(The Cente Square) – Illinois has earned its second credit rating upgrade in less than a week, as S&P Global Ratings raised the state’s general obligation bond rating on Tuesday to an A.
Illinois still has the lowest credit rating of any U.S. state.
Indiana, Iowa and Missouri have AAA ratings from S&P Global. Wisconsin has an AA+. Kentucky has an A+.
CHICAGO AWARDS BUSINESS BUILDOUT GRANTS
Chicago officials announced on Tuesday that 18 businesses were chosen to receive a total of $3.8 million in Neighborhood Opportunity Fund grants.
The awards ranged from $86,250 to $250,000.
Among other things, the grants were awarded for projects at restaurants, a coffee shop, a laundromat, a clothing store, a video production company and an escape room business.
The grants are funded by fees imposed on developers of downtown construction projects.
ARMED BANK ROBBER GETS 19 YEARS IN PRISON
A federal judge has sentenced a Waukegan man to 19 years behind bars for two armed bank robberies in downtown Chicago.
Prosecutors said Jawad H. Hakeem, 51, brandished a gun at bank tellers and customers during two separate robberies less than a week apart in March 2023.
During the second incident, Hakeem allegedly fired nine shots at a security guard who returned fire, but no injuries were reported.
