August 7, 2025/

Illinois quick hits: Fatal helicopter crash; Comptroller orders another extra pension payment

Spread the love

By Jim Talamonti | The Center Square
The Center Square

Fatal helicopter crash

Two people are dead after a helicopter crashed into a barge on the Mississippi River.

The Federal Aviation Administration said the Hughes 369D with two people on board went down around 11:05 a.m. Thursday in East Alton.

The National Transportation Safety Board is investigating.

Comptroller orders another extra pension payment

Illinois Comptroller Susana Mendoza says she is ordering a third round of pension pre-payments.

Mendoza said more than $1.3 billion in payments to the state’s five retirement systems will include $428 million in pre-payments, allowing the pension systems to keep more money in their portfolios and earn more in returns.

Statehouse rematch shaping up

State Rep. Amy Briel, D-Ottawa, and Republican Liz Bishop are gearing up for a potential rematch in Illinois’ 76th House District.

Briel defeated Bishop by 595 votes, or 1%, in the general election last November.

Bishop will first face a primary rematch with Crystal Loughran.

Leave a Comment





Latest News Stories

Giannoulias ramps up campaign for state regulation of auto premiums

Giannoulias ramps up campaign for state regulation of auto premiums

By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – Illinois Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias has expanded his campaign to regulate auto insurance rates. Giannoulias visited...
Trump demands air traffic controllers return to work

Trump demands air traffic controllers return to work

By Sarah Roderick-FitchThe Center Square After a reduction of up to 10% of flights in and out of the nation’s top airports, causing major travel disruptions, President Donald Trump is...
Analysis: Trump's proposed tariff rebate would cost twice as much as tariffs

Analysis: Trump’s proposed tariff rebate would cost twice as much as tariffs

By Brett RowlandThe Center Square President Donald Trump has again floated the idea of sending Americans $2,000 from tariff revenue, but a new analysis suggests the import taxes won't bring...
Trump pardons 77 people linked to 2020 presidential election challenge

Trump pardons 77 people linked to 2020 presidential election challenge

By Sarah Roderick-FitchThe Center Square President Donald Trump issued a proclamation providing pardons for a slew of people accused of trying to overturn the 2020 presidential elections, including Rudy Giuliani...
Supreme Court agrees to hear election law challenge

Supreme Court agrees to hear election law challenge

By Andrew RiceThe Center Square The U.S. Supreme Court agreed on Monday to hear a case challenging state laws that allow ballots to be counted if they are received after...
Supreme Court declines to hear same-sex marriage challenge

Supreme Court declines to hear same-sex marriage challenge

By Andrew RiceThe Center Square The U.S. Supreme Court declined a petition on Monday to hear a case aimed at overturning the legalization of same-sex marriage. Kim Davis, a former...
Illinois quick hits: Illinois U.S. senators split on shutdown vote

Illinois quick hits: Illinois U.S. senators split on shutdown vote

By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square Illinois U.S. senators split on shutdown vote Illinois U.S. Senators Dick Durbin and Tammy Duckworth differed as the Senate voted to...
‘Code and Country’ report urges stronger U.S. response to China’s AI ambitions

‘Code and Country’ report urges stronger U.S. response to China’s AI ambitions

By Tom JoyceThe Center Square China’s pursuit of artificial intelligence supremacy poses one of the greatest strategic threats in history, a new report from the Center for Security Policy warns....
Meeting Briefs

Meeting Summary and Briefs: Casey City Council for November 03, 2025

Casey City Council Meeting | November 03, 2025 The Casey City Council addressed property blight, approved major financial items, and moved forward on key city projects during its first meeting...
Light at the end of the government shutdown tunnel

Light at the end of the government shutdown tunnel

By Thérèse BoudreauxThe Center Square U.S. Senate Republicans have offered Democrats a face-saving way out of the government shutdown: in exchange for support to reopen the government, Republicans will guarantee...
Everyday Economics: Is AI to blame for the layoffs – or a late-cycle hangover?

Everyday Economics: Is AI to blame for the layoffs – or a late-cycle hangover?

By Orphe DivounguyThe Center Square (THE Center Square) – U.S. employers announced 153,074 job cuts in October – the worst October since 2003 – and headlines rushed to blame AI....
Deal close in U.S. Senate to reopen government

Deal close in U.S. Senate to reopen government

By Sarah Roderick-FitchThe Center Square A deal is close to being struck in the U.S. Senate to resume funding the federal government, indicating the end of the shutdown is close....
DMV small businesses also bear brunt of Congress’ budget brawl

DMV small businesses also bear brunt of Congress’ budget brawl

By Morgan SweeneyThe Center Square As Congress convenes for a rare Sunday session amid the ongoing shutdown, the capital region’s small business owners wait with baited breath. Besides federal workers,...
Legal experts split over state, federal immigration control

Legal experts split over state, federal immigration control

By Andrew RiceThe Center Square The second Trump administration has been largely defined by strict immigration enforcement and net zero illegal border crossings. Amid the enforcement, legal policy analysts are...
Thousands of flights delayed, cancelled as shutdown rocks airports

Thousands of flights delayed, cancelled as shutdown rocks airports

By Dan McCalebThe Center Square More than 1,400 flights within, into or out of the U.S. were cancelled Sunday and more than 3,300 were delayed as staffing levels at airports...