Illinois

Bloomington still has lowest unemployment rate in Illinois, though it’s up from last year

Published

2 years ago

April 26, 2024

Bloomington still has lowest unemployment rate in Illinois, though it’s up from last year

PEORIA (25News Now) – Jobs were added in most of Illinois’ metropolitan areas this year, including Bloomington and Peoria, but unemployment still rose slightly compared to last year.

Not counting farm labor, Bloomington added 1,000 jobs in March 2024 compared to March 2023, totaling 99,300. Peoria added 500 jobs, totaling 169,000. Statewide, Illinois added over 15,000 jobs.

“Job growth continues to reach areas in every corner of the state throughout industries, creating new and expanded job opportunities for Illinois workers,” Deputy Governor Andy Manar said. “IDES and its workforce partners remain prepared and committed to matching job seekers and employers to find the right fit for their career and employment needs.”

Most areas added jobs, except for the Chicago suburbs, which lost more than 4,000. The Quad Cities, Decatur, and Springfield all lost jobs, with Springfield losing the same amount as the Chicago suburbs.

Though Peoria and Bloomington ultimately added jobs, there were some significant losses. Bloomington lost 1,300 jobs across the professional business sector, financial activities, retail trade, and leisure hospitality. Peoria lost 2,000 jobs in the same areas as well as mining and transportation/warehousing utilities.

However, massive gains in government positions helped boost cities into a net gain. Bloomington also saw 800 manufacturing jobs added.

Unemployment rates rose slightly for most Illinois metro areas, though they remained relatively low. Bloomington continues to boast one of the lowest unemployment rates in the state, at 4.2%. At the same time last year, they had a 3.6% unemployment rate. Peoria’s unemployment also increased from 5.1% to 5.4% at the same time.

Danville’s unemployment rate stayed the same at 5.7%. Rockford and Decatur decreased their unemployment rates from 2024 to 2023.

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Related Topics:bloomington danville decatur Featured Government job market Manufacturing peoria springfield Unemployment unemployment rate

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Illinois

Illinois has already broken the record for number of tornadoes in a year — and it’s only June

Published

5 hours ago

June 19, 2026

Press Room

Illinois has already broken the record for number of tornadoes in a year — and it’s only June

Illinois has seen more tornadoes in 2026 than in any year on record.

Following several more tornadoes confirmed this week across the state, Illinois has recorded 143 tornadoes so far in 2026, beating the previous record of 142 tornadoes set in 2024. With reliable records dating back to 1950, Illinois averages just 54 tornadoes per year. But in recent years, the state has experienced many more:

2023: 121
2024: 142
2025: 126
2026: 143 and counting

Unlike 2024, when a record two-day tornado outbreak accounted for a large share of the year’s tornadoes, the activity in 2026 has been spread out across several months.

On Thursday, June 11, a tornado outbreak brought at least 21 confirmed tornadoes to northern Illinois and northwest Indiana, 13 of them in Illinois. Two tornadoes that day — in Streator, Illinois, and Hebron, Indiana — reached rare EF-3 intensity, with winds over 135 miles per hour. Numerous injuries were reported from the storms, but there were no fatalities.

Confirmed tornadoes from June 11:

Long Point to Streator, IL: EF-3
Wenona/Osage Township, IL: EF-1
Graymont to Dwight, IL: EF-1
Lee, IL: EF-U
Harpster to Elliott, IL: EF-0
Pembroke Township (Leesville), IL: EF-U
St. John to Schererville, IN: EF-0
Paxton/Loda, IL: EF-1
Merrillville to Hobart, IN: EF-2
Ludlow, IL: EF-1
Cedar Lake, IN: EF-0
Schneider to Hebron, IN: EF-0
Watseka, IL: EF-0
Hebron to Kouts, IN: EF-3
Wellington/Prairie Green Township, IL: EF-1
Bartlett, IL: EF-1
Boswell to Atkinson, IN: EF-1
Ade to Mount Ayr, IN: EF-0
Naperville to Lisle, IL: EF-0
Hickory Hills to Garfield Ridge: EF-2
Morocco, IN: EF-0

Though most of the Chicago area dodged severe weather from storms this week, the National Weather Service confirmed a brief tornado touchdown Wednesday night in Lake County near Grayslake. The EF-0 tornado had estimated winds of 80 miles per hour and was on the ground for about a quarter-mile. Damage consisted of several downed or split trees and sporadic minor roof damage along a narrow corridor in the Saddlebrook Farms subdivision.

Four more tornadoes were confirmed Wednesday in western and central Illinois. NWS crews are still surveying damage in central Illinois, and more tornadoes may be added to the count in the coming days.

With 143 tornadoes so far this year, Illinois leads the nation in tornado count for the third time in the last four years — a remarkable statistic for a state not typically thought of as being in Tornado Alley.

The recent increase in tornado activity across Illinois and the Midwest fits research showing a shift in tornado-favorable environments away from parts of the traditional Plains Tornado Alley and farther east into the Midwest and South. Climate change is one likely factor, as warming temperatures are expected to make the Plains hotter and drier overall, shifting tornado ingredients eastward toward the Mississippi River.

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Illinois

Pedestrian fatally struck by Metra train in Palatine, Illinois

Published

15 hours ago

June 19, 2026

Press Room

Pedestrian fatally struck by Metra train in Palatine, Illinois

Updated on: June 19, 2026 / 7:10 AM CDT
/ CBS Chicago

A person was fatally hit by a Metra train in Palatine, Illinois, early Friday morning.

Around 5:10 a.m., Metra said Union Pacific Northwest train No. 602 hit a pedestrian at Baldwin Road and Northwest Highway.

Metra confirmed the person died at the scene. The victim has not been identified.

Metra said train service on the Union Pacific Northwest line is suspended.

This is a developing story. CBS News Chicago will continue to provide updates.

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Illinois

Beecher City farm suffers heavy damage following ‘wicked storm’

Published

1 day ago

June 18, 2026

Press Room

Beecher City farm suffers heavy damage following ‘wicked storm’

BEECHER CITY, Ill. (WAND) – Farms were damaged in Effingham County Wednesday evening when a powerful storm swept through at around 8 p.m.

The McKay Farm in Beecher City was heavily damaged when the rapidly moving storm hit.

“Two buildings were totally destroyed,” Dan McKay told WAND News on Thursday. “We’ve got five grain bins and they’re all damaged.”

The buildings collapsed onto farm equipment and a semi that were parked in the structures. A utility pole was snapped and ripped out of the ground.

In nearby Shumway, another farm was hit. A barn collapsed, with a grain bin being ripped apart and debris traveling several hundred feet through a nearby corn field. A house on the property was also damaged.

There were no injuries on either farm.

“It was a really wicked storm,” McKay stated.

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