Illinois Quick Hits: Springfield plan detached from megaprojects

Illinois Quick Hits: Springfield plan detached from megaprojects

Spread the love

(The Center Square) – A proposal to create the Capital Area Tourism Authority and Capital City Downtown Medical District in Springfield may be passed on its own after it was previously included in megaprojects legislation.

State Sen. Doris Turner, D-Springfield, filed the amendment to SB 2829 on Wednesday and said she is exploring all avenues to get the bill over the finish line.

Sean Reed contributed to this story.

U.S. ATTORNEY ANNOUNCES GRAND JURY CHANGES

U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois Andrew Boutros has announced internal reforms to grand jury practices and disclosures, days after his office dismissed charges against protesters who were arrested outside the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility in Broadview last year.

Boutros said his office moved to dismiss the indictment after learning of “certain conduct” by the government in the grand jury.

Boutros said the new process will be more transparent and effective while greatly reducing the likelihood of mistakes.

MAN SENTENCED FOR TRANSPORTING CASH FOR DRUG TRAFFICKERS

A Texas man has been sentenced to six years in federal prison for transporting $9 million in illicit cash proceeds for a Mexico-based drug trafficking organization.

Prosecutors say Ricardo Tello, 39, delivered the money by plane or car in the Chicago area.

Tello pleaded guilty to drug distribution and money laundering charges in September 2025.

PUBLIC DEFENDER COMMISSION TO FORM

The Illinois Supreme Court is inviting applications from individuals interested in serving as appointed members of the Illinois State Public Defender Commission.

The court said people appointed to the commission must have significant experience defending indigent clients in criminal or juvenile proceedings and must demonstrate a commitment to public service and understanding of the legal system.

The commission was created by the Funded Advocacy and Independent Representation Act in 2025 and is scheduled to take effect on Jan. 1.

Leave a Comment





Latest News Stories

WATCH: Newsom deploys state police to help local law enforcement

WATCH: Newsom deploys state police to help local law enforcement

By Dave MasonThe Center Square New California Highway Patrol teams will work with local law enforcement to fight crime in Los Angeles, San Diego, Sacramento, the San Francisco Bay Area,...
Appeals court rejects Trump's tariffs, but leaves them in place

Appeals court rejects Trump’s tariffs, but leaves them in place

By Brett RowlandThe Center Square A federal appeals court said Friday that President Donald Trump doesn't have the authority to issue blanket tariffs, in a blow to the president's domestic...
Denver Public Schools accused of violating Title IX

Denver Public Schools accused of violating Title IX

By Esther WickhamThe Center Square The U.S. Department of Education for Civil Rights announced this week that Denver Public Schools' policies on “all-gender” facilities violate Title IX. The department's Office...
Poll: 41% of parents worried about school safety before Minneapolis shooting

Poll: 41% of parents worried about school safety before Minneapolis shooting

By Morgan SweeneyThe Center Square Four in 10 parents of K-12 students are worried for their children’s safety at school, according to a new Gallup poll. The poll was collected...
Report: Offshore wind critics played role in Revolution Wind work stoppage

Report: Offshore wind critics played role in Revolution Wind work stoppage

By Tom JoyceThe Center Square Offshore wind opponents in the fishing industry helped shape the Trump administration’s decision to halt work on the Revolution Wind project, a $4 billion development...

About Us

About Us: Your Beecher, Illinois News Source Connecting Beecher, Illinois – Your Community, Your News. Welcome to Windmill Media, your dedicated local news website for Beecher, Illinois. Our name, inspired...
Nevada governor addresses statewide cyberattack

Nevada governor addresses statewide cyberattack

By Liam HibbertThe Center Square Nevada Gov. Joe Lombardo spoke publicly for the first time on a cyberattack that shut down government websites and kept state employees at home, four...
Illinois quick hits: Mine manager pleads guilty; Johnson issues food executive order

Illinois quick hits: Mine manager pleads guilty; Johnson issues food executive order

By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square Mine manager pleads guilty A former Franklin County mine manager has pleaded guilty to conspiring to defraud the U.S. Mine Safety...
Op-Ed: Chicago-area transit needs an intervention, not another fix

Op-Ed: Chicago-area transit needs an intervention, not another fix

By Brad Weisenstein | The Center Square contributorThe Center Square If Illinois were a family, it would have 1,313 siblings – its cities, towns and villages. One of them is...
WATCH: ‘Partisans’ who want to should ‘get up and move’ from Illinois, Pritzker says

WATCH: ‘Partisans’ who want to should ‘get up and move’ from Illinois, Pritzker says

By Greg Bishop | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – If you’re not willing to stick around and help make the state better, Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker...
Beecher Elementary school Graphic

Beecher Officials Address Mildew Discovery in Elementary School Classrooms

Article Summary: Beecher School District officials have launched a comprehensive remediation effort after mildew was discovered in several first and second-grade classrooms at Beecher Elementary School last week. Superintendent Dr....
Beecher Graphic.1

Beecher Residents Confront Village Board Over “War Zone” Construction Site

Article Summary: Heated discussion dominated the public comment portion of the Beecher Village Board meeting as residents demanded action over what they described as a messy, slow-moving, and improperly managed...
Victims identified in Minneapolis Catholic school shooting

Victims identified in Minneapolis Catholic school shooting

By Jon StyfThe Center Square “As a family, we are shattered, and words cannot capture the depth of our pain.” Those are the words of the parents of 10-year-old Harper...
Pentagon to build new task force to counter drone threats

Pentagon to build new task force to counter drone threats

By Brett RowlandThe Center Square The Pentagon is creating a new task force to counter drone threats and keep U.S. airspace safe. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said the Department of...
'Horrendous' religious freedom violation leads to payout by Chicago Public Schools

‘Horrendous’ religious freedom violation leads to payout by Chicago Public Schools

By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – A court-approved settlement of over $2.6 million is being paid to 207 former Chicago Public School students...