Mold Remediation in Chicago, IL

Illinois' gas tax is about to rise starting this week, which will mean drivers will pay more at the pump.

The increase comes as a number of tax hikes and new laws begin across the state starting July 1.

The changes were part of Illinois' new budget, which takes effect at the start of Fiscal Year 2026, which falls on Tuesday. The new laws and changes coming include an increase in Illinois gas tax, higher minimum wage for Chicago, changes to taxes for Airbnb's and more.

So how much will you see gas bills rise?

The state of Illinois uses the Consumer Price Index, a federally calculated measure of how inflation is impacting prices in the U.S. economy, to help determine how much its share of the state’s fuel taxes rises each July 1.

This year, the tax is set to go up by approximately 2.69%, which will increase the tax rate by 1.3 cents per gallon. That will raise the state’s gasoline tax to $0.483 per gallon, according to the state’s FY 2026 budget.

The tax on diesel fuel will also increase to $0.558 per gallon, state officials say.

Those tax rates do not include other levies, including sales taxes, excise taxes, federal fuel taxes and additional fees wholesalers put on fuel. When those are figured in, Illinois has one of the highest fuel tax rates in the nation, according to research by the Tax Foundation.

Indiana also ranks in the top five, according to the group.

According to the Illinois Road and Transportation Builders Association, fuel taxes go toward maintaining and building infrastructure in the state of Illinois

Under provisions of the Illinois Transportation Taxes and Fees Lockbox Amendment, lawmakers are prohibited from using those transportation funds for anything other than their intended use, according to Ballotpedia.

Other changes happening Tuesday include a new minimum wage in Chicago, new protocols for plastic bottles in hotels, and taxes on things like Airbnb, sports betting and tobacco.

Full list here.

Jameson Taillon is headed to the 15-day IL (retroactive to July 1) with a right calf strain, the Cubs announced Friday. Left-handed pitcher Jordan Wicks was recalled from Triple-A Iowa in a corresponding move.

Taillon injured his calf while running in a training session, Cubs manager Craig Counsell told reporters Friday ahead of the team’s series opener against the St. Louis Cardinals at Wrigley Field.

The righty was slated to start Saturday’s contest, which will now be a bullpen game. Counsell told media an opener would likely be announced following Friday’s game.

“This was just an unfortunate injury during training,” Counsell said of Taillon. “He was running and felt a grab yesterday after his bullpen. He’s gonna miss a pretty significant amount of time.”

[READ: Cubs’ Cade Horton shows growth in turning in best outing of career]

The move comes after Taillon’s start in Houston on June 29, in which he went 4.2 innings and allowed two earned runs on five hits. The right-hander struggled over June as a whole, posting a 5.57 ERA across six starts in 32.1 innings. His season ERA stands at 4.44 in 17 starts and 95.1 innings pitched.

Taillon is the third starter in the Cubs’ rotation to hit the IL during the 2025 season, after Justin Steele was ruled out for the season in April and Shota Imanaga, who recently returned from the IL, missed nearly two months with a hamstring strain. Javier Assad, who made 29 starts in 2024, has dealt with an oblique strain since February and has yet to see big-league action this season.

The Cubs now face another rotation conundrum, as they do not plan on using Wicks in Taillon’s place.

“He’s there to pitch in the bullpen — we’ll go from there,” Counsell told reporters of Wicks.

Wicks has pitched well in Iowa over his last three starts, posting a 1.64 ERA in 11 innings of work. He has a 4.06 ERA with 46 strikeouts in 44.1 innings pitched in Triple-A this season. Wicks dealt with his own injury issue in late May when he landed on the 7-day IL with a left hamstring strain. He was activated on June 19.

The southpaw struggled in his initial stint with the Cubs this season, allowing three earned runs on as many hits without recording an out on April 18 against the Arizona Diamondbacks. He made a two-inning appearance in the same series two days later, allowing two unearned runs on three hits across two innings. He was subsequently sent back down on April 21.

“We’ve got him healthy and he’s pitching well,” Counsell said of Wicks. “He’s just gotta come up here and attack the strike zone and get himself in favorable counts — I think that’s really important for him. Let the offspeed stuff be effective.”

At least 16 suburban Chicago beaches were closed to swimming ahead of the busy Fourth of July holiday due to elevated bacteria levels.

According to the Illinois Department of Public Health, at least five beaches in McHenry County were closed due to "high bacteria levels," including Lake Park Beach in Crystal Lake; Dorothy Court Beach and Veterans Park Beach in Island Lake; McCullom Lake in East Bach Park and Willoaks Lake at the Willoaks Campground.

