Illinois quick hits: Foreign national indicted for fraud; Chicago Public Schools budget approved
August 29, 2025/
Foreign national indicted for fraud
A foreign national has been indicted in U.S. District Court in Chicago for allegedly defrauding numerous individuals out of at least $2.6 million and willfully evading income taxes.
Jawad Fakroune, 45, also known by “Angelino Escobar” and other names, is facing 15 federal counts of wire fraud and tax-related charges.
Chicago Public Schools budget approved
The Chicago Board of Education has adopted a $10.2 billion budget for Fiscal Year 2026.
The board voted 12-7 to approve the spending plan, which did not include a high-interest loan favored by Mayor Brandon Johnson and the Chicago Teachers Union.
Former chancellor dies
Former University of Illinois Chancellor Michael Aiken has died at the age of 93.
Aiken served as the school’s sixth chancellor from 1993 to 2001. U of I officials said he died Monday in Cody, Wyoming.
⚠️ Special Weather Statement issued June 4 at 4:25AM CDT by NWS Chicago IL
Today Jun 3
87° 66°
Mostly Sunny
Latest News Stories
Frankfort Township Approves Employee Raises, Details Major Infrastructure and Service Projects
Frankfort Township employees will receive a 2.5% cost-of-living pay increase after the Board of Trustees unanimously approved the adjustment at its Monday, May 19 meeting. The move came as Supervisor...
New High-End Bar ‘Ace & Vine’ Gets Green Light from Township Board
A new bar focused on high-end liquor and an extensive wine collection is one step closer to opening in Frankfort Township after the Board of Trustees voted to recommend a...
New High-End Bar ‘Ace & Vine’ Gets Green Light from Township Board
A new bar focused on high-end liquor and an extensive wine collection is one step closer to opening in Frankfort Township after the Board of Trustees voted to recommend a...
Golf Carts Not Permitted on Township Roads, Supervisor Clarifies
Residents hoping to drive golf carts on roads in unincorporated Frankfort Township are out of luck, as the practice is illegal under state law, Supervisor Nick George clarified at the...
Golf Carts Not Permitted on Township Roads, Supervisor Clarifies
Residents hoping to drive golf carts on roads in unincorporated Frankfort Township are out of luck, as the practice is illegal under state law, Supervisor Nick George clarified at the...
Meeting Briefs: Frankfort Township Board for May 19, 2025
The Frankfort Township Board approved a 2.5% cost-of-living raise for its employees and discussed several major projects at its meeting on Monday, May 19. Supervisor Nick George announced that the...
Meeting Briefs: Frankfort Township Board for May 19, 2025
The Frankfort Township Board approved a 2.5% cost-of-living raise for its employees and discussed several major projects at its meeting on Monday, May 19. Supervisor Nick George announced that the...
Mokena Fire District Overhauls Command Staff, Creates Deputy Chief Position
The Mokena Fire Protection District Board of Trustees has approved a significant restructuring of its command staff, unanimously voting to eliminate the Assistant Chief position and create a new Deputy...
Mokena Fire Joins Regional Partnership for Shared Records System
The Mokena Fire Protection District is set to enhance its data management and emergency response coordination by joining a regional records management system (RMS) alongside four area fire departments. The...
New Frankfort Square Park Board Takes Helm Amid Strong Financials, Maksymiak and Moore Elected Leaders
The Frankfort Square Park District Board of Commissioners seated four new members and re-elected its leadership during a productive annual organizational meeting on May 15, all while celebrating a robust...
Fire District Adds Cancer Screening Funds to Budget, Approves Civilian Pay Raise
The Mokena Fire Protection District is increasing its focus on employee health and welfare, adding $15,000 to its upcoming budget for firefighter cancer screenings and approving a cost-of-living pay increase...
Park District Awards Eight Scholarships to Lincoln-Way East Seniors
The Frankfort Square Park District awarded $1,000 scholarships to eight graduating seniors from Lincoln-Way East High School at the school’s Community Scholarship Night on May 7. Park Board Commissioners Frank...
Meeting Briefs: Mokena Fire Protection District for May 13, 2025
The Mokena Fire Protection District is restructuring its top leadership after the Board of Trustees voted to eliminate the Assistant Chief position and create a new Deputy Chief role, effective...
