Illinois Quick Hits: CTA passenger set on fire in November leaves hospital

Illinois Quick Hits: CTA passenger set on fire in November leaves hospital

February 6, 2026/
Spread the love

By Jim Talamonti | The Center Square
The Center Square

(The Center Square) – A Chicago Transit Authority train passenger says she has been released from the hospital more than two months after a man with a long criminal history allegedly set her on fire. B

ethany MaGee was hospitalized on Nov. 17. MaGee issued a statement thanking the burn unit at Stroger Hospital for their care and support.

As of Friday afternoon, a GoFundMe effort to support MaGee’s recovery has raised more than $512,000.

ALLEGED HIT-AND-RUN DRIVER ARRESTED

Illinois State Police special agents have arrested a Beach Park man in connection with a hit-and-run collision involving a pedestrian.

After reports of multiple crashes on I-94 in Skokie on Feb. 1, ISP says a person who exited a vehicle was struck by a vehicle driven by Damian Lopez, 30. The victim suffered life-threatening injuries.

Lopez allegedly fled the scene and was arrested the next day.

NFIB JANUARY JOBS REPORT

The National Federation of Independent Business Employment Index dropped nearly 1 point in January to 101.6.

The index remained above the historical average of 100 and slightly above the 2025 average of 101.2. Thirty-one percent of small business owners reported job openings they could not fill in January.

NFIB Illinois State Director Noah Finley said workforce challenges remain a primary hurdle for small businesses.

Leave a Comment





Latest News Stories

Bill to tax global profits from Illinois meets opposition protesting 'double tax'

Bill to tax global profits from Illinois meets opposition protesting ‘double tax’

By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – Multinational corporations that do business in Illinois would be taxed more to fund public education under a...
Analysis finds short-term stability, lack of long-term growth in state budget

Analysis finds short-term stability, lack of long-term growth in state budget

By Sean Reed | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – New analysis of the proposed Illinois budget for the coming year revealed the spending plan to be...

WATCH: Let’s Go Washington launching initiative to repeal income tax

By Carleen JohnsonThe Center Square Let’s Go Washington on Friday announced they have received their initiative ballot titles from the office of Washington State Attorney General Nick Brown, as the...
Ferguson first WA governor found in violation of ethics laws in over 30 years, state website shows

Ferguson first WA governor found in violation of ethics laws in over 30 years, state website shows

By Tim ClouserThe Center Square Gov. Bob Ferguson is the first Washington governor in more than 30 years to be found in violation of the state's executive ethics law, according...
Court strikes tariff, Trump moves ahead with replacement

Court strikes tariff, Trump moves ahead with replacement

By Brett RowlandThe Center Square President Donald Trump's administration signaled Friday it intends to appeal a federal trade court's ruling striking down his 10% global tariff as unlawful, while simultaneously...
North Dakota Supreme Court sides with Energy Transfer in Greenpeace fight over Dutch lawsuit

North Dakota Supreme Court sides with Energy Transfer in Greenpeace fight over Dutch lawsuit

By Tom JoyceThe Center Square The North Dakota Supreme Court ruled this week that Greenpeace International cannot keep pursuing most of its lawsuit against Energy Transfer in the Netherlands as...
SNAP cuts, Illinois payment errors spark fierce debate

SNAP cuts, Illinois payment errors spark fierce debate

By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – A Democratic state senator says the federal government is to blame for 150,000 Illinoisans losing Supplemental Nutrition...
Op-Ed: Keeping local leaders happy isn’t worth the housing cost

Op-Ed: Keeping local leaders happy isn’t worth the housing cost

By Christina Sandefur and LyLena D. EstabineThe Center Square Chicago rents have soared to historic highs, but in Phoenix they’re falling. The reason? A greater housing supply. In 2024, Arizona...
Apollo, Gemini sightings revealed in first UAP file drop

Apollo, Gemini sightings revealed in first UAP file drop

By Sarah Roderick-FitchThe Center Square The long-anticipated Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena (UAP) or Unidentified Flying Object (UFO) files have been released by the federal government, showing images and descriptions of unexplained...
Beecher Softball ladycats

Norkus Shines in Pitcher’s Duel as Beecher Edges Ottawa 1-0

In a defensive masterclass on Thursday, the Beecher varsity softball team secured a narrow 1-0 victory over Ottawa in a non-conference matchup. Beecher pitcher Taylor Norkus was the story of...
BREAKING: GOP turns to Congress after Minnesota Dems block Omar subpoena

BREAKING: GOP turns to Congress after Minnesota Dems block Omar subpoena

By Elyse ApelThe Center Square Minnesota House Republicans want help from U.S. congressional oversight leaders after Democrats on a state committee blocked an effort to subpoena U.S. Rep. Ilhan Omar...
U.S. economy adds 115,000 jobs in April

U.S. economy adds 115,000 jobs in April

By Brett RowlandThe Center Square The U.S. economy added 115,000 jobs in April, about double what economists had forecast, while the unemployment rate held steady at 4.3%, the Bureau of...
Illinois weighing a ban on sale of some smoke detectors over safety concerns

Illinois weighing a ban on sale of some smoke detectors over safety concerns

By Sean Reed | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – With long-living smoke detectors on the market and required to be installed in Illinois, public safety officials...
Illinois Quick Hits: General Assembly leaders promise budget transparency

Illinois Quick Hits: General Assembly leaders promise budget transparency

By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – Illinois House Speaker Emanuel “Chris” Welch, D-Hillside, and Senate President Don Harmon, D-Oak Park, say more than...
Justice Department agrees to appearance waiver for Comey

Justice Department agrees to appearance waiver for Comey

By Alan WootenThe Center Square Former FBI Director James Comey on Thursday requested his appearance in a North Carolina federal court be canceled, and the U.S. Department of Justice gave...