Illinois

Major Illinois employers reported widespread layoffs. Here’s the list

Published

9 months ago

July 13, 2025

Major Illinois employers reported widespread layoffs. Here’s the list

In June, companies reported plans for nearly 1,800 layoffs in the state, according to the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity as part of the Illinois Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act.

Companies undergoing layoffs include both national and local giants, according to a compilation of WARN notices in June 2025. Following is a summary of the layoffs.

Job-seeking websites to layoff employees in Illinois

CareerBuilder LLC and Monster Worldwide LLC, located at 200 N. LaSalle Street in Chicago, announced June 24 the company is selling parts of its businesses and filing for bankruptcy. The companies, which merged in 2024, submitted a WARN notice June 5. The closing will put 390 workers out of a job permanently beginning Aug. 4.

Company set to lay off 32 workers in Illinois

Group 1001 Resources, located at 250 S. NW Highway, Suite 302 in Park Ridge, announced June 25 it will lay off 32 workers between Oct. 1 and Dec. 16. The company, which provides annuity contracts and life insurance policies, will lay off 25 employees in October and seven in December, according to the WARN notice.

Design group to close Shorewood plant

IG Design Group Americas announced in June the paper manufacturing company had filed for bankruptcy and submitted a WARN notice June 27. Closing its Shorewood distribution center, 150 workers will be laid off Aug. 26, according to the state.

Meat packing center shuts doors in Illinois

Kankakee County saw 274 workers laid off after Momence Packing Company, owned by Johnsonville LLC, shut its doors. Located at 332 W. North Street in Momence, the company reported the closure June 2, with layoffs effective immediately. A Johnsonville spokesperson said operations will be moved to three other plants in Wisconsin and Texas.

The Colorado-based fashion credit card company reported June 3 it will lay off workers across multiple remote Illinois locations in Lake, Cook and Will counties due to company restructuring. Layoffs are scheduled to take place Aug. 16, when seven employees will lose their jobs, according to the WARN notice.

A supplemental WARN notice filed June 26 states the company will lay off 13 more workers Sept. 13: one from Lake County, one from Kane County and 11 from Cook County.

OSF OnCall Urgent Care to lay off 24 at Illinois locations

OSF HealthCare reported in a June 16 WARN notice it will close two of its on-call urgent care centers in Champaign, eliminating a combined 24 jobs from the locations at 2710 N. Prospect Avenue and 2043 South Neil St. Layoffs are scheduled to take place from Aug. 8 to Aug. 22, according to the WARN notice.

More restructuring to come for OSF in Illinois

In addition to shuttering the doors of two urgent care centers, OSF HealthCare also reported layoffs at the OSF Cardiovascular Institute and Medical Group in Urbana and the OSF Healthcare Heart of Mary Medical Center in Urbana, along with the OSF Healthcare Medical Group in Champaign. As a result, 97 employees are set to lose their jobs in August, according to the WARN notice. The move comes after the local health care giant cited losses of $361 million and a decline in the use of multiple services, leading to a decision to merge its Urbana and Danville locations into one hospital with two campuses.

Strategix Management lays off Joliet workers

The Washington D.C.-based business management consulting firm submitted a WARN notice June 4, announcing the permanent layoffs of 91 workers as a result of closing its Joliet Job Corps Center location at 1101 Mills Road.

Franklin Park plastic film company to lay off 48 in Illinois

Transcendia, a specialty film and commercial printing manufacturer, will close its location at 9201 W. Belmont Avenue in Franklin Park. The company on June 6 reported the layoffs of 48 workers, who will be phased out monthly through the end of the year: seven in August, 15 in September, seven in October, eight in November and 11 in December.

Tyson to move 259 from Rochelle location in Illinois

The Tyson Foods distribution center at 600 Wiscold Drive filed a WARN notice June 13 that it will lay off 259 employees – but, according to the company, no job losses are expected as affected workers will be offered positions with Lineage, which will acquire the Rochelle warehouse as part of a $247 million deal with Tyson Foods including three other sites across the U.S.

The transition will begin Aug. 15.

Janitorial service to lay off 184 in Pontiac, Illinois

Vonachen Group, a commercial cleaning service, reported June 5 it would lay off 184 employees July 5 in Pontiac. A loss of contract caused the permanent layoffs, according to the WARN notice.

More layoffs for research company in Illinois

The American Institutes for Research, which conducts behavioral and social science studies, began conducting layoffs in March. The company filed a supplemental WARN notice June 12 of additional layoffs that would impact three employees in July at its Chicago center, located at 10 S. Riverside Plaza, Suite 600.

