Illinois Secretary of State Jesse White announced Wednesday that driver services facilities would close in January due to COVID.

The facilities will be closed from January 3-17 and reopen on January 18.

A new law taking effect in Illinois at the start of 2022 will work to keep animals out of the hands of those with a record of abuse and neglect. Soon people with two or more abuse and neglect charges, including charges like dogfighting, will not legally be allowed to own an animal.

The Springfield Animal Protective League says the change is a no-brainer and hopefully will raise awareness in private deals too.

People are leaving Illinois. New census bureau data shows Illinois saw one of the biggest drops this year, losing more than 122-thousand people. 2021 was the worst year for population growth in the United States. The slow rate of growth can be attributed to a decreased in international migration, a drop in fertility, and increased mortality due in part to the COVID-19 pandemic.

New laws in Illinois take effect in the new year, with nearly 300 new measures beginning on Jan. 1.

The new laws range from big changes in criminal prosecutions to small, ceremonial designations. Some new measures add steps, procedures and red tape and others make processes more effective and help remove barriers

Illinois’ minimum wage will increase to $12 an hour starting Saturday, Jan. 1, 2022.

This is part of legislation signed by Governor JB Pritzker back in 2019 that will increase the minimum wage each year until it hits $15 an hour in 2025.