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

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...
Illinois Quick Hits: Teachers union says CPS to bus students to rally

Illinois Quick Hits: Teachers union says CPS to bus students to rally

By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – The Chicago Teachers Union says Chicago Public Schools leaders have agreed to transform the school day on...
Illinois Quick Hits: Teachers union says CPS to bus students to rally

Illinois Quick Hits: Teachers union says CPS to bus students to rally

By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – The Chicago Teachers Union says Chicago Public Schools leaders have agreed to transform the school day on...
Pritzker says of BUILD Plan for homes would not cost taxpayers

Pritzker says of BUILD Plan for homes would not cost taxpayers

By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – Gov. J.B. Pritzker has ramped up his campaign for new housing in Illinois, and he expects taxpayers...
Pritzker says of BUILD Plan for homes would not cost taxpayers

Pritzker says of BUILD Plan for homes would not cost taxpayers

By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – Gov. J.B. Pritzker has ramped up his campaign for new housing in Illinois, and he expects taxpayers...
Illinois GOP aims to keep power plants open, increase charge transparency

Illinois GOP aims to keep power plants open, increase charge transparency

By Sean Reed | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – As closure of coal and natural gas powered energy plants loom, a group of GOP lawmakers have...
Illinois GOP aims to keep power plants open, increase charge transparency

Illinois GOP aims to keep power plants open, increase charge transparency

By Sean Reed | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – As closure of coal and natural gas powered energy plants loom, a group of GOP lawmakers have...
Inspector: Chicago finance department lacks tools to collect $8.1 billion owed

Inspector: Chicago finance department lacks tools to collect $8.1 billion owed

By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – Chicago’s inspector general says the city is owed at least $8.1 billion and lacks the tools to...
Congress passes FISA Section 702 stopgap after 18-month extension fails in House

Congress passes FISA Section 702 stopgap after 18-month extension fails in House

By Thérèse BoudreauxThe Center Square The U.S. Senate has adopted the House’s 10-day extension of the expiring Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, leaving Republican leadership less than...
Congress passes FISA Section 702 stopgap after 18-month extension fails in House

Congress passes FISA Section 702 stopgap after 18-month extension fails in House

By Thérèse BoudreauxThe Center Square The U.S. Senate has adopted the House’s 10-day extension of the expiring Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, leaving Republican leadership less than...

Illinois lawmakers seek to eliminate state diversity commission

By Jared Strong | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) -- An Illinois state commission has failed its mission to aid businesses owned by racial minorities, women and...
Will County Board Graphic.02

Ad-Hoc Committee: County Lowers Air Rifle Age to 13, Finds Airsoft Guns Beyond Local Regulatory Reach

Will County Board Ad-Hoc Ordinance Review Committee Meeting | April 14, 2026 Article Summary: The Will County Ad-Hoc Ordinance Review Committee advanced updates to its public peace ordinances, lowering the...
Republican efforts to impeach Walz, Ellison fail in Minnesota

Republican efforts to impeach Walz, Ellison fail in Minnesota

By Elyse ApelThe Center Square Republican efforts to impeach lead Democrats in Minnesota ran aground this week following a partisan deadlock in committee. The House Rules and Legislative Administration Committee...
Republican efforts to impeach Walz, Ellison fail in Minnesota

Republican efforts to impeach Walz, Ellison fail in Minnesota

By Elyse ApelThe Center Square Republican efforts to impeach lead Democrats in Minnesota ran aground this week following a partisan deadlock in committee. The House Rules and Legislative Administration Committee...
Trump says Iran agrees to turn over 'nuclear dust'

Trump says Iran agrees to turn over ‘nuclear dust’

By Sarah Roderick-FitchThe Center Square The U.S. will receive Iran’s “nuclear dust,” President Donald Trump said Friday. “The U.S.A. will get all the nuclear ‘dust,’ created by our great B2...