Illinois quick hits: US Steel reopening Granite City furnace; unemployment down slightly

Illinois quick hits: US Steel reopening Granite City furnace; unemployment down slightly

December 5, 2025/
Spread the love

By Jim Talamonti | The Center Square
The Center Square

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.

Leave a Comment





Latest News Stories

Leaders highlight policies to end taxpayer-funded abortions at march for life

Leaders highlight policies to end taxpayer-funded abortions at march for life

By Andrew RiceThe Center Square Vice President JD Vance and other elected officials on Friday touted their accomplishments to implement pro-life legislation over the past year at the 53rd annual...
Illinois Quick Hits: End of tax credit causes another Catholic school to close

Illinois Quick Hits: End of tax credit causes another Catholic school to close

By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square Another Archdiocese of Chicago school has cited the end of Illinois’ Invest in Kids Scholarship Tax Credit Program as a reason...

Chicago inspector general hopes for urgency to address OT mistakes

By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – Chicago’s inspector general says she hopes there is urgency to correct mistakes after the city paid $26.5...

Poll shows most Americans support legal limits to abortion

By Tate MillerThe Center Square Pro-life groups celebrate the 53rd annual March for Life event in the wake of a Knights of Columbus-Marist Poll showing that most Americans support legal...
Bill would give parents access to expulsion evidence

Bill would give parents access to expulsion evidence

By Cat Barker | The Center Square contributorThe Center Square (The Center Square) – Illinois lawmakers are weighing legislation that would require public schools to share all evidence used to...
WATCH: Pritzker IDs half billion in ‘reserves;’ SCOTUS considering gun ban challenge

WATCH: Pritzker IDs half billion in ‘reserves;’ SCOTUS considering gun ban challenge

By Greg Bishop | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – In today's edition of Illinois in Focus Daily, The Center Square's Greg Bishop discusses a recent announcement...
Proposed Illinois bill would let local voters approve rent control, drawing sharp criticism

Proposed Illinois bill would let local voters approve rent control, drawing sharp criticism

By Cat Barker | The Center Square contributorThe Center Square (The Center Square) – A proposed Illinois bill, the “Let the People Lift the Ban Act," SB2884, would let local...
Businesses close in Minnesota for anti-ICE ‘economic blackout’

Businesses close in Minnesota for anti-ICE ‘economic blackout’

By Elyse ApelThe Center Square Many businesses across Minnesota closed today as part of an ‘economic blackout’ to protest U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. This comes in response to calls...
House GOP: Climate lawyers could be improperly influencing judges

House GOP: Climate lawyers could be improperly influencing judges

By John O’Brien | Legal NewslineThe Center Square WASHINGTON – The U.S. House Judiciary Committee is asking for answers from one of the lawyers pushing climate-change cases against Big Oil,...
Illinois Quick Hits: Higher ed board pushes for more spending

Illinois Quick Hits: Higher ed board pushes for more spending

By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – The Illinois Board of Higher Education has approved a 4.5% spending increase in its budget for fiscal...
Will County Board Graphic.02

County Committee Proposes Federal Study on “Legacy Pollution” Near Joliet and Romeoville Refineries

Article Summary: In a draft lobbying platform presented to the Will County Board, the Legislative Committee outlined a request for a federal study to identify and mitigate health risks in...
ABA can’t end anti-white scholarship discrimination lawsuit

ABA can’t end anti-white scholarship discrimination lawsuit

By Jonathan Bilyk | Legal NewslineThe Center Square The American Bar Association can't escape a lawsuit accusing the group, tasked with setting national ethical and professional standards for lawyers and...
Pritzker says $481.6 million put in reserves, GOP questions state spending

Pritzker says $481.6 million put in reserves, GOP questions state spending

By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – One day after an Illinois state representative said there was no budget transparency from J.B. Pritzker’s office,...
Illinois Quick Hits: HHS: IL abortion referral rule violates federal law

Illinois Quick Hits: HHS: IL abortion referral rule violates federal law

By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has notified Illinois officials that the state is violating...

WATCH: Resolution condemning federal immigration law enforcement sparks debate

By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – Illinois House Democrats are calling for investigation, prosecution and impeachment of federal immigration law enforcement. State Rep....