Illinois Quick Hits: Illinois House approves student cell phone ban

Illinois Quick Hits: Illinois House approves student cell phone ban

Spread the love

(The Center Square) – The Illinois House has approved a bill banning students from using cell phones during the school day.

Senate Bill 2427 passed after a floor amendment was added on Thursday, with 102 votes in favor and only three opposed.

The measure now goes back to the Senate for concurrence.

SMALL BIZ OPTIMISM DECLINES

The NFIB Small Business Optimism Index fell 3 points in March to 95.8, below the 52-year average of 98.0.

The last time the index fell below its historical average was April 2025.

The NFIB Uncertainty Index rose 4 points to 92, well above its historical average of 68.

NFIB Illinois State Director Noah Finley said Illinois legislators must tamp down on proposals that would impose new costs and legal liabilities on Main Street businesses.

TEXAS MAN GETS 23-YEAR PRISON SENTENCE FOR CRYPTO SCAM

A federal judge in Chicago has sentenced a Houston, Texas man to 23 years in prison for orchestrating a cryptocurrency scam that bilked nearly 1,000 investors out of more than $20 million.

Robert Dunlap, 55, was also ordered to pay restitution to his victim investors. Prosecutors say Dunlap claimed the Meta-1 Coin was backed by billions of dollars in art and gold, and many victims lost all their savings.

FREEDOM CAUCUS: ABOLISH EQUITY AND INCLUSION COMMISSION

Following reporting by The Center Square and testimony before a House committee this week, the Illinois Freedom Caucus is calling for the Illinois Commission on Equity and Inclusion to be abolished.

State Rep. Brad Halbrook, R-Shelbyville, said in a statement that the commission is doing the opposite of what it was created to do, and the taxpayers have paid millions of dollars for failure.

Leave a Comment





Latest News Stories

Economic index shows reduced uncertainty, more stability in Midwest

Economic index shows reduced uncertainty, more stability in Midwest

By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – The Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago’s Survey of Economic Conditions Activity Index suggests more stability and less...
New law sparks debate over Illinois school mergers, communities fear loss

New law sparks debate over Illinois school mergers, communities fear loss

By Catrina Barker | The Center Square contributorThe Center Square (The Center Square) – A new law that could push school districts to study possible consolidation, aiming for efficiency and...
jackson township graphic.1

Joliet Plan to Barricade Millsdale Road Will Reroute Jackson Township Traffic

Article Summary: The City of Joliet plans to permanently barricade Millsdale Road at its railroad crossing, creating a cul-de-sac that will divert traffic in Jackson Township onto Manhattan Road. Jackson...
Trump proposes returning death penalty to D.C.

Trump proposes returning death penalty to D.C.

By Sarah Roderick-FitchThe Center Square Capital punishment could be returning to Washington, D.C., as President Donald Trump announced during a cabinet meeting on Tuesday. “Anybody murders in the capital? Capital...
WATCH: IL Hospital Association: $50B rural hospital fund ‘woefully inadequate’

WATCH: IL Hospital Association: $50B rural hospital fund ‘woefully inadequate’

By Greg Bishop | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker continues sounding the alarm over federal health care subsidies as the White House...
Arizona, Nevada pay less at the pump than California

Arizona, Nevada pay less at the pump than California

By Zachery SchmidtThe Center Square Gas prices in Arizona and Nevada are cheaper than in California for several reasons, according to American Automobile Association spokesperson John Treanor. Factors vary from...
EEOC celebrates 200 days of protecting religious freedom under Trump

EEOC celebrates 200 days of protecting religious freedom under Trump

By Tate MillerThe Center Square The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission is celebrating the ways they’ve protected religious freedom in the workplace over Trump’s past 200 days in office. “These efforts...
WCO Board Aug 21.4

After Initial Rejection and Tense Debate, Board Reconsiders and Approves Contested DuPage Township Business

Article Summary: In a rare reversal, the Will County Board approved a special use permit for a landscaping business in a residential area of DuPage Township after the measure initially...
U.S. mining operations discarding rare minerals at center of trade talks

U.S. mining operations discarding rare minerals at center of trade talks

By Brett RowlandThe Center Square U.S. mining operations are discarding valuable minerals needed for everything from electric vehicles to missile defense systems that could reduce U.S. dependence on foreign nations....
Duffy warns states to enforce English proficiency requirements for truckers

Duffy warns states to enforce English proficiency requirements for truckers

By Sarah Roderick-FitchThe Center Square California, New Mexico and Washington could risk losing federal funding if they fail to enforce English Language Proficiency requirements for commercial motor vehicle drivers, U.S....
Illinois quick hits: Chicago businesses at 10-year low; school admin survey closes soon

Illinois quick hits: Chicago businesses at 10-year low; school admin survey closes soon

By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square Chicago businesses at 10-year low The number of businesses operating in Chicago has reached a 10-year low. Citing city license data,...
Pritzker unveils Illinois LGBTQ hotline amid debate over transgender athletes

Pritzker unveils Illinois LGBTQ hotline amid debate over transgender athletes

By Catrina Barker | The Center Square contributorThe Center Square (The Center Square) – Reports of a transgender student being accepted onto the Conant High School girls volleyball team has...
WATCH: Trump ends funding for cashless bail policies, hedges on Guard deployment to Chicago

WATCH: Trump ends funding for cashless bail policies, hedges on Guard deployment to Chicago

By Greg Bishop | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – In today's edition of Illinois in Focus Daily, The Center Square Editor Greg Bishop shares some of...
Hochul pushes back on Trump's cashless bail funding threat

Hochul pushes back on Trump’s cashless bail funding threat

By Chris WadeThe Center Square New York Gov. Kathy Hochul is pushing back on President Donald Trump's "reckless" push to do away with cashless bail, saying the move to withhold...
Education Department finds GMU Violated Title VI

Education Department finds GMU Violated Title VI

By Esther WickhamThe Center Square The U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights announced George Mason University violated federal law by hiring and promoting staff based on race and...