Illinois Quick Hits: Iowa wants Illinois’ counties

February 9, 2026/

Spread the love

By Jim Talamonti | The Center Square
The Center Square

(The Center Square) – An Iowa state lawmaker has introduced legislation that would establish a committee to study the potential transfer of one or more Illinois counties to Iowa.

State Rep. Taylor Collins, R-Mediapolis, proposed House File 2141, the Iowa-Illinois Boundary Adjustment Act.

Last year, Indiana lawmakers passed a bill to create an Indiana-Illinois Boundary Adjustment Commission.

QUANTUM PARK

The Illinois Quantum and Microelectronics Park and the Illinois Economic Development Corporation announced that Quantum Machines will establish a hub at the planned Chicago park.

While the IQMP is being developed, the quantum control solutions company will be situated at the IQMP’s on-ramp facilities in Chicago, supported by grant funding from the IDCEO.

State, county and city governments have provided hundreds of millions of dollars in tax incentives for companies to operate at the IQMP.

UNHEALTHY STATES

Illinois, Missouri and Iowa are three of the unhealthiest states in the country, according to a NiceRx report.

A data analysis of obesity rates, alcohol consumption, physical activity levels and number of fitness facilities named Louisiana the unhealthiest state. Missouri ranked fourth, Illinois ranked fifth and Iowa was sixth.

According to the study, the healthiest state is Idaho.

Latest News Stories

Chicago aldermen discuss delayed payments, cash flow issues

By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – A Chicago alderman is urging city officials to support legislation in Springfield that would require Cook County...

FBI named high profile man ‘co-conspirator’ to Epstein, files show

By Andrew RiceThe Center Square The U.S. Department of Justice unredacted portions of documents in the Jeffrey Epstein files with mentions of high profile figures at the request of Congressional...

Lawmaker: Conversion therapy funding ban ‘hypocritical’ amid youth gender care doubts

By Catrina Barker | The Center Square contributorThe Center Square (The Center Square) – Illinois lawmakers are advancing legislation to prohibit taxpayer funding for conversion therapy, even as the state...

Poll: Americans skeptical of Trump’s 10% credit card cap

By Andrew RiceThe Center Square A significant portion of Americans believe they cannot take on more debt, according to a new survey from WalletHub. The new survey analyzed the latest...

Illinois Quick Hits: FEMA says no to Illinois disaster declaration

By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – The Federal Emergency Management Agency has denied the state of Illinois’ appeal for a major disaster declaration...

Meeting Summary and Briefs: Will County Capital Improvements & IT Committee for Jan. 6, 2026

Will County Capital Improvements & IT Committee Meeting | Jan. 6, 2026 The Will County Board Capital Improvements and IT Committee met Tuesday, Jan. 6, 2026, to discuss the county's...

Legislative Committee: Lobbyists Report on Federal Shutdown and Legislative Outlook

Legislative Committee Meeting | February 3, 2026 Article Summary: Federal lobbyists provided the Legislative Committee with an update on the partial government shutdown and the status of appropriations bills. While...

Ex-COPA deputy who revealed boss’ anti-cop bias can’t sue over firing

By Scott Holland | Legal NewslineThe Center Square A federal judge has tossed a lawsuit from a former top investigator for the Chicago city office responsible for investigating police misconduct...

Lawsuit demands Pritzker’s office release docs over pic with criminal

By Jonathan Bilyk | Legal NewslineThe Center Square Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker's office has illegally attempted to scrub from the public record photos and other proof that he posed at...

Pritzker announces bond expansion, says progress has been made with Bears

By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – Gov. J.B. Pritzker says progress has been made in conversations with the Chicago Bears. Pritzker announced the...

Illinois Quick Hits: Statewide bag tax proposed

By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – State Rep. Laura Faver Dias, D-Grayslake, has proposed legislation to impose a 10-cent fee on carryout bags...

Lawmakers join Chicago Teachers Union to push for more school funding

By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – State lawmakers have introduced legislation backed by the Chicago Teachers Union to immediately increase evidence-based funding and...

Illinois proposal makes businesses financially liable for climate change

By Catrina Barker | The Center Square contributorThe Center Square (The Center Square) – A proposal to create an Illinois Climate Change Superfund is drawing sharp criticism from Republican lawmakers...

Illinois unemployment rate tops national average; state ends 2025 with fewer jobs

By Glenn Minnis | The Center Square contributorThe Center Square (The Center Square) – Illinois State Rep. Chris Miller argues numbers tell the story as new U.S. Bureau of Labor...