Americans are moving all across the country in a bid to find affordable, lower-density metro areas, according to the 47th annual National Movers Study from United Van Lines.

According to 2023 state-to-state migration patterns, Vermont, South Carolina, Arkansas, Rhode Island and Washington, DC were some of the states that saw a surge in popularity.

Hope in Illinois is sort of like one of those trick birthday candles: just when you think it’s been extinguished, it sparks and comes alive again and again.

That was certainly the feeling as the Illinois General Assembly finished with the fiscal year 2025 budget. Hope. Dead. Hope. Dead. Hope. Dead.ope in Illinois is sort of like one of those trick birthday candles: just when you think it’s been extinguished, it sparks and comes alive again and again.

Illinois U.S. Rep. Darin LaHood, R-Peoria, says in a letter to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security that the Chinese battery manufacturer Gotion has ties with companies directly linked to slave labor genocide of Uyghurs.

In the letter, LaHood said companies like Gotion are committing horrific crimes and are getting American taxpayer money.

Federal prosecutors are asking for 10 years in prison for former Chicago Ald. Edward Burke, arguing in a lengthy filing late Monday that the 80-year-old Democratic machine stalwart was “steeped in corruption” and highly adept at abusing his office for personal gain.

“Again and again, Burke used his significant political power to solicit and receive bribes from entities with business before the city of Chicago—all so he could obtain legal business for his private law firm and financially benefit his close personal associates,” prosecutors wrote in their 51-page filing. “To this day, Burke has expressed no remorse for his crimes; indeed, he continues to deny he did a single thing wrong.”

Mayor Brandon Johnson on Monday put the political kibosh on a political ally’s plan to impose an 8 p.m. curfew for unaccompanied minors in downtown Chicago.

Ald. Brian Hopkins (2nd) Johnson’s handpicked chair of the City Council’s Public Safety Committee, floated the idea in response to the violent attack by a group of teens on a couple in Streeterville on May 31.

In a similar vein to what Peoria County decided in 2022, McLean County could eliminate the position of county auditor, which is responsible for auditing various county departments and preparing accounting records.

The county’s executive committee voted unanimously in favor of the referendum, which now goes to the McLean County Board for Thursday’s meeting.

With Gov. JB Pritzker’s signature, development at the North Mansion Block is one step closer to reality.

After hinting at its possibility earlier in May, Pritzker signed the $53.1 billion budget for fiscal year 2025 on last week which included $4 million to design and construct a park at the grass lot north of the Governor’s Mansion. The 2.25-acre lot served as the home of the YWCA and has set empty since 2017.

Supporters of the Palatine Stables rallied their troops both before and during Monday’s Palatine park board meeting, hoping to spur the board to change its decision to close the facility.