January 20, 2026/

Illinois quick hits: Bovino bounty trial to begin; Judge sentences Kentucky man to 15 years in drugs case; Pritzker criticizes Trump’s first year as Trump marks accomplishments

Spread the love

By Jim Talamonti | The Center Square
The Center Square

Bovino bounty trial to begin

Jury selection is complete for the trial of a man accused of putting a bounty on U.S. Border Patrol Commander Gregory Bovino. Juan Espinoza Martinez, 37, was charged last fall with soliciting the murder of a senior law enforcement official. Opening statements are scheduled to begin Wednesday morning at the Everett McKinley Dirksen U.S. Courthouse in Chicago.

Judge sentences Kentucky man to 15 years in drugs case

A southern Illinois district judge has sentenced a Kentucky man to 15 years in federal prison for possessing more than 150 grams of meth and a firearm as a felon. James W. Towery, 45, of Salem, Kentucky, pleaded guilty to one count of possession with intent to distribute meth and one count of felon in possession of a firearm. Prosecutors say law enforcement found a handgun along with the drugs during a traffic stop in Massac County on March 11, 2024.

Pritzker criticizes Trump’s first year as Trump marks accomplishments

Gov. J.B. Pritzker held a roundtable discussion in Chicago on Tuesday to discuss the impact of federal government actions on Illinoisans. Pritzker said manufacturers feel it when tariffs go up and farmers pay the price for trade wars. President Donald Trump held a White House briefing Tuesday afternoon and said Democrats created the affordability problem and his administration is solving it.

Leave a Comment





Latest News Stories

Illinois quick hits: Transit cliff revision criticized; Pike County shooting investigation

Illinois quick hits: Transit cliff revision criticized; Pike County shooting investigation

By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square Transit cliff revision criticized With the transit fiscal cliff expected to be revised to approximately $300 million, labor and environmental groups...
Pritzker open to spending on Bears infrastructure, concerns remain about debt

Pritzker open to spending on Bears infrastructure, concerns remain about debt

By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – Gov. J.B. Pritzker says he is open to state funding of infrastructure for a proposed Chicago Bears...
IL legislators weigh energy policy some say will increase costs

IL legislators weigh energy policy some say will increase costs

By Greg Bishop | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – Illinois’ energy landscape continues to evolve as the state works to usher in industries that draw a...

NFIB says economy growing, but jobs lagging

By Brett RowlandThe Center Square The National Federation of Independent Business released it's job report Thursday afternoon noting that the federal jobs report expected Friday will likely be delayed by...
'I don't have anything to negotiate:' Johnson holds firm on GOP shutdown strategy

‘I don’t have anything to negotiate:’ Johnson holds firm on GOP shutdown strategy

By Thérèse BoudreauxThe Center Square As the government shutdown enters its second day, House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., defended Republican leaders’ refusal to concede to Democrats’ health care policy demands...
Analyst points to inefficiencies as Pritzker touts record spending on infrastructure

Analyst points to inefficiencies as Pritzker touts record spending on infrastructure

By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – After Gov. J.B. Pritzker announced the biggest infrastructure spending plan in state history, a transportation policy director...
Federal judge blocks cuts in anti-terror funding to NYC transit

Federal judge blocks cuts in anti-terror funding to NYC transit

By Chris WadeThe Center Square A federal judge has blocked the Trump administration from withholding nearly $34 million to protect New York City's transportation system from terrorist attacks over the...
Businesses seek more time to address 'diverging interests' in tariff challenge

Businesses seek more time to address ‘diverging interests’ in tariff challenge

By Brett RowlandThe Center Square A group of small businesses that brought a legal challenge against President Donald Trump's global tariffs asked the Supreme Court for more time to argue...
Israel-Hamas peace deal in limbo as clock ticks away on deadline

Israel-Hamas peace deal in limbo as clock ticks away on deadline

By Sarah Roderick-FitchThe Center Square The clock is ticking for Hamas leaders to respond to the 20-point peace agreement proposed by President Donald Trump and approved by Israeli Prime Minister...
Trimming the fat: Trump boasts of shuttering government agencies amid shutdown

Trimming the fat: Trump boasts of shuttering government agencies amid shutdown

By Morgan SweeneyThe Center Square President Donald Trump has condemned the shutdown and laid the blame squarely at the feet of the “Radical Left Democrats”— in the meantime, he appears...
Trump freezes $18 billion in NYC infrastructure over DEI policies

Trump freezes $18 billion in NYC infrastructure over DEI policies

By Chris WadeThe Center Square The Trump administration is freezing more than $18 billion in federal funding for infrastructure projects in New York City, citing concerns about diversity, equity and...
Illinois quick hits: DHS announces more than 800 illegals arrested; utility prices drop slightly

Illinois quick hits: DHS announces more than 800 illegals arrested; utility prices drop slightly

By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square Midway Blitz announces 800 illegals arrested According to the Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and U.S. Border...
WATCH: Officials shift shutdown blame; agreed-bill process upended; GOP offers solutions

WATCH: Officials shift shutdown blame; agreed-bill process upended; GOP offers solutions

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 shares reaction to...
Critics: Democrat Senators supporting “Democracy’ amendment would curtail free speech

Critics: Democrat Senators supporting “Democracy’ amendment would curtail free speech

By Bethany BlankleyThe Center Square Every Democrat in the U.S. Senate has backed a constitutional amendment designed to overturn the U.S. Supreme Court decision in Citizens United v. Federal Election...
LA skyscrapers for homeless could cost federal taxpayers over $1 billion

LA skyscrapers for homeless could cost federal taxpayers over $1 billion

By Kenneth SchruppThe Center Square Federal taxpayers might be on the hook for more than $1 billion over the lifetime of three downtown Los Angeles skyscrapers designed to house the...