All articles tagged with #illinois
Indiana moved to fund a Bears stadium near the Illinois border, while Illinois advanced a bill to lay groundwork for a stadium on Bears-owned Arlington Heights property; with no deal yet, the preferred option remains a Chicago stadium, and lakefront plans appear unlikely as momentum builds toward a decision.
Keaton Wagler, once overlooked by high-major programs, defied the odds as a lightly recruited 6'6 guard who blossomed after Illinois offered him late in the process, embracing a development plan and proving himself on the court with breakout scoring and playmaking—highlighted by a 46-point game against Purdue and a key role in Illinois' efficient offense—making him a potential NBA prospect and a symbol of how modern recruiting can miss a future star.
Illinois canceled a Senate meeting as Indiana offered a new stadium deal for the Chicago Bears, keeping the team’s options open and fueling a potential move to Hammond. While Florio argues Indiana taxpayers would bear most costs, Illinois hasn’t reached an agreement in years, turning the saga into a high-stakes bidding war that largely benefits the Bears and leaves fans frustrated.
The Chicago Bears are pursuing a new stadium deal with both Indiana and Illinois, using the competition to secure the best possible terms and subsidies. Indiana reports progress, while Bears leadership stays engaged with Illinois, keeping pressure as the legislative session ends. A move isn’t ruled out, but the team remains focused on staying in downtown Chicago if a favorable deal isn’t reached.
Chicago Bears president Kevin Warren triggered a political backlash by praising Indiana's stadium push after asking Illinois lawmakers to cancel a hearing on megaprojects backing the Arlington Heights plan; days later he backtracked in Crain’s Chicago Business, saying the team would continue working with Illinois leadership as Gov. Pritzker rejected taxpayer funding. The episode highlights Warren's precarious standing amid a years-long stadium saga and fuels questions about his future with the Bears.
Walgreens is laying off 469 Illinois employees across Deerfield, the Old Post Office in downtown Chicago, and Danville as part of a corporate reorganization after its acquisition by private-equity firm Sycamore Partners; affected workers will receive 60 days’ notice and retain full pay and benefits during that period, with Texas reporting 159 layoffs as well. The company says the changes aim to simplify the organization and speed decision-making to improve store and patient services amid the private-equity transition.
Indiana Senate Bill 27 cleared a 27-0 committee vote, advancing a plan to build a Chicago Bears stadium in Hammond near Wolf Lake and signaling momentum over Illinois, where related hearings were canceled. The Bears say due diligence continues and no deal is done yet, while Illinois leaders push for regional unity and timing remains tight as the competition for a site continues.
Illinois Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton launches her first TV ad for the Senate primary, using a bleeps-filled anti-Trump message to grab attention as she confronts rivals in a crowded race, backed by Gov. Pritzker and pro-Stratton spending levers, with early voting underway.
The National Weather Service’s Storm Prediction Center has issued an enhanced risk (Level 3 of 5) of severe weather across parts of the Ohio Valley today, with a potential for EF2+ tornadoes; the greatest risk is expected in southeast Illinois, southern Indiana and near the Ohio River.
Rep. Jan Schakowsky withdraws her endorsement of Donna Miller in Illinois’ 2nd District due to AIPAC-linked contributions, says she will back Daniel Biss in IL-9, and the piece notes broad scrutiny of pro-Israel groups’ involvement in Democratic primaries including DMFI’s endorsements.
The Bears’ bid for public funding appears to be shifting toward Indiana, as Indiana officials and the team tout progress while Illinois Governor JB Pritzker’s office says they were surprised by the Indiana statements; Illinois had been close to a bill to keep the team in-state at Soldier Field or Arlington Heights, but the Bears pressed to pause the Illinois hearing for tweaks, with Hammond, Indiana, eyed as the potential site.
IDPH confirms a second measles case in the Metro East area (Madison County), with exposure at YMCA Meyer Center (Edwardsville), Fazzi's Restaurant (Collinsville), Schnucks (Edwardsville), Walmart (Glen Carbon) and Discount Tire (Glen Carbon) on mid‑February dates. People exposed are advised to monitor for symptoms for 21 days and isolate if symptoms appear; officials say the two cases are connected to a previously reported case linked to Fort Lauderdale travel through the St. Louis area.
Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker used the State of the State to link the budget speech to a broader fight over democracy, invoking John Peter Altgeld’s progressive legacy to defend equal rights and criticize Trump-era policies, while detailing plans to ease housing and energy costs and noting Illinois’ economic resilience (GDP over $1.2 trillion) and recent debt relief. He urged Americans to love their country through empathy and everyday courage—citing community actions from Little Village bicyclists to churches and school parents—as the country’s best antidote to rising authoritarianism.
Illinois Gov. Pritzker proposes a two-year pause on new datacenter tax credits and asks PJM to require developers to cover capacity costs, arguing the move protects consumer affordability amid rising AI-driven demand.
IKEA announces a 66,000-square-foot store at Gurnee Mills Mall in Gurnee, Illinois, set to open in 2026 as part of a nationwide rollout that includes additional new locations and makes it IKEA’s third Illinois store (joining Bolingbrook and Schaumburg); the store will offer about 3,000 take-home items, around 600 smaller pieces, and a full range of IKEA food.