Illinois quick hits: Bovino bounty trial to begin; Judge sentences Kentucky man to 15 years in drugs case; Pritzker criticizes Trump’s first year as Trump marks accomplishments

January 20, 2026/

Spread the love

By Jim Talamonti | The Center Square
The Center Square

Bovino bounty trial to begin

Jury selection is complete for the trial of a man accused of putting a bounty on U.S. Border Patrol Commander Gregory Bovino. Juan Espinoza Martinez, 37, was charged last fall with soliciting the murder of a senior law enforcement official. Opening statements are scheduled to begin Wednesday morning at the Everett McKinley Dirksen U.S. Courthouse in Chicago.

Judge sentences Kentucky man to 15 years in drugs case

A southern Illinois district judge has sentenced a Kentucky man to 15 years in federal prison for possessing more than 150 grams of meth and a firearm as a felon. James W. Towery, 45, of Salem, Kentucky, pleaded guilty to one count of possession with intent to distribute meth and one count of felon in possession of a firearm. Prosecutors say law enforcement found a handgun along with the drugs during a traffic stop in Massac County on March 11, 2024.

Pritzker criticizes Trump’s first year as Trump marks accomplishments

Gov. J.B. Pritzker held a roundtable discussion in Chicago on Tuesday to discuss the impact of federal government actions on Illinoisans. Pritzker said manufacturers feel it when tariffs go up and farmers pay the price for trade wars. President Donald Trump held a White House briefing Tuesday afternoon and said Democrats created the affordability problem and his administration is solving it.

Latest News Stories

Schulte Tosses One-Hit Shutout as Lincoln-Way West Blanks Bradley-Bourbonnais 12-0

The Lincoln-Way West varsity baseball team cruised to a dominant 12-0 conference victory over host Bradley-Bourbonnais on Monday afternoon, pairing an overpowering performance on the mound with an explosive offensive...

Age checks, algorithm regulations proposed to shield Illinois kids online

By Sean Reed | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – Children’s safety online has been an issue of interest for lawmakers in Springfield this year, with dozens...

King Charles defends U.S., NATO alliance during address to Congress

By Sarah Roderick-FitchThe Center Square In honor of the United States’ 250th birthday, King Charles III delivered a joint address in Congress Tuesday afternoon, highlighting the bond between the U.S....

Chinese national indicted in COVID-era hacking scheme extradited to Texas

By Bethany BlankleyThe Center Square A years-long effort has resulted in the extradition of a Chinese national facing multiple espionage charges in Houston. Chinese national Xu Zewei was extradited to...

Illinois Quick Hits: $60M sports complex opens in Springfield

By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – Gov. J.B. Pritzker says a new sports complex in Springfield will bring in an estimated $25 million...

Florida House panel approves new congressional district map

By David BeasleyThe Center Square Plans to redraw Florida’s congressional districts, which could give Republicans a gain of four seats as the midterm elections approach, has been approved by a...

Green Beret pleads not guilty to betting on his own mission

By Brett RowlandThe Center Square A U.S. Army Special Forces soldier who allegedly used classified military intelligence to place winning bets on a prediction market platform pleaded not guilty Tuesday...

Cook County Judge Lyke’s decisions allowed accused cop killer to be free

By Jonathan Bilyk | Legal NewslineThe Center Square As Cook County's courts begin the process of trying accused cop killer Alphonso Talley, attention has turned to questions over how it...

Congress urged to defund abortion in wake of Planned Parenthood $90M COVID loan revelation

By Tate MillerThe Center Square With the revelation that Planned Parenthood – though ineligible – received about $90 million in taxpayer funding via COVID loans under the Biden Administration, Susan...

Madigan’s next option the U.S. Supreme Court

By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – A defense attorney says a U.S. Supreme Court review is the next step for Michael Madigan, after...

Congressional progressives introduce $25 federal minimum wage plan

By Sean Reed | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – Progressive lawmakers in Washington D.C. introduced legislation Tuesday that would increase the federal minimum wage to $25...

Illinois Quick Hits: Gas prices rise again

By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – The average price for a gallon of regular unleaded gasoline in Illinois has risen to $4.45, more...

Illinois Senate to consider megaprojects after Pritzker calls out amusement tax

By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – A proposed stadium for the Chicago Bears and other megaprojects are expected to be up for discussion...

EXCLUSIVE: SPLC called on to remove parental rights groups from its ‘hate map’

By Tate Miller | The Center Square contributorThe Center Square (The Center Square) – An Illinois-based parental rights group sent an open letter to the Southern Poverty Law Center requesting...

Illinois Quick Hits: Driver killed in reported shootout with police on I-88

By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – A man is dead after a reported exchange of gunfire with police on Interstate 88 in DeKalb...

« Previous
1
…
39
40
41
42
43
…
186
Next »