Illinois news in brief: House Democrat joins calls to release Benton report; State EV rebate program to begin Aug. 1; Member of armed robbery crew gets 15 years in prison

Illinois news in brief: House Democrat joins calls to release Benton report; State EV rebate program to begin Aug. 1; Member of armed robbery crew gets 15 years in prison

July 22, 2026/
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By Jim Talamonti | The Center Square
The Center Square

House Democrat joins calls to release Benton report

An Illinois House Democrat has joined Republicans calling for the release of the Legislative Inspector General’s report into the conduct of former state Rep. Harry Benton, D-Plainfield. State Rep. Justin Cochran, D-Des Plaines, said in a statement that transparency and ethics are inseparable, just like ethics and the public trust. Illinois House Minority Leader Tony McCombie, R-Savanna, Republican Statehouse candidate Gabby Shanahan and state Sen. Darby Hills, R-Barrington Hills, also called for the LIG’s report to be released to the public.

State EV rebate program to begin Aug. 1

The Illinois Environmental Protection Agency’s next EV Rebate Program application cycle is scheduled to run from Saturday, August 1 through Thursday, December 31, 2026. The rebate is $2,000 for an eligible new or used electric vehicle. Low-income applicants are eligible to receive an additional $2,000. The rebate amount for eligible motorcycles remains $1,500. The General Assembly has appropriated $14 million to the Illinois EPA for the program in the current fiscal year.

Member of armed robbery crew gets 15 years in prison

A member of a crew that conspired to commit 11 daytime robberies in the Chicago suburbs has been sentenced to 15 years in prison. Prosecutors said Perry Maple, 23, participated directly in three armed robberies of armored trucks at ATMs in Calumet City and Orland Park between January 2022 and March 2023. Maple and ten other members of the crew were charged in June 2024. Maple pleaded guilty on March 26, 2026.

Youth trapshooting championships start Thursday

The World Shooting and Recreational Complex in Sparta will host the 2026 AIM Grand National Youth Trapshooting Championships from Thursday, July 23 through Monday, July 27. The event precedes the 127th Grand American World Trapshooting Championships at the site the following week.

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