The state of Illinois has begun a public awareness campaign to remind drivers that all hand-held cellphone use is now illegal. Under a law that took effect Jan. 1, Illinois drivers can only use speakerphones or headsets that feature voice-activated …
A northern Illinois man has been sentenced to 6 months in jail for insurance fraud and forgery. Kane County prosecutors say 53-year-old Juventino Guzman of Elgin falsely claimed he’d slipped, fallen and was injured at three businesses in Elgin and …
Illinois lawmakers want the federal government to change its formula for determining how much aid communities struck by natural disasters can receive. Democratic Sen. Dick Durbin and his Republican counterpart, Sen. Mark Kirk, said in a joint statement Monday they’ve …
Illinois police departments say officers are using discretion about whether to cite drivers who are breaking the state’s new ban on hand-held cellphone use while driving. The (Bloomington) Pantagraph reports law enforcement agencies appear to be giving drivers latitude if …
Illinois drivers should get ready to pay more for insurance. Crain’s Chicago Business reports major insurers in Illinois are raising rates. Northbrook-based Allstate says in a regulatory filing that rates for customers will climb between 2.5 and 3.5 percent later …
A review has found several shortfalls in Illinois’ readiness to respond to disasters and emergencies. The review concluded that there could be better coordination with local communities on things like identifying and pre-registering volunteer health professionals who could be called …
The costs of medical care to treat injured workers in Illinois are declining, the result of regulatory change enacted in 2011, according to a new study by Cambridge-based Workers Compensation Research Institute (WCRI). The report, Benchmarks for Illinois, CompScope 14th …
Two Halloween haunted houses in west central Illinois won’t be operating this year because organizers aren’t able to meet state fire safety rules. The Register-Mail in Galesburg reports that Gilson Haunted School near Galesburg and Fright High in Abingdon will …
The rate used to calculate workers’ compensation insurance premiums in Illinois has dropped again, a direct result of reforms Gov. Pat Quinn signed into law in 2011, his aides said Monday. The National Council on Compensation Insurance, a rating agency, …
Normal city leaders want to spend $12 million to build three new fire stations in the central Illinois community. The Pantagraph reports the community plans to borrow money for the project. It was approved by the city council during a …