Illinois quick hits: Chicago businesses at 10-year low; school admin survey closes soon

Illinois quick hits: Chicago businesses at 10-year low; school admin survey closes soon

August 26, 2025/
Spread the love

By Jim Talamonti | The Center Square
The Center Square

Chicago businesses at 10-year low

The number of businesses operating in Chicago has reached a 10-year low.

Citing city license data, the Illinois Policy Institute said Chicago had 44,840 businesses operating in the city last year, down from 54,135 in 2015.

The Magnificent Mile area saw the largest decline with a 51% drop over the past decade.

School admin survey closes soon

The Illinois State Board of Education is asking school district administrators to complete the board’s Modernization District Survey this week.

ISBE says the request is part of an effort to modernize data systems, reduce duplication and build secure, user-friendly tools.

The survey closes on Friday, Aug. 29.

Increased U of I football security

The University of Illinois Division of Public Safety and the Division of Intercollegiate Athletics have added walk-through metal-detection systems for home football games at Memorial Stadium.

Officials say Fighting Illini fans will have a similar entry experience to those at other major sports venues around the country.

The Illini home opener is scheduled this Friday evening against the Leathernecks of Western Illinois.

Leave a Comment





Latest News Stories

Nessel pushes back as Trump administration extends order keeping coal plant open

Nessel pushes back as Trump administration extends order keeping coal plant open

By Elyse ApelThe Center Square The Trump administration has again extended its emergency order keeping a west Michigan coal plant operating. U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright issued a fifth emergency...
Bipartisan praise for federal charges in Minnesota fraud cases

Bipartisan praise for federal charges in Minnesota fraud cases

By Elyse ApelThe Center Square Minnesota officials are applauding after federal prosecutors announced sweeping fraud charges against 15 people accused of stealing more than $90 million from state-managed Medicaid programs....
Congress rejects Trump's proposed NASA budget cuts

Congress rejects Trump’s proposed NASA budget cuts

By Brett RowlandThe Center Square House lawmakers advanced a spending bill rejecting President Donald Trump's proposed cuts to NASA, keeping the agency's budget flat at $24.4 billion. The White House...
Comptroller, Chicago officials debate tax fund sweeps

Comptroller, Chicago officials debate tax fund sweeps

By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – Illinois Comptroller Susana Mendoza and Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson’s administration are at odds over legislation that would...
No public funds for new transit safety group

No public funds for new transit safety group

By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – The Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office says no public funds are being used for the agency’s new...
The future of American troops in Europe; Iran lead Rubio's meeting with NATO

The future of American troops in Europe; Iran lead Rubio’s meeting with NATO

By Sarah Roderick-FitchThe Center Square Defense spending, troop placement and Iran took center stage during a meeting between Secretary of State Marco Rubio and NATO leaders on Friday in Sweden....
Tennessee congressman files articles of impeachment against Roberts

Tennessee congressman files articles of impeachment against Roberts

By Kim JarrettThe Center Square U.S. Rep. Steve Cohen, D-Tennessee, filed six articles of impeachment against U.S. Supreme Court Justice John Roberts, saying Roberts's leadership is marked by "arbitrary, unexplained,...
Illinois Quick Hits: Chicagoland chamber opposes ditigal ad tax

Illinois Quick Hits: Chicagoland chamber opposes ditigal ad tax

By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – The Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce is urging the Illinois legislature to reject a proposed new tax on...
Board suspends Camp Mystic co-owner's nursing license

Board suspends Camp Mystic co-owner’s nursing license

By Bethany BlankleyThe Center Square The Texas Board of Nursing has suspended the nursing license of Mary Liz Eastland, a co-owner of Camp Mystic, the flooded all-girls camp in Hunt,...
Illinois bill banning ‘easily convertible’ handguns could pass this session

Illinois bill banning ‘easily convertible’ handguns could pass this session

By Greg Bishop | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – An Illinois measure to prohibit the sale and manufacture of handguns some legislators say are “easily convertible”...
Deadline approaches for $1 million school choice award

Deadline approaches for $1 million school choice award

By Bethany BlankleyThe Center Square The June 1 deadline for a $1 million Yass Prize school choice award is approaching, and education providers nationwide are encouraged to apply. The Yass...
Biometrics privacy law’s territorial reach limited, appeals court says

Biometrics privacy law’s territorial reach limited, appeals court says

By Jonathan Bilyk | Legal NewslineThe Center Square Amazon has turned aside another attempt to use Illinois' stringent biometrics privacy law to extract a potentially big payout from the company,...
Watchdog says Biden Education Department defied court order on Title IX enforcement

Watchdog says Biden Education Department defied court order on Title IX enforcement

By Tom JoyceThe Center Square The U.S. Department of Education still has not released a final investigative report about allegations that the Biden administration ignored federal court orders on Title...
Congress skips town without passing $72B immigration enforcement bill

Congress skips town without passing $72B immigration enforcement bill

By Thérèse BoudreauxThe Center Square In an epic breakdown of negotiations, Congress is leaving town without voting on Republicans’ roughly $72 billion budget reconciliation bill. Senate Republicans ultimately deadlocked Thursday...
EPA slashes regulations on refrigerants finalized during Biden-era

EPA slashes regulations on refrigerants finalized during Biden-era

By Morgan SweeneyThe Center Square The Environmental Protection Agency is slashing some regulations on refrigerants finalized in the Biden-era in an effort it says will reduce grocery costs for Americans...