In Lake County, a dozen beaches -- including Mundelein Park District Beach, Waukegan North Beach and Highland Park's Rosewood Beach -- were all impacted by high bacteria levels, including with swimming not advised.

According to the Chicago Park District, yellow-flag conditions are in effect at Marion Mahony Griffin Beach, Leone Beach and Loyola Beach in the Rogers Park neighborhood, along with Margaret T. Burroughs Beach in Prairie Shores.

A “yellow flag” means that swimming is allowed, but caution is advised.

Chicago officials cited water quality issues related to elevated levels of Enterococci bacteria at all four beaches. According to the NOAA, water contamination by exposure to the bacteria is “one of the most common forms of disease transmission,” and elevated levels trigger warnings from the Environmental Protection Agency.

You can check to see if your beach is closed on the Illinois Department of Health website's "Beach Guard" system to see suburban beaches closed. In Chicago, the Chicago Park District posts swim conditions for all of the city's beaches each day at 11 a.m.

Fireworks might be illegal in Illinois, but for those looking to still ignite their Fourth of July celebrations, there are other options.

Illinois is one of just three states that ban some or all consumer fireworks. Under state law, such displays are permitted only in areas that have passed ordinances granting approval, adhere to requirements and only use approved types of fireworks.

But that doesn't mean you can't partake in some of the explosive fun.

Here's a look at what's allowed and what's not allowed.

Which fireworks are banned in Illinois?

According to the Office of the Illinois State Fire Marshal, prohibited fireworks include, but are not limited to, the following:

All fireworks, including sparklers, are illegal in the city of Chicago.

What's allowed in Illinois for 4th of July?

Many Illinois residents can celebrate with "novelty effects," which technically aren't considered fireworks under state law. The following "novelty" items aren't prohibited under the Illinois’ Pyrotechnic Use Act.

Each municipality can implement an ordinance banning "novelty effects," so you'll want to check what the situation is in your community before making a purchase. For example, Chicago bans all fireworks, including sparklers.

According to the Illinois Pyrotechnics Use Act, “any person, firm, co-partnership, or corporation violating the provisions of this Act shall be guilty of a Class A misdemeanor.”

Here's a full list of fireworks displays happening in and around Chicago this Fourth of July.

The Illinois Department of Natural Resources and the Office of the Illinois State Fire Marshal issued a reminder about fireworks safety ahead of the Fourth of July holiday, explaining even novelty items are dangerous. Sparklers account for the greatest number of fireworks injuries and burn more than 1,200 degrees – which is hot enough to melt many metals and turn steel glowing red, officials said in a news release.

“Many people enjoy celebrating the 4th of July with consumer fireworks to light up the night sky, but these come with serious risks that are often underestimated,” acting Illinois State Fire Marshal Allen Reyne said in the release. “We strongly encourage everyone to attend professional fireworks displays instead, where safety measures are in place..."

While more than 50 Fourth of July fireworks shows are scheduled to take place this week across the Chicago suburbs, the fireworks display previously dubbed Illinois' largest won't go on for 2025 due to "unique challenges."

The announcement about Itasca's Fourth of July fireworks cancelation was made in March of this year, after the Village Board held a meeting that cited multiple roadblocks to hosting the annual event. Those included increased crowd size, less available land space for activities, nearby construction and a 43% increase in total event budget, a memo recommending cancelation showed.

"Staff would reevaluate the viability of fireworks on July 4th in future years," the memo said.

MORE: ‘No fireworks July 4:' Why Navy Pier isn't holding a 4th of July fireworks show in Chicago

The celebration, which typically takes place at Hamilton Lakes Business Park, has led to sold-out hotels in the area, the memo added. For the past 10 years, Itasca's fireworks show boasted being the 'largest in Illinois' in terms of dollars spent on fireworks in a single show.

"This was an extremely difficult decision to make," Village Administrator Carie Anne Ergo said in a statement announcing the decision. "Itasca takes great pride in hosting the biggest and best fireworks show in northern Illinois. Our first priority is always the safety and security of Itasca residents, businesses and visitors. Given the unique challenges presented this year, we cannot confidently recommend hosting fireworks in 2025."

Ergo went on to say that staff in the fall would begin discussing the possibility of hosting fireworks again in 2026.

Across the Chicago area, dozens of fireworks shows will still take place Thursday, July 3, and Friday, July 4. Here's a full list.