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

Nashville, state spent billions of taxpayer funds drawing Super Bowl

Nashville, state spent billions of taxpayer funds drawing Super Bowl

By Jon StyfThe Center Square Tennessee already has granted $10.8 million of taxpayer money from its special events fund toward luring Super Bowl LXIV in 2030 to Nashville in additional...
Judge won’t let ConAgra off hook in class action over fish fillet brine

Judge won’t let ConAgra off hook in class action over fish fillet brine

By Scott Hollan | Legal NewslineThe Center Square CHICAGO — A federal judge won’t yet let food products maker ConAgra off the hook for a class action accusing it of...
Legal analysts applaud yet are skeptical of American Bar Association’s DEI elimination

Legal analysts applaud yet are skeptical of American Bar Association’s DEI elimination

By Tate RosentreterThe Center Square Some education experts see the American Bar Association’s recent vote to eliminate its diversity, equity, and inclusion accreditation requirement for law schools as significant, while...
Illinois Quick Hits: Bill offering CTE alternative clears senate committee

Illinois Quick Hits: Bill offering CTE alternative clears senate committee

By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – The Illinois Senate Education Committee has advanced legislation that would allow high school students to take Career...
Workers say mass Spirit Airlines layoffs violate federal law

Workers say mass Spirit Airlines layoffs violate federal law

By Michael Carroll | Legal NewslineThe Center Square Six former Spirit Airlines employees, including five Florida residents, have filed a class-action lawsuit alleging that the Florida company’s worker layoffs violate...
Bill that tried to kill secret agreements with your tax dollars now faces its own silent death

Bill that tried to kill secret agreements with your tax dollars now faces its own silent death

By Adam HerbetsThe Center Square It’s costing taxpayers at least $1.1 billion, but there’s only so much lawmakers are allowing the public to know about the California Capitol Annex Project....
After-school program orgs seek $70M in new state grants to cover gap from fed cuts

After-school program orgs seek $70M in new state grants to cover gap from fed cuts

By Sean Reed | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – A coalition of nonprofit organizations that provide after-school and summer programs for Illinois students is warning their...
Collins, Dooley to face off in June runoff for U.S. Senate

Collins, Dooley to face off in June runoff for U.S. Senate

By Andrew RiceThe Center Square Republican candidates for Georgia’s contentious U.S. Senate race will face off again in a June 16 runoff to determine November's representative. Neither U.S. Rep. Mike...
Alabama U.S. Senate races head to June runoff

Alabama U.S. Senate races head to June runoff

By Andrew RiceThe Center Square Both party primaries for U.S. Senate in Alabama will head to a runoff election in June, multiple outlets reported. U.S. Rep. Barry Moore, R-Ala., and...
Tuberville, Jones to face off in Alabama governor's race

Tuberville, Jones to face off in Alabama governor’s race

By Andrew RiceThe Center Square Sen. Tommy Tuberville secured the Republican nomination for Alabama governor Tuesday and will face off against former U.S. Sen. Doug Jones in November. The Republican...
SCOTUS turns down Eli Lilly bid to end ‘bounty hunter’ lawsuits

SCOTUS turns down Eli Lilly bid to end ‘bounty hunter’ lawsuits

By Jonathan Bilyk | Legal NewslineThe Center Square The U.S. Supreme Court has turned aside the bid by pharmaceutical maker Eli Lilly to not only toss out a $183 million...
Congressional candidates discuss immigration, tax policies

Congressional candidates discuss immigration, tax policies

By Andrew RiceThe Center Square Editor's note: This is the part of a series of stories that are appearing this week on the June 2 primary election in California. The...
Trump-endorsed Gallrein outs Massie in Kentucky

Trump-endorsed Gallrein outs Massie in Kentucky

By Andrew RiceThe Center Square Rep. Andy Barr and Ed Gallrein secured partisan nominations in high-profile Kentucky primary races Tuesday, according to multiple outlets. President Donald Trump's endorsement appeared critical...
U.S. House defies Senate, weakens private equity restrictions in housing bill

U.S. House defies Senate, weakens private equity restrictions in housing bill

By Thérèse BoudreauxThe Center Square Despite the White House publicly urging the Republican-controlled House of Representatives to approve the U.S. Senate’s bipartisan housing bill, House lawmakers have put forth their...
Illinois Quick Hits: Group files lawsuit against gun owner ID law

Illinois Quick Hits: Group files lawsuit against gun owner ID law

By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – A new challenge to Illinois’ requirement for gun owners to have a state police-issued license has been...