Illinois Quick Hits: Ex-Chicago housing director indicted in alleged kickback scheme

Illinois Quick Hits: Ex-Chicago housing director indicted in alleged kickback scheme

Spread the love

(The Center Square) – A former Chicago Housing Authority property director is accused of steering more than $4.8 million in city business to a construction company in exchange for more than $421,000 in kickbacks.

Ryan Ross, 50, of Bolingbrook and Vanessa Rhodes, 47, of Chicago are both charged with eight counts of honest services fraud.

A federal indictment accused Ross of receiving the kickbacks in 2023 and 2024 from Rhodes, who owns a Chicago company that did business as Twenty Eleven Construction, Inc.

ONE OF FBI’S MOST WANTED SENTENCED FOR MACHINE GUN POSSESSION

A Belleville man who was on the FBI’s Most Wanted list has been sentenced to nine years in federal prison for possessing a machine gun.

Dontay Moore, 23, is facing state charges in St. Louis for other offenses, including his alleged involvement in a drive-by shooting that resulted in serious injuries to bystanders.

Prosecutors say his federal sentence will be in addition to any sentence imposed in state court. Moore was arrested by Illinois State Police in September 2025.

ICE-INVOLVED CRASH REPORTED IN CHICAGO

A pursuit reportedly involving federal immigration law enforcement officers ended in a crash on Chicago’s Northwest Side.

WGN-TV reports that the incident came to a halt around 11 a.m. on Tuesday in the 3800 block of North Olcott Avenue.

A witness said several unmarked vehicles followed a red Lexus and appeared to strike the Lexus before it crashed into a tree. Another witness said he later saw a man being escorted from the scene.

REPORT: THOUSANDS DROP OBAMACARE IN ILLINOIS

More than 92,000 Illinois consumers have lost or dropped Affordable Care Act health insurance in recent months.

The Chicago Tribune reports that the unusually large decline followed the expiration of tax credits that had helped to curb the plans’ costs.

Last month, Democrats on the Joint Economic Committee estimated that 120,825 people in Illinois would lose health insurance due to the ACA cuts proposed by President Donald Trump and congressional Republicans.

Leave a Comment





Latest News Stories

Illinois Quick Hits: Mayors to visit capitol urge protection of local funding

Illinois Quick Hits: Mayors to visit capitol urge protection of local funding

By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – The Metropolitan Mayors Caucus is urging Gov. J.B. Pritzker to reverse his proposed budget cut to local...
Despite tax revolt, Lower Merion keeps administrator pay high

Despite tax revolt, Lower Merion keeps administrator pay high

By Mark StricherzThe Center Square Despite a $27 million settlement with taxpayers in 2022, Lower Merion School District continues to pay top-tier salaries to administrators.Assistant high school principals in the...
Supreme Court allows Louisiana to immediately move on drawing new map

Supreme Court allows Louisiana to immediately move on drawing new map

By Nolan MckendryThe Center Square Louisiana lawmakers can immediately begin drawing a new congressional map after the U.S. Supreme Court on Monday night put into effect its ruling striking down...
After Fifth Circuit ruling on TX border security law, ACLU sues to stop it from going into effect

After Fifth Circuit ruling on TX border security law, ACLU sues to stop it from going into effect

By Bethany BlankleyThe Center Square Roughly one week after the Fifth Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals handed Texas a win on its border security law, SB 4, the law is...
Colorado legislators back psychedelic drug research

Colorado legislators back psychedelic drug research

By Liam HibbertThe Center Square Psychedelic drugs are experiencing an unprecedented wave of support across the U.S. for their potential therapeutic benefits. President Donald Trump’s recent executive order to research...
Trump tells small business owners tariffs 'aren't high enough'

Trump tells small business owners tariffs ‘aren’t high enough’

By Brett RowlandThe Center Square President Donald Trump told a group of small business owners Monday that tariffs should be higher, even as polling is mixed on the issue. "You...
Pennsylvania has the most Democrats in ‘Red to Blue’ campaign

Pennsylvania has the most Democrats in ‘Red to Blue’ campaign

By John ColeThe Center Square As Democrats ramp up their efforts to flip the U.S. House in November, four candidates from the Keystone State have been named to a program...
Trump hosts small business owners at White House, touting business-friendly policies

Trump hosts small business owners at White House, touting business-friendly policies

By Morgan SweeneyThe Center Square President Donald Trump enumerated a number of policies he said have created a favorable environment for small business growth while speaking to small business owners...
DeSantis signs new congressional map into law

DeSantis signs new congressional map into law

By Alan WootenThe Center Square Second-term Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis on Monday signed his redrawn congressional map into law. The Legislature gave passage last week. “Signed, sealed and delivered,” DeSantis...
South Carolinian facing charges for threatening Trump will stay jailed

South Carolinian facing charges for threatening Trump will stay jailed

By Alan WootenThe Center Square Army veteran Daniel Swain spoke only briefly in response to a federal magistrate judge on Monday and will have a detention hearing on Thursday. Swain,...
Iran testing fragile ceasefire, fires on Navy, commercial ships

Iran testing fragile ceasefire, fires on Navy, commercial ships

By Sarah Roderick-FitchThe Center Square Iran is testing the ceasefire as it fires at U.S. naval and commercial vessels within hours of the implementation of “Project Freedom.” U.S. Central Command...
Small businesses expected to feel pinch as diesel hits $6 a gallon

Small businesses expected to feel pinch as diesel hits $6 a gallon

By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – An Illinois trucking industry leader says consumers and small businesses can expect to feel the pinch as...
GOP senators renew calls to nuke filibuster after voter ID bill languishes

GOP senators renew calls to nuke filibuster after voter ID bill languishes

By Thérèse BoudreauxThe Center Square With Congress juggling government funding, the farm bill, government surveillance reauthorization and more, a Republican election security bill has taken a backseat, much to the...
Illinois Quick Hits: Four charged in alleged pharmacy burglary conspiracy

Illinois Quick Hits: Four charged in alleged pharmacy burglary conspiracy

By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – Four people from California are charged in connection with a conspiracy to burglarize pharmacies and distribute controlled...
LA City Council member seeks to allow noncitizens to vote

LA City Council member seeks to allow noncitizens to vote

By Chris WoodwardThe Center Square A Los Angeles City Council member has proposed allowing noncitizens to vote in local elections. Speaking on Friday at a Rules Committee meeting, Councilmember Hugo...