Illinois quick hits: Jobless rate climbs to 4.9%; Illinois man wins $1 million
Jobless rate climbs to 4.9%
The Illinois Department of Employment Security announced that the state’s unemployment rate increased to 4.9%, while nonfarm payrolls increased +12,700 in May, based on preliminary data provided by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
The national unemployment rate was 4.0% in May.
Illinois man wins $1 million lottery
An Illinois man won $1 million playing the lottery by using numbers he said were related to his late wife.
The man, along with his adult kids, split the purchase of a Lotto Million 1 ticket in Wadsworth and won the top prize in the May 20 drawing. The winning family chose to remain anonymous. The BP gas station in Wadsworth that sold the winning ticket will receive $10,000.
Free camping at state parks for online fair purchases
The Illinois Department of Natural Resources and the Illinois Department of Agriculture are teaming up to offer two nights of free camping at select state parks for anyone who purchases a 2024 Illinois State Fair admission book online between June 26 and July 3.
Parks included in the “Stay and Play” promotion are Sangchris Lake State Park in Sangamon County, Lincoln’s New Salem State Historic Site in Menard County, and Jim Edgar Panther Creek State Fish and Wildlife Area in Cass County. All parks are within about a 30-minute drive to Springfield, and all have electrical hookups, shower houses, and other amenities.
