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.
Today Jul 21
75° 54°
Mostly Sunny
Latest News Stories
Political heavyweights look toward November in Silver State
By Liam HibbertThe Center Square Some of Nevada's biggest candidates, fresh off primary election victories, have already turned their attention to the general election in November. The state's primary on...
Two Republicans to face off in redrawn California district
By Andrew RiceThe Center Square Two Republican candidates are projected to head off to a general election in a congressional district that was redrawn to favor Democrats. California’s 40th Congressional...
Poll: Majority of voters support diplomacy with Iran as Trump claims deal struck
By Sarah Roderick-FitchThe Center Square A majority of American voters support President Donald Trump’s push for diplomacy to bring about an end to the conflict with Iran, according to the...
Illinois Quick Hits: Tornadoes, storms cause damage, outages
By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – The National Weather Service will be conducting storm surveys in the wake of severe storms that impacted...
Another Guatemalan smuggling ring busted, this time in Ohio
By Bethany BlankleyThe Center Square Another Guatemalan human smuggling ring has been busted, this time in Ohio. In this case, three Guatemalan nationals, all illegally in the country, were indicted...
DOJ: More than 475k children trafficked to US under Biden, 300k unaccounted for
By Bethany BlankleyThe Center Square Acting U.S. Attorney General Todd Blanche dropped a bombshell of data on Thursday describing Trump administration efforts to find hundreds of thousands of missing unaccompanied...
East-Mediterranean ‘commerce-over-conflict’ energy partnership launches in Houston
By Bethany BlankleyThe Center Square A new U.S.-Eastern Mediterranean energy “3+1 partnership” has launched among the U.S., Greece, Cyprus and Israel to establish energy security, peace and stability in the...
Feds suspend funding to Los Angeles homelessness agency
By Madeline ShannonThe Center Square A federal agency suspended taxpayer funding to the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority on Thursday, effective immediately. A letter was sent to the city of...
Gov. Josh Shapiro talks tariffs and Canadian sovereignty in trip to Ontario
By John ColeThe Center Square Gov. Josh Shapiro met with Ontario Premier Doug Ford in Toronto on Wednesday to sign an agreement aimed at strengthening the economic relationship between the...
Cook County offers loans after latest tax bill delays
By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – The latest delay in property tax billing by Cook County is expected to cost local governments. Cook...
Trump taps Jay Clayton as new DNI, too late to salvage FISA vote
By Thérèse BoudreauxThe Center Square In a move meant to pacify congressional Democrats and unstick Republican policy priorities, President Donald Trump has named U.S. attorney Jay Clayton as the next...
Rollins defends tax policies, calls for domestic fertilizer
By Andrew RiceThe Center Square Brooke Rollins, secretary of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, on Thursday defended tax policies to support farmers and called for more domestic manufacturing of fertilizer...
POLL: Voter inflation concern hits record high as prices keep climbing
By Brett RowlandThe Center Square Voter concern about inflation and prices has surged to its highest level since The Center Square began tracking the issue. According to The Center Square...
