Illinois Quick Hits: Foreign national faces harboring, forced labor charges

Illinois Quick Hits: Foreign national faces harboring, forced labor charges

February 12, 2026/
Spread the love

By Jim Talamonti | The Center Square
The Center Square

(The Center Square) – A Honduran citizen residing in Waukegan has been indicted for allegedly bringing illegal aliens into the United States for private financial gain.

Federal prosecutors say Fredy Hernandez, 46, brought four foreign nationals from Honduras into the United States in 2022 and 2023, forced them to work, and made them believe they would suffer serious harm if they failed to comply.

SECRETARY OF STATE MANDATES ELECTRONIC LIEN AND TITLE PROCESSING

Financial institutions that process five or more liens annually will be required to transition to electronic lien and titling by July 1.

Illinois Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias said that under ELT, lien and title records are transmitted directly to his office and maintained electronically until the lien is satisfied.

The secretary said banks, credit unions and dealers can instantly release the title when a loan is paid off, reducing costs and saving time.

ZIMMERMAN, MATCHBOX TIX ON SALE FRIDAY

Tickets go on sale Friday for two acts scheduled to perform at the Illinois State Fair.

Country performer and Illinois native Bailey Zimmerman is slated to play at the fair on Ag Day, Aug. 14. Matchbox Twenty is scheduled to perform Aug. 16.

Tickets will be sold through Ticketmaster, starting at 10 a.m.

Leave a Comment





Latest News Stories

U.S. debt tops 100% of GDP, 'deeply troubling' for economy, national security

U.S. debt tops 100% of GDP, ‘deeply troubling’ for economy, national security

By Thérèse BoudreauxThe Center Square The U.S. national debt is now larger than the entire American economy and is only set to keep growing, further exacerbating the affordability crisis and...
beecher ilinois school board graphic.3

Beecher High School Introduces AP Human Geography Course to Tackle Global Issues

Beecher Board of Education Meeting | April 15, 2026 Article Summary: Beecher High School has expanded its advanced academic offerings this year with a new Advanced Placement (AP) Human Geography elective...

U.S. troops in Italy, Spain hang in balance as troop reduction in Germany announced

By Sarah Roderick-FitchThe Center Square On the heels of President Donald Trump threatening to reduce troops in Europe, the Department of War announced Friday the reduction of 5,000 troops from...
Federal appeals court halts access to mail-order abortion drug

Federal appeals court halts access to mail-order abortion drug

By Dan McCalebThe Center Square A federal appeals court on Friday temporarily halted a Biden-era rule that allowed individuals to receive the abortion pill mifepristone through the mail without a...
Labor unions back McCormick’s plan to reform federal permitting

Labor unions back McCormick’s plan to reform federal permitting

By John ColeThe Center Square In a rare show of solidarity, building trade unions and U.S. Sen. Dave McCormick, R-Pa., want to streamline the federal permitting process so that projects...
Court-ordered tariff refunds bypass consumers who paid

Court-ordered tariff refunds bypass consumers who paid

By Brett RowlandThe Center Square The Trump administration has begun returning $166 billion in tariff refunds, launching a new portal for U.S. importers to claim their money back, but consumers...
Beecher Baseball Bobcats

Beecher Bats Explode in Dominant 16-0 Shutout Over Grant Park

The Beecher varsity baseball team put on an offensive clinic on Thursday afternoon, overwhelming conference rival Grant Park with a 16-0 shutout victory. Beecher scored early and often, invoking the...
Professor: Surging gas prices will have long-term effects

Professor: Surging gas prices will have long-term effects

By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – A University of Chicago professor says the effects of high gas prices will ripple through the economy...
Illinois Quick Hits: DHS says ICE captures child sex abuser released by Illinois DOC

Illinois Quick Hits: DHS says ICE captures child sex abuser released by Illinois DOC

By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – The U.S. Department of Homeland Security says U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers have arrested a Guatemalan...
Beecher Softball ladycats

Wuest Drives in Seven as Beecher Pulls Away to Rout Reed-Custer 16-4

The Beecher varsity softball team secured a decisive 16-4 road victory over Reed-Custer on Thursday, riding a relentless offensive attack and a monstrous 10-run surge over the final two innings...
Durbin calls probe ‘sham’; state lawmaker backs transparency

Durbin calls probe ‘sham’; state lawmaker backs transparency

By Catrina Barker | The Center Square contributorThe Center Square (The Center Square) – An Illinois state lawmaker is voicing strong support for a federal investigation into dozens of school...
Lawmen believe trip from Carolinas to Washington a threat to Trump

Lawmen believe trip from Carolinas to Washington a threat to Trump

By Alan WootenThe Center Square An Army veteran lawmen believed was going to travel from the Carolinas to Washington in an attempt to kill President Donald Trump will be in...
Trump threatens new EU auto taxes that could drive up prices

Trump threatens new EU auto taxes that could drive up prices

By Brett RowlandThe Center Square President Donald Trump threatened to raise tariffs on European Union cars and trucks to 25%, accusing the EU of violating a trade agreement the bloc...
Independent tax tribunal faces elimination by Pritzker budget proposal

Independent tax tribunal faces elimination by Pritzker budget proposal

By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – The chief judge of the Illinois Independent Tax Tribunal says it will be bad for taxpayers if...
States consider drones to stop school shootings

States consider drones to stop school shootings

By Ella DawsonThe Center Square The first drones intended to stop school shootings from Campus Guardian Angel are set to go live Friday at Deltona High School. Florida’s legislature has...