Illinois quick hits: Foreign national indicted for fraud; Chicago Public Schools budget approved
August 29, 2025/
Foreign national indicted for fraud
A foreign national has been indicted in U.S. District Court in Chicago for allegedly defrauding numerous individuals out of at least $2.6 million and willfully evading income taxes.
Jawad Fakroune, 45, also known by “Angelino Escobar” and other names, is facing 15 federal counts of wire fraud and tax-related charges.
Chicago Public Schools budget approved
The Chicago Board of Education has adopted a $10.2 billion budget for Fiscal Year 2026.
The board voted 12-7 to approve the spending plan, which did not include a high-interest loan favored by Mayor Brandon Johnson and the Chicago Teachers Union.
Former chancellor dies
Former University of Illinois Chancellor Michael Aiken has died at the age of 93.
Aiken served as the school’s sixth chancellor from 1993 to 2001. U of I officials said he died Monday in Cody, Wyoming.
Today Jun 3
86° 66°
Mostly Sunny
Latest News Stories
An ‘arms race’ for pay at elite, tax-exempt colleges
By Jared StrongThe Center Square Top private nonprofit universities that receive government funding pay some of their top leaders millions of dollars and one even received a $20 million longevity...
Inflation rises to 3.8%, driven by energy prices
By Andrew RiceThe Center Square Inflation increased 0.6% in April, with an overall rate of 3.8% over the last 12 months, according to new data from the U.S. Bureau of...
New congressional map expected for Alabama in wake of high court ruling
By Alan WootenThe Center Square Alabama could soon have a congressional map in place that would offer the chance for a Republican gain of seat in the U.S. House of...
Manhattan District 114 Explores Joint Community Survey for Fall Strategic Plan
Manhattan School District 114 Board of Education Meeting | April 29, 2026 Article Summary: The Manhattan School District 114 Board of Education is considering partnering with the Village of Manhattan...
State Legislative Update: Housing Mandates, Mega Projects, and Data Centers Prompt Local Control Concerns
Will County Board Legislative Committee Meeting | May 5, 2026 Article SummaryState lobbyists from Mac Strategies briefed the Will County Board Legislative Committee on the final push of the spring...
Data center regs proposed as $20 billion, 795-acre Joliet project advances
By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – Opponents of a planned $20 billion data center project in Joliet say big tech money arrived before...
Labor stats offer mixed bag for Illinois
By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – The Trump administration says the United States saw smashing job growth in April, but Illinois’ story is...
Lawsuit: IL state VRA unconstitutionally lets Dems divide voters by race
By Jonathan Bilyk | Legal NewslineThe Center Square Days after the U.S. Supreme Court declared states cannot use race to decide how to draw legislative districts, a new lawsuit is...
Illinois Quick Hits: State grants offered to tackle ‘challenging’ properties
By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – The Illinois Housing Development Authority is accepting grant funding applications from local governments to address abandoned and...
Officers mourn fallen Chicago cop as policy debate grows
By Catrina Barker | The Center Square contributorThe Center Square (The Center Square) – Hundreds of law enforcement officers from across the country gathered in Chicago to honor a fallen...
Trump accuses Schumer of election ‘interference’ with New York task force
By Chris WadeThe Center Square President Donald Trump is ripping Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer for hiring former Obama-era Attorney General Eric Holder to help oversee New York's congressional redistricting...
Poll site gun ban proposal draws pushback
By Sean Reed | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – State lawmakers want to ban Illinoisans from carrying a gun while at the polls, citing a rise...
Trump confirms gas tax suspension push as prices hit $4.52
By Brett RowlandThe Center Square President Donald Trump confirmed Monday that he wants to temporarily suspend the 18.4-cent federal gas tax, with Republican lawmakers in both chambers announcing plans to...
