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

Casey Westfield School Board.3

Meeting Summary and Briefs: Casey-Westfield CUSD C-4 Board of Education for June 22, 2026

Casey-Westfield CUSD C-4 Board of Education Meeting | June 22, 2026 The Casey-Westfield Community Unit School District C-4 Board of Education met in regular session at 7 p.m. Monday, June...
Administration presses law school accreditor over DEI policies

Administration presses law school accreditor over DEI policies

By Morgan SweeneyThe Center Square A U.S. House task force questioned the president of the American Bar Association in a hearing Wednesday about the organization’s commitment to diversity, equity and...
Speaker’s response to staffer assault complaint draws questions on his own conduct

Speaker’s response to staffer assault complaint draws questions on his own conduct

By Sean Reed | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – After reporting about a now-resigned state representative and allegations that Illinois House Speaker Emanuel “Chris” Welch may...
Republicans' $95B budget resolution passes House

Republicans’ $95B budget resolution passes House

By Thérèse BoudreauxThe Center Square Republicans’ blueprint for a third party-line bill passed the U.S. House on a slim two-vote margin Wednesday, despite grumblings from fiscal hawks over the bill’s...
$1.15T Pentagon funding authorization bill passes U.S. House

$1.15T Pentagon funding authorization bill passes U.S. House

By Thérèse BoudreauxThe Center Square A $1.15 trillion annual defense funding bill finally passed the U.S. House Wednesday after weeks of delay. Six Democrats joined all but seven Republicans in...
Lawmakers debate GLP-1 regulation, expansion

Lawmakers debate GLP-1 regulation, expansion

By Andrew RiceThe Center Square Lawmakers pushed for more regulations and safety standards on popular weight loss medications, including GLP-1 prescriptions, at an event in Washington, D.C., on Wednesday. Rep....
Illinois news in brief: Ex-Big Ten Network staffer gets 2 years in embezzlement case

Illinois news in brief: Ex-Big Ten Network staffer gets 2 years in embezzlement case

By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square Ex-Big Ten Network staffer gets 2 years in embezzlement case A former Big Ten Network employee has been sentenced to 28...
New quantum tenant gets $1.8 million in tax credits

New quantum tenant gets $1.8 million in tax credits

By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – Another quantum technology company is coming to Illinois, and tax credits are part of the deal. Gov....
Proposal would term-limit Supreme Court justices without amendment

Proposal would term-limit Supreme Court justices without amendment

By Brett RowlandThe Center Square Senate Democrats introduced legislation Wednesday to impose 18-year term limits on U.S. Supreme Court justices by statute, a route that would sidestep the constitutional amendment...
Pritzker says felon was unlucky to land in his back yard

Pritzker says felon was unlucky to land in his back yard

By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – Gov. J.B. Pritzker says electronic monitoring of a suspect on pretrial release did not work in the...
Chicago council approves ballot question to recoup costs from ICE operations

Chicago council approves ballot question to recoup costs from ICE operations

By Sean Reed | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – The Chicago City Council considered multiple ballot referendums during its regular meeting Wednesday morning, including some which...
Anti-ICE 'extremist' charged with arson in attack outside NYC federal building

Anti-ICE ‘extremist’ charged with arson in attack outside NYC federal building

By Chris WadeThe Center Square A 43-year-old Army vet and "anti-ICE" demonstrator is facing arson charges after Monday's fiery attack outside of a federal immigration court in New York City....
World Cup events safe; terrorism, antisemitism concerns don't materialize

World Cup events safe; terrorism, antisemitism concerns don’t materialize

By Bethany BlankleyThe Center Square Ahead of the World Cup, several groups expressed concerns about terrorism and national security threats posed by the international tournament that brought millions of people...
Senators advance healthcare price transparency bill

Senators advance healthcare price transparency bill

By Andrew RiceThe Center Square A bipartisan committee of senators advanced legislation on Wednesday that would require hospitals and insurance companies to display prices for provided services. Senators on the...
Sales tax hike to hit Cook, collar counties on Aug. 1

Sales tax hike to hit Cook, collar counties on Aug. 1

By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – Consumers in six Illinois counties will be soon be paying higher sales taxes. Transit funding legislation signed...