(The Center Square) – Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul and 20 other state attorneys general filed two lawsuits on Wednesday to challenge new rules they say remove essential protections for wildlife under the Endangered Species Act.
The first lawsuit challenges the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the National Marine Fisheries Service over its definition of “harm” to no longer include significant habitat modification or degradation.
The second suit challenges two FWS rule changes the coalition said will reduce protections for threatened species and create a new process for designating areas as a critical habitat.
CHICAGO MARKS OPENING OF OFFICE-TO-RESIDENTIAL BUILDING
Chicago officials have cut the ribbon at a $64.2 million office-to-residential project in the Loop.
The city provided $28 million in tax-increment financing funds and approved a landmark designation in 2025 to facilitate $7.8 million in federal historic tax credits.
The Bellwether Residences converted 11 floors of vacant office space into 117 mixed-income residential units and lower-level retail space at 79 West Monroe Street.
GREATER PEORIA ECONOMIC PLAN OPEN FOR COMMENT
The Greater Peoria Economic Development Council’s five-year plan is open for public comment.
The council said its Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy for 2026 through 2030 was shaped by more than 480 people across Peoria, Tazewell, Woodford, Logan and Mason counties.
Comments can be submitted online through Oct. 2.
FINANCIAL STRESS INDEX TICKS UPWARD
The St. Louis Fed’s Financial Stress Index measured -0.79 in the week ending Sept. 4, a slight uptick from the prior week’s -0.85 reading.
Values below zero suggest below-average stress.
