(The Center Square) – Illinois taxpayers will be spending $4 million to support site readiness at the former Quaker Oats factory in Danville that closed in 2024 and put about 500 employees out of work.
Gov. J.B. Pritzker and the the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity announced the Regional Site Readiness Program award on Tuesday.
The grant is part of Pritzker’s $500 million site readiness initiative for fiscal year 2026.
Chicago school board candidate declares victory
A school board candidate endorsed by the Chicago Teachers Union declared victory one week after Election Day. Jason Dónes released a statement on Tuesday saying his margin of victory widened to over 600 votes.
“We intend to take the grassroots power we have built and continue organizing until we tax the rich, fully fund our neighborhood schools, and make sure our students, families, educators and staff get the schools our communities deserve,” Dónes said in the statement.
CTU-backed candidates fell one seat short of a majority on the 21-seat Chicago Board of Education.
Gas prices slide
The price for a gallon of regular unleaded gasoline in Illinois has dropped more than a quarter in the last week.
According to AAA, the average Illinois price on Thursday was $4.33, down from $4.61 one week ago and $4.70 one month ago. The average Illinois price one year ago was $3.27.
States bordering Illinois all had average gas prices below $3.79 on Thursday. The average price in Indiana was $3.48.
The Illinois motor fuel tax is scheduled to rise from 48.3 cents per gallon to 49.6 cents per gallon Jan. 1.
