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

Mace amendment would spare Democrats she targeted

Mace amendment would spare Democrats she targeted

By Brett RowlandThe Center Square Rep. Nancy Mace, R-S.C., introduced a constitutional amendment requiring natural-born citizenship for members of Congress and federal judges, sparing the Democrats she targeted while potentially...
Illinois to require hidden ‘junk fees’ included in advertised price

Illinois to require hidden ‘junk fees’ included in advertised price

By Sean Reed | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – In most cases when a person makes a purchase, such as on hotels, concert tickets and more,...
WATCH: Trump says Iran ‘won’t have nuclear weapon’

WATCH: Trump says Iran ‘won’t have nuclear weapon’

By Christen SmithThe Center Square As negotiations to end the Iran war continue, President Donald Trump says one thing is certain: the U.S. won’t let the nation have a nuclear...
Prescription board bill advances without money

Prescription board bill advances without money

By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – Illinois may soon have a prescription affordability board to impose price caps on drugs, but questions are...
Feds charge 15 in $90M Minnesota childcare, Medicaid fraud

Feds charge 15 in $90M Minnesota childcare, Medicaid fraud

By Andrew RiceThe Center Square Federal prosecutors announced charges against 15 people in Minnesota on Thursday in connection to Medicaid and childcare fraud costing taxpayers more than $90 million. Prosectors...
Federal court blocks key provisions of Texas immigration law

Federal court blocks key provisions of Texas immigration law

By Phil Davidson | Legal NewslineThe Center Square Those challenging a Texas law aimed at curtailing illegal immigration have secured a victory in the lawsuit, which was filed earlier this...
House GOP pushes Pritzker for local control

House GOP pushes Pritzker for local control

By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – Illinois House Republicans say Governor J.B. Pritzker’s housing proposals will give local control to state politicians, but...
Supreme Court rules for U.S.-Cuban land claims

Supreme Court rules for U.S.-Cuban land claims

By Andrew RiceThe Center Square The U.S. Supreme Court, in a 8-1 decision on Thursday, allowed U.S. companies to seek damages from property seizures by the Cuban government. Justices decided...
U.S. Supreme Court dismisses disability death penalty case

U.S. Supreme Court dismisses disability death penalty case

By Andrew RiceThe Center Square The U.S. Supreme Court dismissed a case on Thursday regarding whether a criminal defendant can use multiple IQ scores to avoid the death penalty. The...
Illinois Quick Hits: Freedom Caucus urges DOJ investigation of Illinois

Illinois Quick Hits: Freedom Caucus urges DOJ investigation of Illinois

By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – The Illinois Freedom Caucus is calling on the U.S. Department of Justice to investigate whether the Illinois...
Illegal border entries still at record lows, up from April 2025

Illegal border entries still at record lows, up from April 2025

By Bethany BlankleyThe Center Square Illegal entries into the U.S. in April remained significantly lower than during the Biden administration but are slightly up from what they were in April...
Hundreds of Uber drivers demand union-permitting bill move in Springfield

Hundreds of Uber drivers demand union-permitting bill move in Springfield

By Sean Reed | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – Nearly 400 drivers for platforms like Uber and Lyft appeared at the Illinois Capitol, where they urged...
U.S. troop reduction in Europe pressures NATO allies to increase their defense

U.S. troop reduction in Europe pressures NATO allies to increase their defense

By Sarah Roderick-FitchThe Center Square The Pentagon appears poised to reduce the number of American troops in Europe, in a further attempt to pressure NATO nations to take a more...
Summons issued to ISP, AG Cook County in FOID challenge

Summons issued to ISP, AG Cook County in FOID challenge

By Greg Bishop | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – Officials with the Illinois State Police, attorney general’s office and Cook County state’s attorney have been summoned...
Pritzker knocks state progressives’ ability to pass new tax measures

Pritzker knocks state progressives’ ability to pass new tax measures

By Sean Reed | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker ruled out the passage of many new tax proposals from progressive lawmakers before...