Illinois quick hits: Fatal helicopter crash; Comptroller orders another extra pension payment

Illinois quick hits: Fatal helicopter crash; Comptroller orders another extra pension payment

August 7, 2025/
Spread the love

By Jim Talamonti | The Center Square
The Center Square

Fatal helicopter crash

Two people are dead after a helicopter crashed into a barge on the Mississippi River.

The Federal Aviation Administration said the Hughes 369D with two people on board went down around 11:05 a.m. Thursday in East Alton.

The National Transportation Safety Board is investigating.

Comptroller orders another extra pension payment

Illinois Comptroller Susana Mendoza says she is ordering a third round of pension pre-payments.

Mendoza said more than $1.3 billion in payments to the state’s five retirement systems will include $428 million in pre-payments, allowing the pension systems to keep more money in their portfolios and earn more in returns.

Statehouse rematch shaping up

State Rep. Amy Briel, D-Ottawa, and Republican Liz Bishop are gearing up for a potential rematch in Illinois’ 76th House District.

Briel defeated Bishop by 595 votes, or 1%, in the general election last November.

Bishop will first face a primary rematch with Crystal Loughran.

Leave a Comment





Latest News Stories

Supreme Court strikes down Texas redistricting lawsuit, upholds new maps

Supreme Court strikes down Texas redistricting lawsuit, upholds new maps

By Andrew RiceThe Center Square The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday struck down a challenge to Texas' new congressional maps. The court reversed Abbott v. LULAC, a case that sought...
Supreme Court to hear migrant farm worker case

Supreme Court to hear migrant farm worker case

By Andrew RiceThe Center Square The U.S. Supreme Court will hear a case over the constitutional authority of federal agencies to handle migrant farmworker disputes. The case, Department of Labor...
Illinois quick hits: Convicted felon suspected of shooting two officers; Chicago Mayor orders up to $900,000 for additional peacekeepers; Belleville man faces attempted murder charge

Illinois quick hits: Convicted felon suspected of shooting two officers; Chicago Mayor orders up to $900,000 for additional peacekeepers; Belleville man faces attempted murder charge

By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square Convicted felony suspected of shooting two officers One Chicago police officer is dead and another was critically injured after a man...
Screenshot 2026-04-25 at 8.34.35 AM

Lincoln-Way D210 Approves $483,000 Agreement with Illinois Bone and Joint Institute, Adds Seventh Athletic Trainer

Lincoln-Way Community High School District 210 Meeting | April 16, 2026 Article Summary: The Board of Education approved a new three-year, $483,000 contract with the Illinois Bone and Joint Institute...
Will County Board Graphic.02

Will County Passes Comprehensive Adult Entertainment Ordinance

Will County Board Meeting | April 16, 2026 Article Summary: The Will County Board passed Ordinance 26-133, enacting Chapter 119 of the Business Regulations to establish rigorous licensing, operational, and...
Fifth Circuit hands Texas another win on border security law

Fifth Circuit hands Texas another win on border security law

By Bethany BlankleyThe Center Square The Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals handed Texas its third win Friday on border security. As the border crisis escalated during the Biden administration, Gov....
Illinois Rep faces investigation over sexual harassment

Illinois Rep faces investigation over sexual harassment

By Sean Reed | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – A state representative embattled with allegations of sexual harassment returned to Springfield this week after being stripped...
Talks with Iran to resume

Talks with Iran to resume

By Sarah Roderick-FitchThe Center Square Middle East Special Envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner will head back to Pakistan over the weekend to resume talks, as Vice President JD Vance...
Return on investment questioned as Chicago Red Line construction begins

Return on investment questioned as Chicago Red Line construction begins

By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – Taxpayers are facing a hefty price tag as construction begins on a long-anticipated Chicago Transit Authority project...

WATCH: WA Democrat income tax supporter questions ‘necessity clause’ nixing public vote

By Carleen JohnsonThe Center Square A Democratic lawmaker who voted in support of Washington’s new income tax said he didn't see anything scandalous in this week’s revelation of emails showing...
DOJ to face audit for handling of Epstein files release

DOJ to face audit for handling of Epstein files release

By Thérèse BoudreauxThe Center Square Following the drawn-out and politically calamitous release of millions of federal documents related to the exploits of sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein, the Department of Justice...
ISU strike enters third week; union sues over alleged strikebreaking

ISU strike enters third week; union sues over alleged strikebreaking

By Sean Reed | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – Union support staff at Illinois State University has entered a third week on strike over failed contract...
Trump extends Jones Act waiver, citing national securit

Trump extends Jones Act waiver, citing national securit

By Alton WallaceThe Center Square The Trump administration has suspended for an additional 90 days a law forbidding foreign-owned and crewed ships from transporting goods between U.S. ports in an...
Trump admin continues to crack down on fraudulent visa schemes

Trump admin continues to crack down on fraudulent visa schemes

By Bethany BlankleyThe Center Square The Trump administration is continuing to crack down on fraudulent visa schemes that are occurring nationwide. In New Jersey, a Korean man pleaded guilty to...
Virginia 1 of 4 in courtroom battles for congressional redistricting

Virginia 1 of 4 in courtroom battles for congressional redistricting

By Shirleen GuerraThe Center Square Less than 100 days into Gov. Abigail Spanberger’s administration, Virginia’s redistricting fight is unfolding across multiple fronts, from the ballot box to the Legislature and...