Illinois quick hits: Bovino thanks police; fire assistance grants available

Illinois quick hits: Bovino thanks police; fire assistance grants available

December 17, 2025/
Spread the love

By Jim Talamonti | The Center Square
The Center Square

Bovino thanks police

U.S. Customs and Border Protection Commander Gregory Bovino has expressed his appreciation to police officers in Chicago and Evanston.

In a social media post Wednesday, Bovino thanked the Chicago and Evanston departments and said they provided assistance in preventing “violent mobs” from assaulting CBP law enforcement officers as they conducted Title 8 immigration duties.

Fire assistance grants available

The Illinois Department of Natural Resources is accepting applications for federal Volunteer Fire Assistance grants through Feb. 16, 2026.

The federal funds are passed through IDNR to aid fire departments in the purchase of new equipment and funding for training.

In 2025, the program awarded $322,893 for 48 Illinois projects.

Deer harvest totals

Hunters in Illinois took a preliminary total of 81,225 deer during the seven-day 2025 Illinois firearm deer season that concluded Dec. 7, down from 82,496 deer harvested during the 2024 firearm season.

Adams County had by far the highest total of deer harvested in 2025 with 2,291.

Leave a Comment





Latest News Stories

Op-Ed: Oversight faps in federal drug program put Illinois’ independent practices at risk

Op-Ed: Oversight faps in federal drug program put Illinois’ independent practices at risk

By Dr. Priya BansalThe Center Square Community-based care is part of the fabric of the healthcare system in Illinois. As an allergist and immunologist practicing in St. Charles, I take...
Costco suit highlights gaps in $166B tariff refund process

Costco suit highlights gaps in $166B tariff refund process

By Brett RowlandThe Center Square Warehouse retailer Costco Wholesale asked a federal judge to dismiss a proposed class-action lawsuit seeking consumer tariff refunds, saying the claims are premature and meritless,...
Support swells across the aisle for $580B BUILD America 250 Act

Support swells across the aisle for $580B BUILD America 250 Act

By Alan WootenThe Center Square Five-year plans for American roads, bridges, transit, rail transportation, and highway and motor carrier safety programs reaches an 18-month crescendo Thursday with a committee markup...
Revised bipartisan housing bill passes U.S. House, one step closer to becoming law

Revised bipartisan housing bill passes U.S. House, one step closer to becoming law

By Thérèse BoudreauxThe Center Square The U.S. House overwhelmingly passed its revised version of the 21st Century Road to Housing Act, sending the bipartisan legislation meant to address the housing...
War of words reignites with Trump, Pritzker, Bailey

War of words reignites with Trump, Pritzker, Bailey

By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – President Donald Trump has resumed his war of words with Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker, who responded by...
Nesbitt asks DOJ to investigate Whitmer's ties to grant scandal

Nesbitt asks DOJ to investigate Whitmer’s ties to grant scandal

By Elyse ApelThe Center Square Michigan Senate Republican Leader Aric Nesbitt is calling for a federal investigation into Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s connections to former ally and donor Fay Beydoun following...
Senate Republicans' rebellion in War Powers Resolution vote could sway House vote

Senate Republicans’ rebellion in War Powers Resolution vote could sway House vote

By Thérèse BoudreauxThe Center Square In a remarkable rebuke of the Trump administration's mission against Iran, the U.S. Senate narrowly advanced a War Powers Resolution when a handful of Republicans...
Cassidy breaks with Trump on Iran, spending after reelection defeat

Cassidy breaks with Trump on Iran, spending after reelection defeat

By Nolan MckendryThe Center Square U.S. Sen. Bill Cassidy, R-La., broke with President Donald Trump on multiple fronts this week after losing his reelection bid, including joining a Senate vote...
Nashville, state spent billions of taxpayer funds drawing Super Bowl

Nashville, state spent billions of taxpayer funds drawing Super Bowl

By Jon StyfThe Center Square Tennessee already has granted $10.8 million of taxpayer money from its special events fund toward luring Super Bowl LXIV in 2030 to Nashville in additional...
Judge won’t let ConAgra off hook in class action over fish fillet brine

Judge won’t let ConAgra off hook in class action over fish fillet brine

By Scott Hollan | Legal NewslineThe Center Square CHICAGO — A federal judge won’t yet let food products maker ConAgra off the hook for a class action accusing it of...
Legal analysts applaud yet are skeptical of American Bar Association’s DEI elimination

Legal analysts applaud yet are skeptical of American Bar Association’s DEI elimination

By Tate RosentreterThe Center Square Some education experts see the American Bar Association’s recent vote to eliminate its diversity, equity, and inclusion accreditation requirement for law schools as significant, while...
Illinois Quick Hits: Bill offering CTE alternative clears senate committee

Illinois Quick Hits: Bill offering CTE alternative clears senate committee

By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – The Illinois Senate Education Committee has advanced legislation that would allow high school students to take Career...
Workers say mass Spirit Airlines layoffs violate federal law

Workers say mass Spirit Airlines layoffs violate federal law

By Michael Carroll | Legal NewslineThe Center Square Six former Spirit Airlines employees, including five Florida residents, have filed a class-action lawsuit alleging that the Florida company’s worker layoffs violate...
Bill that tried to kill secret agreements with your tax dollars now faces its own silent death

Bill that tried to kill secret agreements with your tax dollars now faces its own silent death

By Adam HerbetsThe Center Square It’s costing taxpayers at least $1.1 billion, but there’s only so much lawmakers are allowing the public to know about the California Capitol Annex Project....
After-school program orgs seek $70M in new state grants to cover gap from fed cuts

After-school program orgs seek $70M in new state grants to cover gap from fed cuts

By Sean Reed | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – A coalition of nonprofit organizations that provide after-school and summer programs for Illinois students is warning their...