State unemployment rate rises
The Illinois Department of Employment Security announced Thursday that the unemployment rate increased to 4.6% in October. The national unemployment rate was 3.9% in October, slightly up from the previous month. Based on preliminary data provided by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, nonfarm payrolls in Illinois decreased by 15,000 last month.
Man found dead in shuttered factory
A Decatur man is dead after police found his body inside a shuttered factory in which he was apparently stealing electrical parts. The Decatur Police Department received a tip concerning an old factory and when they arrived, they found the victim dead inside. Police said it appeared the body had been there for quite some time. Police said an investigation indicated that the man was taking electrical parts without authorization. His body was found next to an electrically charged panel and an autopsy showed he had been electrocuted.
Illinois releases Monarch Butterfly Specialty license plate after 7 years
The Illinois Secretary of State’s Office has announced that after more than seven years, Illinois residents who placed deposits for the state’s Monarch Butterfly Specialty license plate can finally redeem them. The license plate is the first universal specialty plate issued in the state. The $10 deposits are allocated to the Roadside Monarch Habitat Fund. If the plate is renewed, $23 of the renewal fee will benefit the fund.
