August 27, 2025/

Illinois quick hits: Gun ban challengers petition SCOTUS; man sentenced for COVID fraud

Spread the love

By Jim Talamonti | The Center Square
The Center Square

Gun ban challengers petition SCOTUS

The Second Amendment Foundation is asking the U.S. Supreme Court to take a challenge to Cook County’s ban on semi-automatic firearms.

Originally filed in 2021, the Seventh Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals sided with the county, upholding the ban in June of this year. In 2023, the state enacted a similar ban.

A Second Amendment challenge for the statewide ban is set to be heard by the appeals court Sept. 22. A district judge found the state’s ban unconstitutional last year.

Man sentenced for COVID fraud

A federal judge has sentenced a former Chicago man to a year and half in prison for scheming to fraudulently obtain nearly $2 million in small business loans from COVID relief funds.

Prosecutors say Samuel W. Jackson, 45, pleaded guilty to wire fraud and money laundering after he and others spent hundreds of thousands of dollars on luxury vehicles and at restaurants and entertainment venues.

Airport funding announced

More than $8 million in federal tax funds from the Trump administration is headed for airports across Illinois.

The U.S. Department of Transportation funding goes to improve taxiways, accommodate more passengers and make travelling easier.

An airport in Peoria is getting $7.6 million. Airports in Decatur and Bloomington are also receiving funds.

Leave a Comment





Latest News Stories

Bill filed to create Illinois Epstein Files Investigation Commission

Bill filed to create Illinois Epstein Files Investigation Commission

By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – A state lawmaker is proposing a commission to investigate the ties that convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein’s...
Lawmakers request DOJ probe into whether Somali fraud and ICE protests are linked

Lawmakers request DOJ probe into whether Somali fraud and ICE protests are linked

By Thérèse BoudreauxThe Center Square The U.S. House Oversight Committee is requesting that the Department of Justice investigate whether the Somali welfare fraud and anti-immigration enforcement protests in Minnesota are...
Questions remain on Trump's plans for $2,000 tariff rebate checks

Questions remain on Trump’s plans for $2,000 tariff rebate checks

By Brett RowlandThe Center Square American consumers hoping for tariff refunds could be disappointed. The U.S. Supreme Court invalidated President Donald Trump's tariffs under the 1977 International Emergency Economic Powers...
Illinois Quick Hits: EPA offers grants to public water facilities

Illinois Quick Hits: EPA offers grants to public water facilities

By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – The Illinois Environmental Protection Agency’s Office of Energy is offering up to $1.5 million in grant funding...
Victims, families support bill protecting victims of sexual assault in schools

Victims, families support bill protecting victims of sexual assault in schools

By Sean Reed | The Center Square contributorThe Center Square (The Center Square) – State lawmakers gathered with victims, parents and advocates in support of a bill requiring Illinois schools...
Retired military officials warn CMS bidding expansion poses national security risks

Retired military officials warn CMS bidding expansion poses national security risks

By Tom JoyceThe Center Square A coalition of retired military officers and former national security officials is urging the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services to halt an expansion of...
Lobbyist: Passenger rail planning bill has no fiscal impact this year

Lobbyist: Passenger rail planning bill has no fiscal impact this year

By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – Rail planning advocates say there would be no immediate fiscal impact if lawmakers pass legislation laying the...
U.S. Supreme Court appears skeptical of drug user gun ban

U.S. Supreme Court appears skeptical of drug user gun ban

By Andrew RiceThe Center Square U.S. Supreme Court justices appeared skeptical during arguments on Monday over a law that disarms habitual drug users. The case, U.S. v. Hemani, challenged a...
Illinois job market stalls, more than 300,00 left looking for work

Illinois job market stalls, more than 300,00 left looking for work

By Glenn Minnis | The Center Square contributorThe Center Square (The Center Square) – Illinois Policy Institute’s Josh Bandoch points to Springfield when it comes to the state’s outlier status...
Poll: 47% of U.S. voters oppose bombing Iran

Poll: 47% of U.S. voters oppose bombing Iran

By Emily RodriguezThe Center Square A new survey found that a plurality of United States voters oppose the bombing of Iran. With Operation Epic Fury underway, Napolitan News Service conducted...
WATCH/EXCLUSIVE: Title IX debate continues with Supreme Court decision pending

WATCH/EXCLUSIVE: Title IX debate continues with Supreme Court decision pending

By Esther WickhamThe Center Square A national debate over Title IX enforcement continues as the Trump administration investigates schools and universities that allow transgender students to compete in women's sports....
Illinois diversity commissioner did not properly disclose $23K side job

Illinois diversity commissioner did not properly disclose $23K side job

By Jared Strong | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – A member of Illinois' highly-paid diversity commission disclosed a side job to state officials in a manner...
DOJ indicts 30 more in St. Paul church protest case

DOJ indicts 30 more in St. Paul church protest case

By Elyse ApelThe Center Square Dozens have now been indicted on federal charges related to a protest that disrupted a Jan. 18 church service in St. Paul. U.S. Attorney General...
Hegseth: Operation Epic Fury 'just the beginning' of U.S. action in Iran

Hegseth: Operation Epic Fury ‘just the beginning’ of U.S. action in Iran

By Thérèse BoudreauxThe Center Square Operation Epic Fury is “just the beginning” of American combat operations in Iran, Secretary of War Pete Hegseth and General Dan Caine told reporters Monday....
Trump administration tells court tariff refunds 'will take time'

Trump administration tells court tariff refunds ‘will take time’

By Brett RowlandThe Center Square Attorneys for the federal government said refunding tariffs to the U.S. businesses that paid them could take time and urged a court not to rush,...