Illinois Quick Hits: Illinois House approves student cell phone ban
(The Center Square) – The Illinois House has approved a bill banning students from using cell phones during the school day.
Senate Bill 2427 passed after a floor amendment was added on Thursday, with 102 votes in favor and only three opposed.
The measure now goes back to the Senate for concurrence.
SMALL BIZ OPTIMISM DECLINES
The NFIB Small Business Optimism Index fell 3 points in March to 95.8, below the 52-year average of 98.0.
The last time the index fell below its historical average was April 2025.
The NFIB Uncertainty Index rose 4 points to 92, well above its historical average of 68.
NFIB Illinois State Director Noah Finley said Illinois legislators must tamp down on proposals that would impose new costs and legal liabilities on Main Street businesses.
TEXAS MAN GETS 23-YEAR PRISON SENTENCE FOR CRYPTO SCAM
A federal judge in Chicago has sentenced a Houston, Texas man to 23 years in prison for orchestrating a cryptocurrency scam that bilked nearly 1,000 investors out of more than $20 million.
Robert Dunlap, 55, was also ordered to pay restitution to his victim investors. Prosecutors say Dunlap claimed the Meta-1 Coin was backed by billions of dollars in art and gold, and many victims lost all their savings.
FREEDOM CAUCUS: ABOLISH EQUITY AND INCLUSION COMMISSION
Following reporting by The Center Square and testimony before a House committee this week, the Illinois Freedom Caucus is calling for the Illinois Commission on Equity and Inclusion to be abolished.
State Rep. Brad Halbrook, R-Shelbyville, said in a statement that the commission is doing the opposite of what it was created to do, and the taxpayers have paid millions of dollars for failure.
Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
Latest News Stories
U.S.-EU trade deal includes ceiling for European pharmaceutical imports
Supreme Court allows Trump to block DEI funding
Trump to probe Smithsonian museums for ‘woke’ ideology
Director: Nation’s largest outdoor ag show brings economic impact to central IL
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
