Illinois quick hits: Fatal helicopter crash; Comptroller orders another extra pension payment

Illinois quick hits: Fatal helicopter crash; Comptroller orders another extra pension payment

Spread the love

Fatal helicopter crash

Two people are dead after a helicopter crashed into a barge on the Mississippi River.

The Federal Aviation Administration said the Hughes 369D with two people on board went down around 11:05 a.m. Thursday in East Alton.

The National Transportation Safety Board is investigating.

Comptroller orders another extra pension payment

Illinois Comptroller Susana Mendoza says she is ordering a third round of pension pre-payments.

Mendoza said more than $1.3 billion in payments to the state’s five retirement systems will include $428 million in pre-payments, allowing the pension systems to keep more money in their portfolios and earn more in returns.

Statehouse rematch shaping up

State Rep. Amy Briel, D-Ottawa, and Republican Liz Bishop are gearing up for a potential rematch in Illinois’ 76th House District.

Briel defeated Bishop by 595 votes, or 1%, in the general election last November.

Bishop will first face a primary rematch with Crystal Loughran.

Manhattan Weather Full forecast →
Today Jul 21
Mostly Sunny
74° 54°

Mostly Sunny

💨 10 mph 💧 2%

Leave a Comment





Latest News Stories

New gun rules may be needed in IL after SCOTUS marijuana gun rights ruling

New gun rules may be needed in IL after SCOTUS marijuana gun rights ruling

By Jonathan Bilyk | Legal NewslineThe Center Square The U.S. Supreme Court has ruled occasional and "habitual" marijuana use alone cannot be used by governments as a reason to deny...
Pritzker defends plan to raise tolls

Pritzker defends plan to raise tolls

By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – Gov. J.B. Pritzker says higher proposed Illinois Tollway rates are for many users that travel to and...
DHS thwarts Iranian terrorist threats at the northern border, World Cup ties

DHS thwarts Iranian terrorist threats at the northern border, World Cup ties

By Bethany BlankleyThe Center Square Iranian terrorist threats continue at the northern border, this time the threat also is connected to the World Cup and the Iranian National Guard Corps....
Everyday Economics: A new chair, a shorter statement, a Fed that stopped talking cuts

Everyday Economics: A new chair, a shorter statement, a Fed that stopped talking cuts

By Orphe DivounguyThe Center Square The Federal Reserve left interest rates alone last Wednesday, holding its benchmark in the 3.50%–3.75% range for a fourth straight meeting – after standing pat...
Illinois congressmen worry as DHS Secretary seeks to ‘protect election integrity’

Illinois congressmen worry as DHS Secretary seeks to ‘protect election integrity’

By Sean Reed | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – A potential plan to deploy federal immigration agents to polling places this fall is illegal and would...
Poll: 70% of Americans 'concerned' AI will take jobs

Poll: 70% of Americans ‘concerned’ AI will take jobs

By Andrew RiceThe Center Square Roughly 70% of Americans said they were at least "somewhat concerned" that artificial intelligence could replace their jobs, according to a new poll. The Center...
Will County Board Graphic.04

Meeting Summary and Briefs: Will County Board Executive Committee for June 11, 2026

Will County Board Executive Committee Meeting | June 11, 2026 The Will County Board Executive Committee met Thursday, June 11, 2026, in Joliet, advancing a slate of items to the...
Will County Board Graphic.02

Will County Mental Health Board Touts Crisis Program in Quarterly Report

Will County Board Executive Committee Meeting | June 11, 2026 Article Summary: The Will County Community Mental Health Board's quarterly report to the Executive Committee on Thursday, June 11, 2026,...
Will County Finance Logo

Meeting Summary and Briefs: Will County Board Finance Committee for June 2, 2026

Will County Board Finance Committee Meeting | June 2, 2026 The Will County Board Finance Committee took up a short slate of budget and appropriation items at its regular meeting...
Will County Board Graphic.03

Will County Coroner Reports Nearly 8,000 Death Investigations in 2025

Will County Board Executive Committee Meeting | June 11, 2026 Article Summary: Will County Coroner Laurie Summers presented her 2025 annual report to the Executive Committee on Thursday, June 11,...
Lawmaker says Pritzker reacted too quickly to Grant Park cross burning

Lawmaker says Pritzker reacted too quickly to Grant Park cross burning

By Catrina BarkerThe Center Square Illinois state Rep. Chris Miller says Gov. J.B. Pritzker should address the political motivations behind a Grant Park cross burning after the University of Illinois...
Sanders bill would give U.S. stake in AI companies; analyst calls idea 'nutty'

Sanders bill would give U.S. stake in AI companies; analyst calls idea ‘nutty’

By Brett RowlandThe Center Square A U.S. Senate bill would give the federal government a 50% ownership stake in the largest artificial intelligence companies, creating a sovereign wealth fund its...
Poll: Most Americans don't trust AI for news

Poll: Most Americans don’t trust AI for news

By Andrew RiceThe Center Square Most Americans say they do not trust artificial intelligence to provide accurate and unbiased information about politics and current events, according to a new poll....
Poll: 6 in 10 voters say country headed in wrong direction

Poll: 6 in 10 voters say country headed in wrong direction

By Brett RowlandThe Center Square Six in 10 American voters say the country is heading in the wrong direction before this year's midterm elections, an increase from three months ago,...
Will County Board Graphic.01

Will County Committee Advances Three New Assistant State’s Attorneys

Will County Board Executive Committee Meeting | June 11, 2026 Article Summary: The Will County Board Executive Committee on Thursday, June 11, 2026, recommended increasing the authorized number of assistant...