Dana Tofig, managing director of corporate communications, told the Journal Star in an email the American Institutes for Research has made the “difficult but necessary” decision to reduce its workforce by more than 30% since March, spurred by cuts to federally funded research by the U.S. government that Tofig wrote bring significant challenges.

“AIR has been around for nearly 80 years, and, in that time, there have been moments when we have had to make changes and shift priorities to align with the needs of our clients and the communities we serve,” Tofig stated. “This is one of those moments, and we remain steadfast in our commitment to generating and using evidence to improve lives and increase opportunities for all.”

The organization also addressed the funding cuts in March in a statement on X.

“Like many organizations, the American Institutes for Research (AIR) has had to make difficult decisions in response to recent federal funding cuts, including reducing our workforce by 18%.”

Illinois-based clean energy company to lay off 80

LanzaTech Global, headquartered at 8045 Lamon Avenue in Skokie, began laying off workers in June to cut operating expenses as a result of revenue declines. The carbon recycling company filed a WARN notice in May and a supplemental WARN notice June 10, stating 80 more workers will lose their jobs on Aug. 13 or within two weeks after.

LanzaTech Chief People Officer Chad Thompson told the Journal Star layoffs are an “unfortunate thing,” but the company does not generally comment further on job losses.

Vehicle manufacturing company cutting 130 more

Magna Exteriors, which manufactures, designs and assembles vehicles, began laying off workers in February 2023, according to a WARN notice filed by the company. A supplemental notice was filed June 16, 2025. announcing Magna Exteriors will lay off another 130 employees from its location at 675 Corporate Parkway in Belvidere, starting Aug. 22 and ending no later than Sept. 5.

Layoff updates for Chicago-based confectionery company

Mars Wrigley, located at 2019 N. Oak Park Avenue in Chicago, began layoffs in July 2024 after announcing it would move most operations out of its Chicago plant back in 2022. The company filed another WARN notice in June 2025 providing updates on the status of 49 remaining affected workers. For 39 people, Aug. 29 will be their last working day, while the other 10 will continue until mid-June 2026, when the property will have a new owner.

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Illinois

Obituary for Tessie Lee Woods at Carl E. Ponds Funeral Home Inc.

Published

12 hours ago

March 26, 2026

Press Room

Obituary for Tessie Lee Woods at Carl E. Ponds Funeral Home Inc.

Tessie Lee Woods, age 91, departed this earths life surrounded by her loved ones. She was Born on October 25, 1934, in Arkansas to the late Connie and Deanner Holliman. Tessie attended school in Arkansas and, later in life, moved to Rockford, Illinois, where she met and married Robert B.

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Illinois

CASNews faculty spotlight: Dr. Eric Godoy

Published

24 hours ago

March 26, 2026

Press Room

CASNews faculty spotlight: Dr. Eric Godoy

Name: Eric Godoy
Title: Associate Professor
Unit: Department of Philosophy
Years at Illinois State: 8 1/2 years

Tell us about your teaching and research in the College of Arts and Sciences.

“Renewable energy alone won’t make our energy systems more just. The production, distribution, and consumption of energy are connected to many ethical issues. For example, even renewable energy projects can pollute environments or displace people. My recent research examines these ethical challenges and asks what a just transition might look like. I’ve also published work on climate ethics, trophy hunting lions, urban park design, interdisciplinary research, and dinosaur films. My most popular course is PHI 236: Values and the Environment, but I also teach many topics in moral, social-political, and environmental philosophy. I’m also a proud affiliate of the Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies Program (WGSS).”

What are your proudest accomplishments during your time at Illinois State?

“I was awarded an American Council of Learned Societies’ fellowship for my work on energy democracy this year. I was nominated by our university for a Carnegie Fellowship in 2024. I was also very honored to receive a College of Arts and Sciences (CAS) Excellence Award for Outstanding Teaching in 2021. But I’m always the proudest when I hear about the success of my former students. I love getting emails about their new careers or their graduate studies in all kinds of fields: law, environmental work, and, of course, philosophy.”

What’s your favorite thing about Illinois State or the College of Arts and Sciences?

“I do my best research in conversation with students and colleagues in different fields. Our students and faculty are so talented. They’re often working on amazing projects. I learn so much from them. They encourage me to explore new research questions I wouldn’t have thought of on my own. Environmental problems are inherently interdisciplinary. I’m very grateful that CAS supports interdisciplinary work and programs, such as WGSS, Environmental Systems Science and Sustainability, and Civic Engagement. Philosophy lends itself so well to interdisciplinary relationships since there are philosophical questions at the heart of every field.”

