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 Jun 12
87° 61°
Mostly Sunny then Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
Latest News Stories
Will County Braces for 6,000-Acre Solar Project; Prepare for ‘Massive’ Solar Hearings
Will County P&Z Commission Meeting | Jan. 20, 2026 Will County Braces for 6,000-Acre Solar Project; Commissioners Weigh Conflicts and Crowds Article Summary:The Will County Planning and Zoning Commission is...
Meeting Summary and Briefs: Will County Board for January 15, 2026
Will County Board Meeting | January 15, 2026 Meeting SummaryThe Will County Board met on January 15, 2026, to tackle a heavy agenda focused on infrastructure investment, legislative policy, and...
Pursuit following railroad theft ends in New Lenox; one suspect at large
NEW LENOX, Ill. – A reported cargo theft in Wilmington Township sparked a multi-jurisdictional pursuit Saturday morning that ended with a crash and a manhunt in a New Lenox neighborhood. The...
Waste Management Commits to Expanded Litter Patrols Around Landfill
Will County Landfill Committee Meeting | Jan. 13, 2026 Article Summary: Following complaints from county officials, Waste Management has agreed to significantly expand its litter collection efforts along roadways surrounding...
Meeting Summary and Briefs: Mokena School District 159 for January 21, 2026
Mokena School District 159 Meeting | January 21, 2026 Overall Meeting SummaryThe Mokena School District 159 Board of Education met on Wednesday, January 21, 2026, addressing a mix of student...
Meeting Summary and Briefs: Will County Ad-Hoc Ordinance Review Committee for Jan. 13, 2026
Will County Ad-Hoc Ordinance Review Committee Meeting | Jan. 13, 2026 The Will County Board Ad-Hoc Ordinance Review Committee met on Tuesday, January 13, 2026, to continue its comprehensive update...
County Approves $22 Million in Road Projects for Lorenzo Road and Mills Road
Will County Board Meeting | January 15, 2026 Article Summary: The Will County Board approved major infrastructure contracts, including an $18.8 million bridge replacement on Lorenzo Road and a $3.2...
Landfill Committee Advances Plan to Purchase Fourth Compressor for RNG Plant
Will County Landfill Committee Meeting | Jan. 13, 2026 Article Summary: The Landfill Committee voted to move forward with engineering estimates for a fourth compressor at the Prairie View Renewable...
Fifth Graders Honored for DARE Essays on Decision Making
Mokena School District 159 Meeting | January 21, 2026 Article Summary: Two fifth-grade students were spotlighted at the Mokena School District 159 Board meeting for their winning essays on the...
Ad-Hoc Committee Retains Noise Ordinance Despite Enforcement Frustrations
Will County Ad-Hoc Ordinance Review Committee Meeting | Jan. 13, 2026 Article Summary: The Ad-Hoc Ordinance Review Committee voted to retain the county’s public nuisance noise ordinance despite members describing...
Will County Commits $15M to Transfer Sanitary District Operations to City of Joliet
Will County Board Meeting | January 15, 2026 Article Summary: The Will County Board has authorized an intergovernmental agreement to dissolve the Southeast Joliet Sanitary District and transfer its water...
Meeting Summary and Briefs: Lincoln-Way 210 Board of Education for Jan. 15, 2026
Lincoln-Way 210 Board of Education Meeting | Jan. 15, 2026 Overall Meeting SummaryThe Lincoln-Way Community High School District 210 Board of Education met on Thursday, January 15, 2026, covering a...
Board Approves Window Blind Contract and Financial Abatement for IMRF
Mokena School District 159 Meeting | January 21, 2026 Article Summary: The Mokena School District 159 Board awarded a $136,400 contract for window blind replacements and approved a $50,000 abatement...
