Governor JB Pritzker has declared Montgomery County a disaster area due to severe flooding, enabling residents and businesses to access low-interest loans from the SBA to aid their recovery.

Illinois' unemployment rate rose slightly to 4.9% in May with an increase in nonfarm payroll jobs by 12,700, as reported by the IDES and the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Chicago expands its ESVF program, previously servicing five neighborhoods, to ten more, utilizing $6.4 million in federal funds. The initiative offers financial aid to gun violence victims for costs like relocation and funerals.

Naperville Police Chief invites residents to a casual "Chat with the Chief" event at Panera Bread for open dialogue on safety and concerns.

Michelle Mbekeani, head of Cook County’s Conviction Review Unit, is resigning after six months, amid controversies and her forthcoming childbirth. The unit has been important for wrongful conviction reviews during Kim Foxx's tenure.

Cook County anticipates a $218 million shortfall for 2025 but expects to manage it without layoffs or tax hikes by leveraging a $367 million surplus from 2023 and focusing on long-term budget strategies.

Ald. Matt Martin has proposed an ordinance in Chicago to use taxpayer funds to match small campaign donations for city council candidates, aiming to level the political playing field.

Will County Executive Jennifer Bertino-Tarrant vetoed the hiring of a consultant for the Landfill Committee, citing redundancy with existing staff and advisors.

Ald. Matt Martin has introduced a "Chicago Fair Elections Program" ordinance to reduce wealthy donor influence with a public financing system for City Council elections.

Chicago Mayor Johnson creates a Reparations Task Force to address historical injustices against Black residents, backed by a $500,000 investment for a comprehensive study and public hearings.

Illinois plans to revamp its state fairgrounds to become a year-round destination, involving repairs and enhancements worth $58.1 million, inspired by Community Foundation's Next 10 project.

William Lee joins the Illinois Deaf and Hard of Hearing Commission as an Executive I - Interpreter Coordinator, bringing over 30 years of sign language interpretation experience.

Veterans in Chicago and Cook County can apply for a free 11-week tech training program offered by the Cook County Department of Veterans Affairs, Microsoft, and National Able Network.