Department of Philosophy Chair Christopher Horvath on Godoy:

“Dr. Eric Godoy is an innovative, student‑centered educator whose inclusive and interdisciplinary pedagogy consistently elevates the department’s instructional standards. He is deeply committed to creating learning environments that empower students from diverse backgrounds to engage meaningfully with complex philosophical issues. His leadership in curriculum development has made him one of the department’s most forward‑thinking educators. Complementing his teaching excellence, his research provides practical, ethically grounded solutions to energy‑policy conflicts and will shape national conversations about democratic participation in a just transition away from fossil fuels.”

Read more stories from the College of Arts and Sciences at News.IllinoisState.edu/Unit/College-Arts-Sciences and follow the college on Facebook and Instagram.

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Illinois

More César Chavez murals, memorials taken down as Illinois Senate honors Dolores Huerta

Published

1 day ago

March 25, 2026

Press Room

More César Chavez murals, memorials taken down as Illinois Senate honors Dolores Huerta

Murals and memorials of César Chavez are continuing to come down across Chicago after allegations emerged last week that the Latino civil rights activist groomed and sexually assaulted girls and women.

The allegations were revealed in a New York Times investigation published March 18.

Some artworks are being repainted with murals of Dolores Huerta, the longtime ally of Chavez in the labor rights movement. Huerta, 95, told the New York Times that Chavez had sexually assaulted her.

The Illinois Senate adopted a resolution Wednesday honoring Huerta and declaring April 10 as “Dolores Huerta Day” in Illinois.

“In recent months, Dolores Huerta has shown profound resilience and courage in sharing her own experience of harm, doing so in order to uplift the stories of countless women whose voices were overlooked or silenced,” the resolution states.

One of the resolution’s sponsors, State Sen. Celina Villanueva, D-Chicago, said she is also working on a plan to rescind César Chavez Day, which is next week on March 31st.

At Cafe Tola in Lake View, a Chavez mural outside the restaurant’s building was replaced this week with a painting of Huerta, who coined the phrase, “Sí, se puede,” which loosely translates to, “Yes, we can.”

“We are deeply saddened by this news, yet we stand in unwavering support and admiration for Dolores Huerta and every woman who has found the courage to come forward,” Cafe Tola said in a social media post. “This moment is powerful — proof that truth cannot be silenced and that it is never too late to reclaim your voice. We honor that strength.”

A plaque dedicated to the 30th anniversary of the death of César Chavez, honoring him and Sister Dolores Huerta, before it was taped over at the Haymarket Memorial in the West Loop.

In the West Loop, a plaque honoring Chavez’s labor rights movement has been covered with black tape at the Haymarket Memorial. According to the Chicago Federation of Labor, the organization is planning to fully remove it.

“We will be discussing with all our partners on how to best honor both the survivors of Cesar Chavez’s horrific abuse and the workers that were betrayed by Chavez,” a spokesperson for the Chicago Federation of Labor said in a statement.

Black tape covers up a plaque (left) that commemorates the 30th anniversary of César Chavez’s death on the base of the Haymarket Memorial in the West Loop, Wednesday, March 25, 2026.

Last week, Bob Reiter, president of the Chicago Federation of Labor, said the allegations that Chavez sexually assaulted children, women, workers and labor organizers “is a betrayal to our movement.”

Chavez, who died in 1993, has long been revered in Chicago’s Latino community. In addition to numerous murals of him across the city, a public elementary school in Back of the Yards and a post office in Pilsen are both named after him.

The school, César E. Chavez Multicultural Academic Center, has initiated the process that could lead to a new name. It is receiving community feedback about a possible new name, according to Chicago Public Schools officials. Any recommendation would need approval from the Local School Council and the school board.

Another school in Pilsen, Peter Cooper Dual Language Academy, has a mosaic of Chavez and Huerta side by side. It’s unclear if the school plans to remove the mosaic of Chavez.

The Sun-Times was the first to report that Chavez’s face had been painted over last week on the “Libertad” mural across a long wall at Barrett Park in Pilsen.

A splotch of green paint initially covered the portion where Chavez was depicted, but Park District officials have since painted over that with a continuation of the mural’s background design, a Park District spokesperson said.

Other historical figures on the mural, including Mexican artist Frida Kahlo, Malcolm X, Rosa Parks, and the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. remain visible on the wall.

Paint covers Cesar Chavez’s face on a mural depicting civil rights figures that can be seen an exterior wall of Barrett Park in the Pilsen neighborhood, Friday, March 20, 2026.
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“The Chicago Park District takes recent allegations of misconduct by Cesar Chavez seriously … and are conducting a district-wide review of any other park features that may honor him,” a Park District spokesperson said previously. “Where appropriate, we will take further action consistent with our values and standards.”

The Park District has not identified any other murals or memorials of Chavez on any of its properties, the spokesperson said Wednesday.

Contributing: Isabela Nieto

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