Illinois news in brief: Ex-Big Ten Network staffer gets 2 years in embezzlement case

Illinois news in brief: Ex-Big Ten Network staffer gets 2 years in embezzlement case

Spread the love

Ex-Big Ten Network staffer gets 2 years in embezzlement case

A former Big Ten Network employee has been sentenced to 28 months in prison and ordered to pay more than $4 million in restitution after he pleaded guilty to embezzlement charges. Prosecutors said Weston Goldstein, 48, used company credit cards and the Big Ten Network’s procurement process to buy electronic devices and sell them online over a period of eight years.

EPA announces $5 million to address non-point source pollution

Illinois Environmental Protection Agency Director James Jennings has announced $5 million for projects addressing non-point source pollution. The agency said NPS pollution is caused by rainfall or snowmelt moving over and through the ground, picking up pollutants and depositing them into sources of drinking water.

State recovers unpaid wages, prevailing wage penalties

The Illinois Department of Labor has recovered more than $67,000 in unpaid wages for eight employees after an investigation found prevailing wage violations by Absolute Home Improvements & Cleaning Service on a public works project in Lake County. The investigation found the employer failed to pay required fringe benefit rates to employees and did not comply with payroll reporting requirements under the Illinois Prevailing Wage Act. The company also paid more than $6,700 in penalties.

Grocery stores that got taxpayer money may close

All seven Save A Lot stores across Chicago could shut down this Saturday after the company decided to end its partnership with grocery operator Yellow Banana. NBC Chicago reports that city officials attributed the end of the partnership to the recent death of Yellow Banana CEO Joe Canfield and cuts to Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits. The city gave $13.5 million in taxpayer funds to refurbish the grocery stores in 2022. A Save A Lot spokesperson said Yellow Banana is exploring options to keep the stores open.

Leave a Comment





Latest News Stories

will county board graphic

Legislative Committee Adopts 2026 Federal Legislative Agenda

Legislative Committee Meeting | February 3, 2026 Article Summary: The Will County Legislative Committee finalized and approved the 2026 Federal Legislative Agenda, outlining the county's top priorities for Congress. The...
Will County Finance Logo

Will County Treasurer’s Investment Strategy Yields $6 Million in Income

Finance Committee Meeting | February 3, 2026 Article Summary: County Treasurer Tim Brophy and investment managers from Stifel presented a detailed review of the county’s investment portfolio to the Finance...
Screenshot 2026-02-04 at 2.02.55 PM

Lobbyists Outline Strategy for Federal Funding and Grundy County Expansion

JJC Trustees Workshop Meeting | January 28, 2026 Article Summary: Representatives from Point of Difference Strategies updated the JJC Board on efforts to secure state and federal funding for key...
mokena library logo graphic.10

New Trustee Sworn In, Board Secretary Appointed

Mokena Community Public Library District Meeting | December 16, 2025 Article Summary: The Mokena Library Board seated a new trustee and appointed a new secretary during the December meeting. The...
Will County Board Graphic.04

Capital Imp Committee Debates ‘Human Factor’ in Drafting New Artificial Intelligence Policy

Will County Capital Improvements & IT Committee Meeting | Jan. 6, 2026 Article Summary: The Will County Board Capital Improvements and IT Committee launched a comprehensive discussion on creating a...
HBO MAX

HBO Max Orders Cop Drama Pilot ‘American Blue’ to Film in Joliet

Article Summary: HBO Max has ordered a pilot for a new police drama titled "American Blue," with production scheduled to begin in Joliet and Chicago this April. Starring Milo Ventimiglia...
Mokena Park District.logo.graphic.1

Park District Audit Shows General Fund Surplus Despite Slight Dip in Net Position

Mokena Community Park District Meeting | December 16, 2025 Article Summary: The Mokena Community Park District Board of Commissioners accepted the annual audit for the fiscal year ended June 30,...
Screenshot 2026-02-04 at 2.02.55 PM

JJC Administration Proposes Tuition Increase Amidst Future Budget Concerns

JJC Trustees Workshop Meeting | January 28, 2026 Article Summary: Joliet Junior College (JJC) administration presented a three-year financial plan that relies on a proposed $3 per credit hour tuition...
Will County Board Graphic.03

Will County Public Works Advances $1.9 Million Improvement for Wilmington-Peotone Road

Public Works & Transportation Committee Meeting | February 3, 2026 Article Summary: The Will County Public Works and Transportation Committee has authorized a nearly $2 million contract for Phase I...
Will Dial-A-Ride Service

Will County Public Works: Access Will County Dial-a-Ride Expands to All 24 Townships, Eliminating Borders

Public Works & Transportation Committee Meeting | February 3, 2026 Article Summary:In a major overhaul of county transit, officials presented a quarterly report confirming that the Access Will County Dial-a-Ride...
Murder Suspect

Suspect Captured in Execution-Style Murder of Momence Bar Owner

Article Summary: Authorities have arrested a 47-year-old Indiana man in connection with the fatal shooting of Courtney Drysdale, the owner of a bar in rural Momence. The suspect was apprehended...
Mokena Library District Graphic

Mokena Library Board Approves Annual Audit; Auditors Report “Internal Controls Working Well”

Mokena Community Public Library District Meeting | December 16, 2025 Article Summary: The Mokena Community Public Library District Board of Trustees approved the Fiscal Year 2024-2025 audit and annual financial...
First lady meets with former Oct. 7 hostages

First lady meets with former Oct. 7 hostages

By Sarah Roderick-FitchThe Center Square American citizen and Chapel Hill, N.C. native, Keith Siegel and his wife Aviva focused their meeting with First Lady Melania Trump on hope and a...
Supreme Court declines challenge to California's congressional map

Supreme Court declines challenge to California’s congressional map

By Andrew RiceThe Center Square The U.S. Supreme Court declined to hear a challenge to California's redistricting bid that would add more Democrat-majority districts in the state. In November, California...

Candidate: $243 million in unlawful spending is example of ‘Preckwinkle’s mismanagement’

By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – A candidate for Cook County board president says county spending of $243 million in violation of Illinois’...