Pritzker Doubles Down on Logan Closure Despite Economic Concerns
Governor JB Pritzker is doubling down on his Administration’s decision to close Logan Correctional Center in Lincoln and relocate the state’s primary women’s prison approximately 140 miles north to Crest Hill. The move is expected to displace more than 400 jobs from a community of roughly 13,000 residents.
While defending the decision, Pritzker pointed to his Administration’s plans to pursue new economic development in Lincoln and touted his broader economic record. However, several key economic indicators show Illinois continuing to trail the nation and neighboring states.
Illinois’ unemployment rate stood at 4.9 percent in July, above the national rate of 4.1 percent and higher than several neighboring states. Between 2019 and 2024, Illinois added jobs at a rate of 4.5 percent, nearly half the national growth rate of 8.2 percent. Illinois also saw real personal income grow at 6.2 percent compared to the nation’s 13.6 percent over the five-year period, while the state’s real GDP severely lagged behind the rest of the nation.
Illinois has also seen several prominent employers move their headquarters or operations elsewhere in recent years. Boeing moved its headquarters from Chicago to Virginia, Caterpillar relocated its headquarters from Deerfield to Texas, and Citadel moved its headquarters from Chicago to Florida. More recently, True Value’s headquarters is being moved from Chicago to Fort Wayne, Indiana, following its acquisition by Do it Best. Tyson Foods has also announced the closure of its Joslin facility, affecting more than 2,000 workers.
The concerns are particularly significant for Downstate communities facing the loss of major state employers. In addition to the planned relocation of Logan Correctional Center, the Pritzker Administration has announced major downsizing and layoffs at Choate Mental Health and Developmental Center and plans to close four additional Downstate correctional facilities.
Senate Republicans have also introduced a series of proposals addressing Illinois’ economic climate and the costs facing employers, workers and families.
The proposals include Senate Bill 3786, which would create tax credits for qualifying Illinois-headquartered businesses and their employees; Senate Bill 3792, creating a state income tax deduction for qualifying gratuities; Senate Bill 137, increasing the vendor’s discount for qualifying smaller retailers and service providers; and Senate Bill 3873, making Illinois’ Research and Development Tax Credit permanent. Other proposals address health insurance costs and the state’s estate tax.
State Senator Sally Turner says the Governor’s economic claims do not match the reality many Illinois communities are experiencing. She says Illinois needs policies that protect existing jobs, encourage new investment, and create lasting economic opportunities across the entire state.
New DCFS Audit Adds to Growing Record of Failed Leadership Under Governor Pritzker
A new state audit is raising fresh concerns about Governor JB Pritzker’s management of state government after auditors found persistent failures within the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) involving safeguards designed to protect some of the state’s most vulnerable children.
The Illinois Auditor General released a follow-up performance audit of DCFS on September 2, examining the agency’s compliance with requirements established under Ta’Naja’s Law. The law was enacted following the death of 2-year-old Ta’Naja Barnes, who died approximately six months after being returned to her mother’s custody.
The audit found that despite years of warnings and previous recommendations for improvement, significant deficiencies remain.
Among the most troubling findings, DCFS was unable to provide 329 of the 399 required Home Safety Checklists within auditors’ sample of 50 cases. Only 70, or 18 percent, of the required checklists could be provided.
Home Safety Checklists are intended to promote child safety and are required in cases that include when a child is being returned home. According to the Auditor General, failing to perform the checklists as required increases the risk that a child could be living in an unsafe environment without that danger being identified.
Auditors also identified significant gaps involving health care for children in DCFS’ care. In the cases sampled, supporting documentation could not be found for 31 of 196 required physical examinations, 33 of 114 required vision screenings, 52 of 82 required hearing screenings, and 171 of 336 required dental examinations and cleanings.
Mental health services also raised concerns. In three of the 30 cases sampled, auditors found excessive delays between when therapy was recommended and when a child actually began receiving services. Those children waited 298 days, 300 days, and 524 days, respectively.
Staffing remains another significant challenge. Based on December 2024 reports, auditors found an overall worker vacancy rate of 13 percent across the Child Protection, Intact Family Services, and Permanency divisions. The Permanency Division alone had 113 vacant positions out of 412 workers needed, a vacancy rate of 27 percent. The division also had 35 of 123 needed supervisor positions vacant, or 28 percent.
State Senator Sally Turner says the latest findings are not simply another bad audit at one state agency, but the latest example of a larger pattern of failed leadership and inadequate oversight under the Pritzker Administration.
She says Illinoisans should be able to expect that when state government identifies a serious failure, particularly one involving the safety of children, the Governor’s Administration will correct it. After nearly eight years in office, Governor Pritzker must take responsibility for the performance of the agencies he oversees and deliver the accountability Illinois families deserve.
Senator Turner Ranks Among Top Lawmakers on IMA Legislator Report Card
With a consistent voting record on issues affecting Illinois manufacturers and the state’s business community, State Senator Sally Turner recently ranked among the top lawmakers on the Illinois Manufacturers’ Association’s 2025-2026 Legislator Report Card.
Senator Turner received a 91 percent rating from the IMA based on votes taken during the current General Assembly.
The IMA Legislator Report Card examines lawmakers’ votes on key issues affecting Illinois’ manufacturing economy and broader business climate. Among the issues considered are tax policy, workplace regulations, environmental mandates, energy costs, and other policies that can affect manufacturers and employers across the state.
The full IMA Legislator Report Card can be found by clicking here.
Farm Safety Week Serves as Reminder Ahead of Harvest
With harvest season getting underway across Illinois, National Farm Safety and Health Week is serving as a reminder for farmers and motorists alike to slow down, stay alert, and make safety a priority.
The week of recognition, running from September 21 through 25 and recognized since 1944, works to raise awareness about the safety and health of people working in agriculture. This year’s theme is “Safety Today, Success Tomorrow,” and includes a focus on equipment and roadway safety, health and wellness, cancer prevention, confined spaces, and other risks commonly faced in agriculture.
Harvest is one of the busiest times of year for Illinois farmers, with long days, heavy equipment and more farm vehicles traveling on rural roads. Drivers are encouraged to watch for slow-moving equipment, avoid passing unless it is safe to do so and give farmers plenty of room on the roadway.
Farmers are also encouraged to take extra precautions around machinery, grain bins, and other dangerous areas, while keeping fatigue and overall health in mind while working the fields.
More information and farm safety resources are available through the National Education Center for Agricultural Safety.
DCEO Now Accepting Applications for Pre-Apprenticeship Program
The Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) is now accepting applications for the latest round of funding through the Illinois Works Pre-Apprenticeship Program.
Launched in 2021, the program provides training opportunities designed to strengthen the workforce pipeline and expand access to careers in the construction and building trades.
This marks the sixth round of funding for the program, with $25 million available. Funding supports tuition-free training, participant stipends, industry-recognized certifications, and other services intended to help individuals prepare and qualify for registered apprenticeship programs.
Eligible applicants include industry associations, chambers of commerce, local workforce areas, community colleges, technical schools, school districts, and other nonprofit community-based organizations.
Since 2021, the Illinois Works Pre-Apprenticeship Program has awarded more than $70 million to organizations across the state that provide recruitment, pre-screening, and pre-apprenticeship skills training at no cost to participants.
Grant awards will range from $150,000 to $550,000. Applications will be accepted through October 2, 2026, at 5:00 p.m. To learn more or to apply for the program, click here.