Illinois quick hits: Human trafficking enforcement; health care fraud division announced

August 25, 2025/

By Jim Talamonti | The Center Square
The Center Square

Human trafficking enforcement

Illinois State Police arrested five individuals during a human trafficking demand suppression operation in the Forsyth area of Macon County last Thursday and Friday.

Four Illinois residents and one from Iowa were charged with crimes which included traveling to meet a child, solicitation and grooming.

If you suspect human trafficking, contact the National Human Trafficking Hotline at 1-888-373-7888 or text *233733. For more information visit www.humantraffickinghotline.org. You can also email [email protected].

Health care fraud section announced

U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois Andrew Boutros has announced the creation of a new section within the office’s criminal division dedicated to the prosecution of health care fraud.

The new section will target false and fraudulent claims by transnational criminal organizations, upcoding and unbundling schemes, scams against Medicare and Medicaid, and more.

Boutros said health care fraud is among the Department of Justice’s top fraud enforcement priorities.

Hardest working states

Illinois ranks 42nd in a report ranking the Hardest Working States in America.

WalletHub compared the 50 states across 10 key metrics, including average workweek hours, share of workers with multiple jobs and annual volunteer hours.

North Dakota ranked first. Michigan finished last.

Latest News Stories

Meeting Summary and Briefs: Beecher Fire Protection District Board of Trustees for March 20, 2025

The Beecher Fire Protection District is preparing for changes in its leadership and staffing after the Board of Trustees on March 20 approved the creation of a new Lieutenant position....

Beecher Fire Protection District graphic.1

Beecher Fire District to Hire New Lieutenant, Approves Updated Appointment Process

Article Summary: The Beecher Fire Protection District Board of Trustees has authorized the creation of a new Lieutenant position and will begin accepting applications at the end of March. The...

Labor Representative Addresses County Committee on Public Transportation Reform Efforts

JOLIET — A labor representative warned Will County officials Thursday that proposed reforms to regional public transportation governance could diminish the county's voice in transit decisions during a presentation to...

Committee Advances $1.7 Million Upgrade Plan for River Valley Juvenile Detention Center

JOLIET — The Will County Executive Committee voted Thursday to advance a $1.7 million proposal to upgrade the River Valley Juvenile Detention Center rather than pursuing costlier alternatives to house...

County Executive Committee Briefs: Transportation Program Expands, Ordinances Updated

Mobility Management Program Expands to Three Townships: The Executive Committee approved an intergovernmental agreement to expand the Will County Mobility Management Program to include Channahon, Manhattan, and Plainfield townships. The...

County Executive Committee Advances Elected Officials’ Pay Increases After Extended Debate

The Will County Executive Committee voted Thursday to advance a proposal for pay increases for countywide elected officials and county board members, setting the stage for a final vote at...

County Considers Bond Refinancing That Could Save Millions

JOLIET — Will County officials on Thursday discussed a potential bond refinancing opportunity that could save the county approximately $3.6 million in debt service costs by taking advantage of favorable...

Will County Ordinance Committee Briefs: Unanimous Votes for Proclamations, Title Changes, Audits Discussed

Committee Clarifies Unanimous Vote Requirement for Honorary Proclamations: The Ordinance Committee refined language in Chapter 30 regarding honorary proclamations, specifying that they shall be allowed "only by unanimous vote" of...

County Undertakes Formatting Overhaul of Decades-Old Ordinances

JOLIET — Will County officials are modernizing the format and structure of the county's ordinances, some of which date back to 1943, as part of a comprehensive review process to...

County Reviews Rules on Virtual Meeting Attendance, Committee Participation

JOLIET — Will County officials discovered Thursday that their current practices regarding virtual meeting attendance may not fully comply with state law, as the Ordinance Committee worked through updates to...

Will County Ordinance Committee Reviews Administrative Code, Clarifies Official Powers

JOLIET — The Will County Ordinance Committee spent several hours Thursday reviewing and updating Chapter 30 of the county's Code of Ordinances, which governs county administration, with particular attention to...

Farmers, Residents Call for Action on Roadside Debris from Landfill Trucks

Local farmers and residents are urging county officials to address persistent litter problems along routes used by trucks traveling to and from Prairie View landfill. The issue emerged during public...

County Landfill Meeting Briefs

Landfill Minutes Approved: The landfill committee unanimously approved minutes from its February 11, 2025 meeting. All committee members were present, including Hickey, Brooks, Bulock, Logan, Newquest, Pretzel, and Dean Schlotman....

Geological Features Central to Landfill Expansion Plans

Geological characteristics that were formed thousands of years ago make Prairie View an ideal location for landfill operations, according to the geologist leading expansion plans for the facility. During Wednesday's...

County Considers Two Options for Prairie View Landfill Expansion

Prairie View landfill could extend its lifespan by up to 35 additional years under expansion plans presented to the county's landfill committee on Wednesday. Consultant Marty Fallon outlined two potential...

« Previous
1
…
26
27
28
29
30
31
Next »

BEECHER LOCAL