Illinois quick hits: Durbin declines award; nearly $1B in sports betting revenue
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.
Mostly Clear
Latest News Stories
Personnel cuts to national intelligence office will save taxpayers $700 million
Redistricting would split cities, counties throughout CA
Pritzker: Fair maps in Illinois would be ‘disarming’ to Democrats
NY appeals court overturns Trump’s civil fraud penalty
Casey Police Department to Add New Officer
States sue over Victims of Crime Act grant funding
White House backs off hefty EU tariff threats, EU eliminates industrial tariffs
Home sales up 2% in July as prices stayed nearly flat
Parents who lost daughters at Camp Mystic: Their deaths were ‘100% preventable’
Illinois quick hits: COVID fraud indictments issued; man sentenced for mailing fentanyl
Trump defunds California sex ed program over ‘gender ideology’
WATCH: Illinois In Focus Daily | Thursday Aug. 21st, 2025
