Illinois quick hits: Primary election ballot certified; indictments increased in 2025

Illinois quick hits: Primary election ballot certified; indictments increased in 2025

January 8, 2026/
Spread the love

By Jim Talamonti | The Center Square
The Center Square

Primary election ballot certified

The Illinois State Board of Elections certified the March 2026 primary ballot this week, removing several Republican candidates for governor after upholding petition challenges.

Remaining on the GOP gubernatorial ballot is Darren Bailey, Ted Dabrowski, James Mendrick and Rick Heidner. Gov. J.B. Pritzker will be unchallenged in the Democrats’ primary March 17.

For U.S. Senate Candidates, Democrats will have 10 to choose from, Republicans six.

Indictments increased in 2025

The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Illinois says it cracked down on crime and implemented new policies in 2025.

Statistics the office released show indictments were up 34% compared to the previous year.

The office also touts more focus on mass transit safety, health care fraud investigations and immigration enforcement efforts.

Unemployment rate forecast

The Chicago Fed Real-Time Unemployment Rate Forecast is estimating the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics monthly unemployment rate at 4.56% for December, matching the actual BLS unemployment rate for November.

The December 2024 unemployment rate was 4.09%.

Leave a Comment





Latest News Stories

WATCH: Chicago IG seeks urgency on OT costs; Group warns taxpayers paying for polls

WATCH: Chicago IG seeks urgency on OT costs; Group warns taxpayers paying for polls

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 shares comments from Chicago...
Illinois Quick Hits: Grants issued for apprenticeship programs

Illinois Quick Hits: Grants issued for apprenticeship programs

By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – Gov. JB Pritzker and the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity announced Monday that they awarded...
K-12 schools, higher ed institutions prevail in diversity litigation

K-12 schools, higher ed institutions prevail in diversity litigation

By Alan WootenThe Center Square Threats to federal funds at K-12 schools and institutions of higher education because of diversity policies have been squashed in a federal courtroom in Virginia....
Medical group debunks recent study on racial concordance, says patient outcomes not improved by philosophy

Medical group debunks recent study on racial concordance, says patient outcomes not improved by philosophy

By Tate MillerThe Center Square Medical group Do No Harm released a report Tuesday that it says debunks a study on racial concordance, with a Do No Harm leader stating...
Will County Board Graphic.01

County Approves $22 Million in Road Projects for Lorenzo Road and Mills Road

Will County Board Meeting | January 15, 2026 Article Summary: The Will County Board approved major infrastructure contracts, including an $18.8 million bridge replacement on Lorenzo Road and a $3.2...

Three Democrats seeking Illinois U.S. Senate seat debate in Chicago

By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – Immigration and taxation policies are front and center for Democratic Party candidates seeking to replace Illinois U.S....
Emissions permitted? ‘Irrelevant’ vs lawsuits: IL Sup Ct

Emissions permitted? ‘Irrelevant’ vs lawsuits: IL Sup Ct

By Jonathan Bilyk | Legal NewslineThe Center Square Businesses in Illinois hit by blizzards of potentially ruinous lawsuits over alleged harm caused by emissions from their factories or other facilities...
As snowfall tapers, 'deep freeze' sets in as another potential storm on the horizon

As snowfall tapers, ‘deep freeze’ sets in as another potential storm on the horizon

By Morgan Sweeney and Ava OttThe Center Square Winter Storm Fern has left hundreds of thousands without power and claimed a number of lives across the country, and the cold...
California legislators react to ICE's fatal shooting of citizen

California legislators react to ICE’s fatal shooting of citizen

By Madeline ShannonThe Center Square In reaction to Saturday's fatal shooting of an American citizen in Minnesota by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers, California lawmakers are introducing legislation designed...
Senate Judiciary to hear Minnesota fraud allegations

Senate Judiciary to hear Minnesota fraud allegations

By Andrew Rice and Emily RodriguezThe Center Square The U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee will hear new accusations regarding the Minnesota fraud scandal investigation. The hearing, which was originally scheduled for...
Trump: Minnesota fraud, riots linked

Trump: Minnesota fraud, riots linked

By Elyse ApelThe Center Square As protests continue in Minneapolis after the Saturday shooting death of a city resident by an immigration officer, the Trump administration is blaming local and...
WA leaders intensify opposition to federal immigration enforcement efforts

WA leaders intensify opposition to federal immigration enforcement efforts

By TJ MartinellThe Center Square Washington state elected officials are intensifying their opposition to federal immigration enforcement efforts following the shooting of a protester in Minnesota by Immigration and Customs...

WATCH: Trump, Walz speak; White House puts demands on Minnesota leaders

By Sarah Roderick-FitchThe Center Square As tensions continue to rise in Minneapolis and immigration officials ratchet up enforcement, President Donald Trump announced a potential breakthrough in a stalemate between Trump...
Illinois quick hits: Report: Paroled six-time felon charged in shootings

Illinois quick hits: Report: Paroled six-time felon charged in shootings

By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square Report: Paroled six-time felon charged in shootings Prosecutors have charged a paroled six-time felon with shooting a woman inside a Chicago...
Illinois millionaire’s tax would direct 50% of revenue to public schools

Illinois millionaire’s tax would direct 50% of revenue to public schools

By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – A proposal for a state constitutional amendment to impose a millionaire’s tax has been referred to the...