Illinois quick hits: US Steel reopening Granite City furnace; unemployment down slightly
US Steel reopening Granite City furnace
U.S. Steel says customer demand has driven the company to begin the process of restarting one of two blast furnaces at Granite City Works.
U.S. Steel President and CEO David B. Burritt said in a statement that the company is confident in its ability to safely and profitably operate the mill to meet 2026 demand.
The Granite City reopening comes after President Donald Trump’s administration agreed to a merger deal between U.S. Steel and Nippon earlier this year.
Unemployment down slightly
The Illinois Department of Employment Security says the state’s unemployment rate in August was 4.7%, down slightly from July but higher than the national rate of 4.5%.
According to the Illinois Policy Institute, only 5,900 jobs were created in Illinois from August 2024 to August 2025.
The biggest gains came from private education and health services, which added 18,600 positions.
State Museum reaccredited
The Illinois State Museum has been reaccredited by the American Alliance of Museums.
ISM said it conducted a year of self-study and hosted a site visit by peer reviewers to earn the accreditation.
Established in 1877, the Illinois State Museum is headquartered in Springfield with branch facilities in Lewistown and Lockport.
Christen Smith contributed to this report.
Partly Sunny then Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
Latest News Stories
Will County Commits $15M to Transfer Sanitary District Operations to City of Joliet
District 200-U Board Approves 2026-2027 Academic Calendar
Prairie View Landfill Expansion Plans Take Shape as Consultants Navigate Design Challenges
County Committee Proposes Federal Study on “Legacy Pollution” Near Joliet and Romeoville Refineries
Beecher School Board Authorizes Dismissal of Tenured Employee
County Authorizes Condemnation to Advance Francis and Marley Road Improvements
IL Republicans call for growing tax base, not raising taxes
DHS funding bill teeters as Democrats balk over ICE concerns
House hearing: Fraud goes far beyond Minnesota
Supreme Court hears arguments on Fed firing case
More than 1,000 cases of child care overpayments in Illinois over 5 years
Support for religious freedom up 5 points from 2020, reaching a high of 71
