Illinois Quick Hits: FAFSA applications rise with increase in state taxpayer funding
(The Center Square) – According to the National College Attainment Network’s Free Application for Federal Student Aid Tracker for the Class of 2026, Illinois ranked second in the nation with 71.9% of students completing financial aid applications.
The Illinois Student Assistance Commission and its partners conducted almost 3,400 FAFSA outreach events and held more than 12,230 financial aid workshops during the school year. The ISAC’s budget appropriation for fiscal year 2027 includes $8.36 million for agency outreach and research and $9.0 million for operations, a 6.6% increase over fiscal year 2026.
The Illinois FAFSA Mandate requires every Illinois public high school student to complete a financial aid application or submit a waiver as part of their graduation requirements.
STATE ENHANCES SENIOR FARMERS MARKET VOUCHERS
The Illinois Department on Aging and the Illinois Department of Human Services are offering enhanced Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Program vouchers for income-eligible older adults to purchase fruits, vegetables and harvested honey at participating farmers markets and roadside stands.
Participants will receive up to $40 per person in benefits, up from $25 in 2025.
FUEL PRICES RISE
The average price for a gallon of regular unleaded gasoline in Illinois has increased to $4.13, up nearly 5 cents from yesterday, according to AAA.
The national average rose just over a nickel to $3.94 on Friday. The average Illinois price one year ago was $3.45.
FINANCIAL STRESS INDEX DIPS
The St. Louis Fed Financial Stress Index dipped to -0.88 in the week ending July 10 from the prior week’s -0.72.
The index measures the degree of financial stress in the markets and is constructed from seven interest rate data series, six yield spreads and five other indicators. Values below zero suggest below-average financial market stress, while values above zero suggest above-average financial market stress.
Showers And Thunderstorms
Latest News Stories
DOJ sues health plan that got almost $3.5 billion from Feds
Bill blocks Federal Reserve members’ dual appointments
Lawmakers call for changes to cashless bail as Illinois faces federal funding loss
WATCH: House committee debates D.C. crime after Trump emergency order
Illinois quick hits: Unemployment down; Rivian supplier gets tax incentives
Pritzker’s office ‘extremely troubled’ by photo with suspect ‘peacekeeper’
Democrats’ CR could cost up to $1.4 trillion, add millions to Obamacare plans
Treasury goes after fentanyl-producing Sinaloa Cartel faction
Pritzker touts quantum future, state senator urges caution for taxpayers
Supreme Court sets oral arguments in tariff case
Dems release funding counterproposal full of partisan policy riders
WATCH: Pritzker on Kimmel suspension; SNAP error rate alarms; hemp regulations loom
