Illinois quick hits: Bovino bounty trial to begin; Judge sentences Kentucky man to 15 years in drugs case; Pritzker criticizes Trump's first year as Trump marks accomplishments

Illinois quick hits: Bovino bounty trial to begin; Judge sentences Kentucky man to 15 years in drugs case; Pritzker criticizes Trump’s first year as Trump marks accomplishments

January 20, 2026/
Spread the love

By Jim Talamonti | The Center Square
The Center Square

Bovino bounty trial to begin

Jury selection is complete for the trial of a man accused of putting a bounty on U.S. Border Patrol Commander Gregory Bovino. Juan Espinoza Martinez, 37, was charged last fall with soliciting the murder of a senior law enforcement official. Opening statements are scheduled to begin Wednesday morning at the Everett McKinley Dirksen U.S. Courthouse in Chicago.

Judge sentences Kentucky man to 15 years in drugs case

A southern Illinois district judge has sentenced a Kentucky man to 15 years in federal prison for possessing more than 150 grams of meth and a firearm as a felon. James W. Towery, 45, of Salem, Kentucky, pleaded guilty to one count of possession with intent to distribute meth and one count of felon in possession of a firearm. Prosecutors say law enforcement found a handgun along with the drugs during a traffic stop in Massac County on March 11, 2024.

Pritzker criticizes Trump’s first year as Trump marks accomplishments

Gov. J.B. Pritzker held a roundtable discussion in Chicago on Tuesday to discuss the impact of federal government actions on Illinoisans. Pritzker said manufacturers feel it when tariffs go up and farmers pay the price for trade wars. President Donald Trump held a White House briefing Tuesday afternoon and said Democrats created the affordability problem and his administration is solving it.

Leave a Comment





Latest News Stories

Will County Board Graphic.01

Meeting Summary and Briefs: Will County Board Legislative Committee for January 6, 2026

Will County Board Legislative Committee Meeting | January 6, 2026 Overall Meeting SummaryThe Will County Board Legislative Committee met on Tuesday, January 6, 2026, to finalize the county’s state and...
Screenshot 2026-01-15 at 4.43.36 PM

Beecher School Board Approves $283,000 Elementary Window Project and New Bus

Beecher School District 200-U Meeting | January 14, 2026 Article Summary: The Beecher School District 200-U Board of Education has authorized a significant infrastructure project to replace windows at Beecher...
Firms team up with states to scrutinize health care spending

Firms team up with states to scrutinize health care spending

By Morgan SweeneyThe Center Square A number of companies have responded to state financial officers’ December letter urging them to audit their health care spending. In line with multiple initiatives...
St. Paul students marked absent after protests against ICE

St. Paul students marked absent after protests against ICE

By Esther WickhamThe Center Square Hundreds of students from high schools in St. Paul, Minnesota, walked out of class this week to protest the presence of Immigration and Customs Enforcement...
Poll: Trump’s approval rating falls 16% in Arizona

Poll: Trump’s approval rating falls 16% in Arizona

By Zachery SchmidtThe Center Square President Donald Trump’s approval rating among Arizonans declined 16 percentage points from February to December, a new poll shows. Noble Predictive Insights released a poll...
SCOTUS to consider second election law case

SCOTUS to consider second election law case

By Andrew RiceThe Center Square The U.S. Supreme Court ruled this week that an Illinois congressman had the right to sue the state over ballot counting after Election Day. The...
Medical device manufacturer invests $110M to expand Nebraska plant, boost drug supply

Medical device manufacturer invests $110M to expand Nebraska plant, boost drug supply

By Tom JoyceThe Center Square A major American medical device manufacturer is investing $110 million to expand production in Nebraska as part of an effort to restore pharmaceutical manufacturing and...
WATCH: U.S.ambassadors stress Greenland's importance

WATCH: U.S.ambassadors stress Greenland’s importance

By Dave MasonThe Center Square America is crucial to the defense of Greenland, which in turn is vital to protecting NATO, according to four U.S. ambassadors who expressed optimism about...
Chicago council considers 'not a tax' surcharge on hotels

Chicago council considers ‘not a tax’ surcharge on hotels

By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – Chicago’s city council is considering a new assessment on hotel stays that supporters say would raise about...
Govt. funding process advances as three more bills to become law; six remain

Govt. funding process advances as three more bills to become law; six remain

By Thérèse BoudreauxThe Center Square With the U.S. Senate sending a roughly $180 billion funding package to the president’s desk Thursday, Congress has now knocked out half of the annual...
Bankers push back on Trump's plan to reduce swipe fees, cap interest rates

Bankers push back on Trump’s plan to reduce swipe fees, cap interest rates

By Brett RowlandThe Center Square Banks are pushing back against renewed efforts to cap interest rates for consumers, after President Donald Trump endorsed the move as he seeks to show...
State lawmaker calls for hearings on banning Sharia law in Texas

State lawmaker calls for hearings on banning Sharia law in Texas

By Bethany BlankleyThe Center Square A Texas lawmaker is calling for the state legislature to hold hearings on actions the legislature can take to ban Sharia law in the state....
U.S. to build nuclear reactor on Moon by 2030, cost unknown

U.S. to build nuclear reactor on Moon by 2030, cost unknown

By Brett RowlandThe Center Square The U.S. plans to build a nuclear reactor on the moon by 2030 to prepare for future missions to Mars. The National Aeronautics and Space...
WATCH: Gov. Polis calls out Republicans in State of the State

WATCH: Gov. Polis calls out Republicans in State of the State

By Elyse ApelThe Center Square Colorado Gov. Jared Polis delivered his last State of the State to a joint session of the Colorado General Assembly on Thursday. In his speech,...
Republican senators introduce bill to address childcare, immigration fraud

Republican senators introduce bill to address childcare, immigration fraud

By Bethany BlankleyThe Center Square U.S. senators, led by U.S. Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, have introduced a bill to amend federal law to address federally funded childcare provider fraud. The...