Most of Illinois’ media completely missed a not-so-great story on Illinois’ per capita income growth this week. A Google Mews search came up with only two local stories, and one was a tiny brief in the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Illinois ranked 41st in the nation in per capita income growth last year. The national average was 4.7 percent.

California was in the middle of the 2004 pack in terms of growth. Its 4.8 percent expansion gave the state the No. 25 slot. It was a tight group toward the middle. Hawaii was No. 10 at 5.6 percent and Illinois No. 41 at 4.2 percent.

There are a couple of bright sides, however.

…last year’s growth rate is the highest since 2000, when income soared 6.5 percent.

And this:

For years, Illinois’ relative wealth has meant an even split with the federal government in funding the joint federal-state healthcare program for the poor. While the federal government has paid the miminum - 50% - of Illinois’ Medicaid bills for some time, it sometimes kicks in more than 70% of the costs in lower-income states like Alabama, Mississippi and Montana.

But based on new 2004 state-by-state income statistics, a Washington research group projects the feds may finally give Illinois more than 50%.

That extra cash only amounts to about $65 million. Not much in a huge Medicaid budget, but the guv needs every penny he can scrounge.