![SRP-IMAGE-Logo SRP-IMAGE-Logo](https://southwestregionalpublishing.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/SRP-IMAGE-Logo-1024x560.png)
Capitol Briefs: State money to address food deserts; unemployment at 4.2%; tax season opens
By CAPITOL NEWS ILLINOIS
news@capitolnewsillinois.com
Illinois’ Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity announced the application window is open for $3.5 million in funding to help local grocery stores provide fresh foods in areas with limited availability.
The money is a part of an equipment upgrade program in Illinois’ Grocery Initiative – a $20 million program championed by Gov. JB Pritzker last year. The initiative aims to provide aid to areas of the state where a lack of access to fresh fruits and vegetables, along with other healthy choices, can lead to higher incidences of obesity, cancer, and other negative health outcomes.
Read more: As many Illinoisans struggle with food access, lawmakers consider state grants for grocers
The grants can be used to help replace old equipment with more energy-efficient supplies. This round of funding is intended for existing grocery stores, with additional money for new stores expected to be released soon. Grant information can be found at DCEO.Illinois.gov.
December Unemployment
Illinois’ statewide unemployment rate rose to 4.2 percent in December 2023, according to preliminary data from the Illinois Department of Employment Security.
That number, which was not seasonally adjusted, reflects a 0.2 percentage point increase from December 2022. The Chicago-Naperville-Arlington Heights region was the only one of 14 metropolitan areas that saw its unemployment rate decrease, to 3.9 percent from 4.2 percent.
Rockford and Kankakee claimed the highest unemployment rates, both at 5.9 percent. Bloomington had the lowest at 3.8 percent. Much of the state hovered between four and five percent.
The state, however, reported an increase in the number of jobs in eight regions, accompanied by a decline in five regions. The Peoria region was unchanged year-over-year.
Tax Season 2024
The Illinois Department of Revenue will begin processing 2023 tax returns next week, coinciding with the federal Internal Revenue Service beginning its tax filing season.
“We encourage taxpayers to file electronically as early as possible as this will speed processing. If they are due money back, they should choose direct deposit as that ensures the fastest issuance of refunds,” IDOR Director David Harris said in a news release Thursday.
More than six million returns were processed in Illinois last year, with roughly 90 percent filed electronically through the state’s MyTax Illinois portal.
New this year is an increase in the state’s Earned Income Tax Credit, which is now 20 percent of the federal EITC and includes additional groups of taxpayers in younger and older age brackets. Volunteer fire and emergency workers also have a new credit, with those that qualify receiving a $500 credit.
The tax filing deadline is April 15.
Capitol News Illinois is a nonprofit, nonpartisan news service covering state government. It is distributed to hundreds of print and broadcast outlets statewide. It is funded primarily by the Illinois Press Foundation and the Robert R. McCormick Foundation, along with major contributions from the Illinois Broadcasters Foundation and Southern Illinois Editorial Association.
