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

More states now offer school choice programs for families

More states now offer school choice programs for families

By Esther WickhamThe Center Square School choice debates continue as more states opt into programs aimed at expanding educational options for families. National School Choice Week, scheduled for Jan. 25-31,...
Trump likely to make waves at biggest-ever World Economic Forum

Trump likely to make waves at biggest-ever World Economic Forum

By Morgan SweeneyThe Center Square The largest-ever World Economic Forum braces to receive the largest-ever U.S. delegation, with President Donald Trump and others leaving Tuesday for Davos, Switzerland. Over 3,000...
Illinois House returns to session with plans for SAFE-T Act, Israel, taxes

Illinois House returns to session with plans for SAFE-T Act, Israel, taxes

By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – Higher taxes, the SAFE-T Act and state policy regarding Israel may all be on the table as...
solar panels photovoltaics in solar farm

Clark County Board Approves Limited Permit for Moonshine Solar Project

Article Summary: The Clark County Board granted a limited building permit for specific infrastructure related to the Moonshine Solar project while discussing upcoming changes to state regulations.Moonshine Solar Permit Key Points:...
Illinois quick hits: Bovino bounty trial to begin; Judge sentences Kentucky man to 15 years in drugs case; Pritzker criticizes Trump's first year as Trump marks accomplishments

Illinois quick hits: Bovino bounty trial to begin; Judge sentences Kentucky man to 15 years in drugs case; Pritzker criticizes Trump’s first year as Trump marks accomplishments

By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square Bovino bounty trial to begin Jury selection is complete for the trial of a man accused of putting a bounty on...
IL AG reviews battles vs. Trump administration: '365 days of chaos'

IL AG reviews battles vs. Trump administration: ‘365 days of chaos’

By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul says his office has endured 365 days of chaos with President Donald...
Largest U.S. band manufacturer plans to leave Ohio, send some production overseas

Largest U.S. band manufacturer plans to leave Ohio, send some production overseas

By David BeasleyThe Center Square While President Donald Trump continues to use tariffs to push for manufacturing to return to the United States, the largest manufacturer of band instruments in...
WATCH: Trump says he plans to send out $2,000 tariff checks without Congress

WATCH: Trump says he plans to send out $2,000 tariff checks without Congress

By Brett RowlandThe Center Square President Donald Trump on Tuesday said he could bypass Congress to send $2,000 tariff rebate checks to some Americans. This directly contradicts his top economic...
House to vote on last four govt. funding bills costing $1.2 trillion

House to vote on last four govt. funding bills costing $1.2 trillion

By Thérèse BoudreauxThe Center Square Ten days before the government funding deadline, congressional appropriators released the last four fiscal year 2026 spending bills for the U.S. House to vote on....
Illinois House speaker, unions push millionaire’s tax as lawmakers return

Illinois House speaker, unions push millionaire’s tax as lawmakers return

By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – Illinois state representatives are scheduled to be back in Springfield this week, and there is bipartisan concern...
Reports: Walz, Frey, Ellison among those issued subpoenas by U.S. Justice

Reports: Walz, Frey, Ellison among those issued subpoenas by U.S. Justice

By J.D. DavidsonThe Center Square High-ranking Minnesota elected officials on Tuesday were served subpoenas by the U.S. Department of Justice, according to multiple reports. Gov. Tim Walz, Attorney General Keith...
Supreme Court hears arguments in 'vampire rule' gun case

Supreme Court hears arguments in ‘vampire rule’ gun case

By Andrew RiceThe Center Square The U.S. Supreme Court heard arguments on Tuesday in a case over a Hawaii law that prohibits concealed carry permit holders from bringing guns on...
Trump slams 'stupid' UK decision to give back key military base

Trump slams ‘stupid’ UK decision to give back key military base

By Brett RowlandThe Center Square President Donald Trump sharply criticized the United Kingdom's decision to hand over the Chagos Islands, the location of a strategic U.S. military base, to Mauritius....
Bill would block Arizona Guard from unauthorized U.S. wars

Bill would block Arizona Guard from unauthorized U.S. wars

By Zachery SchmidtThe Center Square A new bill seeks to make Arizona the first state in the country to prevent its National Guard from fighting in wars not authorized by...
Audit: Illinois State professors skipped required outside work disclosures

Audit: Illinois State professors skipped required outside work disclosures

By Catrina Barker | The Center Square contributorThe Center Square (The Center Square) – An Illinois lawmaker is raising serious concerns about cybersecurity and legal compliance at Illinois State University...