Illinois Quick Hits: Benton pulls name from ballot after resignation

Illinois Quick Hits: Benton pulls name from ballot after resignation

Spread the love

(The Center Square) – Former state Rep. Harry Benton, D-Plainfield, who resigned from his seat in the Illinois House of Representatives at the start of this month following investigations into alleged misconduct while he was in office, has followed through on his promise to withdraw his name from November ballots.

The Will and Kendall County Democrats shared an open call for residents of the 97th district to apply to replace Benton, both for the remainder of his term and separately on the Democrat line of the ballot. The application closed Monday, but a candidate could be appointed by the chairs anytime before August 21, the day ballots are finalized.

Sean Reed contributed to this story

PRITZKER SIGNS SERVICE MEMBER, VETERANS-RELATED BILLS

Gov. J.B. Pritzker has signed legislation related to military service members and veterans.

Senate Bill 3737 requires universities to promptly readmit students after academic military leave.

Senate Bill 3818 incentivizes Illinois National Guard recruitment by providing financial compensation for successful referrals.

Senate Bill 3926 moves the Breakthrough Therapies for Veteran Suicide Prevention Program Advisory Council under the Department of Public Health.

All three measures take effect Jan.

IL DEPT. OF LABOR RELEASES PREVAILING WAGE RATES

The Illinois Department of Labor has published the 2026 prevailing wage rates for construction trades in each county across the state.

The rates took effect on Wednesday, following IDOL’s annual statewide survey pursuant to the Illinois Prevailing Wage Act.

The law requires workers on publicly funded construction and infrastructure projects to be paid wages that reflect local standards.

The rates can be found the the Illinois Department of Labor’s Prevailing Wage Act Rates webpage.

FINANCIAL CONDITIONS INDEX DECREASES

The Chicago Fed’s National Financial Conditions Index decreased to –0.54 in the week ending July 10, suggesting looser financial conditions where credit is considered to be easier and cheaper for businesses and consumers.

Leave a Comment





Latest News Stories

Will County Board Land Use Committee Graphic.1

Will County Committee Denies Appeal for Crete Township ‘Tiny Home’ Permit

Will County Land Use & Development Committee Meeting | November 6, 2025 Article Summary: The Will County Land Use and Development Committee on Thursday upheld the denial of a temporary use...
Electric Scooters

Beecher Board Approves New Regulations for Electric Scooters, E-Bikes

Village of Beecher Meeting | November 10, 2025 Article Summary: The Village of Beecher has updated its municipal code to establish clear rules for operating low-speed electric scooters and has...
Trump signs executive order to improve foster care

Trump signs executive order to improve foster care

By Morgan SweeneyThe Center Square In line with First Lady Melania Trump’s efforts to improve the foster care system, the president signed an executive order Thursday to better support foster...
Hegseth announces Operation Southern Spear, targeting narco-terrorists

Hegseth announces Operation Southern Spear, targeting narco-terrorists

By Sarah Roderick-FitchThe Center Square Operation Southern Spear, the new title for the Trump administration’s targeting of narco-terrorists in and around Latin America, was announced Thursday by Secretary of War...
Justice Department accuses California of racial gerrymandering in redistricting plan

Justice Department accuses California of racial gerrymandering in redistricting plan

By Brett RowlandThe Center Square The U.S. Department of Justice sued California officials Thursday over the state's redistricting plan, which could help Democrats pick up additional seats in Congress. The...
Illinois quick hits: WARN Act reporting shows 1,600 job losses in October

Illinois quick hits: WARN Act reporting shows 1,600 job losses in October

By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square WARN Act reporting shows 1,600 job losses in October The Illinois Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification (WARN) Act for October reports...
Pritzker, alders oppose Chicago tax plans, property tax hike could be next

Pritzker, alders oppose Chicago tax plans, property tax hike could be next

By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – As the Chicago City Council considers 2026 budget measures, Mayor Brandon Johnson’s proposed tax hikes continue to...
State Department designates European Antifa groups foreign terror organizations

State Department designates European Antifa groups foreign terror organizations

By Sarah Roderick-FitchThe Center Square The U.S. State Department officially designated four foreign Antifa groups as foreign terrorist organizations, nearly two months after President Donald Trump designated Antifa a domestic...
NetChoice scores legal win in social media warning lawsuit

NetChoice scores legal win in social media warning lawsuit

By Elyse ApelThe Center Square A U.S. District Court recently granted a preliminary injunction against a new Colorado law that would require social media platforms to regularly send pop-up notifications...
Union Pacific–Norfolk Southern merger draws more support as critics push back

Union Pacific–Norfolk Southern merger draws more support as critics push back

By Tom JoyceThe Center Square Support is growing for the proposed merger between Union Pacific and Norfolk Southern as federal regulators continue reviewing what would become the first transcontinental freight...
TSA agents who worked throughout shutdown to receive $10,000 bonus

TSA agents who worked throughout shutdown to receive $10,000 bonus

By Thérèse BoudreauxThe Center Square The Department of Homeland Security will issue $10,000 bonus checks to Transportation Security Administration (TSA) agents who demonstrated “exemplary” behavior and work attendance during the...
Boeing to pay $36M to family of Indian woman killed in Ethiopia Air crash

Boeing to pay $36M to family of Indian woman killed in Ethiopia Air crash

By Jonathan Bilyk | Legal NewslineThe Center Square The family of a woman from India who died in a 2019 airliner crash could receive nearly $35 million from Boeing, under...
Pro-life org invests $80M into 2026 midterms, will reach 10.5M voters

Pro-life org invests $80M into 2026 midterms, will reach 10.5M voters

By Tate MillerThe Center Square Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America says it will reach 10.5 million voters by its newly announced investment of $80 million into the 2026 midterm election,...

WATCH: Lawmakers call out Pritzker for lack of transparency with budget cuts

By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – Illinois lawmakers say they are not getting information from Gov. J.B. Pritzker or state agencies about the...
IL congressman pushes military to accept CLT, experts say it could shape education

IL congressman pushes military to accept CLT, experts say it could shape education

By Catrina Barker | The Center Square contributiorThe Center Square (The Center Square) – An Illinois congressman is pushing to expand testing options at U.S. service academies, a move experts...