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

Spread the love

(The Center Square) – A circuit court judge has ruled that Cook County spent $243 million in violation of the Illinois constitution.

According to Criminal Watch, Judge Alison Conlon ruled that the county’s use of transportation-related tax revenues during the 2023 fiscal year violated the state’s Safe Roads Amendment.

The court found that Cook County’s diversion of $243 million did not meet the amendment’s requirement that revenue from fuel taxes, vehicle registration fees and other transportation taxes be used exclusively for transportation infrastructure and related operations.

DRUG CHARGES

A federal drug investigation has resulted in criminal charges against a Chicago couple and seven other individuals for allegedly trafficking cocaine in the Chicago area.

Joel Andrade, 34, and Maria Brenda Mora-Hernandez, 32, are charged with drug conspiracy, drug distribution and firearm offenses.

The other defendants also face federal drug charges.

BANK TAKEOVER

The Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation Division of Banking, in cooperation with the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, took possession and control of Metropolitan Capital Bank & Trust in Chicago on Friday.

Susana Soriano, Acting Director of IDFPR’s Division of Banking, said Metropolitan was closed due to unsafe and unsound conditions and an impaired capital position.

First Independence Bank of Detroit, Michigan agreed to buy the bank. Soriano said the action would not cause depositors to lose any money.

Leave a Comment





Latest News Stories

Screenshot 2026-02-04 at 2.25.33 PM

Senate Bill Secures $1 Million for Casey Sewer Improvements

Casey City Council Meeting | Feb. 2, 2026 Article Summary: Economic Development Director Tom Daughhetee announced that a federal budget bill passed by the Senate includes $1 million in community...
EXCLUSIVE: 5 largest U.S. cities don’t have enough money to pay bills: report

EXCLUSIVE: 5 largest U.S. cities don’t have enough money to pay bills: report

By Bethany BlankleyThe Center Square The five largest cities in the United States, all led by Democrats, did not have enough money to pay their bills in 2024, according to...
INVESTIGATION: Wisconsin university closes DEI unit but keeps most staff working on equity issues

INVESTIGATION: Wisconsin university closes DEI unit but keeps most staff working on equity issues

By Jared StrongThe Center Square After concerns were raised about spending on DEI, the University of Wisconsin-Madison shuttered a department but kept most of the staff and their titles working...
Casey Westfield School Board.3

Board Approves Updated School Resource Officer Agreement

Casey-Westfield Board of Education Meeting | Jan. 26, 2026 Article Summary: The Casey-Westfield School Board approved an updated intergovernmental agreement with the City of Casey Police Department regarding the School...
Screenshot 2026-02-04 at 2.25.17 PM

Casey Advances Housing Strategy with Land Bank Transfers and Inspection Contract

Casey City Council Meeting | Feb. 2, 2026 Article Summary: The Casey City Council has approved the transfer of vacant city-owned lots to the Central Illinois Land Bank Authority and...
Chicago’s $41 billion financial hole exposes city’s pension crisis

Chicago’s $41 billion financial hole exposes city’s pension crisis

By Catrina Barker | The Center Square contributorThe Center Square (The Center Square) – Chicago finished fiscal year 2024 with a $41.1 billion gap between the money it has available...
Trump seeks $1B from Harvard in federal funding dispute

Trump seeks $1B from Harvard in federal funding dispute

By Esther WickhamThe Center Square President Donald Trump is now seeking a $1 billion payment from Harvard University as part of an effort to resolve an ongoing dispute with the...
Lawmakers react to U.S. Supreme Court's ruling on Prop. 50

Lawmakers react to U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling on Prop. 50

By Madeline ShannonThe Center Square California lawmakers on both sides of the aisle are responding to the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision on Wednesday to not hear an appeal challenging the...

WATCH: Senators slam fraud, call for welfare scrutiny in Minnesota

By Andrew RiceThe Center Square U.S. Senators on Wednesday called for more scrutiny over welfare payments and railed against allegations of fraud in Minnesota and across the country. The senators...
Nurses demand inclusion in professional degree definition

Nurses demand inclusion in professional degree definition

By Esther WickhamThe Center Square The American Nurses Association is urging the public to call for nurses to be added back into the definition of “professional degrees” after the Trump...
Early voting starts Thursday in most Illinois jurisdictions

Early voting starts Thursday in most Illinois jurisdictions

By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – Early voting is scheduled to begin Thursday in most Illinois jurisdictions for the state’s Democratic and Republican...
Trump tells Iranian leaders they 'should be very worried'

Trump tells Iranian leaders they ‘should be very worried’

By Sarah Roderick-FitchThe Center Square Iran’s leadership “should be very worried,” President Donald Trump warned Wednesday amid conflicting reports that talks between the U.S. and the Islamic Republic had been...
Illinois Quick Hits: Group files FOIA lawsuit vs. Pritzker

Illinois Quick Hits: Group files FOIA lawsuit vs. Pritzker

By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – Judicial Watch has filed a Freedom of Information Act lawsuit against Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker. The suit...
First lady meets with former Oct. 7 hostages

First lady meets with former Oct. 7 hostages

By Sarah Roderick-FitchThe Center Square American citizen and Chapel Hill, N.C. native, Keith Siegel and his wife Aviva focused their meeting with First Lady Melania Trump on hope and a...
U.S. regulator licenses deepwater port in Gulf for oil exports

U.S. regulator licenses deepwater port in Gulf for oil exports

By Alton WallaceThe Center Square Texas GulfLink has received a license to build and operate a deepwater port in the Gulf of America, marking the first such approval in the...