Illinois quick hits: Human trafficking enforcement; health care fraud division announced

Illinois quick hits: Human trafficking enforcement; health care fraud division announced

August 25, 2025/
Spread the love

By Jim Talamonti | The Center Square
The Center Square

Human trafficking enforcement

Illinois State Police arrested five individuals during a human trafficking demand suppression operation in the Forsyth area of Macon County last Thursday and Friday.

Four Illinois residents and one from Iowa were charged with crimes which included traveling to meet a child, solicitation and grooming.

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

Health care fraud section announced

U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois Andrew Boutros has announced the creation of a new section within the office’s criminal division dedicated to the prosecution of health care fraud.

The new section will target false and fraudulent claims by transnational criminal organizations, upcoding and unbundling schemes, scams against Medicare and Medicaid, and more.

Boutros said health care fraud is among the Department of Justice’s top fraud enforcement priorities.

Hardest working states

Illinois ranks 42nd in a report ranking the Hardest Working States in America.

WalletHub compared the 50 states across 10 key metrics, including average workweek hours, share of workers with multiple jobs and annual volunteer hours.

North Dakota ranked first. Michigan finished last.

Leave a Comment





Latest News Stories

Illinois bill would force employers to pay employees regular wages for jury duty

Illinois bill would force employers to pay employees regular wages for jury duty

By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – The Illinois Senate is considering legislation that would force employers to pay employees regular wages while they...
Foxx: Prosecutors’ ‘silence’ on murder exonerations doesn’t mean ‘innocent’

Foxx: Prosecutors’ ‘silence’ on murder exonerations doesn’t mean ‘innocent’

By Jonathan Bilyk | :era; NewslineThe Center Square Attorneys for one of two Mexican men who claim they were illegally coerced into confessing to helping murder a Chicago couple to...
Foxx: Prosecutors’ ‘silence’ on murder exonerations doesn’t mean ‘innocent’

Foxx: Prosecutors’ ‘silence’ on murder exonerations doesn’t mean ‘innocent’

By Jonathan Bilyk | :era; NewslineThe Center Square Attorneys for one of two Mexican men who claim they were illegally coerced into confessing to helping murder a Chicago couple to...
Foxx: Prosecutors’ ‘silence’ on murder exonerations doesn’t mean ‘innocent’

Foxx: Prosecutors’ ‘silence’ on murder exonerations doesn’t mean ‘innocent’

By Jonathan Bilyk | :era; NewslineThe Center Square Attorneys for one of two Mexican men who claim they were illegally coerced into confessing to helping murder a Chicago couple to...
Illinois Quick Hits: ISU union workers reach deal, return to work

Illinois Quick Hits: ISU union workers reach deal, return to work

By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – More than 300 Illinois State University employees are back on the job after ratifying a new five-year...
Illinois Quick Hits: ISU union workers reach deal, return to work

Illinois Quick Hits: ISU union workers reach deal, return to work

By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – More than 300 Illinois State University employees are back on the job after ratifying a new five-year...
Illinois Dems eye $7B from new tax proposals, push ‘Billionaire Wealth Tax’

Illinois Dems eye $7B from new tax proposals, push ‘Billionaire Wealth Tax’

By Sean Reed | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – New tax proposals being considered in Springfield could bring nearly $7 billion in revenue to the state,...
Plan would have state taxpayers provide $50M for ICE-impacted businesses

Plan would have state taxpayers provide $50M for ICE-impacted businesses

By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – The Illinois Senate is considering legislation that would provide $50 million in state taxpayer funds to businesses...
Plan would have state taxpayers provide $50M for ICE-impacted businesses

Plan would have state taxpayers provide $50M for ICE-impacted businesses

By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – The Illinois Senate is considering legislation that would provide $50 million in state taxpayer funds to businesses...
Midwest takes brunt of rising gas prices

Midwest takes brunt of rising gas prices

By David Beasley | The Center Square contributorThe Center Square (The Center Square) – Midwestern states, Indiana, Ohio and Michigan in particular, were hit harder in the past week by...
Screenshot 2026-05-05 at 2.00.13 PM

Manhattan District 114 Rejects Bus Bids, Retains Lincoln-Way with Six-Month Trial

Manhattan School District 114 Board of Education Meeting | April 29, 2026 Article Summary: The Manhattan School District 114 Board of Education reached a consensus to reject two outside transportation...
Screenshot 2026-05-05 at 1.46.14 PM

JJC Entrepreneur and Business Center Celebrates $800,000 Federal Grant, Client Successes

Joliet Junior College Board of Trustees Meeting | April 15, 2026 Article Summary: The Joliet Junior College Entrepreneur and Business Center highlighted its recent community impact and rapid growth during a...
Chicago mayor to push for local funding, keeping Bears

Chicago mayor to push for local funding, keeping Bears

By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – As he travels to Springfield to lobby for state funding of local governments, Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson...
Senate Republicans unveil $72 billion budget package to fund ICE, CBP

Senate Republicans unveil $72 billion budget package to fund ICE, CBP

By Thérèse BoudreauxThe Center Square Republicans are forging ahead with legislation to fund Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Customs and U.S. Border Patrol along party lines. The two Senate committees...
jackson township graphic.2

Jackson Township Reassesses Land Acquisition Needs for ComEd Project

Jackson Township Board Meeting | March 11, 2026 Article Summary: The Jackson Township Board received an update regarding a pending land acquisition associated with a local ComEd infrastructure project, learning that...