Illinois Quick Hits: 178 Illinois tornadoes so far in 2026

Spread the love

(The Center Square) – According to preliminary quality controlled data from the National Weather Service, Illinois has had more than twice as many tornadoes as any other U.S. state in 2026.

As of July 1, 178 tornadoes have been recorded in Illinois this year. Mississippi is second with 81, followed by Indiana with 76, Missouri with 72 and Iowa with 71.

COMED ASKS CUSTOMERS TO REDUCE ENERGY USE

ComEd asked its customers to reduce energy use on Wednesday due to what the utility called “an isolated incident” impacting parts of Chicago and the city’s western suburbs.

ComEd did not report any outages but said in a social media post that the grid was “under critical strain.”

The 2025 Resource Adequacy Study released last December by three state agencies said grid operators PJM and MISO are expected to face capacity shortfalls unless new capacity and resources are developed.

CHICAGO POLICE SUPERINTENDENT TO RETIRE

Chicago Police Superintendent Larry Snelling has announced that he will retire on July 15.

Snelling has served more than 30 years in the city’s department, including the last three years as superintendent.

Mayor Brandon Johnson said Fred Waller would serve as interim superintendent while the Community Commission for Public Safety and Accountability begins the search process.

ALLEGED CRIMINAL HACKER EXTRADITED TO U.S.

An alleged member of the criminal cyber hacking group Scattered Spider has been arrested in Finland and extradited to the United States to face federal criminal conspiracy charges in the Northern District of Illinois.

U.S. government attorneys say 19-year-old Peter Stokes, a dual citizen of the U.S. and Estonia, is accused of breaching a jewelry retailer’s computer system, making a ransom demand and causing the retailer to lose at least $2 million due to business disruption, investigation and mitigation of the threat.

MATTOON LAKE REMAINS IDENTIFIED

Authorities have identified a man’s remains that were found in Lake Mattoon last Sunday evening.

Illinois State Police identified Dalewayne Turner, 38, of Plainfield, Illinois as the victim but said there is no threat to the public.

Leave a Comment





Latest News Stories

Senate Republicans unveil $72 billion budget package to fund ICE, CBP

Senate Republicans unveil $72 billion budget package to fund ICE, CBP

By Thérèse BoudreauxThe Center Square Republicans are forging ahead with legislation to fund Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Customs and U.S. Border Patrol along party lines. The two Senate committees...
Illinois AI regulations have mild industry support, could draw federal ire

Illinois AI regulations have mild industry support, could draw federal ire

By Sean Reed | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – Experts in artificial intelligence spoke to state lawmakers recently, providing guidance on four bills introduced in the...
DOJ files complaint to block Minnesota climate lawsuit

DOJ files complaint to block Minnesota climate lawsuit

By Elyse ApelThe Center Square The U.S. Department of Justice has filed a complaint against Minnesota, seeking to block the state from continuing to pursue a lawsuit against energy companies...
Hegseth: Ceasefire holds despite Iranian aggression

Hegseth: Ceasefire holds despite Iranian aggression

By Morgan SweeneyThe Center Square Despite Iranian forces opening fire on American warships in the Strait of Hormuz Monday, War Secretary Pete Hegseth said the ceasefire still holds and the...
Illinois Quick Hits: Mayors to visit capitol urge protection of local funding

Illinois Quick Hits: Mayors to visit capitol urge protection of local funding

By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – The Metropolitan Mayors Caucus is urging Gov. J.B. Pritzker to reverse his proposed budget cut to local...
Despite tax revolt, Lower Merion keeps administrator pay high

Despite tax revolt, Lower Merion keeps administrator pay high

By Mark StricherzThe Center Square Despite a $27 million settlement with taxpayers in 2022, Lower Merion School District continues to pay top-tier salaries to administrators.Assistant high school principals in the...
Supreme Court allows Louisiana to immediately move on drawing new map

Supreme Court allows Louisiana to immediately move on drawing new map

By Nolan MckendryThe Center Square Louisiana lawmakers can immediately begin drawing a new congressional map after the U.S. Supreme Court on Monday night put into effect its ruling striking down...
After Fifth Circuit ruling on TX border security law, ACLU sues to stop it from going into effect

After Fifth Circuit ruling on TX border security law, ACLU sues to stop it from going into effect

By Bethany BlankleyThe Center Square Roughly one week after the Fifth Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals handed Texas a win on its border security law, SB 4, the law is...
Colorado legislators back psychedelic drug research

Colorado legislators back psychedelic drug research

By Liam HibbertThe Center Square Psychedelic drugs are experiencing an unprecedented wave of support across the U.S. for their potential therapeutic benefits. President Donald Trump’s recent executive order to research...
Trump tells small business owners tariffs 'aren't high enough'

Trump tells small business owners tariffs ‘aren’t high enough’

By Brett RowlandThe Center Square President Donald Trump told a group of small business owners Monday that tariffs should be higher, even as polling is mixed on the issue. "You...
Pennsylvania has the most Democrats in ‘Red to Blue’ campaign

Pennsylvania has the most Democrats in ‘Red to Blue’ campaign

By John ColeThe Center Square As Democrats ramp up their efforts to flip the U.S. House in November, four candidates from the Keystone State have been named to a program...
Trump hosts small business owners at White House, touting business-friendly policies

Trump hosts small business owners at White House, touting business-friendly policies

By Morgan SweeneyThe Center Square President Donald Trump enumerated a number of policies he said have created a favorable environment for small business growth while speaking to small business owners...
DeSantis signs new congressional map into law

DeSantis signs new congressional map into law

By Alan WootenThe Center Square Second-term Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis on Monday signed his redrawn congressional map into law. The Legislature gave passage last week. “Signed, sealed and delivered,” DeSantis...
South Carolinian facing charges for threatening Trump will stay jailed

South Carolinian facing charges for threatening Trump will stay jailed

By Alan WootenThe Center Square Army veteran Daniel Swain spoke only briefly in response to a federal magistrate judge on Monday and will have a detention hearing on Thursday. Swain,...
Iran testing fragile ceasefire, fires on Navy, commercial ships

Iran testing fragile ceasefire, fires on Navy, commercial ships

By Sarah Roderick-FitchThe Center Square Iran is testing the ceasefire as it fires at U.S. naval and commercial vessels within hours of the implementation of “Project Freedom.” U.S. Central Command...