IPR

The maker of Ram trucks and Jeeps announced Thursday that it will temporarily lay off 900 workers at five U.S. facilities. The decision by Stellantis comes after President Donald Trump's tariffs were announced this week. According to a company spokesperson, the layoffs will not affect the Belvidere assembly plant. It’s scheduled to re-open in 2027 to build a mid-size pickup truck. The temporary layoffs will affect workers in Indiana and Michigan.

Northern Illinois University President Lisa Freeman has been asked to serve as a delegate in Illinois Governor JB Pritzker’s trade mission to Mexico. A press release says the delegation will focus on “enhancing collaboration” in agriculture and food processing, finance and manufacturing.

The public overwhelmingly favors retaining the current state flag. Illinois Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias announced the results following a five-week voting period to consider a redesign of the flag.

Voluntatios locales están ayudando a las familias explorar sus opciones en caso de que los padres sean deportados.

Local volunteers are helping families navigate their options in the event parents get deported.

Illinois’ two U.S. senators are celebrating a decision by Stellantis and the United Auto Workers’ union to invest in upgrading its U.S. auto plants. Dick Durbin and Tammy Duckworth say that includes investing in the Belvidere Assembly plant. 1,500 jobs are expected to return in 2027 to the Illinois plant.

Chuck Jefferson served in elected office for 24 years, beginning as a Winnebago County Board member in 1990.

The university has accepted a formal offer to join the Mountain West Conference as a football-only member, effective July 1, 2026, subject to a vote.

In 2014, former U.S. President Jimmy Carter received an honorary degree from Illinois College in Jacksonville. He visited the campus for a panel discussing how to achieve peace in the Middle East.

Welcome to Statewide--reports and conversations from in and around Illinois and the Midwest.