IN THE NEWS

Governor JB Pritzker and the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO), in partnership with Accion Serving Illinois and Indiana, awarded $14 million in small grants to over 700 small bars, restaurants, and hotels. 12,000 businesses applied for...

Can Rolling Meadows City Council work out issues with the city’s G1 video gaming license before gaming machines in the city can be turned on again? Due to the statewide “stay-at-home” order preventing operations of non-essential businesses, all video gaming machines...

Because of the economic impact the COVID-19 pandemic is having on Manteno businesses, village board members have agreed to waive all liquor license permit fees and gaming/amusement permit license fees for the fiscal year 2021, which begins May 1, 2020. The action will...

By late last week, Wall Street was showing signs of a rally. Against alarming unemployment figures, a short-term bump driven by a rise in oil prices was a welcome sliver of good news. History demonstrates that Wall Street rebounds from severe economic crises. It’s...

$14 million dollars in the form of financial aid is up for grabs to help struggling business groups impacted the during COVID-19 health crisis. It's an Emergency Hospitality Grant from the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, specifically for...

Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle announced Thursday that the county will waive a number of fines and fees and defer the collection of some taxes to aid businesses grappling with coronavirus containment efforts. “This is no ordinary time,” Preckwinkle said...

A week into the state's "stay-at-home" order, Decatur restaurants accustomed to dine-in customers are in a period of adjustment after switching to pick-up options.  At the Downtown Cafe in downtown Decatur, business is only about 15% of typical volume, said owner John...

Arlington Park has canceled its first month of live racing in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The track will not open until June at the earliest. In an email to season box holders, track management announced the scheduled May 1 opening of the local oval will not...

The Trump administration said this week it may come out with new guidelines in response to the COVID-19 pandemic with the end of its 15 days to slow the spread Monday, but Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker signaled the state’s stay-home order could extend beyond April 7....

Juan Gonzalez is still making tortas, tacos and fajitas at his Mago Grill & Cantina in South Barrington, just not nearly as many. "It's not much at all. We sell maybe 5% of what we were doing every day before this," Gonzalez said. "Right now, the only reason we're...

DECATUR, Ill. (WAND) - The Illinois Gaming Board ordered the shutdown of video gaming operations in the state Monday because of the spread of COVID-19. The closure will impact hundreds of employees who work in the more than 250 operations across central Illinois. "It...

I n the Journal & Topics coverage area, 113 establishments with video gaming licenses will be impacted by the suspension of all video gaming operations in Illinois through March 30. “Before the end of this period, I will review the public health situation in...