Illinois quick hits: Gun ban challengers petition SCOTUS; man sentenced for COVID fraud

Illinois quick hits: Gun ban challengers petition SCOTUS; man sentenced for COVID fraud

August 27, 2025/
Spread the love

By Jim Talamonti | The Center Square
The Center Square

Gun ban challengers petition SCOTUS

The Second Amendment Foundation is asking the U.S. Supreme Court to take a challenge to Cook County’s ban on semi-automatic firearms.

Originally filed in 2021, the Seventh Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals sided with the county, upholding the ban in June of this year. In 2023, the state enacted a similar ban.

A Second Amendment challenge for the statewide ban is set to be heard by the appeals court Sept. 22. A district judge found the state’s ban unconstitutional last year.

Man sentenced for COVID fraud

A federal judge has sentenced a former Chicago man to a year and half in prison for scheming to fraudulently obtain nearly $2 million in small business loans from COVID relief funds.

Prosecutors say Samuel W. Jackson, 45, pleaded guilty to wire fraud and money laundering after he and others spent hundreds of thousands of dollars on luxury vehicles and at restaurants and entertainment venues.

Airport funding announced

More than $8 million in federal tax funds from the Trump administration is headed for airports across Illinois.

The U.S. Department of Transportation funding goes to improve taxiways, accommodate more passengers and make travelling easier.

An airport in Peoria is getting $7.6 million. Airports in Decatur and Bloomington are also receiving funds.

Leave a Comment





Latest News Stories

Critics skeptical of YMCA’s diversity statement removal

Critics skeptical of YMCA’s diversity statement removal

By Tate RosentreterThe Center Square Following criticism, the YMCA removed its online diversity, equity and inclusion statement that made reference to gender identity, with a parents advocacy group warning the...
Ex-security officials thank Pritzker for not deploying Guard to America’s 250th

Ex-security officials thank Pritzker for not deploying Guard to America’s 250th

By Sean Reed | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – A group of 19 former national security officials signed a letter to Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker, thanking...
Biggs: H.R. 1 tax cuts to boost Arizona’s economy

Biggs: H.R. 1 tax cuts to boost Arizona’s economy

By Zachery SchmidtThe Center Square Saturday marks the one-year anniversary of President Donald Trump signing the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, which features tax cuts that an Arizona congressman says...
WATCH/EXCLUSIVE: America 250 celebrates civics education

WATCH/EXCLUSIVE: America 250 celebrates civics education

By Esther WickhamThe Center Square As the United States marks the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, the U.S. Department of Education and a coalition of organizations launched a...
OMB says fraud losses 'in the hundreds of billions' annually

OMB says fraud losses ‘in the hundreds of billions’ annually

By Brett RowlandThe Center Square The Biden administration called the government's only estimate of annual fraud losses "not plausible." Now, the Trump administration says fraud costs taxpayers hundreds of billions...
National security group report questions Environmental Law Institute's China ties

National security group report questions Environmental Law Institute’s China ties

By Tom JoyceThe Center Square A national security group wants Congress to investigate the Environmental Law Institute. The group says the nonprofit helped shape climate lawsuits against American energy companies...
National security group report questions Environmental Law Institute's China ties

National security group report questions Environmental Law Institute’s China ties

By Tom JoyceThe Center Square A national security group wants Congress to investigate the Environmental Law Institute. The group says the nonprofit helped shape climate lawsuits against American energy companies...
beecher ilinois school board graphic.5

Meeting Summary and Briefs: Beecher 200-U Board of Education for June 10, 2026

Beecher 200-U Board of Education Meeting | June 10, 2026 The Beecher Community Unit School District 200-U Board of Education held its regular meeting Wednesday, June 10, 2026, at 6...
UPDATED: Fireworks and fairs planned in nation's capital for America's 250th

UPDATED: Fireworks and fairs planned in nation’s capital for America’s 250th

By Morgan SweeneyThe Center Square The federal government has planned a day packed with events commemorating the nation's highly anticipated 250th birthday, including an address from President Donald Trump before...
Millions under extreme heat warning for July 4th weekend

Millions under extreme heat warning for July 4th weekend

By Elyse ApelThe Center Square As Independence Day celebrations kick off, millions of Americans in much of the central and eastern United States are under extreme heat warnings. More than...
Trump to cut solar, wind subsidies on July 4th

Trump to cut solar, wind subsidies on July 4th

By Andrew RiceThe Center Square The Trump administration is set to cut subsidies for new solar and wind power projects on Saturday. Estimates suggest the subsidies have cost taxpayers more...
Arizona congressman seeks to boost military hazard pay

Arizona congressman seeks to boost military hazard pay

By Zachery SchmidtThe Center Square U.S. Rep. Abe Hamadeh, R-Surprise, Ariz., recently introduced a bill to increase military hazard pay. The Combat Pay Protection Act would require Congress to increase...
Arizona congressman seeks to boost military hazard pay

Arizona congressman seeks to boost military hazard pay

By Zachery SchmidtThe Center Square U.S. Rep. Abe Hamadeh, R-Surprise, Ariz., recently introduced a bill to increase military hazard pay. The Combat Pay Protection Act would require Congress to increase...
Report: Wisconsin's $2.7B projected surplus the result of inflation

Report: Wisconsin’s $2.7B projected surplus the result of inflation

By Jon StyfThe Center Square Inflation led to roughly $2.7 billion more in Wisconsin sales tax collections over the past five years than was projected, the same amount that the...
AAA: Record July 4th travel expected as gas prices ease

AAA: Record July 4th travel expected as gas prices ease

By Elyse ApelThe Center Square Drivers will get some relief at the pump this Independence Day weekend after months of high gas prices. With a record number of Americans expected...