(SPRINGFIELD) The Tax Foundation has released a report showing states that forgo one or more of the major taxes tend to do well while the states landing near the bottom of the national rankings tend to have several issues in common, including complex, nonneutral taxes with comparatively high rates. Illinois comes in at number 37 on the list of 50 states. While New York, New Jersey, California, the District of Columbia, and Connecticut are the worst states on the list, Wyoming is the best, followed by South Dakota and Alaska.
(SPRINGFIELD) While November is Adoption Awareness Month, the Illinois Department of Children & Family Services is celebrating the lifelong commitment thousands of families across the state have made by opening their hearts and homes to over 19,000 children who have needed a loving family in the past decade. Courtrooms across the state are opening their doors to finalize current adoptions during special Adoption Day celebrations.
(CHICAGO) Starting this week, Illinois residents will be able to take a train from Chicago to Florida. Amtrak officials say the “Floridian” line will start in “The Windy City” and make stops in Cleveland and Washington D.C., then on south to Orlando and Tampa before the final stop in Miami. Taking nearly 48 hours to complete, tickets start at just over $100.
(SPRINGFIELD) The Office of the Illinois State Fire Marshall and the Illinois Department of Public Health reminds everyone to test, inspect, and replace, if needed, any broken or expired, smoke or carbon monoxide alarms. Last year in 2023, there were 89 residential fire deaths in Illinois with the majority of those occurring in homes without working smoke alarms. While smoke or CO alarms have a life span of about ten years before they need to be replace, those that operate by batteries should have the batteries replaced every year.