Economy

The final tally of job cuts at the Bridgestone Firestone plant in Normal is less than first thought. And United Steelworkers Union Local 787 President Jason Beckett said it does not involve layoffs.

U.S. Rep. Darin LaHood is hailing this week's announcement of a trade agreement with the European Union and recent ones with Vietnam, the United Kingdom, Indonesia, and Japan as the Trump administration continues to reshape the global economy.

Automobile seat maker Adient will open a facility in Normal to serve Rivian. The $8 million investment will create 75 new full-time jobs.

An Illinois Wesleyan University physics professor says the Trump administration's effort to choke off the supply of international students at U.S. universities is unwise. The administration is taking a hard line on visa approvals for international students, particularly those from China.

U.S. Rep. Eric Sorensen is urging the public to call Republican lawmakers to protest proposed cuts to food aid and health insurance programs for lower income people.

The Bloomington-Normal area's jobless rate fell to 2.8% in April, down over half a point from this time a year ago. That's tied for the lowest among any metro area in the state.

The Bloomington-Normal labor market, which includes all of McLean and DeWitt counties, lost 2,700 jobs in manufacturing from February 2024 to February 2025.

The McLean County Historical Society announced the recipients of the 2025 History Makers Awards Wednesday at the McLean County Museum of History.

Several Bloomington restaurants say they can get eggs during the shortage, but prices are beyond exorbitant. They're all struggling to keep up with demand while maintaining quality — and staying in business.

Economic development officials in Bloomington-Normal sometimes express frustration at their inability to gain consensus on the importance of addressing a housing shortage. Here's how the skeptics' argument goes.