Illinois quick hits: State sues over frozen funds; Nicor Gas seeks rate hike

January 9, 2026/

Spread the love

By Jim Talamonti | The Center Square
The Center Square

State sues over frozen funds

Illinois is one of five states suing the Trump administration over a freeze of more than $10 billion in federal funding for child care and welfare programs.

The lawsuit, filed Friday in U.S. District Court in Manhattan by New York Attorney General Letitia James, seeks to block the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services from withholding money from New York, California, Colorado, Illinois and Minnesota amid ongoing federal scrutiny into the child care programs.

The $10 billion total includes nearly $1 billion being frozen for Illinois.

Nicor Gas seeks rate hike

Nicor Gas has filed a rate hike request of approximately $221 million with the Illinois Commerce Commission.

The gas utility says the additional funds would help enhance the safety, reliability and resilience of its natural gas system.

Nicor says the rate hike would add less than $6 per month to customers’ energy delivery charge. The ICC has 11 months to review the request.

Site Selection Magazine rankings

Site Selection Magazine has named Illinois one of the top states in the nation for Workforce Development, but the Land of Lincoln is nowhere near the top for Business Climate or manufacturing.

Site Selection surveyed 30 national site consultants and found that Texas received the most votes for Best Business Climate in America and best state for manufacturing projects.

The magazine named Illinois third in the nation for workforce development in 2026.

The Chicago-Naperville-Elgin metro ranked fourth in the North American Tech Hub Index.

Chris Wade contributed to this report.

Latest News Stories

Meeting Summary and Briefs: New Lenox Village Board for June 8, 2026

New Lenox Village Board Meeting | June 8, 2026 The New Lenox Village Board moved through a lengthy agenda on Monday, June 8, 2026, with Trustees Lindsay Scalise and Amy...

Meeting Summary and Briefs: Will County Board Executive Committee for June 11, 2026

Will County Board Executive Committee Meeting | June 11, 2026 The Will County Board Executive Committee met Thursday, June 11, 2026, in Joliet, advancing a slate of items to the...

Will County Mental Health Board Touts Crisis Program in Quarterly Report

Will County Board Executive Committee Meeting | June 11, 2026 Article Summary: The Will County Community Mental Health Board's quarterly report to the Executive Committee on Thursday, June 11, 2026,...

Meeting Summary and Briefs: Will County Board Finance Committee for June 2, 2026

Will County Board Finance Committee Meeting | June 2, 2026 The Will County Board Finance Committee took up a short slate of budget and appropriation items at its regular meeting...

New Lenox Approves $92,954 Purchase for Railroad Quiet Zone Delineators

New Lenox Village Board Meeting | June 8, 2026 Article Summary: The New Lenox Village Board on June 8 waived formal bidding and approved a purchase of about $92,954 for...

Will County Coroner Reports Nearly 8,000 Death Investigations in 2025

Will County Board Executive Committee Meeting | June 11, 2026 Article Summary: Will County Coroner Laurie Summers presented her 2025 annual report to the Executive Committee on Thursday, June 11,...

Will County Committee Advances Three New Assistant State’s Attorneys

Will County Board Executive Committee Meeting | June 11, 2026 Article Summary: The Will County Board Executive Committee on Thursday, June 11, 2026, recommended increasing the authorized number of assistant...

Will County Committee Advances $75,000 for U of I Extension

Will County Board Finance Committee Meeting | June 2, 2026 Article Summary: The Will County Board Finance Committee on Tuesday, June 2, 2026, voted to advance a resolution committing $75,000...

Baldermann Credits Public Pressure for Stalling State Housing ‘Build Plan’

New Lenox Village Board Meeting | June 8, 2026 Article Summary: Mayor Tim Baldermann used his June 8 report to the New Lenox Village Board to detail what he described...

Will County Committee Pulls Single-Member District Referendum

Will County Board Executive Committee Meeting | June 11, 2026 Article Summary: The Will County Board Executive Committee on Thursday, June 11, 2026, removed a proposed referendum on single-member county...

Will County Land Bank Clears Committee With Two Amendments

Will County Board Executive Committee Meeting | June 11, 2026 Article Summary: The Will County Board Executive Committee on Thursday, June 11, 2026, recommended creating a Will County Land Bank...

Will County Committee Advances $179,000 Coroner Cot Purchase

Will County Board Finance Committee Meeting | June 2, 2026 Article Summary: The Will County Board Finance Committee on Tuesday, June 2, 2026, voted to advance a request authorizing $179,000...

147-Room Hilton Hotel Approved Near New Lenox Crossroads Sports Complex

New Lenox Village Board Meeting | June 8, 2026 Article Summary: The New Lenox Village Board on June 8 approved a site plan and set surety for a 147-room Hilton...

New Lenox Advances Cedar Pointe Annexation and Rezoning on First Read

New Lenox Village Board Meeting | June 8, 2026 Article Summary: The New Lenox Village Board held a public hearing and first readings June 8 on ordinances that would annex,...

Will County Board Members Spar Over Wheatland Township Mental Health Grant

Will County Board Executive Committee Meeting | June 11, 2026 Article Summary: A $155,000 mental health grant to Wheatland Township drew sharp questioning at the Will County Board Executive Committee...