Latest Illinois Headlines
All the headlines from our Illinois Topic Page, ordered by recency.
Health Insurers in Illinois, Michigan Seeking Rate Hikes for 2016
Jun 3 2015 // Blue Cross Blue Shield and Blue Care Network, which sell medical insurance to more than half of Michigan residents who buy their own coverage under the federal health care law, are seeking 2016 premium increases that...
Illinois-Based Pinnacle Actuarial Adds Landon as Controller
Jun 1 2015 // Pinnacle Actuarial Resources Inc., headquartered in Bloomington, Ill., added Lyn Landon has as controller in its home office. Lyn Landon Landon has more than 30 years of accounting and finance management experience, most...
Liability Insurance Required for Rideshare Drivers in Elgin, Illinois
Jun 1 2015 // The Elgin City Council in Illinois has approved rules that make it legal for Uber and other ride-hailing services to operate in the city. The (Arlington Heights) Daily Herald reports the Elgin ordinance mirrors a state law...
Dowling Selected as Illinois Insurance Department Director
Jun 1 2015 // Gov. Bruce Rauner says he will appoint the acting commissioner of the Connecticut Insurance Department to be director of the Illinois Department of Insurance. Rauner’s office made the announcement on May 29 about...
People – Midwest
Jun 1 2015 // Michael E. LaRocco has been officially named president and chief executive officer of State Auto Financial Corp., taking over those duties from Robert P. Restrepo Jr., who is retiring. LaRocco also has been elected as a...
Watercraft Laws Taking Effect in Illinois Are Aimed at Safety
May 22 2015 // Law enforcement officials say Illinois boaters should be aware of new laws taking effect this year. Lake County Sheriff Mark Curran Jr. says the laws will keep boaters safe. It’s now a requirement to display a bright...
Hortica in Illinois and Sentry in Wisconsin Sign Affiliation Agreement
May 20 2015 // Sentry Insurance a Mutual Co. and Florists’ Mutual Insurance Co. have entered into an affiliation agreement, under which upon completion of the affiliation and approval by the applicable insurance departments Hortica...
Illinois Court Urged by Philip Morris to Toss $10B Smokers’ Verdict
May 20 2015 // A $10.1 billion verdict against Philip Morris USA over misleading consumers about the safety of “light” cigarettes should be overturned, lawyers for the company argued in the Illinois Supreme Court. The award...
Marijuana Industry in Illinois Places Hopes in Hands of Governor
May 19 2015 // A proposal to extend the Illinois medical marijuana pilot program beyond 2017 may soon gain passage in Springfield. That would mean the industry’s prospects could come to rest with Gov. Bruce Rauner. Rauner has said...
Illinois’ Madison County a Center for Asbestos Lawsuits
May 18 2015 // Few of the tourists who drive old Route 66 through this rural Illinois town are aware of its true economic engine: a booming business in asbestos lawsuits that attracts law firms from across the country. Since 2005, those...
Partisan Differences Highlight Debate over Illinois Workers’ Comp Reform
May 18 2015 // Business groups and injured employees had a chance on May 5 to tell Illinois lawmakers their thoughts on a possible revamp of the state’s workers’ compensation insurance program. Democratic House Speaker...
Safety Officials Fine Illinois Auto Parts Company $114K
May 15 2015 // A Peoria, Ill., auto parts manufacturer has been fined $114,100 for federal workplace safety violations that the government says put workers at risk of amputation and other injuries. The U.S. Department of Labor’s...
Debate on Workers’ Comp Reform Begins in Illinois
May 7 2015 // Business groups and injured employees weighed in May 6 as Illinois lawmakers began debating whether to revamp the state’s workers’ compensation insurance program to reduce costs for employers. Democratic House...
Illinois’ Madison County a Center for Asbestos Lawsuits
Apr 30 2015 // Few of the tourists who drive old Route 66 through this rural Illinois town are aware of its true economic engine: a booming business in asbestos lawsuits that attracts law firms from across the country. Since 2005, those...
Chief: No Pattern to String of Rental Home Fires in Southern Illinois
Apr 21 2015 // A southern Illinois fire chief says a string of fires at rental properties do not appear to be connected. The (Carbondale) Southern Illinoisan reports there have been 12 fires at rental homes since May 2014. Seven of them...
Ratings of Illinois-Based Unique Insurance Downgraded
Apr 21 2015 // A.M. Besthas downgraded the financial strength rating to B- (Fair) from B (Fair) and the issuer credit rating to “bb-” from “bb” of Unique Insurance Co. (Unique) of Chicago, Ill. The outlook for...
Illinois Gov. Wants Lower Workers’ Comp Costs
Apr 20 2015 // High on the list of Illinois Gov. Bruce Rauner’s legislative priorities is reducing the amount employers pay for workers’ compensation insurance. Illinois currently has some of the highest workers’ comp...
Ratings of Illinois-Based Specialty Risk of America Downgraded
Apr 17 2015 // A.M. Best has downgraded the financial strength rating (FSR) to B+ (Good) from B++ (Good) and the issuer credit rating (ICR) to “bbb-” from “bbb+” of Specialty Risk of America (SPRISKA) in...
Illinois Prep Sports Group: Concussions Lawsuit ‘Threatens’ Football
Apr 15 2015 // The nation’s first prep sports governing body to face a class-action concussions lawsuit has asked an Illinois judge to dismiss the suit, arguing that if it prevails, it could kill football programs statewide. In its...
Illinois Governor Looks to Reduce Worker’s Comp Costs
Apr 13 2015 // High on the list of Illinois Gov. Bruce Rauner’s legislative priorities is reducing the amount employers pay for workers’ compensation insurance. Illinois currently ranks 7th nationwide for the highest cost per...
