Illinois quick hits: Fatal helicopter crash; Comptroller orders another extra pension payment
August 7, 2025/
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.
Today Jun 3
86° 66°
Mostly Sunny
Latest News Stories
Trump making final determination on Iranian ceasefire deal
By Sarah Roderick-FitchThe Center Square A final determination is being made on whether the U.S. and Iran will agree to a memorandum of understanding that would extend the ceasefire for...
Nevada candidates call for fraud enforcement, healthcare aid
By Andrew RiceThe Center Square Editor's note: This is part of a series previewing the congressional and statewide races in the Nevada primary election, set for June 9. The election...
Sherill calls on ICE to close New Jersey detention center
By Chris WadeThe Center Square New Jersey Gov. Mikie Sherrill is calling on the Trump administration to shut down a Newark ICE detention facility that has been rocked by violent...
Illinois Quick Hits: Chicago mayor, delegation meet pope
By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson says joining the city’s faith community and Pope Leo XIV for multi-faith prayer...
USDA plan rallies around American cotton farmers
By Alan WootenThe Center Square America lost its top rank for cotton production in the middle of the last century, its mark as the top exporter to Brazil three years...
Meeting Summary and Briefs: Frankfort Fire Protection District Board of Trustees for April 21, 2026
Frankfort Fire Protection District Board of Trustees Meeting | April 21, 2026 The Frankfort Fire Protection District Board of Trustees held its regular monthly meeting April 21, 2026, at Fire...
Cybersecurity, Tactical Gear, and Mosquito Management Lead Frankfort’s Latest Bill Approvals
Frankfort Village Board Meeting | May 18, 2026 Article Summary:An analysis of Frankfort's newly approved accounts payable reveals significant municipal investments in digital defense, police weaponry, seasonal pest control, and...
Meeting Summary and Briefs: Frankfort Village Board for May 18, 2026
Frankfort Village Board Meeting | May 18, 2026 The Frankfort Village Board on Monday, May 18, 2026, met in regular session to finalize several high-priority municipal matters. Chief among the...
WATCH: Experts say increased spending doesn’t mean better students
By Esther WickhamThe Center Square Spending more taxpayer dollars doesn't make kids smarter, according to experts. As K-12 test scores and student proficiency rates continue to decline nationwide, education experts...
‘Taxpayers deserve to know’: Experts applaud Trump’s drug price transparency expansion
By Tate RosentreterThe Center Square Patients' rights groups are praising President Donald Trump’s announcement of drug price transparency expansion as the first step toward price transparency in healthcare, stating that...
Tourism spending, Springfield investment bill considered as budget deadline nears
By Sean Reed | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – Multiple proposals that could increase funding targeted at increasing tourism in Illinois are under consideration for the...
DOJ sues four states over denial of undercover license plates to federal agents
By Andrew PaxtonThe Center Square The Department of Justice filed separate federal lawsuits Wednesday against Washington, Oregon, Maine and Massachusetts, escalating a clash between the Trump administration and Democratic-led states...
Constitutional questions raised over digital age verification bill
By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – Constitutional concerns surround state legislation aimed at verifying the age of internet and social media users. Illinois...
DHS threatens to halt customs processing at airports in sanctuary cities
By Thérèse BoudreauxThe Center Square Major airports across the country could soon freeze customs processing and cancel all international flights if sanctuary cities continue bucking federal immigration enforcement operations. Department...
