Illinois quick hits: Human trafficking law signed; Mercyhealth to pay for COVID vaccine discrimination

Illinois quick hits: Human trafficking law signed; Mercyhealth to pay for COVID vaccine discrimination

August 13, 2025/
Spread the love

By Jim Talamonti | The Center Square
The Center Square

Human trafficking law signed

Gov. J.B. Pritzker has signed legislation requiring state agencies to develop a strategic unified plan to build a network of services for survivors of human trafficking survivors.

According to Illinois State Police, Senate Bill 2323 addresses human trafficking through prevention, intervention and establishing standards for survivor support.

If you suspect human trafficking, contact the National Human Trafficking Hotline at 1-888-373-7888 or text *233733. You can also email [email protected].

Mercyhealth to pay for COVID vaccine discrimination

Illinois and Wisconsin health care operator Mercyhealth has agreed to pay more than $1 million in monetary relief and offered to reinstate employees who were terminated for refusing to comply with the organization’s COVID-19 vaccine policy.

The settlement follows an investigation by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.

The agency’s investigation found reasonable cause to believe that Mercyhealth discriminated against employees based on their religion by terminating their employment or subjecting them to a wage deduction.

Man sentenced for distributing meth

A district judge sentenced a Centralia man to 17 years in prison after he admitted to distributing pound quantities of meth and fentanyl.

Jackie T. Scanlan, 54, pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute meth and fentanyl.

Prosecutors say Scanlan qualified as a career offender for his previous drug trafficking and other felony convictions.

More Stories
Manhattan Weather Full forecast →
Today Jul 21
Mostly Sunny
73° 53°

Mostly Sunny

💨 10 mph 💧 2%
Data: National Weather Service • Updated Jul 22, 2:35 AM Full Forecast →
Site Sections

Leave a Comment





Latest News Stories

Report: Illinois commutes rated among America's safest

Report: Illinois commutes rated among America’s safest

By Andrew RiceThe Center Square Illinois ranked among the top 10 safest states to commute in America despite recording one of the nation's highest average crash rates, according to a...
Concerns raised that KIDS Act threatens Americans' online privacy, free speech

Concerns raised that KIDS Act threatens Americans’ online privacy, free speech

By Thérèse BoudreauxThe Center Square Legislation meant to protect American teens and children online recently passed the U.S. House with strong bipartisan support, but civil liberties groups are warning that...
Illinois Quick Hits: Illinois offers disaster tax relief

Illinois Quick Hits: Illinois offers disaster tax relief

By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – Gov. J.B. Pritzker and the Illinois Department of Revenue announced disaster tax relief for individuals and businesses...
Millionaire tax push resumes in Chicago

Millionaire tax push resumes in Chicago

By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – Former Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn and state Rep. LaShawn Ford, D-Chicago, have taken the next step in...
Report: $225M in K-12 fraud found across six years

Report: $225M in K-12 fraud found across six years

By Andrew RiceThe Center Square More than $225 million in fraud was reported by state education departments and school districts from 2019 to 2026, according to a new report. Open...
Calls made for ethics reform in Springfield; GOP says misconduct is a pattern

Calls made for ethics reform in Springfield; GOP says misconduct is a pattern

By Sean Reed | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – After one Illinois state lawmaker resigned last week following the conclusion of an investigation into claims of...
Vance says Milwaukee mayor protesting ‘too much’ over election probe

Vance says Milwaukee mayor protesting ‘too much’ over election probe

By Benjamin YountThe Center Square Vice President JD Vance isn’t buying the outrage from Milwaukee’s mayor over the Trump Administration’s investigation into the 2020 election in Milwaukee. "I will say...
Illinois Quick Hits: $63M construction research center completed

Illinois Quick Hits: $63M construction research center completed

By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – State officials have marked the completion of the $63 million Materials Testing and Research Center at Illinois...
Illinois attorney general has paid private attorneys $2 million in recent years

Illinois attorney general has paid private attorneys $2 million in recent years

By Jared Strong | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – Illinois' top state attorney has paid more than $2 million in the past three years to private...
Platner drops campaign for Maine's U.S. Senate seat

Platner drops campaign for Maine’s U.S. Senate seat

By Christen SmithThe Center Square Graham Platner, the controversial Democratic nominee for Maine’s U.S. Senate seat, dropped out of the race Wednesday amid intense scrutiny over new sexual assault allegations...
Hundreds of thousands of acres burn as fires spread in West

Hundreds of thousands of acres burn as fires spread in West

By Liam HibbertThe Center Square Fires across the southwestern U.S. have picked up early this year, with over 400,000 acres burning just between Utah and Colorado. The quick and early...
Feds buy two immigration detention centers for $1.5 billion

Feds buy two immigration detention centers for $1.5 billion

By Chris WoodwardThe Center Square Private prison operator CoreCivic has sold two Southern California immigration detention centers to the federal government for $1.5 billion. Under the deal, the U.S. Department...
Chicago court tosses order blocking Florida from suing over kids’ transgender meds

Chicago court tosses order blocking Florida from suing over kids’ transgender meds

By Jonathan Bilyk | Legal NewslineThe Center Square In a seeming rebuke to a controversial decision handed down and supported by a group of Obama- and Biden-appointed judges, the rest...
Toyota set to construct $3.6 billion expansion in San Antonio

Toyota set to construct $3.6 billion expansion in San Antonio

By Robert MattesonThe Center Square Toyota announced that it will invest in a $3.6 billion expansion at its San Antonio manufacturing campus, creating 2,000 new high-quality jobs. The investment will...
Republicans silent, Democrats irate at Iran ceasefire collapse

Republicans silent, Democrats irate at Iran ceasefire collapse

By Thérèse BoudreauxThe Center Square With military hostilities between the U.S. and Iran resuming only weeks after the nations signed a peace deal, Democrats in Congress are demanding that the...