CHICAGO, Illinois, March 15 -- Circana, a company that says it is a leading advisor on the complexity of consumer behavior, issued the following news release: Circana(TM) announced its 11th annual industry performance awards just ahead of The Inspired Home Show, hosted by the International Housewares Association in Chicago March 17-19. Awards were presented by Circana's Home Durables practice to the small appliance and housewares (non-electrics) brands in the United States with the largest doll more PR

CHICAGO, Illinois, March 15 -- Commonwealth Edison, a subsidiary of Exelon, issued the following news release on March 14, 2024: As directed by the Illinois Commerce Commission (ICC), ComEd today submitted to the ICC a refiled multi-year grid plan that will increase access to the benefits of clean and renewable energy in alignment with the Climate and Equitable Jobs Act (CEJA). In December of 2023, the ICC rejected ComEd's original multi-year grid plan, requiring ComEd to file a revised grid pl more PR

COLUMBUS, Ohio, March 15 -- Franklin University issued the following news release: Franklin University announces that it has expanded its articulation partnership with John A. Logan College (JALC), marking its first Illinois institution to provide access to its Pathway Portal and $298 tuition rate for eligible JALC students and alumni. As one of the leading educators of working adults in central Ohio, Franklin University has teamed up to bring JALC its unique Pathway Portal. Growing in popular more PR

CHICAGO, Illinois, March 15 (TNSres) -- Circana, a company that says it is a leading advisor on the complexity of consumer behavior, issued the following news release: * * * Enduring shifts in consumer lifestyle will bolster the rebalancing period before broader shifts take hold * * * U.S. sales revenue for the home durables industry declined 5% in 2023, and unit sales fell 8%, but it remains one of few discretionary industries where unit demand has remained above pre-pandemic levels. While  more PR

CHICAGO, Illinois, March 15 -- Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul issued the following news release on March 14, 2024: Attorney General Kwame Raoul today announced legislation that would protect workers from retaliatory conduct by employers, strengthen current protections under state law and codify the authority of Raoul's Workplace Rights Bureau to investigate and hold employers who retaliate or threaten to retaliate accountable. "Currently, workers who want to assert their basic workplace more PR

SPRINGFIELD, Illinois, March 14 -- The Illinois Auditor General issued the following financial audit on March 13, 2024, involving Regional Office of Education No. 16 covering Dekalb county. Here are excerpts: * * * INTRODUCTION Our report covers the financial audit for the period ending June 30, 2023. * * * AUDITORS' OPINION Our auditors state the Regional Office of Education #16's financial statements as of June 30, 2023 are fairly presented in all material respects. This financial audi more PR

SPRINGFIELD, Illinois, March 14 -- The Illinois Auditor General issued the following financial audit on March 13, 2024, involving Regional Office of Education No. 26 covering Fulton, Hancock, McDonough, and Schuyler counties. Here are excerpts: * * * FINDINGS, CONCLUSIONS, AND RECOMMENDATIONS INADEQUATE INTERNAL CONTROLS OVER RECEIPTS The Regional Office of Education #26 (ROE) did not have adequate internal controls over receipts. Auditors noted 11 of 25 receipts tested (44%), totaling $163 more PR

SPRINGFIELD, Illinois, March 14 -- The Illinois Auditor General issued the following financial audit on March 13, 2024, involving Regional Office of Education No. 44 covering McHenry County. Here are excerpts: * * * FINDINGS, CONCLUSIONS, AND RECOMMENDATIONS NONCOMPLIANCE WITH GRANT REQUIREMENTS The Regional Office of Education #44 (ROE) did not comply with grant requirements. The ROE submitted 3 of 12 (25%) expenditure reports untimely, ranging from 31 to 40 days late. Item 5 of Section A more PR

SPRINGFIELD, Illinois, March 14 -- The Illinois Auditor General issued the following financial audit on March 13, 2024, involving Regional Office of Education No. 53 covering Mason, Tazewell, and Woodford counties. Here are excerpts: * * * FINDINGS, CONCLUSIONS, AND RECOMMENDATIONS INADEQUATE CONTROLS OVER BANK RECONCILIATION PROCESS The Regional Office of Education #53 (ROE) lacked adequate controls over the bank reconciliation process. The ROE maintained 5 bank accounts. During the audit, more PR

SPRINGFIELD, Illinois, March 14 -- The Illinois Auditor General issued the following financial audit on March 13, 2024, involving Regional Office of Education No. 54 covering Vermilion County. Here are excerpts: * * * FINDINGS, CONCLUSIONS, AND RECOMMENDATIONS CONTROLS OVER FINANCIAL STATEMENT PREPARATION The Regional Office of Education #54 (ROE) had inadequate controls over receipts. Auditors noted 6 of 40 receipts tested (15%), totaling $24,425, had no documentation when the checks were  more PR

