Getting support for internet casino gaming in Illinois could prove challenging given the staggering amount of tax revenue already provided by video gaming terminals. The state received close to $786 million in taxes in the 2022 calendar year from VGT play — more than double the $302.9 million from casinos outside of sports wagering. Local municipalities received an additional $135.5 million in tax revenue from the more than 45,000 VGTs in operation statewide.

“From July 2021 to July 2022, more than 142,000 people moved out of state than moved in. Only New York state experienced a faster rate of population decline. To put that loss into perspective, consider that about 127,000 Illinois residents died in that same period. In terms of state population change, Illinois’ emigration problem effectively doubled its death rate.”

“If you do this in a responsible fashion and adopt proper actuarial and accounting methods … we will actually solve the problem,” said state Sen. Robert Martwick, a longtime proponent of pension reform.

Eligible families could receive a diaper allowance of $70 per month per eligible child. “Diapers are extremely costly. This bill will allow single-parents, working families, low-income households, and people to benefit from the weight of this allowance and it will help families’ budgets,” state Sen. Karina Villa said.

The federal Office of Inspector General called out states like Illinois that have yet to provide accurate and updated information during testimony in Washington Wednesday that of the $888 billion paid during the COVID-19 pandemic, more than 21% was improper.

“It’s really disheartening that the General Assembly would even consider proposing additional leave benefits after they just passed mandated paid leave a little more than a month ago,” National Federation of Independent Business Illinois State Director Chris Davis said. “Not only pay an employee while they’re out not working for a business, but in addition, potentially have to pay an employee temporarily to fill in that gap.”

The docket entry for the Macon County TRO said a proposed order from the plaintiffs was unopposed by the state defendants. The Illinois Attorney General’s Office has already indicated they will request a review by the Illinois Supreme Court of previous restraining orders; There are also several pending lawsuits filed in federal court.

The pandemic caused some states to curb their governors’ uses of emergency powers. Arizona, Louisiana and Virginia all enacted laws in 2022 increasing legislative oversight of executive powers.

The legislative package, in part, creates a $1.50 per gallon sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) purchase tax credit to support the supply and use of SAF within the state.

Judge Rodney Forbes wrote, “The Court further finds ‘special legislation and equal protection challenges are judged by the same standard. Accordingly, the Court is required by precedent to enter a temporary restraining order on Count IV (equal protection) and Count V (special legislation) of Plaintiffs’ complaint.” But the order does not apply to the whole state, it only applies to the named plaintiffs and the association “Law-Abiding Gun Owners of Macon County,” which has hundreds named in the order.

The university explains that its program is “a commitment by our university to put the need to address systemic racism and generationally embedded racial disparity into concrete action.”

Board members said the proposal was designed to achieve specific equity, sustainability and growth goals. Executive Director Ginger Ostro said in January, “There is also tremendous work underway to close equity gaps in enrollment, persistence and completion for Black, Latinx, low income and rural students.”

Illinois local governments collected $50 per capita from residents, nearly double the national average of $27. In Ullin, Illinois, 45% of 2020 revenue came from fines and fees. That’s more than $700 per capita in the far Southern Illinois village.

As of Feb. 3, seven of 192 applicants with conditional licenses went on to get their full license and have opened dispensaries. An eighth business was set to open Thursday. “Everyone in Illinois was disappointed the initial program caused a huge disparity in ownership between the people it was intended to help and those it helped to become millionaires,” said state Rep. La Shawn Ford.

President and CEO of the Springfield Sangamon Growth Alliance Ryan McCrady works with prospective businesses to determine where they should open operations, and access to utilities is a common question. “That used to mean water, electricity, natural gas and now it means broadband,” he said. “That’s a standard utility. It’s not something that’s nice to have, if they absolutely want to know what exists, they have to have it.”

Said U.S. Rep. Mike Bost, “Tonight, President Biden did what he does best; take credit where no credit is due and deny responsibility for his failures. On his watch, we’ve seen the highest gas prices in history and the highest inflation in 40 years. Southern Illinois families are debating whether to fill their gas tanks or their refrigerators.”