Illinois Quick Hits: Ex-sheriff employee ordered to repay $35,000

Illinois Quick Hits: Ex-sheriff employee ordered to repay $35,000

Spread the love

(The Center Square) – A judge has ordered a former Cook County Sheriff’s office employee to pay more than $35,000 in restitution for forgery to obtain a Paycheck Protection Program loan during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Kimberly Flowers-Watson, 59, of Chicago pleaded guilty to felony forgery and was sentenced to two years of second-chance probation.

The Illinois Attorney General’s office said Flowers-Watson forged a PPP loan application to the U.S. Small Business Administration by falsely claiming she owned a business that did not exist.

DATA CENTER MORATORIUM PROPOSED

Champaign County officials are considering a one-year ban on the development of large data centers so zoning regulations can be developed for such projects.

Planning and Zoning Director John Hall told The News-Gazette a potential project site west of Champaign was described to him as being about 300 acres, far larger than any data center the county has previously approved.

Hall expressed concerns about water consumption from the Mahomet Aquifer and energy usage.

SUPER BOWL SAFETY

The Illinois Department of Transportation and Illinois State Police are joining local law enforcement departments in a Super Bowl safety campaign this weekend.

State officials are urging party-goers to make sure their designated drivers are not impaired by alcohol, cannabis or other impairing drugs and that everyone in their vehicle is wearing a seat belt.

The Super Bowl safety campaign is part of the Illinois “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over” and “Click It or Ticket” programs that are funded with federal highway safety dollars.

Leave a Comment





Latest News Stories

Meeting Briefs

Meeting Briefs: Will County Land Use & Development Committee for July 3, 2025

Green Garden Township Rezoning for Future Subdivision ApprovedThe committee recommended approval of a map amendment for an 81-acre property on South 88th Avenue in Green Garden Township. The applicant, represented...
Meeting-Briefs

Meeting Summary and Briefs: Prairie State College Board of Trustees for March 25, 2025

The Prairie State College (PSC) Board of Trustees meeting on March 25, 2025, was highlighted by a detailed presentation showcasing significant growth and high achievement in the college's Allied Health...
Meeting Briefs

Will County Public Health & Safety Committee July 3 Meeting Briefs

Grain Dust Complaint Prompts Investigation: Will County resident Tracy Henning of unincorporated Peotone addressed the committee about health problems she attributes to grain dust from a neighboring facility. Henning, who...
prairie state college graphic.3

Prairie State College Board Accepts Positive FY2024 Financial Audit

Article Summary: The Prairie State College Board of Trustees unanimously accepted the audited financial statements for fiscal year 2024, signaling a clean bill of financial health for the institution. A...
Will County Legislative Committee Meeting July 1, 2025

Will County Seeks Asian Carp Provision in Federal Legislative Agenda

Will County Board member Julie Berkowicz is pushing to add specific language addressing Asian carp invasion to the county's federal legislative agenda, citing the ongoing threat to local waterways as...
Will County Capital Improvements & IT Committee Meeting July 1, 2025

Will County’s Major Capital Projects Hit Key Milestones, VAC Buildout on “Aggressive Schedule”

Will County is making significant headway on several major capital improvement projects, with the new Veterans Assistance Commission (VAC) & Support Center in Joliet on an “aggressive schedule” for a...
Will County Legislative Committee Meeting July 1, 2025

State Legislative Session Update: Transit, Energy Bills Stall Despite Democratic Control

Illinois lawmakers failed to advance major transit funding and comprehensive energy legislation during the recently concluded spring session, leaving key issues unresolved despite Democratic supermajorities in both chambers, according to...
Will County Public Works & Transportation Committee Meeting July 1, 2025

County Board Approves 2026-2031 Transportation Plan Despite Project Opposition

Will County board members approved a contested five-year transportation improvement plan Tuesday after heated debate over a controversial Homer Glen road project that has drawn sustained community opposition. The Will...
Will County Planning and Zoning Commission Meeting July 1, 2025

Contentious I-3 Rezoning for DuPage Township Storage Yard Narrowly Advances

A proposal to rezone a 20-acre parcel in DuPage Township from agricultural to the county's most intensive industrial classification narrowly earned a recommendation for approval from the Will County Planning...
Meeting Briefs

Will County Legislative Committee July 1 Meeting Briefs

Federal Budget Impact: Will County could face significant funding challenges if federal budget reconciliation measures reduce Medicaid and SNAP benefits. The county health department and social services rely heavily on...
Will County Finance Committee Meeting July 1, 2025

County Moves Forward with $200.8 Million Bond Refinancing Plan

Will County Finance Committee members on July 1 approved moving forward with a comprehensive bond refinancing ordinance that could save taxpayers more than $716,000 over the life of the bonds...
Will County Public Works & Transportation Committee Meeting July 1, 2025

Access Will County Dial-a-Ride Program Sees Record Growth, Eyes Expansion

Will County's dial-a-ride transportation service for seniors and disabled residents reached record ridership levels while officials plan major expansion to cover all county townships. The Access Will County program served...
Will County Capital Improvements & IT Committee Meeting July 1, 2025

Will County to Launch New Public Meeting Agenda System in August Amidst Data Conversion Concerns

Will County is set to launch its new public meeting agenda and records software, Granicus “OneMeeting,” in August, but the transition will see over a decade of historical records converted...
Will County Planning and Zoning Commission Meeting July 1, 2025

Green Garden Township Poised for First Major Subdivision in Years After Rezoning

The Will County Planning and Zoning Commission has recommended a rezoning that could pave the way for the first major residential subdivision in Green Garden Township in nearly two decades....
Will County Finance Committee Meeting July 1, 2025

County RNG Facility Shows Strong Performance Despite Solar Challenges

Will County's Renewable Natural Gas facility is exceeding production targets while officials explore options to reduce substantial electricity costs that currently impact profitability. Project manager Greg Komperda told Finance Committee...