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 18
80° 62°
Sunny
Latest News Stories
Illinois Gov. Pritzker signs assisted suicide bill
By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – Gov. J.B. Pritzker has signed Senate Bill 1950 to legalize physician-assisted suicide in Illinois. The governor announced...
Hochul weighs AI regulations as Trump sets federal rules
By Chris WadeThe Center Square New York Gov. Kathy Hochul is weighing plans to regulate the state's artificial intelligence sector, even as President Donald Trump seeks to restrict states from...
EXCLUSIVE: First Nation police chiefs want to participate in border security efforts
By Bethany BlankleyThe Center Square First Nation tribal police chiefs in Canada say want to participate in border security efforts. Many already are on the front lines, living at the...
Justice Department sues Fulton County over election records
By Kim JarrettThe Center Square The U.S. Justice Department sued Fulton County, Ga. Clerk of Court Che Alexander on Friday, claiming her office failed to produce records from the 2020...
USPS electric fleet push sparks cost, security and job concerns
By Catrina Barker | The Center Square contributorThe Center Square (The Center Square) – The U.S. Postal Service is pushing forward with a major electric fleet overhaul funded partly by...
WATCH: Use of Guard debated; Trump singles out Pritzker on AI; Property tax ruling
By Greg Bishop | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – In today's edition of Illinois in Focus Daily, The Center Square Editor Greg Bishop reviews heated moments...
Illinois quick hits: Chicago Fed president explains vote; Treasurer encourages Bright Start gifts
By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square Chicago Fed president explains vote Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago President Austan Goolsbee has explained his decision to vote against the...
EXCLUSIVE: Canadian groups, First Nation police support stronger border security
By Bethany BlankleyThe Center Square Despite Canadian officials arguing that the "Canada-U.S. border is the best-managed and most secure border in the world,” some Canadian groups and First Nation tribal...
More than 9,500 commercial truckers taken off U.S. roads nationwide
By Bethany BlankleyThe Center Square More than 9,500 commercial truckers have been taken off of U.S. roads for failing English-language proficiency checks, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said. “We’ve now knocked...
WATCH: ‘Unfortunate accident’: Miss. senator blasted for comment on Guard troop shootings
By Sarah Roderick-FitchThe Center Square U.S. Rep. Bennie Thompson, D-Miss., faced heavy criticism Thursday after characterizing the recent shooting of two National Guard members blocks from the White House, killing...
WATCH: House Homeland Security hearing filled with tense exchanges
By Sarah Roderick-FitchThe Center Square A U.S. House hearing on homeland security wasn’t void of drama Thursday as Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem engaged in several tense exchanges with Democrats,...
Judge rules against Trump’s freeze on wind energy
By Dave MasonThe Center Square Democratic attorneys general applauded a federal judge’s ruling this week that the Trump administration can’t halt development of all wind energy projects. Proponents have long...
Illinois’ new paint fee takes effect, with critics calling it another burden on taxpayers
By Catrina Barker | The Center Square contributorThe Center Square (The Center Square) – A new statewide fee on paint products adds a small charge to each container sold as...
