July 22, 2026/

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

Spread the love

By Jim Talamonti | The Center Square
The Center Square

Ex-Big Ten Network staffer gets 2 years in embezzlement case

A former Big Ten Network employee has been sentenced to 28 months in prison and ordered to pay more than $4 million in restitution after he pleaded guilty to embezzlement charges. Prosecutors said Weston Goldstein, 48, used company credit cards and the Big Ten Network’s procurement process to buy electronic devices and sell them online over a period of eight years.

EPA announces $5 million to address non-point source pollution

Illinois Environmental Protection Agency Director James Jennings has announced $5 million for projects addressing non-point source pollution. The agency said NPS pollution is caused by rainfall or snowmelt moving over and through the ground, picking up pollutants and depositing them into sources of drinking water.

State recovers unpaid wages, prevailing wage penalties

The Illinois Department of Labor has recovered more than $67,000 in unpaid wages for eight employees after an investigation found prevailing wage violations by Absolute Home Improvements & Cleaning Service on a public works project in Lake County. The investigation found the employer failed to pay required fringe benefit rates to employees and did not comply with payroll reporting requirements under the Illinois Prevailing Wage Act. The company also paid more than $6,700 in penalties.

Grocery stores that got taxpayer money may close

All seven Save A Lot stores across Chicago could shut down this Saturday after the company decided to end its partnership with grocery operator Yellow Banana. NBC Chicago reports that city officials attributed the end of the partnership to the recent death of Yellow Banana CEO Joe Canfield and cuts to Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits. The city gave $13.5 million in taxpayer funds to refurbish the grocery stores in 2022. A Save A Lot spokesperson said Yellow Banana is exploring options to keep the stores open.

Leave a Comment





Latest News Stories

New missile attacks in Iran as Trump administration set to update Congress

New missile attacks in Iran as Trump administration set to update Congress

By Dan McCalebThe Center Square Israel and the U.S. launched new missile attacks into Iran on Tuesday as the Trump administration is set to brief members of the U.S. House...
Illinois Quick Hits: Chicago advances in bid for 2028 DNC

Illinois Quick Hits: Chicago advances in bid for 2028 DNC

By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – Chicago is one of five cities in the running to hold the 2028 Democratic National Convention. The...
Congressional Perks: Lawmakers billed taxpayers for limousine services

Congressional Perks: Lawmakers billed taxpayers for limousine services

By Mark StricherzThe Center Square A number of U.S. representatives like to be driven in style, billing taxpayers tens of thousands of dollars for limo service from their office accounts,...
Casey Westfield School Board.1

Casey-Westfield Board Approves 3.5% Admin Raises, Hires New Band Director

Casey-Westfield School Board Meeting | Feb. 23, 2026 Article Summary: The Casey-Westfield School Board approved employment contracts and set salary increases for the district's administration for the upcoming fiscal year....
marshall city graphic logo.2

Meeting Summary and Briefs: City of Marshall City Council for February 23, 2026

City of Marshall City Council Meeting | February 23, 2026 The regular meeting of the City of Marshall City Council was called to order at 6:30 p.m. on Monday, February...
Public school test scores continue to decline since pandemic

Public school test scores continue to decline since pandemic

By Esther WickhamThe Center Square Academic achievement in U.S. public schools continues to fall behind pre-pandemic levels, with national test data showing a persistent decline in math and reading scores...
Southwestern states react to U.S. airstrikes in Iran

Southwestern states react to U.S. airstrikes in Iran

By Chris WoodwardThe Center Square Politicians and others in the Southwest remain divided over U.S. airstrikes in Iran. The Operation Epic Fury strikes began over the weekend and were in...
Appeals court won't delay tariff refunds

Appeals court won’t delay tariff refunds

By Brett RowlandThe Center Square A federal appeals court on Monday rejected the Trump administration's request to delay a step toward granting tariff refunds. The government had asked for a...
Oil, gas prices jump as Iran war disrupts Middle East output

Oil, gas prices jump as Iran war disrupts Middle East output

By Alton WallaceThe Center Square U.S. and global oil and gas prices surged higher Monday as concerns grew that attacks by Israel and the U.S. on Iran could spiral into...
Number of service members killed in action rises to six

Number of service members killed in action rises to six

By Sarah Roderick-FitchThe Center Square The number of American service members killed in action as part of Operation Epic Fury has climbed from four to six, as Secretary of State...
Bill filed to create Illinois Epstein Files Investigation Commission

Bill filed to create Illinois Epstein Files Investigation Commission

By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – A state lawmaker is proposing a commission to investigate the ties that convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein’s...
Lawmakers request DOJ probe into whether Somali fraud and ICE protests are linked

Lawmakers request DOJ probe into whether Somali fraud and ICE protests are linked

By Thérèse BoudreauxThe Center Square The U.S. House Oversight Committee is requesting that the Department of Justice investigate whether the Somali welfare fraud and anti-immigration enforcement protests in Minnesota are...
Questions remain on Trump's plans for $2,000 tariff rebate checks

Questions remain on Trump’s plans for $2,000 tariff rebate checks

By Brett RowlandThe Center Square American consumers hoping for tariff refunds could be disappointed. The U.S. Supreme Court invalidated President Donald Trump's tariffs under the 1977 International Emergency Economic Powers...
Illinois Quick Hits: EPA offers grants to public water facilities

Illinois Quick Hits: EPA offers grants to public water facilities

By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – The Illinois Environmental Protection Agency’s Office of Energy is offering up to $1.5 million in grant funding...
Victims, families support bill protecting victims of sexual assault in schools

Victims, families support bill protecting victims of sexual assault in schools

By Sean Reed | The Center Square contributorThe Center Square (The Center Square) – State lawmakers gathered with victims, parents and advocates in support of a bill requiring Illinois schools...