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Illinois Department of Revenue Announces 2025 Tax Amnesty Program

5 months 3 weeks ago
CHICAGO - The Illinois Department of Revenue (IDOR) is encouraging individuals and businesses to take advantage of the 2025 Illinois Tax Amnesty Program, a unique opportunity to settle outstanding state tax liabilities without paying penalties or interest. Authorized by the Illinois Tax Delinquency Amnesty Act, this program allows taxpayers to pay eligible past-due tax liabilities and have penalties and interest forgiven on taxes paid in full during the amnesty period. Eligible liabilities are taxes due from periods ending after June 30, 2018, and prior to July 1, 2024, and taxpayers must make full payments October 1, 2025, through November 17, 2025. "This initiative demonstrates Governor Pritzker’s ongoing commitment to supporting taxpayers, particularly those facing financial hardships or economic uncertainties," said Illinois Department of Revenue Director David Harris. "We encourage both individuals and business owners to use the amnesty period to resolve outstanding tax

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Home Builders and Remodelers Association Explains Infill Programs

5 months 3 weeks ago
MARYVILLE - The Home Builders and Remodelers Metro East Association has worked hard to bring infill programs to local communities. HBRMEA has helped establish infill programs in Granite City and Belleville. Executive Director Shannon Stelling said she is also in conversation with the City of Alton about starting a program in the Riverbend. She believes infill programs allow more first-time homebuyers to get into homes and build neighborhoods. “The whole goal is to bring neighborhoods back to these communities, to put homes where homes once sat, to give opportunities to first-time homebuyers or maybe even retirees,” Stelling said. She explained that the infill programs allow municipalities to work with builders. They acquire the lots for one dollar, and then the builders do not charge the consumer for the cost of the property. Stelling said that consumers are “basically getting the land for free” as a result, saving anywhere from $30–50,000.

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Attorney General Raoul Leads Coalition Supporting Challenge To Executive Orders Unlawfully Targeting Diversity, Equity, Inclusion And Accessibility

5 months 3 weeks ago
CHICAGO – Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul co-led a coalition of 17 attorneys general in filing an amicus brief supporting a legal challenge to two of President Trump’s executive orders targeting diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility initiatives. Raoul and the coalition filed their brief in Chicago Women in Trades v. Trump before the United States Court of Appeals for the 7th Circuit. Chicago Women in Trades (CWIT) is a nonprofit organization that helps women overcome discrimination, harassment and other obstacles to entering and staying in skilled trade professions. CWIT challenged multiple provisions in the executive orders, asserting that they unlawfully threaten its federal funding and its First Amendment rights, including a requirement that recipients of federal grants and contracts certify they do not operate any “programs promoting DEI that violate any applicable Federal anti-discrimination laws.” The Trump administration has not defined

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Giannoulias Hosts Sixth Driving Change Town Hall for Peoria Residents

5 months 3 weeks ago
PEORIA - As a part of his Driving Change campaign, Illinois Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias hosted a sixth virtual Town Hall for Peoria residents Wednesday evening to discuss the skyrocketing cost of auto insurance. Between the first six virtual Town Halls, over 850 Illinoisans have participated to learn more about the issue and share their stories. Residents shared their first-hand accounts of auto insurance rates increasing due to a recent move, a poor credit score or advanced age – reasons that have nothing to do with their driving record. This was the sixth of a series of virtual Town Hall meetings that the Secretary of State’s office is conducting over the next several weeks to gather feedback from Illinoisans to help inform state legislation for members of the General Assembly to consider. “We’re over halfway through our Driving Change virtual town hall visits, and the resounding message from hundreds of Illinois families could not be clearer:

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Melvin Price Locks & Dam Among Stops On IDOA's Second Illinois Grain Tour In 2025

5 months 3 weeks ago
ALTON – The Illinois Department of Agriculture (IDOA) is preparing to host its second Illinois grain tour of 2025, welcoming international buyers from six Middle Eastern and Asian countries (China, Vietnam, Egypt, Jordan, Singapore and the island of Mauritius) as part of a four-day event. “Thanks to Trump’s reckless economic policies, Illinois’ $26.4 billion agriculture industry is being pummeled by tariff-driven trade disruptions, costing farmers income and jeopardizing jobs across rural communities,” said Governor JB Pritzker. “As we find ways to address the impact of these disastrous economic policies, I commend IDOA for hosting a second grain tour to showcase our leading agriculture industry while attracting international buyers.” Last month, buyers from Latin American countries took a similar tour. The groups were split for the first time because of the overwhelming success of the program and the number of people interested in participating.

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