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

Feds charge 15 in $90M Minnesota childcare, Medicaid fraud

Feds charge 15 in $90M Minnesota childcare, Medicaid fraud

By Andrew RiceThe Center Square Federal prosecutors announced charges against 15 people in Minnesota on Thursday in connection to Medicaid and childcare fraud costing taxpayers more than $90 million. Prosectors...
House GOP pushes Pritzker for local control

House GOP pushes Pritzker for local control

By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – Illinois House Republicans say Governor J.B. Pritzker’s housing proposals will give local control to state politicians, but...
Illinois Quick Hits: Freedom Caucus urges DOJ investigation of Illinois

Illinois Quick Hits: Freedom Caucus urges DOJ investigation of Illinois

By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – The Illinois Freedom Caucus is calling on the U.S. Department of Justice to investigate whether the Illinois...
Hundreds of Uber drivers demand union-permitting bill move in Springfield

Hundreds of Uber drivers demand union-permitting bill move in Springfield

By Sean Reed | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – Nearly 400 drivers for platforms like Uber and Lyft appeared at the Illinois Capitol, where they urged...
Summons issued to ISP, AG Cook County in FOID challenge

Summons issued to ISP, AG Cook County in FOID challenge

By Greg Bishop | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – Officials with the Illinois State Police, attorney general’s office and Cook County state’s attorney have been summoned...
Pritzker knocks state progressives’ ability to pass new tax measures

Pritzker knocks state progressives’ ability to pass new tax measures

By Sean Reed | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker ruled out the passage of many new tax proposals from progressive lawmakers before...
Illinois Quick Hits: Pritzker talks Bears stadium with NFL commissioner

Illinois Quick Hits: Pritzker talks Bears stadium with NFL commissioner

By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – Gov. J.B. Pritzker says National Football League Commissioner Roger Goodell has reiterated that the Chicago Bears are...
Op-Ed: Oversight faps in federal drug program put Illinois’ independent practices at risk

Op-Ed: Oversight faps in federal drug program put Illinois’ independent practices at risk

By Dr. Priya BansalThe Center Square Community-based care is part of the fabric of the healthcare system in Illinois. As an allergist and immunologist practicing in St. Charles, I take...
War of words reignites with Trump, Pritzker, Bailey

War of words reignites with Trump, Pritzker, Bailey

By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – President Donald Trump has resumed his war of words with Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker, who responded by...
Judge won’t let ConAgra off hook in class action over fish fillet brine

Judge won’t let ConAgra off hook in class action over fish fillet brine

By Scott Hollan | Legal NewslineThe Center Square CHICAGO — A federal judge won’t yet let food products maker ConAgra off the hook for a class action accusing it of...
Will County Board Graphic.02

Meeting Summary and Briefs: Will County Board Legislative Committee for May 5, 2026

Will County Board Legislative Committee Meeting | May 5, 2026 The Will County Board Legislative Committee navigated a heavy policy agenda during its May 5, 2026, meeting, balancing extensive state...
Will County Board Graphic.04

Meeting Summary and Briefs: Will County Board Executive Committee for May 14, 2026

Will County Board Executive Committee Meeting | May 14, 2026 The Will County Board Executive Committee held a four-hour-plus meeting on May 14, 2026, dominated by a deeply contested vote...
Will County Board Graphic.01

Will County Executive Committee Splits on Whether to Ask Voters About Single-Member Districts

Will County Board Executive Committee Meeting | May 14, 2026 Article Summary: The Will County Board Executive Committee on Thursday, May 14, 2026, took the temperature of members on a...
Will County Finance Logo

Will County Departments to Stop Accepting Pennies, Rounding Down Cash Transactions

Will County Board Finance Committee Meeting | May 5, 2026 Article SummaryIn preparation for the U.S. Mint ceasing production of the penny in November 2025, the Will County Finance Committee...
Will County Board Graphic.02

Legislative Committee: Federal Update Highlights $79 Billion ICE Funding and DHS Reconciliation

Will County Board Legislative Committee Meeting | May 5, 2026 Article SummaryFederal lobbyist KP of Smith Garson provided the committee with an update on Capitol Hill maneuvering, noting that the...