State jobless rate 4.9%, under 5% 1st time in decade

Illinois officials say the state’s unemployment rate fell .5 percentage points to 4.9 percent in March.

The Illinois Department of Employment Security reported Thursday that the jobless level is now below 5 percent for the first time in a decade.

But Illinois’ unemployment rate is still higher than the national unemployment rate for March, which dropped to 4.5 percent.

IDES reports the sectors with the largest employment gains were leisure and hospitality; trade, transportation and utilities and other services.

The state also revised its jobs data for February to show the state gained fewer jobs than initially reported.

That change, along with the March numbers, means Illinois is still 19,600 jobs short of its previous peak employment reached in September 2000. AP

Metra starting pet trial program in May

Metra is considering an expansion of its policy allowing pets to ride on trains.

Beginning May 1, the transit agency will begin a six- month trial program that will allow pets to ride on off- peak weekday trains, according to a statement from Metra.

Previously, Metra’s policy was to allow pets to ride on trains only on weekends and holidays.

However, bringing your great dane for a ride won’t be happening anytime soon, Metra said. The policy will be restricted to small pets that can fit into a pet carrier. Pets must be in carriers that can be toted by a single person to be allowed on the trains, they can’t take up seats or obstruct pathways and should be held on a passenger’s lap or put under the seat while riding.

Bad behavior by a pet, such as making noise, could get them removed from the train, Metra said.

The policy does not apply to service animals, which are allowed on all Metra trains at all times.

Sun- Times Wire

Feds: Instructor, 71, took sanitation- course bribes

A 71- year- old suburban Chicago instructor convicted of taking bribes to enable restaurant workers to skip mandated sanitation training has been sentenced to 18 months in prison.

A U. S. attorney’s office statement Thursday said Ernest Griffin took bribes of $ 175 from individuals who wanted sanitation certificates required under Illinois and Chicago law without attending 15- hour courses.

The Lynwood man was authorized by the Illinois Department of Public Health to teach the courses and give final exams. Prosecutors say he accepted the bribes from 2008 to 2015.

At Wednesday’s sentencing in Chicago federal court, Judge Manish Shah also fined Griffin $ 5,000.

AP