Illinois quick hits: Foreign national indicted for fraud; Chicago Public Schools budget approved

Illinois quick hits: Foreign national indicted for fraud; Chicago Public Schools budget approved

Spread the love

Foreign national indicted for fraud

A foreign national has been indicted in U.S. District Court in Chicago for allegedly defrauding numerous individuals out of at least $2.6 million and willfully evading income taxes.

Jawad Fakroune, 45, also known by “Angelino Escobar” and other names, is facing 15 federal counts of wire fraud and tax-related charges.

Chicago Public Schools budget approved

The Chicago Board of Education has adopted a $10.2 billion budget for Fiscal Year 2026.

The board voted 12-7 to approve the spending plan, which did not include a high-interest loan favored by Mayor Brandon Johnson and the Chicago Teachers Union.

Former chancellor dies

Former University of Illinois Chancellor Michael Aiken has died at the age of 93.

Aiken served as the school’s sixth chancellor from 1993 to 2001. U of I officials said he died Monday in Cody, Wyoming.

Leave a Comment





Latest News Stories

ExxonMobil shareholders approve plan to redomicile to Texas

ExxonMobil shareholders approve plan to redomicile to Texas

By Bethany BlankleyThe Center Square ExxonMobil shareholders on Wednesday approved the board of directors’ plan to redomicile the company's legal headquarters to Texas. Shareholders also rejected a proposal made by...
U.S., Iran may be on the cusp of tentative ceasefire extension

U.S., Iran may be on the cusp of tentative ceasefire extension

By Sarah Roderick-FitchThe Center Square A memorandum of understanding has been reached between U.S. and Iranian negotiators, pending approval from President Donald Trump and Iranian leadership, according to reports. The...
Pritzker indicates he'll sign new insurance regulations

Pritzker indicates he’ll sign new insurance regulations

By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – Gov. J.B. Pritzker is expected to sign two bills headed to his desk that give the state...
Election 2026: For one of the four seats, trouble brews

Election 2026: For one of the four seats, trouble brews

By Alan WootenThe Center Square Texas hasn’t elected a Democrat to the U.S. Senate since 1988, Kentucky since 1992, Louisiana and North Carolina since 2008. Respectively, outgoing Republican Sens. John...
Treasury reveals how to sign up for Trump Accounts on new app

Treasury reveals how to sign up for Trump Accounts on new app

By Thérèse BoudreauxThe Center Square The U.S. Department of the Treasury announced the launch of the Trump Accounts app Thursday, kicking off the registration process for citizens and permanent residents...
Republicans claim fake transparency in early budget, demand better

Republicans claim fake transparency in early budget, demand better

By Sean Reed | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – At the height of state budget negotiations, Republican lawmakers have said Democrat leaders have again pulled their...
Ceasefire in question as U.S. accuses Iran of violations

Ceasefire in question as U.S. accuses Iran of violations

By Sarah Roderick-FitchThe Center Square The future of the ceasefire between the U.S. and Iran has come into question following the second exchange of fire between the countries in less...
Supreme Court rules against prison sentence reductions

Supreme Court rules against prison sentence reductions

By Andrew RiceThe Center Square The U.S. Supreme Court, in two separate cases on Thursday, ruled against convicted individuals seeking to reduce their prison sentences. The high court ruled in...
Illinois may take DOJ ‘Anti-Weaponization’ payouts from residents

Illinois may take DOJ ‘Anti-Weaponization’ payouts from residents

By Sean Reed | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – An Illinois lawmaker wants to create a law that would allow the state to take any funds...
Supreme Court rules in favor of racially biased jury claims

Supreme Court rules in favor of racially biased jury claims

By Andrew RiceThe Center Square The U.S. Supreme Court, in a 5-4 decision on Thursday, ruled in favor of an Black man convicted of capital murder in Mississippi, who said...
Poll: Voters have unfavorable opinions of Owens, Shapiro, Kirk, Pratt

Poll: Voters have unfavorable opinions of Owens, Shapiro, Kirk, Pratt

By Jon StyfThe Center Square American taxpayers have a heavily unfavorable opinion of Candace Owens, Ben Shapiro and Erika Kirk but Los Angeles Mayor candidate Spencer Pratt was barely underwater...
Illinois Quick Hits: Waukegan official charted with casting dead mother's ballot

Illinois Quick Hits: Waukegan official charted with casting dead mother’s ballot

By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – A Waukegan alderman has been arrested and charged with a felony after she allegedly used her dead...
Top Illinois diversity commissioner did not disclose side pay

Top Illinois diversity commissioner did not disclose side pay

By Jared Strong | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) -- The chairperson of Illinois' diversity commission has been earning thousands of dollars each year from her former...
Beecher Elementary school Graphic

Meeting Summary and Briefs: Beecher Community Unit School District 200-U for May 13, 2026

Beecher Community Unit School District 200-U Meeting | May 13, 2026 The Beecher Community Unit School District 200-U Board of Education met on Wednesday, May 13, 2026, at the Beecher...
Durbin warns of divisions in Illinois farewell speech

Durbin warns of divisions in Illinois farewell speech

By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – Illinois U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin says divisions in the United States today are reminiscent of Abraham Lincoln’s...