Illinois Quick Hits: Ex-sheriff employee ordered to repay $35,000
(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.
Latest News Stories
GOP, Dems compete in Arizona congressional races
Abbott directs state investigation into ICE Houston shooting
Industry leaders: Feds can more effectively combat fraud, but privacy rights at risk
Union sues to stop $110B Paramount-Warner Bros. merger
Bipartisan bill would force vote before Social Security cuts hit
Court OKs $45M verdict in talc asbestos case, including $30M for ‘reduced lifespan’
Taxpayers to fund $424.9M soccer stadium infrastructure
Illinois Quick Hits: Benton pulls name from ballot after resignation
Fraud enforcement, weaponization swirl around Blanche’s nomination
Income tax cut on Missouri ballot; Illinois may see more outmigration
Michigan’s U.S. Senate primary heats up as El-Sayed holds lead
Decades of policy choices makes gas more expensive for Blue states: Report