CHICAGO – Gov. JB Pritzker will lead a trade mission to Mexico next week aiming to strengthen economic ties between Illinois and one of its largest trading partners. 

Illinois trade mission to Mexico

The backstory:

The trip will run from Sunday through Wednesday with a delegation that includes state officials and business leaders. It will focus on expanding partnerships in agriculture, manufacturing and finance.

“Our state’s forward-thinking policies, coupled with our rich natural resources, skilled workforce, and world-class infrastructure, make it an ideal place for companies to thrive,” Pritzker said in a statement. “As we embark on this trade mission to Mexico, we are excited to further strengthen our economic ties and showcase the many advantages that Illinois offers to businesses in North America and around the world.”

By the numbers:

Mexico is Illinois’ second-largest export market, with trade between the two surpassing $32 billion in 2024. Illinois also imports over $19 billion in goods from Mexico, making it the state’s third-largest import market.

Dig deeper:

The Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, the Illinois Department of Agriculture, and Intersect Illinois are among the agencies participating in the mission. Delegates will engage in discussions with Mexican officials and business leaders to foster new trade opportunities and investment.

Illinois has had a trade office in Mexico City since 1989. The state has also participated in initiatives like the Illinois State Trade and Export Promotion program, which facilitates annual trade missions to Mexico.

The delegation includes members of the Illinois General Assembly, state economic development leaders, and executives from various industries. Among the notable attendees are First Lady MK Pritzker, State Sens. Celina Villanueva and Cristina Castro, and executives from United Airlines, Northern Trust, ComEd, and the Illinois Manufacturers’ Association.

What they’re saying:

“As a Mexican American founder of an investment firm, it is an honor to be part of Governor Pritzker’s timely trade mission to Mexico,” said Martin Cabrera, CEO of Cabrera Capital. “Trade supports over 800,000 jobs in Illinois, and our firm values businesses that support international cooperation and investments that benefit working families at home.”

The delegation’s visit will include meetings with key stakeholders in Mexico’s government and business sectors to explore opportunities for collaboration and investment.

Two lucky winners, one in Chicago and one in Aurora, each took home $250,000

If you bought a Lucky Day Lotto ticket on Wednesday, check your numbers.

Two lucky winners, one in Chicago and one in Aurora, each took home $250,000.

During the midday drawing, the two both had all five matching winning numbers: 3-8-9-31-45. One of the lucky winners purchased their ticket at a Mariano’s grocery store in Aurora. The other acquired theirs at Navkar Food Inc. in Chicago.

But the two winners aren’t the only lucky ones. The retailers who sold the tickets also cash in a $2,500 bonus- one percent of the prize money.

Out of Wednesday’s 16,700 winning lottery tickets sold, a total of $540,300 was handed out.

Winners have one year from the date of the winning draw in which to claim their prize. The Illinois Lottery encourages all lucky winners to write their name on the back of their ticket and keep it in a safe place until they’re ready to claim their prize

LOWELL, Ind. – An 18-year-old man was killed early Thursday morning when his pickup truck went off the road and overturned in northwest Indiana, authorities said.

Deadly Crash in NW Indiana 

What we know:

The crash happened around 3 a.m. at 231st Avenue and Colfax Street in unincorporated Lowell.

The driver, an 18-year-old man from Illinois, was heading west on 231st when he lost control of the truck, according to the Lake County Sheriff’s Department.

The truck struck a culvert, became airborne, landed, and rolled over, authorities said. The man was ejected from the vehicle.

No other vehicles were involved.

What we don’t know:

The driver’s identity has not been released pending family notification.

What’s next:

The Lake County Sheriff’s Department Reconstruction Team is still investigating the case.