August 29, 2025/
Illinois quick hits: Foreign national indicted for fraud; Chicago Public Schools budget approved
Foreign national indicted for fraud
A foreign national has been indicted in U.S. District Court in Chicago for allegedly defrauding numerous individuals out of at least $2.6 million and willfully evading income taxes.
Jawad Fakroune, 45, also known by “Angelino Escobar” and other names, is facing 15 federal counts of wire fraud and tax-related charges.
Chicago Public Schools budget approved
The Chicago Board of Education has adopted a $10.2 billion budget for Fiscal Year 2026.
The board voted 12-7 to approve the spending plan, which did not include a high-interest loan favored by Mayor Brandon Johnson and the Chicago Teachers Union.
Former chancellor dies
Former University of Illinois Chancellor Michael Aiken has died at the age of 93.
Aiken served as the school’s sixth chancellor from 1993 to 2001. U of I officials said he died Monday in Cody, Wyoming.
Today Jun 6
87° 71°
Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
Latest News Stories
Erupting Volcanoes, Culinary Creations, and Caterpillars Highlight Casey-Westfield Spring Academics
Article Summary: The Casey-Westfield Board of Education reviewed highly detailed academic reports highlighting a surge of hands-on learning experiences across the district, ranging from explosive 6th-grade science experiments to intricate high...
U.S. troops in Italy, Spain hang in balance as troop reduction in Germany announced
By Sarah Roderick-FitchThe Center Square On the heels of President Donald Trump threatening to reduce troops in Europe, the Department of War announced Friday the reduction of 5,000 troops from...
Federal appeals court halts access to mail-order abortion drug
By Dan McCalebThe Center Square A federal appeals court on Friday temporarily halted a Biden-era rule that allowed individuals to receive the abortion pill mifepristone through the mail without a...
Labor unions back McCormick’s plan to reform federal permitting
By John ColeThe Center Square In a rare show of solidarity, building trade unions and U.S. Sen. Dave McCormick, R-Pa., want to streamline the federal permitting process so that projects...
Court-ordered tariff refunds bypass consumers who paid
By Brett RowlandThe Center Square The Trump administration has begun returning $166 billion in tariff refunds, launching a new portal for U.S. importers to claim their money back, but consumers...
Late Three-Run Surge Propels Casey-Westfield Baseball Past Marshall, 6-3
A pivotal three-run rally in the bottom of the sixth inning lifted the Casey-Westfield varsity baseball team to a 6-3 conference victory over visiting Marshall on Thursday. In a tightly...
Gustafson Strikes Out 11 as Marshall Softball Defeats Casey-Westfield 4-1
Junior pitcher Kyla Gustafson delivered a dominant performance in the circle, striking out 11 batters to lead the Marshall varsity softball team to a 4-1 conference victory over host Casey-Westfield...
Professor: Surging gas prices will have long-term effects
By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – A University of Chicago professor says the effects of high gas prices will ripple through the economy...
Illinois Quick Hits: DHS says ICE captures child sex abuser released by Illinois DOC
By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – The U.S. Department of Homeland Security says U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers have arrested a Guatemalan...
Durbin calls probe ‘sham’; state lawmaker backs transparency
By Catrina Barker | The Center Square contributorThe Center Square (The Center Square) – An Illinois state lawmaker is voicing strong support for a federal investigation into dozens of school...
Lawmen believe trip from Carolinas to Washington a threat to Trump
By Alan WootenThe Center Square An Army veteran lawmen believed was going to travel from the Carolinas to Washington in an attempt to kill President Donald Trump will be in...
Trump threatens new EU auto taxes that could drive up prices
By Brett RowlandThe Center Square President Donald Trump threatened to raise tariffs on European Union cars and trucks to 25%, accusing the EU of violating a trade agreement the bloc...
Independent tax tribunal faces elimination by Pritzker budget proposal
By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – The chief judge of the Illinois Independent Tax Tribunal says it will be bad for taxpayers if...
