ILLINOIS GAS PRICES REMAIN ABOVE $3 AS STATE RANKS 41ST NATIONALLY; ILLINOIS PATIENTS FACE LONGEST ER WAIT TIMES IN MIDWEST; SECRETARY OF STATE WARNS ON LICENSE PLATE SWAPS
Illinois drivers continue to pay some of the highest gas prices in the Midwest, with the state ranking 41st in the nation for fuel costs, according to new data from AAA. As of last night, 31 states reported average gas prices under $3.00 per gallon. Illinois, however, averages just under $3.15 per gallon—making it the only Midwestern state above the $3.00 mark. Experts point to Illinois’ gas tax, which is the second-highest in the nation after California, as a key factor in the state’s higher prices.
Illinois Emergency Room Waits Among Nation’s Longest
Meanwhile, new figures from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services show Illinois patients spend more time in emergency rooms than those in any other Midwestern state, averaging 169 minutes (over two and a half hours) per visit. A survey by the Whitley Law Firm found Illinois ranked 11th in the nation for longest median emergency department wait times. Maryland led the country with an average of 251 minutes, while North Dakota had the shortest at 110 minutes.
State Officials Crack Down on License Plate Swapping
Illinois Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias is warning rental car companies against swapping or altering license plates on vehicles, citing potential legal liability under state law. Giannoulias’ office recently issued a cease-and-desist letter to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security after confirming that ICE agents switched plates on a rented vehicle in Illinois. The state immediately revoked the license plate involved and reminded all companies that vehicles registered in Illinois must comply with state regulations.