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

Reported debt deal, credit downgrades may add to Chicago budget woes

Reported debt deal, credit downgrades may add to Chicago budget woes

By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – Chicago taxpayers may face higher costs if the city follows through with a reported bond deal. The...
State financial officers protect, recover $28B in tax dollars in 2025

State financial officers protect, recover $28B in tax dollars in 2025

By Tate MillerThe Center Square Conservative state treasurers, auditors and comptrollers protected and recovered $28 billion in taxpayer dollars from “waste, fraud, and abuse” in 2025, according to a report...
Iran war, Saudi outage to boost U.S. propane, butane exports

Iran war, Saudi outage to boost U.S. propane, butane exports

By Alton WallaceThe Center Square Chaos in global energy markets following the launch of Operation Epic Fury is expected to drive record demand for U.S. exports of propane and butane,...
Pritzker announces $2B in medical debt erased, half in Cook County

Pritzker announces $2B in medical debt erased, half in Cook County

By Sean Reed | The Center Square contributorThe Center Square (The Center Square) – Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker met with Cook County health officials Tuesday to announce a $1.8 billion...

WATCH: Trump threatens to end all trade with Spain

By Brett RowlandThe Center Square President Donald Trump on Tuesday said he wanted to end all trade with Spain over disagreements about military spending. The president cited Spain's reluctance to...
Denver City Council votes to ban masks on ICE agents

Denver City Council votes to ban masks on ICE agents

By Derek DraplinThe Center Square The U.S. Department of Homeland Security says it will not comply with a new Denver ordinance that bans law enforcement, including federal agents, from wearing...
Trump: U.S. Navy to provide escorts for tankers through Strait of Hormuz

Trump: U.S. Navy to provide escorts for tankers through Strait of Hormuz

By Sarah Roderick-FitchThe Center Square Over concerns that Iran is blocking vital tankers from transiting the Strait of Hormuz, President Donald Trump announced that the U.S. Navy will begin escorting...
Minnesota sues Trump administration over $243M Medicaid funding pause

Minnesota sues Trump administration over $243M Medicaid funding pause

By Elyse ApelThe Center Square Minnesota announced Tuesday it is suing the federal government for withholding $243 million in Medicaid payments. State officials say the move puts health care coverage...

WATCH: Pritzker denies flying with Epstein

By Jim TalamontiThe Center Square Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker says he never met Jeffery Epstein and was never on a plane with the late sex offender. The governor made the...
Illinois Quick Hits: Alleged Sinaloa boss indicted

Illinois Quick Hits: Alleged Sinaloa boss indicted

By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – A federal grand jury in Chicago has indicted an alleged Sinaloa Cartel boss on drug, firearm and...
Coroners warn bill renaming fentanyl overdoses could distort death certificates

Coroners warn bill renaming fentanyl overdoses could distort death certificates

By Catrina Barker | The Center Square contributorThe Center Square (The Center Square) – Illinois lawmakers want to rebrand fentanyl deaths as “poisoning” instead of “overdose,” but coroners say the...
New missile attacks in Iran as Trump administration set to update Congress

New missile attacks in Iran as Trump administration set to update Congress

By Dan McCalebThe Center Square Israel and the U.S. launched new missile attacks into Iran on Tuesday as the Trump administration is set to brief members of the U.S. House...
Illinois Quick Hits: Chicago advances in bid for 2028 DNC

Illinois Quick Hits: Chicago advances in bid for 2028 DNC

By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – Chicago is one of five cities in the running to hold the 2028 Democratic National Convention. The...
Congressional Perks: Lawmakers billed taxpayers for limousine services

Congressional Perks: Lawmakers billed taxpayers for limousine services

By Mark StricherzThe Center Square A number of U.S. representatives like to be driven in style, billing taxpayers tens of thousands of dollars for limo service from their office accounts,...
Casey Westfield School Board.1

Casey-Westfield Board Approves 3.5% Admin Raises, Hires New Band Director

Casey-Westfield School Board Meeting | Feb. 23, 2026 Article Summary: The Casey-Westfield School Board approved employment contracts and set salary increases for the district's administration for the upcoming fiscal year....