October 1, 2025/

Illinois quick hits: Durbin declines award; nearly $1B in sports betting revenue

Spread the love

By Jim Talamonti | The Center Square
The Center Square

Durbin declines award

Illinois U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin has decided not to receive an award from the Archdiocese of Chicago for his contributions in the areas of immigration, care of the poor and world peace.

Diocese of Springfield Bishop Thomas Paprocki and others criticized the planned award, noting that Durbin has a long record of supporting legal abortion.

Chicago Cardinal Blase Cupich said he was saddened by the news but respected Durbin’s decision.

Nearly $1B in sports betting revenue

An investment guidance organization has found that Illinois is second only to New York in collecting taxes on sports betting.

A study by The Motley Fool revealed that Illinois has taken in $958,470,529 since sports wagers were legalized in 2018.

Overall, states have collected $9.3 billion in taxes on sports betting.

Kennedy Expressway lanes reopening

The Illinois Department of Transportation has announced that a major construction project which started in 2023 is nearing completion on Chicago’s Kennedy Expressway.

IDOT said the entire outbound stretch will be reopened by 4:00 a.m.

Sunday, Oct. 4. The rehab work lengthened travel times and caused massive congestion on the city’s North Side.

The project used $169 million in state taxpayer funds.

Leave a Comment





Latest News Stories

Taxpayers fund factories Pentagon says contractors should build

Taxpayers fund factories Pentagon says contractors should build

By Brett RowlandThe Center Square The Pentagon is asking Congress to approve a new model that expects defense contractors to fund their own factory expansions, while simultaneously handing out $191...
Renewed call for Trump to pardon Texas Republican political consultant

Renewed call for Trump to pardon Texas Republican political consultant

By Bethany BlankleyThe Center Square After a Trump administration settlement with the IRS was announced including a new $1.8 billion weaponization fund for “political prisoners,” Texans are renewing their call...
Op-Ed: Illinois is closed for business

Op-Ed: Illinois is closed for business

By Alan Jernigan and Joshua MeyerThe Center Square The policies coming from Springfield send a clear message: Illinois is closed for business. While other states enact pro-growth policies and create...
Illinois Quick Hits: Proposal would allow two-year, online car registration

Illinois Quick Hits: Proposal would allow two-year, online car registration

By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – Illinois House Republican Leader Tony McCombie has filed legislation she says will make the vehicle registration process...
Flint, Detroit top list of most-affordable U.S. cities for homebuyers

Flint, Detroit top list of most-affordable U.S. cities for homebuyers

By Elyse ApelThe Center Square Flint and Detroit rank as the two most-affordable cities in the nation for homebuyers, according to a new WalletHub report. The analysis compared 300 U.S....
SCOTUS turns away Palatine HS teacher fired over anti-BLM Facebook posts

SCOTUS turns away Palatine HS teacher fired over anti-BLM Facebook posts

By Jonathan Bilyk | Legal NewslineeThe Center Square The U.S. Supreme Court will not review lower courts' decisions finding a suburban school district did not violate the constitutional rights of...
WATCH: Critics say political protests interfere with education

WATCH: Critics say political protests interfere with education

By Esther WickhamThe Center Square As student walkouts and protests tied to immigration enforcement increase nationwide, education experts are raising concerns about declining civics proficiency among K-12 students and the...
Congressional candidates discuss agriculture, healthcare

Congressional candidates discuss agriculture, healthcare

By Andrew RiceThe Center Square Editor's note: This is the part of a series of stories that are appearing this week on the June 2 primary in California. The stories...
Trump admin still releasing minors into U.S., well below Biden era

Trump admin still releasing minors into U.S., well below Biden era

By Bethany BlankleyThe Center Square The Trump administration is still releasing unaccompanied alien children (UAC)s into the U.S., although the numbers are dramatically lower than the unprecedented numbers released by...
TrumpRx expanding, offering generic prescription drugs

TrumpRx expanding, offering generic prescription drugs

By Morgan SweeneyThe Center Square TrumpRx is expanding to about seven times its current size, adding more than 600 generic prescription drugs to the months-old direct-to-consumer government website, the president...
Trump pauses planned military strikes against Iran, cites further negotiations

Trump pauses planned military strikes against Iran, cites further negotiations

By Sarah Roderick-FitchThe Center Square Renewed military strikes against Iran have been postponed once again, President Donald Trump said Monday. In a Truth Social post, the president says a military...
Consumer advocates say Nicor’s rate hike is unreasonable, profit-driven

Consumer advocates say Nicor’s rate hike is unreasonable, profit-driven

By Sean Reed | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – Consumer advocates have signaled heavy opposition to a proposed $221 million rate hike by Nicor Gas, arguing...
Johnson’s office counters Pritzker claim Chicago mayor 'has no plan' to keep Bears

Johnson’s office counters Pritzker claim Chicago mayor ‘has no plan’ to keep Bears

By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – Gov. J.B. Pritzker says Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson has no plan to keep the Bears in the...
Pritzker: Trump war to blame for high gas prices

Pritzker: Trump war to blame for high gas prices

By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – Gov. J.B. Pritzker says everyone is paying more for gas because of President Donald Trump’s military action...
Proposed law would require women’s restroom on construction sites

Proposed law would require women’s restroom on construction sites

By Sean Reed | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – Construction companies across Illinois may be required by law to provide female employees with separate bathroom facilities...