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 Jul 24
76° 68°
Cloudy
Latest News Stories
Feds move education programs to other agencies
By Esther WickhamThe Center Square The Trump administration announced Tuesday it is moving civil rights and special education programs to other federal agencies in efforts to continue the dismantling of...
Feds name five individuals charged in UFC terror plot
By Thérèse BoudreauxThe Center Square Federal court records made public Tuesday reveal the identities of five individuals in the alleged terror plot to disrupt the Ultimate Fighting Championship event at...
Central Ohio man linked to foiled terror plot at White House UFC event
By J.D. DavidsonThe Center Square A rural Central Ohio mother apparently reported her son’s actions to local police, leading to the arrest of a 19-year-old man in connection with what...
WATCH: Senate panel OKs limits on protests near worship
By Madeline ShannonThe Center Square Protesters outside churches, synagogues and other religious places will have to keep a certain distance from places of worship if the California Legislature passes a...
New Bears bill introduced for Arlington Heights
By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – A state representative has filed new legislation aimed at keeping the Chicago Bears in Illinois, but Gov....
Chicago pushes $21M home-purchase program, state expands its own
By Sean Reed | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – Affordable housing continues to be an area Illinois leaders seek to address through expanded taxpayer-funded spending at...
Illinois Quick Hits: Justice Department moves against Evanston reparations program
By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – The U.S. Department of Justice has filed a motion to intervene in a civil rights lawsuit challenging...
Pritzker signs budget sending millions to NGOs
By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker signed a $55.9 billion state budget for fiscal year 2027, with tens of...
Oil and gas leaders: Trump Iran deal is good news, normalization to take months
By Bethany BlankleyThe Center Square Texas oil and natural gas industry leaders are cautiously optimistic about the president’s announced ceasefire deal with Iran. President Donald Trump announced he plans to...
Hanaway leads push for EPA abortion pill water safety tests
By Chris Dickerson | Legal NewslineThe Center Square Missouri Attorney General Liz Catherine Hanaway is leading a coalition of state AGs asking the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to study the...
New department to oversee childcare background checks, billions in grants
By Sean Reed | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – The new state Department of Early Childhood is set to begin operating in full as of July...
Illinois Quick Hits: Illinois power company to shutter three plants
By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – A power company plans to shut down three Illinois facilities in the next 18 months. The Peoria...
Poll: Voters back redistricting commissions over legislatures 2-to-1
By Brett RowlandThe Center Square American voters trust independent redistricting commissions over state legislatures to draw fair congressional district lines by a more than 2-to-1 margin, a new national poll...
