Illinois quick hits: Foreign national indicted for fraud; Chicago Public Schools budget approved
August 29, 2025/
Foreign national indicted for fraud
A foreign national has been indicted in U.S. District Court in Chicago for allegedly defrauding numerous individuals out of at least $2.6 million and willfully evading income taxes.
Jawad Fakroune, 45, also known by “Angelino Escobar” and other names, is facing 15 federal counts of wire fraud and tax-related charges.
Chicago Public Schools budget approved
The Chicago Board of Education has adopted a $10.2 billion budget for Fiscal Year 2026.
The board voted 12-7 to approve the spending plan, which did not include a high-interest loan favored by Mayor Brandon Johnson and the Chicago Teachers Union.
Former chancellor dies
Former University of Illinois Chancellor Michael Aiken has died at the age of 93.
Aiken served as the school’s sixth chancellor from 1993 to 2001. U of I officials said he died Monday in Cody, Wyoming.
⚠️ Hydrologic Outlook issued June 15 at 3:11PM CDT by NWS Chicago IL
⚠️ Hydrologic Outlook issued June 15 at 3:10PM CDT by NWS Chicago IL
Today Jun 15
72° 54°
Showers And Thunderstorms Likely
Latest News Stories
Illinois quick hits: Former governor proposes millionaire’s surcharge; digital state ID launched
By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square Former governor proposes millionaire's surcharge Former Gov. Pat Quinn is pushing for a state constitutional amendment requiring Illinois millionaires to pay...
Louisiana Rep. Clay Higgins defends Epstein ‘no’ vote
By Natalie ChandlerThe Center Square Republican Rep. Clay Higgins of Lafayette, the only House lawmaker who voted against releasing documents associated with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein on Tuesday, said...
U.S. Senate passes bill to release Epstein files, heads to Trump’s desk
By Andrew RiceThe Center Square The U.S. Senate on Tuesday agreed to pass a bill by unanimous consent requiring the U.S. attorney general to release all documents related to convicted...
Abbott designates Muslim Brotherhood, CAIR as foreign terrorist organizations
By Bethany BlankleyThe Center Square Gov. Greg Abbott is the first governor in the United States to designate two Muslim groups as Foreign Terrorist and Transnational Criminal Organizations. On Tuesday,...
Judge blocks feds from freezing California education funding
By Esther WickhamThe Center Square A federal judge blocked the Trump administration from freezing University of California's federal funding over alleged violation of anti-discrimination laws. U.S. District Judge Rita Lin...
Texas appealing El Paso court ruling against new congressional maps
By Bethany BlankleyThe Center Square Texas is appealing a federal district court ruling in a lawsuit filed over its new redistricting law. On Tuesday, a panel of three judges on...
Elections board drops campaign finance fines against IL Senate President
By Greg Bishop | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – The campaign finance violation against Illinois Senate President Don Harmon, D-Oak Park, is over after the Illinois...
Senate gears up for Epstein vote
By Andrew RiceThe Center Square The U.S. Senate is preparing to vote as soon as late Tuesday on a bill forcing the Department of Justice to release documents associated with...
Illinois corrections officials say they are on schedule for prison mail scan rule
By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – Illinois Department of Corrections officials are promising to have a permanent rule on electronic mail scanning drafted...
Asset managers retreat from ESG push, report finds
By Tom JoyceThe Center Square Many of the largest asset managers in the United States have sharply reduced their support for environmental, social, and governance (ESG) investing during the most...
U.S. House passes bill to release Epstein files, moves to Senate
By Andrew RiceThe Center Square The U.S. House of Representatives passed a bipartisan bill for the release of documents associated with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. “This is about the...
Policy expert: How will GOP pay for its plan to send tax dollars to flex spending plans?
By Tate MillerThe Center Square Congressional Republicans are proposing sending government subsidies to flexible spending plans, with an expert suggesting that tax dollars saved by reducing Medicare fraud could be...
Trade expert calls on Trump to eliminate all tariffs
By Brett RowlandThe Center Square A trade expert is calling on President Donald Trump to eliminate all tariffs after the president exempted more than 200 food products to reduce consumer...
