Illinois quick hits: Foreign national indicted for fraud; Chicago Public Schools budget approved
Foreign national indicted for fraud
A foreign national has been indicted in U.S. District Court in Chicago for allegedly defrauding numerous individuals out of at least $2.6 million and willfully evading income taxes.
Jawad Fakroune, 45, also known by “Angelino Escobar” and other names, is facing 15 federal counts of wire fraud and tax-related charges.
Chicago Public Schools budget approved
The Chicago Board of Education has adopted a $10.2 billion budget for Fiscal Year 2026.
The board voted 12-7 to approve the spending plan, which did not include a high-interest loan favored by Mayor Brandon Johnson and the Chicago Teachers Union.
Former chancellor dies
Former University of Illinois Chancellor Michael Aiken has died at the age of 93.
Aiken served as the school’s sixth chancellor from 1993 to 2001. U of I officials said he died Monday in Cody, Wyoming.
Latest News Stories
WATCH: Illinois State Fair: Affordable fun backed by $140M in taxpayer funding
Op-Ed: State lawmakers gut Emmett Till Day bill, expose Illinois’ corruption problem
Democratic PACs being investigated for bankrolling AWOL Texas House Democrats
Pritzker: Chicago mayor ‘never once called’ to oppose pension bill
WATCH: Illinois In Focus Daily | Thursday Aug. 7th, 2025
Illinois quick hits: Cook County declares flood disaster; opt-out forms promoted; State Fair begins
Doudna Fine Arts Center 2025/2026 Season Announcement
Search for New Casey Utility Superintendent Narrows to Five Candidates
Daughhetee, Winnett inducted into Casey Rotary Club
WATCH: IL Republican pushes for TX quorum rules that Pritzker hails as ‘hero’ move
Casey Cracks Down on Blighted Properties, Considers Parental Responsibility Ordinance
Lake Land College Invests Over $63,000 in Grammarly AI Tool to Boost Student and Staff Writing Skills