Legislation introduced during the now-concluded Illinois General Assembly spring session could address some of those concerns. The Carbon Dioxide Transport and Storage Protections Act, listed under Senate Bill 2421 and House Bill 3119, did not advance out of their respective chambers but could be moved during veto session in late October. Bill sponsor Rep. Ann Williams said work is ongoing to strike the right balance between a burgeoning industry and needed environmental safeguards.

“For the first time, insurance companies will have to provide specific information about how they set their rates and the DOI will have the authority to approve, modify or disapprove health insurance rates that it determines to be unreasonable or inadequate in the individual and small group market.”

Sponsored by state Sen. Paul Faraci, the new law, “will ensure that families know that the safety plan for their child is well-documented during their annual IEP meetings, and they will know the expectation during drills so they can better prepare the child…”

HB 1561 amends the School Safety Drill Act to allow schools to maintain an on-site trauma kit, and requires trauma response training for school employees. HB 3559 amends the School Safety Drill Act to establish a plan to allow law enforcement to rapidly enter school buildings in case of emergencies.

Said U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin in a prepared statement. “Unfortunately, as Justice Kagan noted in her dissent, ‘[i]n every respect, the Court today exceed[ed] its proper, limited role in our Nation’s governance’ by striking down this program. I’m sorely disappointed that this Supreme Court coldly severed this lifeline that the Biden Administration rightfully and lawfully had offered hard-working Americans.”

A spokesman said the company projects $94 million in local tax revenue and landowner income over the life of the project, which is expected to be 20-25 years. A majority of the power Alta generates (125 megawatts) will go to the DeKalb Data Center. The rest was sold to the Indiana Municipal Power Agency.

Convention business in Springfield, and hotel occupancy rates, have returned to levels seen before the COVID-19 pandemic, Springfield Convention and Visitors Bureau director Scott Dahl said. And even amid talk of a recession later this year, he said, “I can’t imagine that the convention market is going to dry up.”

“It’s at the point where we need to see Illinois get 3 or 4 inches of rain, a good soaker, in order for everybody to simmer down and think that the crop is saved and we are back to having, not record, but a pretty darned good crop.

While many are puzzled over the root of the problem in such a diverse state, systemic racism may be a factor, said Larry Ivory, president and CEO of the Illinois State Black Chamber of Commerce. Ivory brings not only a national but a global perspective to the issue as he is also chairman of the National Black Chamber of Commerce and a U.S. Chamber of Commerce member.

“Considering where Illinois was just a few years ago, circumstances have vastly improved. But Illinois remains in the beginning stage of a long and costly effort to regain solid financial footing, and there’s always the potential of serious trouble ahead. That’s why it’s important to note that a recent report by S&P Global Ratings that rising public pension costs pose a growing threat to the state’s fiscal year. Emphasis should be placed on the word ;growing,’ because the current threat to state finances already is serious.”

A new state fiscal year began July 1, ushering in the reinstatement of a 1 percent tax on groceries and a second increase to the state’s motor fuel tax in 2023.