Illinois quick hits: Prosecutors charge two more in Tren de Aragua case; Senate Energy and Public Utilities Committee meets today; Illinois Little League team loses in World Series

August 18, 2025/

Spread the love

By Jim Talamonti | The Center Square
The Center Square

Prosecutors charge two more in Tren de Aragua case

State prosecutors have charged two more migrants as part of an investigation into the trafficking of narcotics and firearms into Chicago by suspected members of the Venezuela-based Tren de Aragua street gang. CWB Chicago reports that a judge ordered Yefferson Camacho Cedeno, 27, and Jose Vasquez Hernandez, 30, detained, calling them “member[s] of a transnational criminal organization.” The men are the fourth and fifth individuals known to be charged in the case.

Senate Energy and Public Utilities Committee meets today

The Illinois Senate Energy and Public Utilities Committee is scheduled to discuss federal energy policy and increasing summer rates at a subject-matter hearing Monday afternoon. The Illinois Freedom Caucus requested that the hearing include members of the House Energy and Environment committee. Many Illinois residents and businesses are facing record-high electric bills this summer.

Illinois Little League team loses in World Series

An Illinois team’s run has ended at the Little League World Series. Clarendon Hills lost to Honolulu, 9-1, in Williamsport, Pennsylvania on Sunday. The Clarendon Hills team won one game and lost two at the Little League World Series after winning the Great Lakes regional.

Latest News Stories

Costar shareholders re-elect directors, resist external pressure

By Tom JoyceThe Center Square CoStar shareholders overwhelmingly backed the company’s board and chief executive after months of pressure from activist investors. CoStar Group Inc. said shareholders reelected every director...

Trump accuses Iran of violating ceasefire after drone attack on cargo ship

By Sarah Roderick-FitchThe Center Square Two weeks after the U.S. and Iran signed a memorandum of understanding, agreeing to enter a 60-day ceasefire, President Donald Trump is accusing the Islamic...

Legislature takes more measures against firms opposing redomiciling in Texas

By Bethany BlankleyThe Center Square Texas lawmakers are taking additional measures against proxy advisory firms that oppose companies redomiciling to Texas as Dell shareholders approved redomiciling to Texas from Delaware...

Mistrial declared in federal Palisades Fire arson case

By Chris WoodwardThe Center Square A mistrial was declared Friday morning in the federal arson trial of Jonathan Rinderknecht, charged with starting what became the Palisades Fire, one of Los...

Ex-cops blast Chicago mayor’s new agency

By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson is not saying exactly how much taxpayers will pay for his new Office...

Illinois Quick Hits: Chicago reports increased visitor spending

By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – Chicago’s destination marketing organization says the city welcomed 56.8 million visitors in 2025 and generated a record-setting...

Poll: Voters give Trump worse marks on economy than job overall

By Brett RowlandThe Center Square President Donald Trump's economic approval has fallen further than his overall job approval, a reversal from the economic strength that got him elected, a new...

Two Democrats seek GOP congressman’s seat in Colorado

By Liam HibbertThe Center Square Two state Democratic officials are nipping at the heels of the Republican incumbent in Colorado’s 8th Congressional District in what has been deemed one of...

WATCH: Report says more U.S. families are saving for college

By Esther WickhamThe Center Square As taxpayers continue subsidizing higher education and student loan debt at $1.8 trillion, more American families are planning and saving for college, according to a...

Illinois to see 4 new consumer protection laws enacted

By Sean Reed | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker was joined by state lawmakers and other officials Thursday to sign a four-bill...

EXCLUSIVE: Report warns about costly regulations’ impact on short-term rentals

By Chris WoodwardThe Center Square A new report shines a light on local governments that have burdensome and costly regulations for short-term rentals. They're in states varying from California and...

One in five calls answered on IRS identity theft line, watchdog says

By Brett RowlandThe Center Square The IRS processed nearly 139 million returns in 2026, but millions of taxpayers still faced refund delays, identity theft backlogs and phone lines they couldn't...

‘Don’t be a hypocrite:’ Congressional hearing with DHS Secretary Mullin heats up

By Thérèse BoudreauxThe Center Square A U.S. House Appropriations subcommittee hearing devolved into a shouting match between Rep. Rosa DeLauro, D-Conn., and Department of Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin. The...

Hawaii gun law struck down by U.S. Supreme Court

By Morgan SweeneyThe Center Square The U.S. Supreme Court ruled 6-3 along ideological lines Thursday that a Hawaii law requiring concealed-carry permit holders to obtain permission before entering most private...

Illinois SNAP error rate rises; Pritzker blames Trump

By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – Illinois now has the fifth-highest error rate in the nation for improper payments to recipients of federal...

« Previous
1
…
3
4
5
6
7
…
151
Next »