Illinois quick hits: Elections board splits on Harmon fine; busiest summer at O’Hare

Spread the love

Elections board splits on Harmon fine

The Illinois State Board of Elections delivered a tied vote of 4-4 on state Senate President Don Harmon’s appeal of a ruling that he violated campaign finance laws.

The Chicago Tribune reports that the split decision makes it unlikely that the board has the legal authority to impose a $9.8 million fine that had been levied against Harmon.

Board members agreed to hold the issue until their next scheduled meeting in November.

Busiest summer at O’Hare

O’Hare International Airport has recorded the busiest summer in its 70-year history, according to Mayor Brandon Johnson and the Chicago Department of Aviation.

The department said more than 24.3 million passengers traveled through O’Hare during June, July and August, surpassing the previous record of 24 million set in 2019.

Best fall views

Shawnee National Forest’s Inspiration Point in Southern Illinois is the No. 1 place in Illinois for the most stunning fall views.

That’s according to a survey from Exoticca, a travel company. More than 3,000 respondents took part in the survey.

Eagle’s Roost Scenic Overlook in Grafton snagged the second most favorite, followed by Grandview Drive in Peoria.

Leave a Comment





Latest News Stories

Record-long govt shutdown threatens food, early childhood education assistance

Record-long govt shutdown threatens food, early childhood education assistance

By Thérèse BoudreauxThe Center Square Senate Democrats are set to block Republicans’ government funding bill for the 12th time Wednesday, keeping the federal government shut down despite tens of millions...
Sen. Scott Wiener announces he's running for Pelosi's seat

Sen. Scott Wiener announces he’s running for Pelosi’s seat

By Dave MasonThe Center Square State Sen. Scott Wiener, a San Francisco Democrat and vocal opponent of the Trump administration, announced Wednesday he’s running for U.S. Rep. Nancy Pelosi’s seat....
Cities sue Trump administration for tying funds to DEI

Cities sue Trump administration for tying funds to DEI

By Elyse ApelThe Center Square Denver has joined a coalition suing the Trump administration over funds it says have been "illegally" withheld. Joined on the lawsuit by other Democrat-run cities...
Federal shutdown sidelines 34,000 workers in Colorado

Federal shutdown sidelines 34,000 workers in Colorado

By Elyse ApelThe Center Square As the federal government enters its fourth week of a shutdown, an estimated 34,000 Coloradans are currently on furlough from their federal jobs. That's according...
Poll: Majority of Americans favor voter ID requirement, split on mail-in voting ban

Poll: Majority of Americans favor voter ID requirement, split on mail-in voting ban

By Thérèse BoudreauxThe Center Square President Donald Trump’s plans to “restore election integrity” and prevent voter fraud include banning mail-in voting and requiring that voters present identification at the polls....
Op-Ed: Illinois becoming the lawsuit capital of America, and Springfield to blame

Op-Ed: Illinois becoming the lawsuit capital of America, and Springfield to blame

By Michelle SmithThe Center Square As someone who has spent decades building and rebuilding businesses in Illinois, I’ve grown accustomed to challenges that come with the territory: tight deadlines, rising...
Illinois treasurer promises to pass nonprofit legislation vetoed by Pritzker

Illinois treasurer promises to pass nonprofit legislation vetoed by Pritzker

By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – Illinois State Treasurer Michael Frerichs says he will keep pushing nonprofit investment legislation that was vetoed by...

WATCH: Trump says he could attack drug cartels on land amid boat strikes

By Brett RowlandThe Center Square President Donald Trump said the U.S. military could soon go after drug smuggling on land and would consider taking the matter to Congress, but said...
SpaceX launches record-breaking Falcon 9 flight

SpaceX launches record-breaking Falcon 9 flight

By Dave MasonThe Center Square SpaceX broke its record Wednesday morning for its number of Falcon 9 launches in a single year. This year’s 133rd Falcon launch took off, with...
Tribal nations ask U.S. Supreme Court to return lawsuit to state court

Tribal nations ask U.S. Supreme Court to return lawsuit to state court

By Elyse ApelThe Center Square Ten Native American tribal nations are urging the U.S. Supreme Court to send a legal challenge to the Great Lakes Tunnel Project back to the...
Hochul blames congressional Republicans for delay in fuel assistance funding

Hochul blames congressional Republicans for delay in fuel assistance funding

By Chris WadeThe Center Square New York Gov. Kathy Hochul wants Congress to release federal funding to support New York’s Home Energy Assistance Program, which has been delayed by the...
Consumer protection organization warns of partnership between two 'woke' tech companies

Consumer protection organization warns of partnership between two ‘woke’ tech companies

By Tate MillerThe Center Square Consumers’ Research’s new Woke Alert warns of how a partnership between "woke" tech companies Anthropic and Salesforce could make it easier to push left-wing ideologies...
Illinois House backs controversial ‘Equality for Every Family’ bill after Pritzker changes

Illinois House backs controversial ‘Equality for Every Family’ bill after Pritzker changes

By Catrina Barker | The Center Square contributorThe Center Square (The Center Square) – The Illinois House concurs with Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s amendatory veto to the Equality for Every Family...
WATCH: Trump admin asks SCOTUS to lift Guard restraints; Pritzker opposes ‘head tax’

WATCH: Trump admin asks SCOTUS to lift Guard restraints; Pritzker opposes ‘head tax’

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 reviews the latest...
Poll: Voters trust local governments more than feds to address crime, other issues

Poll: Voters trust local governments more than feds to address crime, other issues

By Andrew Rice | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – A majority of Americans say the federal government should not decide policing and crime policy in their...