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

Bill filed to create Illinois Epstein Files Investigation Commission

Bill filed to create Illinois Epstein Files Investigation Commission

By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – A state lawmaker is proposing a commission to investigate the ties that convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein’s...
Lawmakers request DOJ probe into whether Somali fraud and ICE protests are linked

Lawmakers request DOJ probe into whether Somali fraud and ICE protests are linked

By Thérèse BoudreauxThe Center Square The U.S. House Oversight Committee is requesting that the Department of Justice investigate whether the Somali welfare fraud and anti-immigration enforcement protests in Minnesota are...
Questions remain on Trump's plans for $2,000 tariff rebate checks

Questions remain on Trump’s plans for $2,000 tariff rebate checks

By Brett RowlandThe Center Square American consumers hoping for tariff refunds could be disappointed. The U.S. Supreme Court invalidated President Donald Trump's tariffs under the 1977 International Emergency Economic Powers...
Illinois Quick Hits: EPA offers grants to public water facilities

Illinois Quick Hits: EPA offers grants to public water facilities

By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – The Illinois Environmental Protection Agency’s Office of Energy is offering up to $1.5 million in grant funding...
Victims, families support bill protecting victims of sexual assault in schools

Victims, families support bill protecting victims of sexual assault in schools

By Sean Reed | The Center Square contributorThe Center Square (The Center Square) – State lawmakers gathered with victims, parents and advocates in support of a bill requiring Illinois schools...
Retired military officials warn CMS bidding expansion poses national security risks

Retired military officials warn CMS bidding expansion poses national security risks

By Tom JoyceThe Center Square A coalition of retired military officers and former national security officials is urging the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services to halt an expansion of...
Lobbyist: Passenger rail planning bill has no fiscal impact this year

Lobbyist: Passenger rail planning bill has no fiscal impact this year

By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – Rail planning advocates say there would be no immediate fiscal impact if lawmakers pass legislation laying the...
U.S. Supreme Court appears skeptical of drug user gun ban

U.S. Supreme Court appears skeptical of drug user gun ban

By Andrew RiceThe Center Square U.S. Supreme Court justices appeared skeptical during arguments on Monday over a law that disarms habitual drug users. The case, U.S. v. Hemani, challenged a...
Illinois job market stalls, more than 300,00 left looking for work

Illinois job market stalls, more than 300,00 left looking for work

By Glenn Minnis | The Center Square contributorThe Center Square (The Center Square) – Illinois Policy Institute’s Josh Bandoch points to Springfield when it comes to the state’s outlier status...
Poll: 47% of U.S. voters oppose bombing Iran

Poll: 47% of U.S. voters oppose bombing Iran

By Emily RodriguezThe Center Square A new survey found that a plurality of United States voters oppose the bombing of Iran. With Operation Epic Fury underway, Napolitan News Service conducted...
WATCH/EXCLUSIVE: Title IX debate continues with Supreme Court decision pending

WATCH/EXCLUSIVE: Title IX debate continues with Supreme Court decision pending

By Esther WickhamThe Center Square A national debate over Title IX enforcement continues as the Trump administration investigates schools and universities that allow transgender students to compete in women's sports....
Illinois diversity commissioner did not properly disclose $23K side job

Illinois diversity commissioner did not properly disclose $23K side job

By Jared Strong | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – A member of Illinois' highly-paid diversity commission disclosed a side job to state officials in a manner...
DOJ indicts 30 more in St. Paul church protest case

DOJ indicts 30 more in St. Paul church protest case

By Elyse ApelThe Center Square Dozens have now been indicted on federal charges related to a protest that disrupted a Jan. 18 church service in St. Paul. U.S. Attorney General...
Hegseth: Operation Epic Fury 'just the beginning' of U.S. action in Iran

Hegseth: Operation Epic Fury ‘just the beginning’ of U.S. action in Iran

By Thérèse BoudreauxThe Center Square Operation Epic Fury is “just the beginning” of American combat operations in Iran, Secretary of War Pete Hegseth and General Dan Caine told reporters Monday....
Trump administration tells court tariff refunds 'will take time'

Trump administration tells court tariff refunds ‘will take time’

By Brett RowlandThe Center Square Attorneys for the federal government said refunding tariffs to the U.S. businesses that paid them could take time and urged a court not to rush,...