Illinois quick hits: Fatal helicopter crash; Comptroller orders another extra pension payment

Illinois quick hits: Fatal helicopter crash; Comptroller orders another extra pension payment

Spread the love

Fatal helicopter crash

Two people are dead after a helicopter crashed into a barge on the Mississippi River.

The Federal Aviation Administration said the Hughes 369D with two people on board went down around 11:05 a.m. Thursday in East Alton.

The National Transportation Safety Board is investigating.

Comptroller orders another extra pension payment

Illinois Comptroller Susana Mendoza says she is ordering a third round of pension pre-payments.

Mendoza said more than $1.3 billion in payments to the state’s five retirement systems will include $428 million in pre-payments, allowing the pension systems to keep more money in their portfolios and earn more in returns.

Statehouse rematch shaping up

State Rep. Amy Briel, D-Ottawa, and Republican Liz Bishop are gearing up for a potential rematch in Illinois’ 76th House District.

Briel defeated Bishop by 595 votes, or 1%, in the general election last November.

Bishop will first face a primary rematch with Crystal Loughran.

Leave a Comment





Latest News Stories

Screenshot 2026-05-23 at 7.23.02 PM

Lincoln-Way 210 Backs Mokena Downtown TIF Extension to 2044

Lincoln-Way Community High School District 210 Meeting | May 21, 2026 Article Summary: The Lincoln-Way Community High School District 210 Board of Education on Thursday, May 21, 2026, voted unanimously...
frankfort township graphic

Frankfort Township Board Granted Authority to Sell Lighthouse Pointe Senior Housing Lots

Frankfort Township Annual Town Meeting | April 14, 2026 Article Summary: The Frankfort Township electorate, meeting at the April 14, 2026, Annual Town Meeting, voted to delegate to the Township...
Shooting outside White House leaves one dead, one injured

Shooting outside White House leaves one dead, one injured

By Sarah Roderick-FitchThe Center Square Two people were shot, including the suspected gunman, in a shooting outside the White House Saturday night. The suspected gunman was shot and killed by...
frankfort-park-district

Frankfort Park District Approves $449,000 in Contracts for Commissioners Park Overhaul

Frankfort Park District Board of Commissioners Meeting | April 14, 2026 Article Summary: The Frankfort Park District Board of Commissioners on Tuesday, April 14, 2026, approved two professional-services contracts totaling...
Bill to let felons vote from prison draws criticism from Republicans

Bill to let felons vote from prison draws criticism from Republicans

By Sean Reed | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – Some Democrats and electoral rights groups want progress on legislation in Springfield that would give people in...
Supreme Court yet to decide high profile cases

Supreme Court yet to decide high profile cases

By Andrew RiceThe Center Square Birthright citizenship, transgender athletes in female sports and federal firing powers are among more than two dozen cases yet to be decided by the U.S....
Government spending on seniors' benefits soon to make up majority of federal budget

Government spending on seniors’ benefits soon to make up majority of federal budget

By Thérèse BoudreauxThe Center Square More than half of the federal budget will go toward benefits for Americans 65 years and older by 2036, and that percentage is set to...
Screenshot 2026-05-21 at 5.01.25 PM

Frankfort Board Raises No Objection to Unincorporated 28-Lot Olive Oaks Subdivision

Frankfort Village Board Meeting | May 18, 2026 Article Summary:Frankfort trustees voted to raise no objection to a proposed 28-lot single-family residential development on 24.83 acres in unincorporated Frankfort Township,...
Illinois Dems seek to expand post-release convict support, housing

Illinois Dems seek to expand post-release convict support, housing

By Sean Reed | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – Lawmakers in Springfield are pushing to pass legislation to provide people recently released from prison with housing,...
$580B federal highway bill clears committee; includes rail safety, EV fees

$580B federal highway bill clears committee; includes rail safety, EV fees

By Thérèse BoudreauxThe Center Square A long-awaited bill spending $580 billion on American highways and transportation infrastructure is on track to hit the U.S. House floor for a vote as...
Tennessee smuggling charges against Kilmar Abrego Garcia dismissed

Tennessee smuggling charges against Kilmar Abrego Garcia dismissed

By Kim JarrettThe Center Square A federal judge dismissed Tennessee charges against a man who, at one time, was at the center of the immigration debate. Kilmar Abrego Garcia was...
NASA reorganizes to accelerate Moon Base, lunar programs

NASA reorganizes to accelerate Moon Base, lunar programs

By Brett RowlandThe Center Square NASA announced a reorganization of the agency Friday, restructuring key mission directorates to accelerate its lunar exploration program even as Congress and the White House...
Gabbard announces resignation, cites personal reasons

Gabbard announces resignation, cites personal reasons

By Sarah Roderick-FitchThe Center Square Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard announced her resignation Friday afternoon, citing personal reasons. The former Democratic congresswoman from Hawaii will remain at her post...
Illinois Quick Hits: Community College reimbursement bill passed

Illinois Quick Hits: Community College reimbursement bill passed

By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – A bill expanding state taxpayer-funded tuition assistance for students in community college is headed to Gov. J.B....
Powell out, Warsh in as new chair of Federal Reserve

Powell out, Warsh in as new chair of Federal Reserve

By Morgan SweeneyThe Center Square Kevin Warsh, an economist and former member of the Federal Reserve Board of Governors, is now chair of the central bank, replacing longtime chair, Jerome...