Illinois Quick Hits: Man accused in White House terror plot ordered detained

By Jim Talamonti | The Center Square
The Center Square

(The Center Square) – A federal judge has ordered that a Chicago man be detained pending his obstruction-of-justice trial related to an alleged terror plot that targeted the White House.

Prosecutors say Alexander Iniguez Mercado, 20, was an administrator and member of Signal app messaging groups that appeared to communicate about the planned attack on the Ultimate Fighting Championship event at the White House on June 14.

Seven other people have been charged in connection with the plot.

PRITZKER ISSUES DISASTER DECLARATION FOR 11 COUNTIES

Gov. J.B. Pritzker has issued a disaster proclamation for eleven counties impacted by severe weather and flooding that caused widespread damage from March to June.

A statement from Pritzker’s office said the proclamation makes additional state resources and personnel available to support response and recovery operations and can facilitate requests for state and federal disaster assistance.

Communities covered under the proclamation are located in Coles, Cook, Effingham, Jefferson, Kankakee, LaSalle, McLean, Stephenson, Warren, Winnebago and Woodford counties.

UTILITY WATCHDOG CALLS OUT COMED, AMEREN SPENDING PROPOSALS

The Citizens Utility Board says it uncovered more than $1 billion of questionable spending in Commonwealth Edison’s proposed four-year plan for improving its power grid.

CUB said the $15.3 billion, four-year plan ComEd filed in January represents a 21% spending increase over its current plan.

CUB said it found more than $300 million of wasteful or questionable spending in Ameren’s four-year proposal.

IDNR URGES VIGILANCE OF FIREWORKS VENDOR LICENSING

The Illinois Department of Natural Resources is reminding organizations and individuals sponsoring fireworks displays in Illinois to be sure their vendors have state-mandated licenses and certificates.

The Illinois Explosives Act requires anyone who purchases, possesses, uses, transfers, stores or disposes of explosives, including display fireworks, to have an explosives license and explosives storage certificate issued by the IDNR.

A total of 2,164 individuals currently are licensed to use explosives in Illinois, but only 686 of those are specifically licensed for the use of display fireworks.