according to the Veterans' Affairs Home Loans Index.

Illinois ranked 38th in average VA home loan amount in Q1

With $282,632 in home loans issued, Illinois ranked 38th in average loan amount for VA home loans in the first quarter of fiscal year 2024, according to the Veterans' Affairs Home Loans Index.

IDNR announces waterfowl blind drawings schedule for Mississippi River Area

Waterfowl hunters are urged to mark Sunday, June 2 on their calendars as the day for waterfowl blind drawings at the Mississippi River State Fish and Wildlife Area and Horseshoe Lake State Park in Madison County. The Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) will host traditional blind drawings at these sites this year. Participants are recommended to follow any site-specific drawing procedures.

Illinois State Fair announces event lineup for The Arena in 2024

The Arena, located in Springfield, Illinois, is set to host a series of family-friendly events during the 2024 Illinois State Fair. Tickets for these popular events are currently available for purchase.

First 2024 West Nile virus cases confirmed in Illinois

The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) has confirmed the first two batches of mosquitoes to test positive for West Nile virus in 2024. The findings were made in Hoffman Estates in Cook County and Morgan County. The Northwest Mosquito Abatement District collected the specimen from Hoffman Estates on May 14, while the second batch was found on May 16 in Jacksonville, Morgan County.

HFS and CDB unveil $200 million grant for healthcare transformation projects

The Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services (HFS) and the Illinois Capital Development Board (CDB) have announced an unprecedented Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) as part of the Healthcare Transformation Capital Investment Grant program. This initiative aims to provide funding to capital projects that will address health-related social needs and reduce disparities in healthcare in historically underserved communities.

VA provides 19.0% fewer home purchase loans in Illinois in Q1

There were 1,475 VA home purchases in Illinois in the first quarter of the VA's fiscal year 2024, totaling $425.3 million in loans, according to figures provided by the Veterans Affairs Home Loans Index.

VA issues fewer Interest Rate Reduction Refinance Loans in Illinois in Q1 2024 vs. Q4 2023

The VA issued 30 Interest Rate Reduction Refinance Loans in Illinois during the first quarter of fiscal year 2024, compared to 36 loans the previous quarter, according to figures provided by the Veterans Affairs Home Loans Index.

Illinois reports stable unemployment rate with rise in nonfarm payrolls

The Illinois Department of Employment Security (IDES) reported that the state's unemployment rate remained steady at 4.8% in April, while nonfarm payrolls saw an increase of 7,300 jobs. This data is based on preliminary figures from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and reflects activity for the week including April 12th.

Local sales tax changes effective from July 1, 2024

Effective from July 1, 2024, certain taxing jurisdictions have implemented a local sales tax or modified their local sales tax rate on general merchandise sales. For further details, refer to the FY 2024-25 Sales Tax Rate Change Summary, which is effective from July 1, 2024.

Illinois sees payroll jobs increase while unemployment rate remains stable in April

The Illinois Department of Employment Security (IDES) announced that the state's unemployment rate remained steady at 4.8 percent in April, while nonfarm payrolls saw an increase of 7,300. This data is based on preliminary information provided by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), and released by IDES. The revised unemployment rate for March was also 4.8 percent, with no change from the preliminary March unemployment rate.

Illinois receives $8.7 million in VA Interest Rate Reduction Refinance Loans during Q1

The VA issued 30 Interest Rate Reduction Refinance Loans in Illinois during the first quarter of fiscal year 2024, according to the Veterans Affairs Home Loans Index.

VA provides 1,793 home loans in Illinois totaling $506.8 million in Q1

The U.S. Department of Veterans' Affairs (VA) issued 1,793 home loans totaling $506.8 million in Illinois during the first quarter of the fiscal year 2024, according to the Veterans' Affairs Home Loans Index.

Illinois Department of Human Services Social Services Advisory Council met May 14

By Corazon L. Gonzales | May 15, 2024

Illinois Department of Human Services Social Services Advisory Council met 1 p.m. Tuesday, May 14.

VA provides 1,475 home purchase loans in Illinois in Q1

There were 1,475 VA home purchase loans issued in Illinois in the first quarter of the fiscal year 2024 totaling $425.3 million, according to figures provided by the Veterans Affairs Home Loans Index.

Governor Pritzker joins forces with state leaders for Mental Health Awareness Month

SPRINGFIELD, IL – Governor JB Pritzker has joined forces with state leaders, mental health advocates, and others to commemorate Mental Health Awareness Month and discuss ongoing state initiatives aimed at improving services for individuals grappling with mental health issues and their families. The Governor participated in a roundtable discussion on Wednesday, May 15, at the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library in Springfield. This event was organized by the Children’s Behavioral Health Transformation Initiative and also highlighted the success of the Certified Recovery...

Governor Pritzker collaborates with state leaders for Mental Health Awareness Month