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

Bill to let felons vote from prison draws criticism from Republicans

Bill to let felons vote from prison draws criticism from Republicans

By Sean Reed | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – Some Democrats and electoral rights groups want progress on legislation in Springfield that would give people in...
Supreme Court yet to decide high profile cases

Supreme Court yet to decide high profile cases

By Andrew RiceThe Center Square Birthright citizenship, transgender athletes in female sports and federal firing powers are among more than two dozen cases yet to be decided by the U.S....
Government spending on seniors' benefits soon to make up majority of federal budget

Government spending on seniors’ benefits soon to make up majority of federal budget

By Thérèse BoudreauxThe Center Square More than half of the federal budget will go toward benefits for Americans 65 years and older by 2036, and that percentage is set to...
Illinois Dems seek to expand post-release convict support, housing

Illinois Dems seek to expand post-release convict support, housing

By Sean Reed | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – Lawmakers in Springfield are pushing to pass legislation to provide people recently released from prison with housing,...
$580B federal highway bill clears committee; includes rail safety, EV fees

$580B federal highway bill clears committee; includes rail safety, EV fees

By Thérèse BoudreauxThe Center Square A long-awaited bill spending $580 billion on American highways and transportation infrastructure is on track to hit the U.S. House floor for a vote as...
Tennessee smuggling charges against Kilmar Abrego Garcia dismissed

Tennessee smuggling charges against Kilmar Abrego Garcia dismissed

By Kim JarrettThe Center Square A federal judge dismissed Tennessee charges against a man who, at one time, was at the center of the immigration debate. Kilmar Abrego Garcia was...
NASA reorganizes to accelerate Moon Base, lunar programs

NASA reorganizes to accelerate Moon Base, lunar programs

By Brett RowlandThe Center Square NASA announced a reorganization of the agency Friday, restructuring key mission directorates to accelerate its lunar exploration program even as Congress and the White House...
Gabbard announces resignation, cites personal reasons

Gabbard announces resignation, cites personal reasons

By Sarah Roderick-FitchThe Center Square Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard announced her resignation Friday afternoon, citing personal reasons. The former Democratic congresswoman from Hawaii will remain at her post...
Illinois Quick Hits: Community College reimbursement bill passed

Illinois Quick Hits: Community College reimbursement bill passed

By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – A bill expanding state taxpayer-funded tuition assistance for students in community college is headed to Gov. J.B....
Powell out, Warsh in as new chair of Federal Reserve

Powell out, Warsh in as new chair of Federal Reserve

By Morgan SweeneyThe Center Square Kevin Warsh, an economist and former member of the Federal Reserve Board of Governors, is now chair of the central bank, replacing longtime chair, Jerome...
Nessel pushes back as Trump administration extends order keeping coal plant open

Nessel pushes back as Trump administration extends order keeping coal plant open

By Elyse ApelThe Center Square The Trump administration has again extended its emergency order keeping a west Michigan coal plant operating. U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright issued a fifth emergency...
Bipartisan praise for federal charges in Minnesota fraud cases

Bipartisan praise for federal charges in Minnesota fraud cases

By Elyse ApelThe Center Square Minnesota officials are applauding after federal prosecutors announced sweeping fraud charges against 15 people accused of stealing more than $90 million from state-managed Medicaid programs....
Congress rejects Trump's proposed NASA budget cuts

Congress rejects Trump’s proposed NASA budget cuts

By Brett RowlandThe Center Square House lawmakers advanced a spending bill rejecting President Donald Trump's proposed cuts to NASA, keeping the agency's budget flat at $24.4 billion. The White House...
Comptroller, Chicago officials debate tax fund sweeps

Comptroller, Chicago officials debate tax fund sweeps

By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – Illinois Comptroller Susana Mendoza and Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson’s administration are at odds over legislation that would...
No public funds for new transit safety group

No public funds for new transit safety group

By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – The Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office says no public funds are being used for the agency’s new...