Illinois quick hits: US Steel reopening Granite City furnace; unemployment down slightly
US Steel reopening Granite City furnace
U.S. Steel says customer demand has driven the company to begin the process of restarting one of two blast furnaces at Granite City Works.
U.S. Steel President and CEO David B. Burritt said in a statement that the company is confident in its ability to safely and profitably operate the mill to meet 2026 demand.
The Granite City reopening comes after President Donald Trump’s administration agreed to a merger deal between U.S. Steel and Nippon earlier this year.
Unemployment down slightly
The Illinois Department of Employment Security says the state’s unemployment rate in August was 4.7%, down slightly from July but higher than the national rate of 4.5%.
According to the Illinois Policy Institute, only 5,900 jobs were created in Illinois from August 2024 to August 2025.
The biggest gains came from private education and health services, which added 18,600 positions.
State Museum reaccredited
The Illinois State Museum has been reaccredited by the American Alliance of Museums.
ISM said it conducted a year of self-study and hosted a site visit by peer reviewers to earn the accreditation.
Established in 1877, the Illinois State Museum is headquartered in Springfield with branch facilities in Lewistown and Lockport.
Christen Smith contributed to this report.
Chance Showers And Thunderstorms then Showers And Thunderstorms Likely
Latest News Stories
Durbin calls probe ‘sham’; state lawmaker backs transparency
Independent tax tribunal faces elimination by Pritzker budget proposal
Meeting Summary and Briefs: Crete-Monee Board of Education for April 14, 2026
Illinois Quick Hits: Civic federation funds ‘persistent structural imbalance’ in Illinois
Monee Approves $91,665 Cloud Software Upgrade to Modernize Village Operations
Millions Approved for Will County Highway and Road Infrastructure Projects
Illinoisans may soon need registration, title, license to use e-bikes, scooters
Quaderer Strikes Out Nine as Crete-Monee Baseball Cruises Past Argo 9-1
Pritzker’s commission report pushes for local investigations of federal ‘brutality’
Illinois mulls change allowing pension investment in anti-Israel companies
Crete-Monee Board Considers Official ‘Statements of Support’ for Grieving Families
Board Establishes New Regulations and Fees for Wireless Telecommunication Facilities
Monee Board Explores Farmland Preservation Program Amid Growing Concerns Over Solar Development