Local News
![CPD Chicago Police Department](https://southwestregionalpublishing.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/Screen-Shot-2013-04-02-at-3.28.02-PM.png)
Police reports
Spread the loveMan shot to death in Chicago Lawn A 23-year-old man was shot in the back of the head and killed in a crime that occurred in the 6400 block of South St. Louis at about 1 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 30. Officers responding to a “person down” call discovered the victim lying on the…
![GSWNH_New22Program_020422 Officials and potential participants in the After 22 Project pause for a photo as they discuss the new initiative’s planned impact of the lives of Chicagoans with developmental disabilities. --Supplied photo](https://southwestregionalpublishing.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/GSWNH_New22Program_020422.jpg)
Building a bridge at Daley College
Spread the love‘After 22’ program to help adults with disabilities By Tim Hadac For Chicagoans with developmental disabilities, their 22nd birthday can feel like falling off a cliff. That’s when they become ineligible for the special education transition services they’ve received all their lives. That ineligibility can last for up to seven years, until they…
![chuygarcia U.S. Rep. Jesús "Chuy" García (D-4th)](https://southwestregionalpublishing.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/chuygarcia-819x1024.jpg)
Society failed Melissa, Chuy says
Spread the loveCalls for more gov’t funds to fight violence From staff reports Hours after police announced the arrest of two suspects in the slaying of 8-year-old Melissa Ortega, U.S. Rep. Jesús “Chuy” García (D-4th) issued the following statement. “Since the tragic death of Melissa Ortega, we have seen the resilience and strength of Little…
![GSWNH_XavierGuzman_020422 Guzman](https://southwestregionalpublishing.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/GSWNH_XavierGuzman_020422.jpg)
Charge Brighton Pk. man with child’s murder
Spread the loveDrove getaway vehicle, police say By Tim Hadac A 27-year-old Brighton Park man and a 16-year-old boy have been charged with murder in the Jan. 22 slaying of 8-year-old Melissa Ortega in the Little Village neighborhood. Xavier Guzman, 27, of the 4600 block of South Fairfield, and the teen are in custody. Bond…
![BBBlogo2021 BBBlogo2021](https://southwestregionalpublishing.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/BBBlogo2021.png)
Think before you answer a Facebook quiz, BBB says
Spread the loveBy Better Business Bureau staff Social media is used as a fun distraction for some people, and taking a Facebook quiz may seem like a harmless way to pass the time. But are you giving away more information than you think? How the scam works A fun quiz pops up on your Facebook…
![joanhadac Joan Hadac](https://southwestregionalpublishing.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/joanhadac.jpg)
Thank you, Karen Sala
Spread the loveBy Joan Hadac GSWNH Columnist At-Large As we all know, longtime Gage Park correspondent Karen Sala has decided to conclude her time with this column. Like every Greater Southwest News-Herald correspondent, Karen made the neighborhoods she served a better place. Thank you, Karen! That said, the search now begins for a new Gage…
![PeggyZabicki Peggy Zabicki](https://southwestregionalpublishing.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/PeggyZabicki-1024x768.jpg)
Crime prevention starts with each of us
Spread the loveBy Peggy Zabicki Your correspondent in West Lawn 3633 W. 60th Place • (773) 504-9327 Hi neighbors! Before I say another thing, I want to wish my fellow columnist Karen Sala well. As you know, she wrote her final column last week. I love Karen’s style of writing. It’s conversational and natural. I always felt like she…
![MaryStanek Mary Stanek](https://southwestregionalpublishing.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/MaryStanek-1-768x1024.jpg)
Plenty to celebrate in February
Spread the loveBy Mary Stanek Your correspondent in Archer Heights and West Elsdon 3808 W. 57th Place • (773) 284-7394 “February is the month when days start to get long and gloomy nights to shrink.” –Anonymous. Thank goodness there are only 28 days this year. We are getting closer to March. But it’s silly to…
![regional republic services - Copy regional republic services - Copy](https://southwestregionalpublishing.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/regional-republic-services-Copy.png)
Storm scrambles waste pickup in Palos Park
Spread the loveOn Wednesday afternoon, the Village of Palos Park was informed by Republic Services that waste pickup is cancelled in the village, and all other communities they serve, for Thursday, February 3, due to the continued closure of landfill sites from the hazardous winter conditions. Thursday waste service customers will need to hold their…
Neighbors
![dvn 6-14-24 riot fest lineup dvn 6-14-24 riot fest lineup](https://southwestregionalpublishing.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/dvn-6-14-24-riot-fest-lineup-819x1024.jpg)
Riot Fest abandons Chicago park for SeatGeek Stadium
