Illinois Quick Hits: Construction starts on $129M I-74 project in Moline
(The Center Square) – State and local officials have announced the start of interchange reconstruction work at Interstate 74 and John Deere Road in Moline.
The $129 million project will add a lane in each direction on I-74 and convert the interchange from a cloverleaf design to a diverging diamond. Delays can be expected in the area over the next two years.
The project is part of more than $1 billion of work planned in the Quad Cities over the next several years, including Illinois 84 reconstruction from the Rock River to just north of U.S. 6, the Centennial Bridge replacement over the Mississippi River, I-80 over the Mississippi River bridge reconstruction and more.
$15 MILLION IN STATE FUNDS ANNOUNCED FOR CORN-TO-ETHANOL RESEARCH
On Friday, Gov. J.B. Pritzker and the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity announced $17 million in funding to Southern Illinois University Edwardsville to expand the National Corn-to-Ethanol Research Center.
The funding includes $15 million from state taxpayers and $2 million from the Illinois Corn Growers Association.
CHICAGO REPORTS DROP IN HOMELESSNESS
The city of Chicago 2026 Point-in-Time Count & Survey Report of People Experiencing Homelessness showed a 12.4% decrease from 2025.
City officials said the survey conducted on January 22, 2026 found a combined total of 6,527 Chicagoans experiencing sheltered or unsheltered homelessness that night, down from 7,452 individuals counted during the 2025 count.
MAN INDICTED FOR AIMING LASER POINTER AT POLICE COPTER
A man has been indicted in federal court for allegedly aiming a laser pointer at a Chicago Police Department helicopter.
Ignacin Ramos, 36, pleaded not guilty to knowingly aiming the beam of a laser pointer at the CPD helicopter on Aug. 11.
A status hearing was scheduled for Dec. 3.
VETERANS FAIRS SET FOR TUESDAY, THURSDAY
The Illinois Department of Veterans Affairs has a veterans resource fair scheduled on Tuesday in Joliet.
The agency says on-site resources include an IDVA veteran service officer, assisted living representatives, employment recruiters and mental health providers. The event is scheduled from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at American Legion Post 1080.
A military community job fair is scheduled from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Thursday at Soldier Field in Chicago.
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