Illinois news in brief: Ex-Big Ten Network staffer gets 2 years in embezzlement case

Illinois news in brief: Ex-Big Ten Network staffer gets 2 years in embezzlement case

Spread the love

Ex-Big Ten Network staffer gets 2 years in embezzlement case

A former Big Ten Network employee has been sentenced to 28 months in prison and ordered to pay more than $4 million in restitution after he pleaded guilty to embezzlement charges. Prosecutors said Weston Goldstein, 48, used company credit cards and the Big Ten Network’s procurement process to buy electronic devices and sell them online over a period of eight years.

EPA announces $5 million to address non-point source pollution

Illinois Environmental Protection Agency Director James Jennings has announced $5 million for projects addressing non-point source pollution. The agency said NPS pollution is caused by rainfall or snowmelt moving over and through the ground, picking up pollutants and depositing them into sources of drinking water.

State recovers unpaid wages, prevailing wage penalties

The Illinois Department of Labor has recovered more than $67,000 in unpaid wages for eight employees after an investigation found prevailing wage violations by Absolute Home Improvements & Cleaning Service on a public works project in Lake County. The investigation found the employer failed to pay required fringe benefit rates to employees and did not comply with payroll reporting requirements under the Illinois Prevailing Wage Act. The company also paid more than $6,700 in penalties.

Grocery stores that got taxpayer money may close

All seven Save A Lot stores across Chicago could shut down this Saturday after the company decided to end its partnership with grocery operator Yellow Banana. NBC Chicago reports that city officials attributed the end of the partnership to the recent death of Yellow Banana CEO Joe Canfield and cuts to Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits. The city gave $13.5 million in taxpayer funds to refurbish the grocery stores in 2022. A Save A Lot spokesperson said Yellow Banana is exploring options to keep the stores open.

Leave a Comment





Latest News Stories

Parents could gain access to school discipline evidence under proposed bill

Parents could gain access to school discipline evidence under proposed bill

By Catrina Barker | The Center Square contributorThe Center Square (The Center Square) – Illinois lawmakers are weighing legislation that would require public schools to share all evidence used to...
State of the Union highlighted political fracture between Democrats, Trump

State of the Union highlighted political fracture between Democrats, Trump

By Sarah Roderick-FitchThe Center Square The State of the Union proved to be anything but unifying between President Donald Trump and Democrats, with many Democrats making their disdain for the...
Illinois Democrats dispute Trump statements during State of the Union

Illinois Democrats dispute Trump statements during State of the Union

By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – Gov. J.B. Pritzker says President Donald Trump spewed lies and attempted to gaslight the American people during...
Illinois Quick Hits: State taxpayers to help restore historic Chicago hotel

Illinois Quick Hits: State taxpayers to help restore historic Chicago hotel

By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker says $21 million in state capital funds will unlock more than $83 million...
Trump moves ahead with tariff plans after Supreme Court ruling

Trump moves ahead with tariff plans after Supreme Court ruling

By Brett RowlandThe Center Square After the U.S. Supreme Court ruled his tariffs illegal, President Donald Trump vowed to rebuild the protectionist measures and restore some of the highest import...
Illinois racial wealth gap among largest in country

Illinois racial wealth gap among largest in country

By Glenn Minnis | The Center Square contributorThe Center Square (The Center Square) – With Illinois ranked the eighth-worst state in the country for its racial wealth gap, Democratic State...
Judge: Right to sue under IL biometrics law too important to end suit vs Meta

Judge: Right to sue under IL biometrics law too important to end suit vs Meta

By Jonathan Bilyk | Legal NewslineThe Center Square Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, can't use its user agreement to escape yet another potentially massive payout from a...
Committee-Executive.Graphic

Executive Committee: Tension Rises as Republican Whip Removed from Panel

Will County Executive Committee Meeting | February 11, 2026 Article Summary: A dispute over committee appointments erupted when Republican leadership challenged the removal of Member Vince Logan from the Executive...
Committee-Ad-Hoc.Graphic

Ad-Hoc Committee: County Stripped of Power to Regulate Motor Races, Must Drop Solicitor Fees Due to State Statutes

Will County Ad-Hoc Ordinance Review Committee Meeting | February 10, 2026 Article Summary: The Will County Board Ad-Hoc Ordinance Review Committee repealed county regulations regarding motor stunt events and removed...

Commission Overrides Staff Recommendation, Approves Manhattan Township Barn Expansion

Will County Planning and Zoning Commission Meeting | February 17, 2026 Article Summary: A Manhattan Township homeowner received unanimous approval for three variances to expand a pole barn, despite county...
Chicago could owe $100M+ in refunds for excessive city tickets

Chicago could owe $100M+ in refunds for excessive city tickets

By Jonathan Bilyk | Legal NewslineThe Center Square The city of Chicago could be on the hook for more than $160 million in refunds to thousands of vehicle owners slammed...
Illinois quick hits: Indiana House approves Bears stadium bill; Business, labor groups file petition to stop natural gas phaseout; Chicago woman gets 2 years for PPP fraud

Illinois quick hits: Indiana House approves Bears stadium bill; Business, labor groups file petition to stop natural gas phaseout; Chicago woman gets 2 years for PPP fraud

By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square Indiana House approves Bears stadium bill The Indiana House of Representatives passed legislation to establish a Northwest Indiana stadium authority for...
Community violence intervention advocates tout crime reduction, taxpayer funding

Community violence intervention advocates tout crime reduction, taxpayer funding

By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – With more than $100 million of assistance from state taxpayers, community violence intervention advocates are touting lower...
Pritzker’s social media fee plan faces cost, legality questions

Pritzker’s social media fee plan faces cost, legality questions

By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – An internet freedom advocate says Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s proposed social media platform fee will raise costs for...
Chicago tourism rises; visitors ignore Trump’s condemnation

Chicago tourism rises; visitors ignore Trump’s condemnation

By Glenn Minnis | The Center Square contributorThe Center Square (The Center Square) – Illinois Hotel & Lodging Association President Michael Jacobson is proud to call Chicago an outlier when...