State of Illinois

SPRINGFIELD, IL – The Illinois Department of Agriculture (IDOA) is excited to announce the return of the Illinois Product Expo, taking place on March 1st and 2nd in the Orr Building at the Illinois State Fairgrounds. For 26 years, the Illinois Product Expo has brought together local food companies and consumers, celebrating the best of Illinois’ culinary and agricultural favorites.

The Illinois Student Assistance Commission (ISAC), the state’s college access and financial aid agency, has contracted leading global education company Kaplan to provide free test preparation courses to all students enrolled in Illinois’ public universities.

Springfield, IL - The OSFM is urging Illinois residents to review and practice their fire escape plans while testing and inspection smoke alarms following a wave of recent deadly home fires. Sadly, since Friday, February 14, there have been 8 deadly fires claiming the lives of 10 people in Illinois. So far in 2025, Illinois has seen 16 fatal fires resulting in 19 fire related fatalities.

SPRINGFIELD – More than $40,000 in grants for 26 Illinois schoolyard habitat action projects have been awarded by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) and the Illinois Conservation Foundation (ICF) for the 2025 application period.

SPRINGFIELD - The Illinois State Museum (ISM) announces the March 15 opening of "Here, There: New Perspectives on the Collection," a guest-curated exhibition featuring modern and contemporary artworks by Illinois artists, in its second-floor galleries at its Springfield location.

CHICAGO – The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) announced that it has posted the 2024 Fourth Quarter Report of Nursing Home Violations. Details on the 305 violation reports completed in the fourth quarter of 2024 may be found HERE on the IDPH website.

CHICAGO – Several trusted Illinois programs offer free income tax preparation for low-to-moderate income families and older adults who may need assistance in filing their 2024 income taxes.

CHICAGO – As the State of Illinois celebrates the fifth anniversary of the legalization of adult use cannabis in Illinois, the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR) announced today that 2024 marked the fourth consecutive year of record-setting sales.

CHICAGO— At the Illinois Gaming Board’s (IGB’s) first meeting of the year, it reported that the State and local governments earned more than $1.7 billion in tax revenue (excluding December sports wagering numbers) from Illinois’ 16 licensed casinos, approximately 8,700 video gaming terminals, and 14 operating sportsbooks in 2024.

SPRINGFIELD – The Illinois Department of Natural Resources invites the public to remember President Abraham Lincoln’s birthday this month with free events at state historic sites around Illinois. Lincoln was born Feb. 12, 1809, spent most of his adult life in Illinois, and went on to become the 16th president of the United States.