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

August 29, 2025/
Spread the love

By Jim Talamonti | The Center Square
The Center Square

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

Supreme Court limits Voting Rights Act in Louisiana redistricting battle

Supreme Court limits Voting Rights Act in Louisiana redistricting battle

By Nolan MckendryThe Center Square The U.S. Supreme Court struck down Louisiana’s congressional map Wednesday, ruling that the state relied too heavily on race when it created a second majority-Black...
Supreme Court unanimously sides with pregnancy center

Supreme Court unanimously sides with pregnancy center

By Andrew RiceThe Center Square The U.S. Supreme Court, in a unanimous decision, sided with a nonprofit pregnancy center in a federal lawsuit. The case, First Choice Women's Resource Centers...
Supreme Court hears challenges to Haiti, Syria TPS

Supreme Court hears challenges to Haiti, Syria TPS

By Andrew RiceThe Center Square The U.S. Supreme Court is hearing arguments in two cases to determine whether orders ending temporary protected status for Haiti and Syria are constitutional. Justices...
Illinois Quick Hits: Ex-East St. Louis librarian sentenced for fraud, theft

Illinois Quick Hits: Ex-East St. Louis librarian sentenced for fraud, theft

By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – The former director of the East St. Louis public library has been sentenced to 15 months in...
Candidates vie for Georgia's attorney general post

Candidates vie for Georgia’s attorney general post

By Andrew RiceThe Center Square Democrat and Republican candidates running for attorney general in Georgia sparred over various priorities for running the state’s largest law firm in a debate hosted...
Gunfire erupts by Seattle Mayor's speech

Gunfire erupts by Seattle Mayor’s speech

By Randy DiamondThe Center Square Gunshots were fired at a Seattle Community Center on Tuesday evening, right next to a park where Mayor Katie Wilson had just announced a new,...
House committee advances FISA, farm, budget to floor vote

House committee advances FISA, farm, budget to floor vote

By Andrew RiceThe Center Square The U.S. House Rules committee, in a 9-4 vote, advanced the farm bill, FISA extension and Senate-passed budget resolution to the House floor for a...
Comey indicted on charges of making threats against the president

Comey indicted on charges of making threats against the president

By Sarah Roderick-FitchThe Center Square Former FBI Director James Comey could face up to 20 years in prison following an indictment on two felony counts, with the Department of Justice...
Southwest worker wins $1M judgment against union in religious discrimination case

Southwest worker wins $1M judgment against union in religious discrimination case

By Bethany BlankleyThe Center Square Nine years after suing, a flight attendant won her case against Southwest Airlines and the Transport Workers Union after she was fired for opposing union...
Prosecutors probe past comments of man charged in correspondents' dinner attack

Prosecutors probe past comments of man charged in correspondents’ dinner attack

By Andrew RiceThe Center Square Federal prosecutors plan to dig into past comments made by the man accused of attempting to assassinate President Donald Trump at the White House Correspondents'...

Age checks, algorithm regulations proposed to shield Illinois kids online

By Sean Reed | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – Children’s safety online has been an issue of interest for lawmakers in Springfield this year, with dozens...
King Charles defends U.S., NATO alliance during address to Congress

King Charles defends U.S., NATO alliance during address to Congress

By Sarah Roderick-FitchThe Center Square In honor of the United States’ 250th birthday, King Charles III delivered a joint address in Congress Tuesday afternoon, highlighting the bond between the U.S....
Chinese national indicted in COVID-era hacking scheme extradited to Texas

Chinese national indicted in COVID-era hacking scheme extradited to Texas

By Bethany BlankleyThe Center Square A years-long effort has resulted in the extradition of a Chinese national facing multiple espionage charges in Houston. Chinese national Xu Zewei was extradited to...
Illinois Quick Hits: $60M sports complex opens in Springfield

Illinois Quick Hits: $60M sports complex opens in Springfield

By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – Gov. J.B. Pritzker says a new sports complex in Springfield will bring in an estimated $25 million...
Florida House panel approves new congressional district map

Florida House panel approves new congressional district map

By David BeasleyThe Center Square Plans to redraw Florida’s congressional districts, which could give Republicans a gain of four seats as the midterm elections approach, has been approved by a...