Local Business
05/04/2026 · Normal
Joliet Greenlights $20B Data Center, Illinois' Largest on 795 Acres
Joliet city leaders have approved the first major step for a colossal $20 billion data center campus on 795 acres of farmland, poised to become the biggest in Illinois. The project promises thousands of construction jobs but sparks debate over water, power demands and permanent employment. As AI booms, this Chicago suburb bets big on tech infrastructure.
Mascoutah Plant Roars Back: Boeing Workers End 101-Day Strike
After rejecting four contract offers over three months, 3,200 machinists at Boeing's Illinois and Missouri facilities secured a 24% wage increase and $6,000 signing bonus, ending a strike that halted fighter jet production. Workers at the Mascoutah plant resumed operations in mid-November 2025, rebuilding the F-15, F/A-18, and other advanced military aircraft.
05/04/2026
Illinois drivers reeling as Chicago gas hits $6.29, outpacing nation by 50 cents
Gas prices in Chicago have surged past $6 a gallon at some pumps, with Illinois averaging $4.93—nearly 50 cents above the national average of $4.45. The spike, driven by the U.S.-Iran war and local refinery disruptions, marks the highest prices seen in four years, leaving motorists scrambling to manage fuel costs.
05/04/2026