Latest Illinois Headlines

All the headlines from our Illinois Topic Page, ordered by recency.

Illinois Lawmaker Wants Prison Time for Distracted Drivers in Fatal Crashes

Mar 10 2015 // Fatal crashes caused by illegal cellphone use should carry penalties similar to those imposed on drunk drivers who kill, a suburban lawmaker says.The (Arlington Heights) Daily Herald reports that Rep. Robert Marwick wants...

Fratianni-Atsaves Appointed Chair of Illinois Workers’ Comp Commission

Feb 25 2015 // Illinois Gov. Bruce Rauner has appointed Joann Fratianni-Atsaves as the chairman of the Illinois Workers’ Compensation Commission (IWCC). She has 34 years of experience in workers’ compensation law and has...

Problem of Metal Theft Focus of Illinois House Bill

Feb 19 2015 // A bill filed in the Illinois House would form a new task force to address thefts of recyclable metals, including copper.The Belleville News-Democrat reports the panel would review efforts to combat theft and come up with...

Motorcycle Safety Bill Proposed in Illinois

Feb 18 2015 // An Illinois lawmaker wants motorcycle safety to be a formal part of driver’s education courses.The proposal by Republican Rep. Tom Bennett of Gibson City would amend the driver’s education act in the Illinois...

Outlook Revised to Stable for Illinois Casualty Co.

Feb 13 2015 // A.M. Best has revised the outlook to stable from negative for the financial strength rating (FSR) and issuer credit rating (ICR) of Illinois Casualty Co. (Illinois Casualty) in Rock Island, Ill., while affirming the FSR of...

Illinois-Based RLI Promotes 4 in Claim Department

Feb 5 2015 // Specialty insurer, RLI Corp., based in Peoria, Ill., has promoted several leaders within the claim department.Don Driscoll, vice president, claim, has been promoted to vice president, chief claim officer. Driscoll will...

Rash of Fires Deemed Suspicious in Southern Illinois Town

Feb 2 2015 // Authorities in southern Illinois are investigating half a dozen recent fires in the village of Marissa, including one that destroyed a local landmark serving as a museum to the area’s coal mining history.The blaze...

Illinois’ Joseph M. Wiedemann & Sons Joins Keystone Insurers Group

Jan 12 2015 // Keystone Insurers Group announced its newest franchise partner in Illinois: Joseph M. Wiedemann & Sons, based in Arlington Heights.The firm, which has three offices in the Chicago-East Central Illinois area, is the...

People – Midwest

Jan 12 2015 // The St. Louis, Mo., office of independent insurance broker, Lockton, has promoted Diane Fischer to vice president, unit manager of risk management.Fischer joined Lockton in 2007, with more than 20 years of national account...

DSP Insurance Services Acquires Willis of Illinois’ Schaumburg Office

Jan 6 2015 // DSP Insurance Services, based in the Chicago area, announced the purchase of certain assets of Willis of Illinois’ Schaumburg office. The acquisition was finalized Dec. 31, 2014. John Adams, Bob Mielke, Jerry Olson...

New App in Illinois Aimed at Reducing Deaths in Grain Bins

Dec 29 2014 // A new app could help reduce the number of fatal grain bin entrapments that occur in Illinois. The Illinois Corn Marketing Board and the Grain and Feed Association of Illinois teamed up to create an app that will locate the...

Rockford, Illinois, Settles Police Shooting Lawsuit for $1.1M

Dec 18 2014 // The city of Rockford, Ill., has reached a $1.1 million settlement with the estate of an unarmed black man who was fatally shot inside a church-run day care by two white police officers in 2009, according to officials.In a...

Illinois Landlord Gets Life in Deadly Arson-for-Insurance Case

Dec 18 2014 // A Cicero, Ill., landlord has been sentenced to life in prison for the deaths of seven people during a Valentine’s Day 2010 apartment fire that prosecutors say was set for insurance money. Cook County prosecutors say...

Business Group Targeting ‘Lawsuit Abuse’ in Illinois

Dec 11 2014 // A national business group has begun a campaign to shine a spotlight on what it calls “systemic lawsuit abuse” in the Illinois suburbs of St. Louis.The U.S. Chamber Institute for Legal Reform unveiled its...

RLI Promotes 3 in Leadership Positions in Illinois

Dec 8 2014 // Peoria, Ill.-based specialty insurer, RLI Corp., announced three leadership promotionsTodd Bryant, vice president, controller, has been promoted to vice president, finance and controller. In this expanded role, Bryant will...

Insurance Included in Rideshare Regulations Passed by Illinois Lawmakers

Dec 5 2014 // The Illinois Legislature has passed legislation regulating drivers in the emerging ridesharing industry.Both the House and Senate approved legislation creating statewide regulations for drivers working for ridesharing...

Rascia Named Acting Chairman of Illinois Workers’ Comp Commission

Dec 5 2014 // Ronald A. Rascia has been appointed acting chairman of the Illinois Workers’ Compensation Commission (IWCC).Rascia first joined the commission in 2011 as general counsel, and later added the duties of commission...

More Time For Asbestos Suits OK’d by Illinois House

Dec 4 2014 // The Illinois House has approved a bill allowing more time to file a lawsuit over asbestos-related disease.The initiative was adopted 70-43 Tuesday and moves to the Senate. Rep. Elaine Nekritz is a Northbrook Democrat. Her...

County in Illinois Sues Wells Fargo For Predatory Lending

Dec 3 2014 // The Cook County state’s attorney’s office in Illinois has filed a federal Fair Housing Act lawsuit against Wells Fargo & Co. for alleged predatory and discriminatory mortgage lending. In announcing the...

Illinois Suit: Wells Fargo An Unfair Lender

Dec 1 2014 // Illinois’ most populous county is accusing Wells Fargo & Co. in a lawsuit of subjecting minority and female borrowers to discriminatory and predatory lending.Cook County’s 152-page lawsuit filed last week...