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.

Latest News Stories

Report: Illinois U.S. Rep faces minimal penalty after disclosure violations

By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – According to a new report, Illinois U.S. Rep. Jonathan Jackson has violated federal law by making late...

18 were injured, 2 killed in Minneapolis shooting

By Jon StyfThe Center Square A total of 18 victims were injured and two were killed in a Wednesday shooting at a Catholic school in Minneapolis, a total reached after...

Trump HHS tells states to remove gender ideology from sex ed or lose PREP funding

By Tate MillerThe Center Square The Trump administration directed 46 states and territories to remove gender ideology from their sex ed materials or else face possible termination of federal Personal...

Americans could face ‘sticker shock’ as once-small tax exemption ends

By Brett RowlandThe Center Square Americans could be in for a surprise when a nearly century-old trade rule that allowed shoppers to avoid President Donald Trump's tariffs expires on Friday....

‘Pro-taxpayer’ law requires operators to clean up abandoned Illinois oil wells

By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – A state lawmaker says recently-signed legislation will ensure that Illinois taxpayers don’t foot the bill for cleaning...

Black-only medical directory must open to all races after lawsuit

By Tate MillerThe Center Square After a lawsuit from medical group Do No Harm, a Philadelphia-based directory of Black physicians is now open to all races. The directory entitled “Black...

Embattled Fed governor sues Trump over ‘illegal’ firing

By Brett RowlandThe Center Square A Federal Reserve governor accused of mortgage fraud filed a lawsuit Thursday alleging her firing was "unprecedented and illegal." Trump fired Federal Reserve Governor Lisa...

Watch: Cook County gun ban plaintiffs petition SCOTUS; Pritzker hasn’t heard from White House

By Greg Bishop | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – In today's edition of Illinois in Focus Daily, The Center Square Editor Greg Bishop gets to the...

Illinois quick hits: Man on pretrial release accused of murder; holiday weekend impaired driving patrols

By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square Man on pretrial release accused of murder After reportedly violating curfew dozens of times while wearing an ankle monitor, a man...

Beecher Library Schedules New Window Installation for Early August

Article Summary: New windows are scheduled to be installed at the Beecher Public Library on Friday, August 1, a project intended to improve the building's infrastructure. The work is expected...

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

By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square Gun ban challengers petition SCOTUS The Second Amendment Foundation is asking the U.S. Supreme Court to take a challenge to Cook...

WATCH: Trump: Illinois’ ‘slob of a governor’ should call for help with public safety

By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker says he has not received communication from the federal government about potential troop...

beecher illinois public library graphic.1

Beecher Library Awarded Over $10,000 in State Per Capita Grant

Article Summary: The Beecher Public Library District will receive $10,013.78 in state funding through the Public Library Per Capita Grant program. The grant, awarded by the Illinois Secretary of State's...

WATCH: Legislator says Illinois’ child welfare agency uses interns, has legal exposure

By Greg Bishop | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – An Illinois state legislator insists the state’s child welfare agency is violating the law by using interns...

Economic index shows reduced uncertainty, more stability in Midwest

By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – The Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago’s Survey of Economic Conditions Activity Index suggests more stability and less...

« Previous
1
…
161
162
163
164
165
…
188
Next »