SPRINGFIELD, Illinois, March 15 -- The Illinois Auditor General issued the following financial audit on March 14, 2024, involving the Illinois State Board of Education. Here are excerpts: * * * FINDINGS, CONCLUSIONS, AND RECOMMENDATIONS LACK OF ADEQUATE CONTROLS OVER THE REVIEW OF INTERNAL CONTROLS OVER SERVICE PROVIDERS The Illinois State Board of Education (Agency) had not implemented adequate controls over its service providers. The Agency utilized service providers for hosting services more PR

SPRINGFIELD, Illinois, March 15 -- The Illinois Auditor General issued the following compliance examination on March 14, 2024, involving Labor Relations Board. Here are excerpts: * * * INTRODUCTION This digest covers the Illinois Labor Relations Board's (Board) Compliance Examination for the two years ended June 30, 2023. * * * FINDINGS, CONCLUSIONS, AND RECOMMENDATIONS UNTIMELY SUBMISSION OF REQUIRED REPORTS The Illinois Labor Relations Board (Board) failed to timely submit required rep more PR

SPRINGFIELD, Illinois, March 15 -- The Illinois Auditor General issued the following compliance examination on March 14, 2024, involving the State Universities Retirement System. Here are excerpts: * * * INTRODUCTION This digest covers the Compliance Examination of Census Data for Chicago State University, Eastern Illinois University, Governors State University, Illinois State University, Northeastern Illinois University, Northern Illinois University, Southern Illinois University, University more PR

SPRINGFIELD, Illinois, March 15 -- The Illinois Auditor General issued the following compliance examination on March 14, 2024, involving Teachers' Retirement System. Here are excerpts: * * * INTRODUCTION This digest covers the compliance examination audit of the Teachers' Retirement System (System) for the two years ended June 30, 2023. A digest covering the System's Financial Audit as of and for the year ended June 30, 2023, was previously released on January 18, 2024. * * * FINDINGS, CON more PR

SPRINGFIELD, Illinois, March 15 -- The Illinois Auditor General issued the following financial audit on March 14, 2024, involving Western Illinois University. Here are excerpts: * * * INTRODUCTION This digest covers Western Illinois University's (University) Financial Audit as of and for the year ended June 30, 2023. A digest covering the University's Single Audit was separately released. In addition, a separate digest covering the University's Compliance Examination for the year ended June  more PR

SPRINGFIELD, Illinois, March 15 -- The Illinois Auditor General issued the following single audit on March 14, 2024, involving Western Illinois University. Here are excerpts: * * * INTRODUCTION This digest covers Western Illinois University's (University) Single Audit for the year ended June 30, 2023. A separate digest covering the University's Financial Audit was separately released. In addition, a separate digest covering the University's State compliance examination for the year ended Jun more PR

SPRINGFIELD, Illinois, March 15 -- The Illinois Senate Democrats issued the following news: In order to mitigate increased health risks associated with adults who are unable to take care of themselves, State Senator Laura Fine advanced a measure that implements a procedure for developing a treatment plan suitable to the patient's needs. "Although our state has made progress in advancing clinical care, we need to enhance procedures for protecting adults who may not be able to take care of them more PR

ROCK ISLAND, Illinois, March 15 -- The Illinois Senate Democrats issued the following news: State Senator Mike Halpin helped secure nearly $100,000 in funding heading to Carl Sandburg College to help increase the number of professional nurses in Illinois. "If we want better health care access, we have to make strategic investments in the health care workforce," said Halpin (D-Rock Island). "There is a pressing need for professional nurses in hospitals and medical centers across Western Illinoi more PR

SPRINGFIELD, Illinois, March 15 -- The Illinois Senate Democrats issued the following news: The rise of co-branded alcoholic beverages - like Hard Mountain Dew and Spiked Sunny-D - has piqued the interest of children. Whether the marketing is intentional or not, Senate Majority Leader Kimberly A. Lightford is working to put a stop to the issue by restricting the location certain alcohol items can be displayed and sold. "We are taking steps to underscore our commitment to safeguarding the well- more PR

CHICAGO, Illinois, March 15 -- The Illinois Senate Democrats issued the following news on March 14, 2024: In an effort to safeguard the rights and well-being of the state's youngest citizens, State Senator Robert Peters passed legislation out of the Senate Labor Committee on Wednesday. "This initiative is about taking care of issues we have seen associated with child labor," said Peters (D-Chicago). "It lays out updated guidelines that look out for our kids - their rights, their schooling, and more PR

