Illinois

Illinois and Cook County's minimum wage set to increase in January 2025

Published

1 year ago

December 4, 2024

Illinois and Cook County's minimum wage set to increase in January 2025

Illinois and Cook County’s minimum wage will soon go up once again.

Beginning in 2025, the state and county’s minimum wage will officially increase to $15 an hour for non-tipped employees. Tipped employees will increase to $9 an hour.

“Cook County’s minimum wage is determined by whichever is higher in any given year: the Federal minimum wage, Illinois State minimum wage, or a rate calculated by the County using the Consumer Price Index (CPI),” the county said in a release.

The increase is separate from Chicago’s minimum wage, however. The city’s minimum wage changes in July each year and is currently at $16.20 an hour for non-tipped workers.

“This change reflects Cook County’s commitment to advancing health and wealth equity through labor protections that safeguard the County’s most vulnerable workers,” the county said in a release.

County employees are covered by minimum wage ordinance if:

They are over the age of 18 and work for an employer in Cook County for at least two hours in any two-week period, and
The employer has four or more employees (or employs domestic workers), and
The employer maintains a business facility in Cook County or is issued a business license by Cook County.

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Illinois

Last-minute gifts made in Illinois, local small businesses

Published

9 hours ago

December 17, 2025

Press Room

Last-minute gifts made in Illinois, local small businesses

Wednesday, December 17, 2025 6:44PM

CHICAGO (WLS) — There’s still time to get a gift under the tree that is made in Illinois.

ABC7 Chicago is now streaming 24/7. Click here to watch

The Illinois Office of Tourism is out with its “Illinois-Made Holiday Gift Guide.”

Seventeen small businesses from across the state are featured.

From soap, to popcorn, to fudge and coffee, there are some great ideas.

Kribi Coffee Air Roastery, Garrett Popcorn Shops, The Fudge Pot and Soapy Roads are some of the brands featured in the list.

To see the full guide, click here.

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Illinois

Illinois high school football playoffs expanding in 2026

Published

21 hours ago

December 17, 2025

Press Room

Illinois high school football playoffs expanding in 2026

BLOOMINGTON, Ill. (KWQC) – The IHSA football playoffs will be expanding by 50 percent in 2026.

IHSA member schools approved an amendment to expand the playoffs from 32 teams per class to 48.

There will still be 8 classifications increasing the total number of playoff teams from 256 to 384.

As a result of the change, the start of the season will be moved up by a week in August to allow the season to still finish with State Championship games the week of Thanksgiving.

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Illinois

Woman found dead near Schamburg, Illinois shopping center, man in custody

Published

1 day ago

December 16, 2025

Press Room

Woman found dead near Schamburg, Illinois shopping center, man in custody

December 16, 2025 / 10:36 AM CST
/ CBS Chicago

A woman was found dead near a shopping center in Schaumburg, Illinois early Tuesday, and a man was taken into police custody.

Around 5:25 a.m., Schaumburg police were called to the 100 block of South Roselle Road. They found a woman dead at the scene.

Police said a man was taken into custody at the scene.

The investigation so far indicates that the incident was domestic, and the man and woman knew each other.

Police said the incident was isolated and there was no threat to the public. But there was a large police presence at the scene, and alternate routes were advised.

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