ILLINOIS STATE NEWS BRIEF (01/03/2024)

(ROCKFORD) A private plane chartered in San Antonio arrived Sunday in Rockford carrying 350 migrants. Officials in Rockford said they were given limited notice about the arrival. Upon landing, the plane’s passengers boarded eight buses chartered by Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, and were dropped off in various Chicago suburbs. This is the second private plane carrying migrants chartered by Texas sent to Illinois.

(SPRINGFIELD) The Illinois Comptroller is urging Illinoisans to get their finances in order for 2024. Comptroller Susana Mendoza said households should consider starting the year with a solid financial plan. She said money should be set aside for emergencies like unexpected home or auto repairs. Mendoza added that it is a good idea to review spending and overall debt. 

(CHICAGO) A northern Illinois community has made the list of the safest cities in America for 2024. According to MoneyGeek, Naperville ranked as the eighth safest city in the country, down from the top spot last year. The ranking looked at more than 300 cities with populations more than 100,000 and analyzed them based on crime statistics from the FBI. Thousand Oaks, California, was named the safest city in the U.S.