Illinois Quick Hits: Vacant lots go on sale in Chicago

Illinois Quick Hits: Vacant lots go on sale in Chicago

March 31, 2026/
Spread the love

By Jim Talamonti | The Center Square
The Center Square

(The Center Square) – Mayor Brandon Johnson and the Chicago Department of Planning and Development say more than 600 vacant city lots will be available for private purchase, starting on Wednesday.

A statement from the mayor’s office says the lots are valued at $34 million and span 25 wards across the city. Purchases can be made through the ChiBlockBuilder.com portal.

SUBURBAN WOMAN CHARGED IN ALLEGED FRAUD CASE

A federal grand jury has indicted a Buffalo Grove woman for allegedly swindling multiple victims out of at least $3.5 million by falsely claiming their money would be used to support immigration services, projects in Ukraine and other supposed needs.

Tatiana Bazer, 40, pleaded not guilty to seven counts of wire fraud and two counts of impersonating a federal law enforcement officer.

911 CALL CENTERS COMPLETE SHIFT TO IP-BASED INFRASTRUCTURE

Illinois State Police say all 169 of the state’s 911 call centers have upgraded to Next Generation 911.

Transitions from voice-centric networks to IP-based infrastructure began in June 2022 and concluded March 4.

ISP Director Brendan Kelly said Illinois has moved into the 21st century for 911 communication.

Leave a Comment





Latest News Stories

Meeting Briefs

Meeting Summary and Briefs: Beecher School District Facilities Committee for December 2025

Beecher School District Facilities Committee Meeting | December 2025 The Facilities Committee of the Beecher Board of Education met on Wednesday, December 3, 2025, to review capital projects and maintenance...

WATCH: Trump touts ‘Golden Age’ for farmers as he announces federal aid

By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – President Donald Trump has announced $11 billion in federal public aid for farmers. The president made the...
Police union questions timing of D.C. police chief resignation

Police union questions timing of D.C. police chief resignation

By Sarah Roderick-FitchThe Center Square The Washington, D.C. Police Union is questioning the timing of Washington Metropolitan Police Department Chief Pamela Smith’s resignation amid allegations of manipulated crime statistics. Smith...
Report: Declining enrollment converts schools to apartments

Report: Declining enrollment converts schools to apartments

By Esther WickhamThe Center Square Amid a steady decline in K-12 enrollment, nearly 2,000 apartments were created from former school buildings across the U.S. in 2024, according to a new...
Retired chief: Illinois' SAFE-T Act 'emboldens' anti-police attackers

Retired chief: Illinois’ SAFE-T Act ’emboldens’ anti-police attackers

By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – A retired police chief says Illinois’ SAFE-T Act has emboldened individuals who could attack law enforcement officers....
Worker files charges against union alleging unfair practices

Worker files charges against union alleging unfair practices

By Elyse ApelThe Center Square An employee is accusing union officials of illegally declaring a Michigan manufacturing plant a “closed shop” and compelling dues deductions. Kristen Dickinson, an employee of...
Op-Ed: Stacked costs are crushing Illinois manufacturers

Op-Ed: Stacked costs are crushing Illinois manufacturers

By Mike FlynnThe Center Square Operating a manufacturing business in Illinois has been an exercise in perseverance and is growing worse. I manage DuPage Precision Products in Aurora, where we...
Chicago minority, low-income students struggling to make testing grade

Chicago minority, low-income students struggling to make testing grade

By Glenn Minnis | The Center Square contributorThe Center Square (The Center Square) – Illinois state Rep. La Shawn Ford said it’s not hard to comprehend why Chicago Public Schools...
Powerful Japan earthquake triggers tsunami warning

Powerful Japan earthquake triggers tsunami warning

By Carleen JohnsonThe Center Square A magnitude 7.6 earthquake centered in the Pacific Ocean some 45 miles west of Misawa, Japan, shook the northern region of the archipelago around 11:26...
Illinois in Focus: SCOTUS to release order list; U.S. Steel returns; Candidate quests for answers

Illinois in Focus: SCOTUS to release order list; U.S. Steel returns; Candidate quests for answers

By Greg Bishop | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – In today's edition of Illinois in Focus Daily, The Center Square Editor Greg Bishop shares reaction from...
More human smugglers arrested coming through Canada, this time from India

More human smugglers arrested coming through Canada, this time from India

By Bethany BlankleyThe Center Square International human smuggling schemes at the U.S.-Canada border continue with the latest indictment of an upstate New York woman accused of facilitating Indian nationals being...
EXCLUSIVE: Texas Operation Lone Star 2.0: pursuing domestic terrorist threats

EXCLUSIVE: Texas Operation Lone Star 2.0: pursuing domestic terrorist threats

By Bethany BlankleyThe Center Square The border crisis is far from over despite the Trump administration implementing policies to reduce illegal border crossings to historic lows. The hardest part has...
Illinois quick hits: Police shooting suspect in custody; retired judge brought back

Illinois quick hits: Police shooting suspect in custody; retired judge brought back

By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square Police shooting suspect in custody Illinois State Police say a man is in custody after he allegedly shot and wounded a...

Peotone License Plate Camera Renewal Sparks Privacy Debate in Public Works Committee

Public Works & Transportation Committee Meeting | December 2, 2025 Article Summary: A renewal of an agreement allowing license plate reading (LPR) cameras in Peotone passed the Public Works Committee,...
After Kirk assasination, students less comfortable with ‘controversial’ events on campus

After Kirk assasination, students less comfortable with ‘controversial’ events on campus

By Tate MillerThe Center Square Following the assassination of Charlie Kirk, half of the nation’s college students report feeling less comfortable attending controversial public events on campus and nearly half...