Spread the loveBy Bob Bong Last year, Lyrical Lemonade moved its Summer Smash hip-hop music festival from Chicago’s Douglass Park to Bridgeview’s SeatGeek Stadium. Thousands of fans poured into the stadium at 7100 S. Harlem Ave. over the course of three days and, by most accounts, enjoyed the experience. Summer Smash returned to SeatGeek this…
![regional summerfest 2023 LOAFER SINGER Alyssa Blomberg of the group Ramzi and the Loafers, sings during a performance last year at Orland Park’s inaugural SummerFest. (Photo by Jeff Vorva)](https://southwestregionalpublishing.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/regional-summerfest-2023-LOAFER-SINGER-1024x678.jpg)
Comings & Goings: Orland Park Summerfest returns this weekend
Spread the loveBy Bob Bong Back for a second go round this weekend is the Orland Park Area Chamber of Commerce’s Summerfest. The event combines a carnival, live music, an array of dining options and a car show, at the 153rd Street Metra Station location in Orland Park and will run from Friday, June 14,…
![dvn 6-13-24 township repair cafe for 6-15 dvn 6-13-24 township repair cafe for 6-15](https://southwestregionalpublishing.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/dvn-6-13-24-township-repair-cafe-for-6-15-791x1024.png)
Repair Cafe this Saturday at Township of Lyons HQ
Spread the loveBy Steve Metsch Repair cafes have become quite the thing for the Township of Lyons. So much so that another repair cafe will be offered from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. this Saturday, June 15, at the township office, 6404 Joliet Road in Countryside. A repair café held in May was a smashing…
![dvn 6-13-24 arturo cantu with kids Father’s Day will be especially hard for Jonathan and Kayla, children of the late Arturo Cantu, one of his sisters said. (Supplied photo)](https://southwestregionalpublishing.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/dvn-6-13-24-arturo-cantu-with-kids.jpg)
‘They didn’t have to kill my brother’ – sister of slain Bridgeview man
Spread the loveBy Steve Metsch Arturo Cantu should be celebrating two big events this weekend. He would have celebrated his 40th birthday on June 14. And, a sister said, he would have enjoyed Father’s Day on Sunday, spending time with family and his two young children. Instead, 10 family members and friends gathered in a…
![dvn 2-26-24 sisto brito mugshot Sisto Brito](https://southwestregionalpublishing.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/dvn-2-26-24-sisto-brito-mugshot.bmp)
‘You just learn to live with the pain’
Spread the loveStatus hearing in July for McCook murder By Steve Metsch The attorney representing a Chicago man charged with murdering a Blue Island man in McCook in February told a judge Wednesday there’s been “a significant and outstanding discovery in this matter.” Attorney Damon Cheronis made his comment before Cook County Circuit Court Judge…
![lagrange police logo lagrange police logo](https://southwestregionalpublishing.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/lagrange-police-logo.jpg)
Man shot in La Grange; suspect arrested in Stickney
Spread the loveBy Steve Metsch A man was shot Tuesday afternoon in La Grange, according to a news release received Wednesday from the police department. A suspect has been apprehended, the release said. The shooting victim remains in stable condition at a local hospital, the release said. La Grange Police, working with the Major Case…
![Softball stock Softball stock](https://southwestregionalpublishing.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/stock-softball.jpg)
Softball | Marist will play for state title for fourth straight season
Spread the loveBy Randy Whalen Correspondent Marist returned to the state title game for the fourth straight season with a 7-1 victory over Mundelein in the semifinals, held June 7 at Louisville Slugger Sports Complex in Peoria. The Mustangs (36-2) were making their first appearance at state since 1996. “We have a core group of returners,”…
![dvn 6-10-24 mccook inspector retires Terrence Hickey is retiring at the end of June after working 18 years as a building inspector for the village of McCook. (Photo by Steve Metsch)](https://southwestregionalpublishing.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/dvn-6-10-24-mccook-inspector-retires-1024x955.jpg)
McCook building inspector retires after 18 years
Spread the loveBy Steve Metsch After 18 years of inspecting buildings, be it a modest bi-level house or a sprawling multi-million-dollar warehouse, Terrence Hickey is retiring from the village of McCook. His retirement takes effect June 28, Mayor Terrance Carr said during the June 3 meeting of the village board. “I’m jealous,” Carr said. “(He’s…
![Summit Girl Scouts Members of Summit Girl Scout Troop 56615. (Supplied photo)](https://southwestregionalpublishing.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Summit-Girl-Scouts-1024x768.jpg)
New Summit Girl Scout troop off and running
Spread the loveBy Carol McGowan There’s a new Girl Scout Troop in Summit, and they have been busy. Troop 56615 is made up of girls from Summit School District 104 from first-grade to third-grade, and between 7-9 years old, making them Brownies in the scouting world. They have 10 girls so far, and Troop Leader…