Illinois Quick Hits: ICE arrests woman accused of helping never-charged shooting suspects

Spread the love

(The Center Square) – U.S. Immigration and Enforcement officials have arrested a Venezuelan national who was accused of helping two alleged Tren de Aragua members evade law enforcement after a December 2024 shooting that left three people dead and others injured in Chicago.

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security says police found weapons in 32-year-old Giovanna Mercedes Moreno Occhipinti’s vehicle after she drove the two alleged shooters, Ricardo Granadillo Padilla and Edward Martinez Cermeno, following the crime. B

oth Granadillo Padilla and Martinez Cermeno were arrested and deported, but neither man was charged after being arrested in connection with the shooting.

DHS said Moreno Occhipinti was in the U.S. illegally and remains in custody pending removal.

LAKE COUNTY SHERIFF: DETECTIVES RESCUED GIRL FROM ALLEGED CHILD PORN SOLICITOR

The Lake County Sheriff’s office says county detectives rescued a girl from a man who traveled from Georgia to meet her.

Jordy Alexis Fuerte Perez, 24, is charged with solicitation of child pornography and unlawful possession of cocaine after he was discovered with a missing girl under the age of 14 in a parking lot near Libertyville.

Detectives used public safety camera technology to locate the suspect’s vehicle. The sheriff’s office says additional charges are likely.

PRITZKER, GOVERNORS OPPOSE ‘STOP CLIMATE SHAKEDOWNS ACT’

Gov. J.B. Pritzker has joined nine fellow governors urging Congress to reject recently-introduced legislation they say preempts the authority of state and local governments to implement laws that protect residents from climate change.

In a letter to U.S. House and Senate leaders, the governors say Senate Bill 4340 and HR 8330 also strip state and local governments of their ability to pursue legal action when corporations harm residents with pollution.

COOK COUNTY OFFERS $2 MILLION MORE IN DOWN PAYMENT ASSISTANCE

Cook County officials have announced the allocation of $2 million for a third phase of the county’s down payment assistance program.

County taxpayers previously funded $11.6 million in down payment assistance during the first two phases of the program.

Last Wednesday, county board president Toni Preckwinkle announced a projected budget gap of $550.7 million for fiscal year 2027.

Leave a Comment





Latest News Stories

Education Department issues Title 1 consolidation guidance

Education Department issues Title 1 consolidation guidance

By Esther WickhamThe Center Square The U.S. Department of Education issued guidance to state education officials urging Title I schools to consolidate federal, state and local funding into a single...
U.S. Senate postpones Monday votes ahead of govt funding deadline

U.S. Senate postpones Monday votes ahead of govt funding deadline

By Andrew RiceThe Center Square The U.S. Senate canceled votes originally scheduled for Monday due to inclement weather, shortening the timeframe for legislators to pass necessary funding bills to avoid...
Illinois lawmakers clash over ICE funding as DHS bill advances

Illinois lawmakers clash over ICE funding as DHS bill advances

By Catrina Barker | The Center Square contributorThe Center Square (The Center Square) – An Illinois congressman broke with a faction of moderate Democrats recently by voting against a Department...
Leaders highlight policies to end taxpayer-funded abortions at march for life

Leaders highlight policies to end taxpayer-funded abortions at march for life

By Andrew RiceThe Center Square Vice President JD Vance and other elected officials on Friday touted their accomplishments to implement pro-life legislation over the past year at the 53rd annual...
Illinois Quick Hits: End of tax credit causes another Catholic school to close

Illinois Quick Hits: End of tax credit causes another Catholic school to close

By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square Another Archdiocese of Chicago school has cited the end of Illinois’ Invest in Kids Scholarship Tax Credit Program as a reason...

Chicago inspector general hopes for urgency to address OT mistakes

By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – Chicago’s inspector general says she hopes there is urgency to correct mistakes after the city paid $26.5...

Poll shows most Americans support legal limits to abortion

By Tate MillerThe Center Square Pro-life groups celebrate the 53rd annual March for Life event in the wake of a Knights of Columbus-Marist Poll showing that most Americans support legal...
Bill would give parents access to expulsion evidence

Bill would give parents access to expulsion evidence

By Cat Barker | The Center Square contributorThe Center Square (The Center Square) – Illinois lawmakers are weighing legislation that would require public schools to share all evidence used to...
WATCH: Pritzker IDs half billion in ‘reserves;’ SCOTUS considering gun ban challenge

WATCH: Pritzker IDs half billion in ‘reserves;’ SCOTUS considering gun ban challenge

By Greg Bishop | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – In today's edition of Illinois in Focus Daily, The Center Square's Greg Bishop discusses a recent announcement...
Proposed Illinois bill would let local voters approve rent control, drawing sharp criticism

Proposed Illinois bill would let local voters approve rent control, drawing sharp criticism

By Cat Barker | The Center Square contributorThe Center Square (The Center Square) – A proposed Illinois bill, the “Let the People Lift the Ban Act," SB2884, would let local...
Businesses close in Minnesota for anti-ICE ‘economic blackout’

Businesses close in Minnesota for anti-ICE ‘economic blackout’

By Elyse ApelThe Center Square Many businesses across Minnesota closed today as part of an ‘economic blackout’ to protest U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. This comes in response to calls...
Illinois Quick Hits: Higher ed board pushes for more spending

Illinois Quick Hits: Higher ed board pushes for more spending

By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – The Illinois Board of Higher Education has approved a 4.5% spending increase in its budget for fiscal...
lake land college.2

Policy Change Relaxes Grade Exclusion Requirements for Returning Students

Lake Land College Board of Trustees Meeting | Dec. 8, 2025 Article Summary: Trustees voted to reduce the waiting period required for students to apply for grade exclusion, lowering the...
Pritzker says $481.6 million put in reserves, GOP questions state spending

Pritzker says $481.6 million put in reserves, GOP questions state spending

By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – One day after an Illinois state representative said there was no budget transparency from J.B. Pritzker’s office,...
Illinois Quick Hits: HHS: IL abortion referral rule violates federal law

Illinois Quick Hits: HHS: IL abortion referral rule violates federal law

By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has notified Illinois officials that the state is violating...