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

Trump admin to define banking privacy laws

Trump admin to define banking privacy laws

By Andrew RiceThe Center Square The Trump Administration is set to revisit regulations on data privacy and consumer protections between banks and financial technology firms such as Venmo. The administration...
Western senators propose wastewater program renewal

Western senators propose wastewater program renewal

By Liam HibbertThe Center Square U.S. Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto, D-Nevada, has co-introduced bipartisan legislation to extend a federal $450 million water recycling grant for Western states until 2032. The...
Ohio Dems call for return to TPS status for Haitians

Ohio Dems call for return to TPS status for Haitians

By David BeasleyThe Center Square Ohio Senate Democrats called Monday for the federal government to extend temporary protected status for Haitians in Springfield. That status is set to expire Tuesday....
Trump Kennedy Center to close for two years; over $250M secured for renovations

Trump Kennedy Center to close for two years; over $250M secured for renovations

By Sarah Roderick-FitchThe Center Square Those hoping to catch a show at the Trump Kennedy Center will only have a few months before it closes for a two-year renovation, President...
House GOP leaders face pushback from own members on funding bill

House GOP leaders face pushback from own members on funding bill

By Thérèse BoudreauxThe Center Square As the federal government enters its third day of a partial shutdown, House Republicans are bickering over Senate changes to the $1.2 trillion funding package,...
Lawmakers discuss budget, spending, tax credits as Illinois Senate returns

Lawmakers discuss budget, spending, tax credits as Illinois Senate returns

By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – The Illinois Senate Appropriations Committee chair says greater federal scrutiny of state government spending will not change...
Nearly 2,200 Seattle-area jobs included in latest round of Amazon corporate layoffs

Nearly 2,200 Seattle-area jobs included in latest round of Amazon corporate layoffs

By Brett DavisThe Center Square Amazon is cutting approximately 2,200 corporate roles from the Seattle area as part of the company’s broader 16,000-person global layoff, according to a filing with...
Trump to slash tariffs on Indian imports after deal on Russian oil

Trump to slash tariffs on Indian imports after deal on Russian oil

By Brett RowlandThe Center Square President Donald Trump said Monday he would immediately slash tariffs on imports, which could mean lower costs for consumers on goods from the U.S. ally...
IL lawmakers push discount drug legislation to prevent restricted access

IL lawmakers push discount drug legislation to prevent restricted access

By Jim TalamontiThe Center Square Illinois lawmakers are pushing an amendment to ban restrictions or interference with a federal discount drug program. Speaking at a rally in Chicago on Sunday,...
Trump says worldwide tariffs aren't taxes on U.S. consumers

Trump says worldwide tariffs aren’t taxes on U.S. consumers

By Brett RowlandThe Center Square President Donald Trump continues to defend his use of tariffs worldwide as businesses await a U.S. Supreme Court ruling on the president’s tariff authority. Trump...
Chicago downtown office space vacancy rate ends year at record high levels

Chicago downtown office space vacancy rate ends year at record high levels

By Glenn Minnis | The Center Square contributorThe Center Square (The Center Square) – Wirepoints Executive Editor Mark Glennon warns Chicago’s dwindling business community could be riding into high-gear after...
Ex-Illinois candidate sides with Vance after Duckworth–Rubio clash

Ex-Illinois candidate sides with Vance after Duckworth–Rubio clash

By Catrina Barker | The Center Square contributorThe Center Square (The Center Square) – U.S. Sen. Tammy Duckworth, D-Illinois, is facing fresh criticism after Vice President J.D. Vance likened her...
Illinois Quick Hits: Judge rules Cook County misspent $243M

Illinois Quick Hits: Judge rules Cook County misspent $243M

By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – A circuit court judge has ruled that Cook County spent $243 million in violation of the Illinois...
U.S. power grid holds up in cold; warning issued

U.S. power grid holds up in cold; warning issued

By Alton WallaceThe Center Square The electric grid powering much of the U.S. through a harsh stretch of winter has largely held up, but there is an increasing risk of...
Everyday Economics: The economy expands, but massive transformation masks weakness

Everyday Economics: The economy expands, but massive transformation masks weakness

By Orphe DivounguyThe Center Square The Atlanta Fed’s GDPNow model is tracking 4.2% real GDP growth in Q4 2025 – a number that screams “strong economy,” powered in part by...