Illinois
New Illinois law requires influencers to pay their children if they’re featured in social media content
A new law that went into effect on July 1 requires that children featured on social media be paid for their work.
The bill amends the state’s Child Labor law to include children who are featured on their parents’ or caregivers’ social media.
“The rise of social media has given children new opportunities to earn a profit,” Sen. David Koehler Koehler said in an emailed press release after the bill was signed last year. “Many parents have taken this opportunity to pocket the money while making their children continue to work in these digital environments.”
The law covers children under the age of 16 who are featured on-screen for more than 30% of videos on monetized online platforms, including video blogs. It requires that they are paid 50% of the profits based on the percentage of time they are featured. The adult who makes the videos will be required to set aside the gross earnings in a trust account within 30 days for the child to receive when they turn 18.
Besides coordinated dances and funny toddler comments, family vlogs nowadays may share intimate details of their children’s lives — grades, potty training, illnesses, misbehaviors, first periods — for countless strangers to view. Brand deals featuring the internet’s darlings can reap tens of thousands of dollars per video, but there are minimal regulations for the “sharenthood” industry, which experts say can cause serious harm to children.
Washington, Maryland and California are also considering versions of the law.
*The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Copyright 2024 by KSAT – All rights reserved.
Illinois
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.
Copyright 2025 KWQC. All rights reserved.
Illinois
Woman found dead near Schamburg, Illinois shopping center, man in custody
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.
Illinois
Illinois officials investigating death connected to Rock Co. homicide
PRINCETON, Ill. (WMTV) – The Illinois State Patrol is investigating a death after officials found a suspect’s vehicle wanted in connection to a Wisconsin homicide, Illinois State Police reported.
Just before 10 p.m. on December 10, ISP troopers and several other agencies attempted to pull a vehicle over in Princeton, Illinois, that was wanted in a Rock County homicide.
Officials did not specify which Rock Co. case this incident is connected to.
Princeton is about an hour and 45 minutes away from Rock County, Wisconsin.
After the driver did not pull over, police chased the vehicle into the Great Sauk Trail Rest Area on I-80 westbound.
When officers went up to the vehicle, authorities stated the driver was found dead with an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound.
Authorities did not identify the driver.
ISP is working with the Bureau County State’s Attorney’s Office in this investigation.
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Copyright 2025 WMTV. All rights reserved.
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