Illinois quick hits: Human trafficking enforcement; health care fraud division announced

August 25, 2025/

Spread the love

By Jim Talamonti | The Center Square
The Center Square

Human trafficking enforcement

Illinois State Police arrested five individuals during a human trafficking demand suppression operation in the Forsyth area of Macon County last Thursday and Friday.

Four Illinois residents and one from Iowa were charged with crimes which included traveling to meet a child, solicitation and grooming.

If you suspect human trafficking, contact the National Human Trafficking Hotline at 1-888-373-7888 or text *233733. For more information visit www.humantraffickinghotline.org. You can also email [email protected].

Health care fraud section announced

U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois Andrew Boutros has announced the creation of a new section within the office’s criminal division dedicated to the prosecution of health care fraud.

The new section will target false and fraudulent claims by transnational criminal organizations, upcoding and unbundling schemes, scams against Medicare and Medicaid, and more.

Boutros said health care fraud is among the Department of Justice’s top fraud enforcement priorities.

Hardest working states

Illinois ranks 42nd in a report ranking the Hardest Working States in America.

WalletHub compared the 50 states across 10 key metrics, including average workweek hours, share of workers with multiple jobs and annual volunteer hours.

North Dakota ranked first. Michigan finished last.

Latest News Stories

High-speed rail project criticized again after $3.5B contract

By Madeline ShannonThe Center Square After a $3.5 billion contract was awarded for track and electrical work on California’s high-speed rail, critics are calling the entire project problematic because of...

Platner leads Collins in Maine U.S. Senate race despite controversies

By Christen SmithThe Center Square Democrat and oyster farmer Graham Platner continues to out-poll incumbent Republican U.S. Sen. Susan Collins, despite mounting controversies about his treatment of women, fellow war...

Illinois quick hits: Illinois parole absconder arrested in Tennessee

By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square Illinois parole absconder arrested in Tennessee The U.S. Marshals Service says an Illinois parole absconder has been captured in Union City,...

GOP rep: Time will tell on data center tax credit pause

By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – After Gov. J.B. Pritzker announced that his administration would pause data center tax credits, a Republican legislator...

Montana governor to Washington companies: We want your business

By Carleen JohnsonThe Center Square The Governor of Montana tells The Center Square he hopes to lure more out of state business expansion into his state, following this week’s announcement...

WATCH: Civil rights curriculum aims to shape future leaders

By Esther WickhamThe Center Square It was the winter of 1962. Demonstrators in Birmingham, Alabama, came to see Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. for his support in organizing a protest...

Illinois officials say Bears still may stay despite team’s Indiana statement

By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – Although the Chicago Bears say the team’s board of directors moved to advance plans for a stadium...

More than 60% of Minnesota high-risk Medicaid providers fail review

By Elyse ApelThe Center Square Nearly two-thirds of Minnesota's high-risk Medicaid providers have had taxpayer funding paused following a federally-mandated review process that state officials say was necessary to protect...

Senate sends $70B bill funding ICE, border patrol to vacant House

By Thérèse BoudreauxThe Center Square U.S. Senate Republicans finally passed their roughly $70 billion immigration enforcement funding bill after an 18-hour vote-a-rama that ended early Friday morning. The 52-47 final...

Chicago Bears to advance stadium project in Indiana

By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – The Chicago Bears are moving forward with plans to build a stadium in Northwest Indiana. Bears Chairman...

Greer, Carr commended for seeking fairness in EU treatment of US tech firms

By Tate RosentreterThe Center Square Public Policy Solutions sent a letter Friday to United States Trade Representative Ambassador Jamieson Greer and Federal Communications Commission chairman Brendan Carr commending both men...

Illinois quick hits: Pritzker pauses data center tax credits

By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square Pritzker pauses data center tax credits Gov. J.B. Pritzker has ordered the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity to pause...

U.S. adds 172k jobs in ‘strong’ May report, unemployment remains at 4.3%

By Andrew RiceThe Center Square The U.S. economy added 172,000 jobs in May's better-than-expected report while the unemployment rate remained at 4.3%, according to data released Friday by the U.S....

Researchers put a number on how much debt U.S. can carry

By Brett RowlandThe Center Square The United States has about 20 years to change course on its national debt before it reaches the estimated limits of its debt capacity, according...

Colorado governor vetoes legislation allowing ICE to be sued

By Liam HibbertThe Center Square Colorado Gov. Jared Polis vetoed a Democrat-backed bill on Wednesday that would have allowed citizens to sue immigration enforcement officers for civil rights violations. The...

« Previous
1
…
17
18
19
20
21
…
151
Next »