Free Republic

In a quiet office park in Overland Park, Kansas, a piece of pure American nostalgia now stares down from a 20-foot sign on a sleek 16-story tower. The Morton Salt Girl — that cheerful umbrella-toting icon who has graced kitchen tables for over a century with the promise “When it rains, it pours” — has officially left Chicago. After 176 unbroken years in Illinois, the company that grew up alongside the city has packed its bags and moved its headquarters more than 500 miles away.

Morton Salt, known for its iconic blue and yellow umbrella girl logo, will soon join Citadel, TTX, Boeing, Caterpillar and Tyson Foods by moving its headquarters out of Illinois. The company’s departure follows a series of high-profile corporate exits that have plagued Illinois in recent years. Hedge-fund giant Citadel moved its headquarters to Miami, citing a better corporate environment and concerns over crime in Chicago. CNBC ranked Illinois 33rd in the U.S. for business friendliness, an improvement from their 2021 rankings. Yet corporations continue to flee. Compared to neighboring states, Illinois saw the largest drop since 2018 in the Tax...

This is the moment of truth. For our country. For our communities. And for our company. What we have witnessed – the senseless deaths of George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor, Rayshard Brooks and far too many more – is deplorable. And the time is now to step up and unite in the fight against racism and social injustice. Like so many others, we’ve been reflecting, listening and learning about how to make our impact felt, not just heard. That’s why we’ve been taking time to thoroughly and thoughtfully address how we will help drive progress towards racial equality in...