(The Center Square) – Gov. J.B. Pritzker has released a letter to the chief executives of seven oil companies, asking why Illinois drivers are paying higher prices at the pump while the CEOs’ businesses report record profits.
The governor asked the CEOs to return profits to consumers, provide transparency around pricing and operations, and share information on executive compensation.
Pritzker said the companies’ record profits are a result of President Donald Trump’s war with Iran.
According to AAA, the average price for regular unleaded in Illinois was $4.30 per gallon on Thursday, up from $3.42 one year ago.
INDIANA GOVERNOR EXTENDS GAS TAX HOLIDAY
Indiana Gov. Mike Braun has declared a new statewide energy emergency and reinstituted his suspension of Indiana’s gasoline taxes through Sept. 5.
Braun suspended the gas usage tax in April and added the suspension of the excise tax in May.
A statement from Braun’s office said the energy emergency is prompted by new disruptions to global oil shipping lanes in the Black Sea and Kerch Strait as the Russia-Ukraine conflict escalated, as well as Canadian wildfires disrupting the Alberta Oil Sands Region.
According to AAA, the average price for regular unleaded in Indiana was $3.55 per gallon on Thursday, up from $3.21 one year ago.
STATE, CITY SUE CHICAGO COMPANY OVER ODORS
Chicago has joined Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul’s lawsuit against A-F Acquisition LLC, which operates under the name Pullman Innovations, alleging that the company allowed excessive odors, caused illegal air pollution and violated conditions of its operating permit.
Pullman Innovations’ facility on Chicago’s Southeast Side converts a by-product of commercial edible oil into animal feed ingredients.
Inspectors from the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency and the city of Chicago both reported odors that made breathing difficult.
STATE REP DECLINES TO JOIN WORKPLACE CULTURE & ACCOUNTABILITY GROUP
Illinois state Rep. Kelly Cassidy, D-Chicago, says she will not participate in a working group on sexual harassment in Springfield.
After her name was leaked as part of a new workplace culture and accountability panel, Cassidy released a statement saying that, before agreeing to serve, she asked questions to ensure the group would offer more than lip service or a PR stunt.
The Chicago Democrat said her questions were not answered, and she will not be participating at this time.
PORTILLO’S ANNOUNCES CORPORATE LAYOFFS
Oak Brook-based Portillo’s has reduced its corporate and field-level management workforce by about 18%.
The restaurant chain’s CEO, Brett Patterson, said in a statement that no restaurant-level team members were impacted by the cuts that took effect on July 31.
Portillo’s reported net income for the second quarter of 2026 was $7.2 million, a decrease of $2.9 million from the second quarter of 2025.
