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

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

August 7, 2025/
Spread the love

By Jim Talamonti | The Center Square
The Center Square

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.

Leave a Comment





Latest News Stories

Illinois proposal aims to improve detection of potentially staged deaths

Illinois proposal aims to improve detection of potentially staged deaths

By Catrina Barker | The Center Square contributorThe Center Square (The Center Square) – State Sen. Craig Wilcox, R-Woodstock, says too many deaths initially ruled as suicides may actually be...
Analysis: Homelessness predicted to rise despite policy efforts

Analysis: Homelessness predicted to rise despite policy efforts

By Emily RodriguezThe Center Square Homelessness is predicted to rise, while policies predicted to lower the homeless numbers only address part of the cause, according to analysts. The annual Point-In-Time...
Analysis: Homelessness predicted to rise despite policy efforts

Analysis: Homelessness predicted to rise despite policy efforts

By Emily RodriguezThe Center Square Homelessness is predicted to rise, while policies predicted to lower the homeless numbers only address part of the cause, according to analysts. The annual Point-In-Time...
Bachelor’s at Illinois community colleges may widen access, affordability

Bachelor’s at Illinois community colleges may widen access, affordability

By Sean Reed | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – Community colleges in Illinois could soon offer Bachelor’s degree programs to Illinois residents. Officials, lawmakers and students...
Bachelor’s at Illinois community colleges may widen access, affordability

Bachelor’s at Illinois community colleges may widen access, affordability

By Sean Reed | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – Community colleges in Illinois could soon offer Bachelor’s degree programs to Illinois residents. Officials, lawmakers and students...
Iran reverses course, closes Strait of Hormuz

Iran reverses course, closes Strait of Hormuz

By Sarah Roderick-FitchThe Center Square Less than 24 hours after Iran and President Donald Trump touted the Strait of Hormuz open, the Islamic Republic has reportedly reversed course, closing the...
Iran reverses course, closes Strait of Hormuz

Iran reverses course, closes Strait of Hormuz

By Sarah Roderick-FitchThe Center Square Less than 24 hours after Iran and President Donald Trump touted the Strait of Hormuz open, the Islamic Republic has reportedly reversed course, closing the...
Manhattan Park District Graphic

Manhattan Park District Explores Potential Acquisition of Brookstone HOA Park

Manhattan Park Board Meeting | March 12, 2026 Article Summary: The Manhattan Park Board discussed a request from the Brookstone Homeowners Association to take over ownership and maintenance of their...
Will County Board Graphic.04

Meeting Summary and Briefs: Will County Board Ad-Hoc Ordinance Review Committee for April 14, 2026

Will County Board Ad-Hoc Ordinance Review Committee Meeting | April 14, 2026 The Will County Board Ad-Hoc Ordinance Review Committee held a highly efficient meeting on Tuesday, April 14, 2026,...
Will County Board Graphic.01

Executive Committee Advances Sweeping Updates to Adult Entertainment and Wireless Facilities Ordinances

Will County Board Executive Committee Meeting | April 9, 2026 Article Summary: The Will County Board Executive Committee advanced two major ordinances completely rewriting the county's regulations for Adult Entertainment...
Los Angeles school district seeks state's money for pay hikes

Los Angeles school district seeks state’s money for pay hikes

By Chris WoodwardThe Center Square The Center Square) - The Los Angeles Unified School District managed to avoid a strike this week after reaching 11th-hour agreements with three unions. Now...
Los Angeles school district seeks state's money for pay hikes

Los Angeles school district seeks state’s money for pay hikes

By Chris WoodwardThe Center Square The Center Square) - The Los Angeles Unified School District managed to avoid a strike this week after reaching 11th-hour agreements with three unions. Now...
Congress kicks off government funding process for 2027

Congress kicks off government funding process for 2027

By Thérèse BoudreauxThe Center Square Six months out from fiscal year 2027, U.S. lawmakers are making progress on the annual 12 appropriations bills that will fund the federal government. The...
Congress kicks off government funding process for 2027

Congress kicks off government funding process for 2027

By Thérèse BoudreauxThe Center Square Six months out from fiscal year 2027, U.S. lawmakers are making progress on the annual 12 appropriations bills that will fund the federal government. The...
Seattle affordable housing goal elusive despite millionaire's tax

Seattle affordable housing goal elusive despite millionaire’s tax

By Randy DiamondThe Center Square (The Center Square) -- Seattle’s own version of Washington State's planned tax on millionaires is aimed at businesses with millionaire employees, but the goal of...