September 22, 2025/

Illinois quick hits: Driver’s blood alcohol over legal limit; Fed survey shows growth below trend

Spread the love

By Jim Talamonti | The Center Square
The Center Square

Driver’s blood alcohol over legal limit

The Stephenson County Sheriff’s Office says toxicology results show that a Guatemalan national’s blood-alcohol level was more than three times the legal limit when his vehicle crossed the center line in a crash which claimed his life and the life of a Freeport woman last month.

The collision killed Darcy Connolly-Brunner, 61, on Route 26 in rural Orangeville.

State Sen. Andrew Chesney, R, Freeport, said after the crash that Rolando Ico-Choc, 30, was a repeat DUI offender who was in the country illegally.

Engineering interns sought

The Illinois Department of Central Management Services is expanding its Intern to Hire Program partnering with the Illinois Department of Transportation to include engineering roles.

According to a CMS statement, the initiative provides a pathway for aspiring civil engineers to launch long-term public service careers in Illinois.

The program offers structured, paid internships leading to full-time state employment.

Fed survey shows growth below trend

The Chicago Fed Survey of Economic Conditions Activity Index decreased to –14 in September from +1 in August, suggesting that economic growth was below trend.

The survey includes parts of Illinois and four other Midwestern states.

The September number still represents an improvement from -22 in July.

Leave a Comment





Latest News Stories

U.S. power grid holds up in cold; warning issued

U.S. power grid holds up in cold; warning issued

By Alton WallaceThe Center Square The electric grid powering much of the U.S. through a harsh stretch of winter has largely held up, but there is an increasing risk of...
Everyday Economics: The economy expands, but massive transformation masks weakness

Everyday Economics: The economy expands, but massive transformation masks weakness

By Orphe DivounguyThe Center Square The Atlanta Fed’s GDPNow model is tracking 4.2% real GDP growth in Q4 2025 – a number that screams “strong economy,” powered in part by...
Nationwide redistricting efforts could impact control of Congress

Nationwide redistricting efforts could impact control of Congress

By Andrew RiceThe Center Square As the 2026 midterm elections approach, state legislatures have grappled with fierce mid-decade redistricting efforts in an attempt to give an advantage to their political...
Marijuana, abortion, noncitizen voting on ballots in 2026

Marijuana, abortion, noncitizen voting on ballots in 2026

By Andrew RiceThe Center Square Alongside a battle for control of Congress, voters in states across the country will take up ballot initiatives to decide key issues. Citizenship requirements for...
Casey Westfield School Board.1

Casey-Westfield Board Accepts Clean Audit, Notes Dip in Financial Profile Score due to Bonds

Casey-Westfield Board of Education Meeting | Jan. 26, 2026 Article Summary: The Casey-Westfield School Board reviewed the fiscal year 2024 annual financial report, which showed a clean audit with no...
Chicago FOP boss: Mayor’s ICE on Notice order is 'piece of toilet paper'

Chicago FOP boss: Mayor’s ICE on Notice order is ‘piece of toilet paper’

By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson has signed an executive order directing members of the city’s police department to...

WATCH: Supreme Court case could add to $10.8B midterm spending projection

By Andrew RiceThe Center Square The U.S. Supreme Court could issue a decision by July that could unleash billions more dollars into political campaigns ahead of the 2026 midterm elections....
Lawmaker, officer: 'Blue Envelope" could help navigate autism during stops

Lawmaker, officer: ‘Blue Envelope” could help navigate autism during stops

By Catrina Barker | The Center Square contributorThe Center Square (The Center Square) – An Illinois lawmaker who also serves in law enforcement says proposed legislation creating a “Blue Envelope”...
Senate GOP fails to halt welfare funding for non-citizens

Senate GOP fails to halt welfare funding for non-citizens

By Sarah Roderick-FitchThe Center Square U.S. Senate Republicans failed to halt over $5 billion in funding for refugees, with 20 GOP senators joining every Senate Democrat to continue providing costly...
Senate passes funding deal, sends to House for final approval

Senate passes funding deal, sends to House for final approval

By Thérèse BoudreauxThe Center Square The U.S. Senate sent a $1.2 trillion government funding package back to the House for approval Friday night, ensuring a partial government shutdown over the...
California group opposes property tax hike, billionaires' tax

California group opposes property tax hike, billionaires’ tax

By Madeline ShannonThe Center Square Officials with the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association are concerned about efforts to raise property taxes on California’s homeowners, a representative of the organization told The...
Illinois quick hits: New Illinois Supreme Court justice installed

Illinois quick hits: New Illinois Supreme Court justice installed

By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square New Illinois Supreme Court justice installed The newest member of the Illinois Supreme Court has been installed. Former appellate court justice...
High schools throughout California stage walkouts over ICE

High schools throughout California stage walkouts over ICE

By Chris WoodwardThe Center Square Hundreds of students at high schools throughout California held walkouts Friday over immigration raids and the law enforcement-involved deaths of two people in Minneapolis. Schools...
Pritzker celebrates expansion of French cheese maker in GOP leader’s district

Pritzker celebrates expansion of French cheese maker in GOP leader’s district

By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – Gov. J.B. Pritzker is celebrating the expansion of a French cheese-making facility in Illinois House Republican Leader...

WATCH: WA GOP lawmaker asking Trump administration to investigate fraud allegations

By Carleen JohnsonThe Center Square A Washington state lawmaker is asking President Donald Trump and the U.S. Department of Justice to investigate potential self-dealing and fraud within taxpayer subsidized programs...