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.
Latest News Stories
Mokena Awards $204,888 Contract for Wastewater Pump Replacement
Village of Mokena Board of Trustees Meeting | October 13, 2025 Article Summary: The Mokena Village Board has awarded a $204,888 contract to Dahme Mechanical Industries Inc. to replace three...
Congressional Perks: House account spending jumped 21% in 2022
By Arthur KaneThe Center Square Spending on U.S. House of Representatives office accounts increased by more than 85% over the past three decades but nearly half of that occurred since...
Everyday Economics: Rate cut debate: Reading mixed signals in a fragile economy
By Orphe DivounguyThe Center Square The Federal Reserve cut interest rates last week, but the decision was far from unanimous. Two members of the Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) dissented...
Arizona looks to legal immigration with Trump’s border security
By Andrew RiceThe Center Square As President Trump approaches the one year mark in office, apprehensions at the southern border have dropped significantly. States along the southern border, including Texas,...
Ranchers decry beef imports from Argentina, expert says good start
By Brett RowlandThe Center Square Consumers feeling the pang of high beef prices at the grocery store may see some relief from a plan to import beef from Argentina but...
Mokena Park District Increases Spending Authority to Align with New State Law
Mokena Community Park District Meeting | September 23, 2025 Article Summary: The Mokena Community Park District Board of Commissioners has updated its purchasing policy, increasing the executive director's authority to...
Mokena Police Department Welcomes First K-9 Officer, Kong
Village of Mokena Board of Trustees Meeting | October 13, 2025 Article Summary: The Mokena Police Department officially welcomed its first-ever police canine, Kong, during a swearing-in ceremony at the...
Mokena Approves ‘Emerald Social’ Restaurant and Outdoor Entertainment Venue
Village of Mokena Board of Trustees Meeting | October 13, 2025 Article Summary: The Mokena Village Board has granted final approval for Emerald Social, a new restaurant and family-friendly outdoor...
Lawmakers introduce bills to slash their own pay during government shutdowns
By Thérèse BoudreauxThe Center Square With the ongoing government shutdown dragging on for a record-breaking period of time, U.S. lawmakers are introducing bills to make shutdowns as painful for Congress...
Trump considers military action to stop Christian genocide in Nigeria
By Bethany BlankleyThe Center Square President Donald Trump has directed the Department of War to prepare for possible action in Nigeria to target Islamic militants committing genocide against Christians. “If...
94% of sanctioned scholars suffered from free speech attacks
By Tate MillerThe Center Square A Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression survey shows that 94% of sanctioned university scholars have experienced a negative impact following the attacks on their...
Illinois soybean farmers face uncertainty amid MAHA push against seed oils
By Catrina BarkerThe Center Square Illinois soybean farmers face a potential market shakeup if public sentiment, and eventually policy, turns against seed oils, experts warn. Robert F. Kennedy Jr., now...
Family-based visa quotas cause system backlogs
By Andrew RiceThe Center Square One of the most prevalent ways for immigrants to gain legal status in the United States is through family-based visas. However, backlogs in the system...
