News • 3 min read July 13, 2025

Illinois News Roundup (7/13/25)

Unchecked home insurance hikes: State Farm’s plan to raise Illinois homeowners insurance rates by $523 million amid rising replacement costs and frequent severe weather has reignited calls for state oversight and earned Gov. Pritzker’s rebuke — find out what’s at stake.

College bound with Jesse White: Former Illinois Secretary of State Jesse White hosted his 11th annual “Off to College Trunk Party” last Saturday on Chicago’s Near North Side, handing out laptops, bedding, toiletries and more to 500 high school graduates — learn what supplies they scored.

Honoring Illinois’ fallen officers: Nearly 100 cyclists, from active-duty officers to grieving family, biked a four-day route from Normal to Chicago with roadside memorials and fundraising for survivors — learn what keeps them pedaling.

Illinois secures opioid funds: Attorney General Kwame Raoul says Illinois will get at least $23 million from settlements with eight pharmaceutical companies as part of a $720 million multi-state deal to tackle the opioid crisis — find out how the funds will be used.

First responders deploy: A 39-member Illinois team heads to flood-ravaged Central Texas to aid search and recovery after deadly Fourth of July storms — find out how.

Illini secure four-star legacy: Illinois landed safety Jacob Eberhart, a 6-foot-3, 200-pound four-star recruit and No. 329 player in the 2026 class, boosting their group into the top 25 — find out how it amps up their momentum.

Job losses mount: Major employers from Mars Wrigley and OSF HealthCare reported nearly 1,800 layoffs in June, with more cuts due this summer across manufacturing, retail and health care — find out which companies are cutting jobs.

Central Illinois fights trafficking: The Illinois Trafficking Enforcement Group unites state police, Decatur PD, and the McLean County Sheriff’s Office under one roof in Decatur to target human traffickers across the region — find out how they’ll operate.

Congressman backs NWS boost: Rep. Eric Sorensen is pushing bipartisan legislation to strengthen National Weather Service staffing and operations amid past cuts and a Trump budget that cuts NOAA but boosts NWS funding by 6.7% — find out what’s at stake.

Floating homage to Mecca Flats: Illinois Tech will unveil “for Mecca,” a ghostly inflatable installation outside Crown Hall on August 8–9, complete with performances, panels, and poetry readings before it tours Chicago parks in 2026 — find out how to experience it.