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

Bill to prevent fraud on elderly, disabled opposed by financial institutions

Bill to prevent fraud on elderly, disabled opposed by financial institutions

By Sean Reed | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – Based on the multiple billions of dollars lost to scams and exploitation of elderly and disabled adults...
Will County Board Graphic.01

Legislative Committee Advances Resolution Opposing Kidney Disease Treatment Delegation Act

Will County Board Legislative Committee Meeting | May 5, 2026 Article SummaryThe Will County Legislative Committee unanimously approved a resolution formally opposing Senate Bill 3445 and House Bill 4402, citing...
Cooper gets $31.4M share of $111.2M spend

Cooper gets $31.4M share of $111.2M spend

By Alan WootenThe Center Square The bid of Roy Cooper to the U.S. Senate is getting a $31.4 million infusion for television advertising, the Senate Majority PAC told The Center...
Appeals court freezes tariff ruling, businesses keep paying

Appeals court freezes tariff ruling, businesses keep paying

By Brett RowlandThe Center Square Two small businesses that won a court ruling against President Donald Trump's tariffs must continue paying them for now, after a federal appeals court on...

Illinois Quick Hits: Gas tops $5 a gallon

By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – AAA says the average price for a gallon of regular unleaded gasoline is now $5.03 in Illinois,...
Pretrial Fairness Act invoked as Illinois Supreme Court hears detention case

Pretrial Fairness Act invoked as Illinois Supreme Court hears detention case

By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – A case involving the continued detention of defendants under the Pretrial Fairness Act portion of the SAFE-T...
Border crisis fallout: Midwest prosecutions of SATG crime ongoing

Border crisis fallout: Midwest prosecutions of SATG crime ongoing

By Bethany BlankleyThe Center Square After a record number of border crimes were reported during the Biden administration, criminal investigations and prosecutions are ongoing. In the Midwest, prosecutors are also...
EXCLUSIVE: Medical watchdog urges social work accreditor to remove DEI requirements

EXCLUSIVE: Medical watchdog urges social work accreditor to remove DEI requirements

By Tate RosentreterThe Center Square Medical watchdog Do No Harm sent a letter to social work accreditor the Council on Social Work Education Wednesday urging that it remove all diversity,...
Will County P&Z Logo Planning Zoning.2

Commission Approves Massive Lake Michigan Water Infrastructure Project for Troy Township

Will County Planning and Zoning Commission Meeting | May 5, 2026 Article Summary: The Will County Planning and Zoning Commission on May 5, 2026, unanimously approved two major public utility...
Will County Board Graphic.02

Committee: Capital Improvements Committee Weighs $300 Million Options for Downtown Joliet Campus

Will County Board Capital Improvements & IT Committee Meeting | May 5, 2026 Article SummaryThe Will County Capital Improvements & IT Committee is evaluating four multi-million-dollar proposals to replace aging...
Incumbents weather challenges in Nebraska primary

Incumbents weather challenges in Nebraska primary

By Andrew RiceThe Center Square Voters in Nebraska elected incumbent candidates in races throughout the state on Tuesday. Incumbent U.S. Sen. Pete Ricketts was nominated in the Republican primary, and...
US House passes Save Our Shrimpers Act

US House passes Save Our Shrimpers Act

By Nolan MckendryThe Center Square The U.S. House of Representatives has passed legislation aimed at stopping American taxpayer dollars from helping finance foreign shrimp operations that Gulf Coast lawmakers say...
CBO says Pentagon's Golden Dome estimate off by $1 trillion

CBO says Pentagon’s Golden Dome estimate off by $1 trillion

By Brett RowlandThe Center Square The nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office said Tuesday that President Donald Trump's Golden Dome missile defense shield could cost American taxpayers as much as $1.2 trillion...
VA budget tops $488B as workforce stays above DOGE target

VA budget tops $488B as workforce stays above DOGE target

By Brett RowlandThe Center Square The Department of Veterans Affairs is requesting $488.2 billion for fiscal year 2027, a 7.7% increase over current spending levels, as VA Secretary Doug Collins...
DEA warns fentanyl mixtures overwhelming overdose reversal drug

DEA warns fentanyl mixtures overwhelming overdose reversal drug

By Brett RowlandThe Center Square The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration warned Americans Tuesday that fentanyl is increasingly mixed with a dangerous array of synthetic substances that can limit the effectiveness...