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

Under Trump, Big Bend CBP Sector in Texas making history

Under Trump, Big Bend CBP Sector in Texas making history

By Bethany BlankleyThe Center Square The far west Texas U.S. Customs and Border Protection sector of Big Bend made history under the Biden and Trump administrations – for different reasons....
Clark County Graphic.4

Board Places Scholarship Tax Credit Referendum on Ballot

Article Summary: Clark County voters will face an advisory question regarding the Federal Scholarship Tax Credit following a board vote on Friday.Referendum Key Points: The referendum is non-binding and asks the...
Pro-life marchers say fight against abortion isn't over

Pro-life marchers say fight against abortion isn’t over

By Emily RodriguezThe Center Square Despite the overturn of Roe v. Wade, the March for Life continues. With the decision to ban or support abortion now in the hands of...
Dodgers' first baseman loses $2M on home sale after taxes

Dodgers’ first baseman loses $2M on home sale after taxes

By Chris WoodwardThe Center Square Selling a high-value property in Los Angeles? Tax experts advise caution: You could be in the same boat as Los Angeles Dodgers star Freddie Freeman....

WATCH: FOIA reveals 725% increase in Medicaid for IL children without SSNs

By Greg Bishop | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – A candidate for the Illinois Statehouse worries there could be a dark side to the 725% increase...
HHS won't use taxpayer dollars for research using aborted fetal tissue

HHS won’t use taxpayer dollars for research using aborted fetal tissue

By Thérèse BoudreauxThe Center Square The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services is banning the use of human fetal tissue sourced from elective abortion in federally funded research. Under...
Education Department issues Title 1 consolidation guidance

Education Department issues Title 1 consolidation guidance

By Esther WickhamThe Center Square The U.S. Department of Education issued guidance to state education officials urging Title I schools to consolidate federal, state and local funding into a single...
U.S. Senate postpones Monday votes ahead of govt funding deadline

U.S. Senate postpones Monday votes ahead of govt funding deadline

By Andrew RiceThe Center Square The U.S. Senate canceled votes originally scheduled for Monday due to inclement weather, shortening the timeframe for legislators to pass necessary funding bills to avoid...
Illinois lawmakers clash over ICE funding as DHS bill advances

Illinois lawmakers clash over ICE funding as DHS bill advances

By Catrina Barker | The Center Square contributorThe Center Square (The Center Square) – An Illinois congressman broke with a faction of moderate Democrats recently by voting against a Department...
Leaders highlight policies to end taxpayer-funded abortions at march for life

Leaders highlight policies to end taxpayer-funded abortions at march for life

By Andrew RiceThe Center Square Vice President JD Vance and other elected officials on Friday touted their accomplishments to implement pro-life legislation over the past year at the 53rd annual...
Illinois Quick Hits: End of tax credit causes another Catholic school to close

Illinois Quick Hits: End of tax credit causes another Catholic school to close

By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square Another Archdiocese of Chicago school has cited the end of Illinois’ Invest in Kids Scholarship Tax Credit Program as a reason...

Chicago inspector general hopes for urgency to address OT mistakes

By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – Chicago’s inspector general says she hopes there is urgency to correct mistakes after the city paid $26.5...

Poll shows most Americans support legal limits to abortion

By Tate MillerThe Center Square Pro-life groups celebrate the 53rd annual March for Life event in the wake of a Knights of Columbus-Marist Poll showing that most Americans support legal...
Bill would give parents access to expulsion evidence

Bill would give parents access to expulsion evidence

By Cat Barker | The Center Square contributorThe Center Square (The Center Square) – Illinois lawmakers are weighing legislation that would require public schools to share all evidence used to...
WATCH: Pritzker IDs half billion in ‘reserves;’ SCOTUS considering gun ban challenge

WATCH: Pritzker IDs half billion in ‘reserves;’ SCOTUS considering gun ban challenge

By Greg Bishop | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – In today's edition of Illinois in Focus Daily, The Center Square's Greg Bishop discusses a recent announcement...