Illinois quick hits: Human trafficking enforcement; health care fraud division announced

August 25, 2025/

Spread the love

By Jim Talamonti | The Center Square
The Center Square

Human trafficking enforcement

Illinois State Police arrested five individuals during a human trafficking demand suppression operation in the Forsyth area of Macon County last Thursday and Friday.

Four Illinois residents and one from Iowa were charged with crimes which included traveling to meet a child, solicitation and grooming.

If you suspect human trafficking, contact the National Human Trafficking Hotline at 1-888-373-7888 or text *233733. For more information visit www.humantraffickinghotline.org. You can also email [email protected].

Health care fraud section announced

U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois Andrew Boutros has announced the creation of a new section within the office’s criminal division dedicated to the prosecution of health care fraud.

The new section will target false and fraudulent claims by transnational criminal organizations, upcoding and unbundling schemes, scams against Medicare and Medicaid, and more.

Boutros said health care fraud is among the Department of Justice’s top fraud enforcement priorities.

Hardest working states

Illinois ranks 42nd in a report ranking the Hardest Working States in America.

WalletHub compared the 50 states across 10 key metrics, including average workweek hours, share of workers with multiple jobs and annual volunteer hours.

North Dakota ranked first. Michigan finished last.

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...

Crete Township ‘Tiny Home’ Owner Appeals Permit Denial

Will County Planning and Zoning Commission Meeting | October 21, 2025 Article Summary: A Crete Township property owner has appealed to the Will County Planning and Zoning Commission after being...

After 50 years of struggles to save Spotted Owl, FWS plan is to kill 500k Barred Owls

By Bethany BlankleyThe Center Square The Spotted Owl is again in the headlines again. U.S. Sen. John Kennedy, R-La., filed a resolution to reverse a Biden administration plan to kill...

MOKENA LOCAL