Illinois Quick Hits: Oak Park woman charged with child care fraud
(The Center Square) – An Oak Park woman is charged with defrauding the state of Illinois out of more than $30,000 by claiming her father was a child care provider when he was actually residing in a long-term care facility.
The Illinois Attorney General’s office says Krystal May, 40, submitted false earning statements and checks containing false information to obtain state child care benefits from June 2021 to June 2024.
The case follows an investigation by the Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services’ Office of Inspector General.
FUEL PRICES DECLINE, REMAIN HIGHER THAN IN 2025
Gas prices continued to drop this week, but they remain well above 2025 numbers.
AAA’s average price for a gallon of regular unleaded on Thursday was $4.45 in Illinois, down from $4.67 one week ago. The average Illinois price one year ago was $3.41. AAA’s current national average is $4.13.
The average diesel price in Illinois is $5.58, down from $6.02 one month ago but up from $3.51 a year ago. AAA’s national average for diesel is $5.28.
BP: REFINERY, UNION REMAIN FAR APART
BP officials say the Whiting, Indiana refinery and the United Steelworkers Local 7-1 bargaining committee remain far apart on proposals to reach a new labor agreement.
The two sides held their 63rd formal bargaining session on Wednesday.
City officials in Whiting, East Chicago, Hammond and Crown Point have called on BP to end the lockout that began in March. BP said on Wednesday that the refinery continues to operate safely, reliably and compliantly.
MERCHANTS POLL: AMERICANS WANT SWIPE FEES REDUCED
According to a poll released by the Merchants Payment Coalition, 75% of likely voters say Congress should act to reduce electronic processing fees on credit and debit card transactions.
The survey results come after the Illinois Interchange Fee Prohibition Act was blocked by a federal judge last week and swipe fee legislation in Colorado was vetoed.
Payment processors, banking and credit union associations oppose the Illinois law, which would ban processing fees on the tax and tip portions of credit and debit card transactions.
Partly Sunny
Latest News Stories
Hochul pushes back on Trump’s cashless bail funding threat
Education Department finds GMU Violated Title VI
Redistricting opponents immediately appeal to CA voters
Former Transportation Secretary urges state taxpayer funding for Chicago transit
Illinois quick hits: Education tax benefits available; Giannoulias orders license plate reader to shut off access to CBP
WATCH: Trump order withholds funds over no-cash bail policies like Illinois’
Trump eyes First Amendment showdown with order to prosecute flag burning
Trump strikes positive tone with South Korean president
House Oversight Committee to investigate D.C. police over crime data
Twenty years later, Katrina still among Atlantic’s most deadly, costly
CBO says tariffs could raise $4 trillion over next decade, raise prices
IL Treasurer to work with lawmakers after Pritzker’s veto of nonprofit bill