SPRINGFIELD, Illinois, March 15 -- The Illinois Senate Democrats issued the following news: To increase public safety, State Senator Doris Turner is sponsoring a measure that would suspend EMS professionals who have been charged with a crime while performing their duties. "We have to ensure people's safety is our number one priority," said Turner (D-Springfield). "When there's an emergency, we need to be able to trust the professionals who respond and take care of us." Senate Bill 3134 would  more PR

CHICAGO, Illinois, March 15 -- The Illinois Institute of Technology issued the following news release: Illinois Institute of Technology (Illinois Tech) and Chicago Humanities will join forces Saturday, May 18, for a scintillating day of talks and demonstrations exploring the intersections of technology, humanity, and our shared future. Featured speakers include former White House fixtures Jen Psaki and George Stephanapoloulos, novelist Jamaica Kincaid, and performance artist Marina Abramovic. A more PR

CHICAGO, Illinois, March 15 -- Kirkland and Ellis, a law firm, issued the following news release on March 14, 2024: Kirkland & Ellis advised Inflexion on the formation of Inflexion Partnership Capital Fund III, which recently held its final closing at its pound sterling1.75 billion hard cap. The fundraise was strongly supported by existing investors, the majority of whom increased their commitments, alongside significant capital from new investors across Asia, Europe, the Middle East and the U. more PR

CHICAGO, Illinois, March 15 -- Kirkland and Ellis, a law firm, issued the following news release: Kirkland & Ellis is advising KKR on the financing for its voluntary public takeover offer to all shareholders of Encavis, a leading German wind and solar park operator. The family company Viessmann will invest as co-investor in a KKR-led consortium. The offer is a cash consideration of Euros17.50 per Encavis share and signed binding agreements with Abacon Capital and several existing shareholders, more PR

ROMEOVILLE, Illinois, March 15 -- Lewis University issued the following news release: The Lewis University men's and women's track and field teams had athletes compete at the NCAA DII Indoor Track and Field Championships Friday (March 8) at the Robert W. Plaster Center at Pittsburg State University. After both the men's and women's track and field teams placed first overall at the GLVC Indoor Championships, four Lewis athletes earned trips to the NCAA DII Indoor Championships. WOMEN'S RESULTS more PR

CHICAGO, Illinois, March 15 -- McDermott Will and Emery, a law firm, issued the following news release on March 14, 2024: International law firm McDermott Will & Emery continues to add top talent to its Litigation Practice Group, announcing the following new hires who focus on Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) and False Claims Act (FCA) matters and cybercrime: A seven-lawyer team from Orrick including: * Guy Singer, partner, New York * Anne Murray, partner, Washington, DC * Franklin Mons more PR

CHICAGO, Illinois, March 15 -- McDermott Will and Emery, a law firm, issued the following news release March 14, 2024: International law firm McDermott Will & Emery represented Windrose Health Investors (WindRose) in its acquisition of CardioOne Inc. (CardioOne), a physician enablement company built specifically to serve independent cardiologists. WindRose makes equity investments in companies that operate within the services sectors of the healthcare industry. The McDermott team was led by Ja more PR

EVANSTON, Illinois, March 15 -- Northwestern University issued the following news release on March 14, 2024: Deborah Cohen, the Richard W. Leopold Professor of History in Northwestern's Weinberg College of Arts and Sciences, has been named executive director of the Roberta Buffett Institute for Global Affairs effective immediately. A scholar of European and global history, Cohen has served as interim director of the Buffett Institute since January. As executive director, Cohen will oversee the more PR

CARBONDALE, Illinois, March 15 (TNSres) -- Southern Illinois University issued the following news release: A total solar eclipse is an opportunity to witness one of nature's greatest wonders, but for a researcher at Southern Illinois University Carbondale, it's also a chance to study tourism in smaller communities where not much data exists. Roupu Li, associate professor of geography and environmental resources in the School of Earth Systems and Sustainability, used a small grant from the SIU  more PR

CHICAGO, Illinois, March 15 -- The University of Chicago issued the following news: There are scholars whose work has changed the course of their field of study, and others still whose work changes the course of history. The University of Chicago's Department of Race, Diaspora, and Indigeneity, and the Division of the Social Sciences will honor one such pioneering figure when it hosts a symposium highlighting the groundbreaking work of Prof. W. Allison Davis, a scholar who affected the trajecto more PR

MACOMB, Illinois, March 15 (TNSres) -- Western Illinois University issued the following news release on March 14, 2024: The Western Illinois University School of Education and Macomb Middle School will host an Author Book Reading, a middle-grade contemporary fiction novel, "Stand" by Joel Estes from 4-5 p.m. Thursday, April 11 in Horriban Hall Theater, room 114. This event is open free to the public. Estes' novel "Stand" is about Ethan Strong, who has been suspended from middle school, but tha more PR