Illinois quick hits: Prosecutors charge two more in Tren de Aragua case; Senate Energy and Public Utilities Committee meets today; Illinois Little League team loses in World Series

Illinois quick hits: Prosecutors charge two more in Tren de Aragua case; Senate Energy and Public Utilities Committee meets today; Illinois Little League team loses in World Series

August 18, 2025/
Spread the love

By Jim Talamonti | The Center Square
The Center Square

Prosecutors charge two more in Tren de Aragua case

State prosecutors have charged two more migrants as part of an investigation into the trafficking of narcotics and firearms into Chicago by suspected members of the Venezuela-based Tren de Aragua street gang. CWB Chicago reports that a judge ordered Yefferson Camacho Cedeno, 27, and Jose Vasquez Hernandez, 30, detained, calling them “member[s] of a transnational criminal organization.” The men are the fourth and fifth individuals known to be charged in the case.

Senate Energy and Public Utilities Committee meets today

The Illinois Senate Energy and Public Utilities Committee is scheduled to discuss federal energy policy and increasing summer rates at a subject-matter hearing Monday afternoon. The Illinois Freedom Caucus requested that the hearing include members of the House Energy and Environment committee. Many Illinois residents and businesses are facing record-high electric bills this summer.

Illinois Little League team loses in World Series

An Illinois team’s run has ended at the Little League World Series. Clarendon Hills lost to Honolulu, 9-1, in Williamsport, Pennsylvania on Sunday. The Clarendon Hills team won one game and lost two at the Little League World Series after winning the Great Lakes regional.

Leave a Comment





Latest News Stories

Advocates slam Vance's call for less legal immigration

Advocates slam Vance’s call for less legal immigration

By Andrew RiceThe Center Square Legal immigration advocates on Thursday U.S. Vice President JD Vance's call for a reduction in legal immigration Wednesday night while speaking at an event hosted...
Prolonged shutdown hits pain points for some veterans, VA employees

Prolonged shutdown hits pain points for some veterans, VA employees

By Brett RowlandThe Center Square Nearly 37,000 Department of Veterans Affairs employees have been furloughed or are working without pay as the prolonged government shutdown continues and some VA services...
WATCH: Debate around which tax to increase; pension enhancements, energy bills advance

WATCH: Debate around which tax to increase; pension enhancements, energy bills advance

By Greg Bishop | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – In today's edition of Illinois in Focus Daily, The Center Square Editor Greg Bishop reviews the ongoing...
Trump: China to buy U.S. ag products, oil and gas, export rare earth minerals

Trump: China to buy U.S. ag products, oil and gas, export rare earth minerals

By Brett RowlandThe Center Square President Donald Trump said Thursday that China will resume buying U.S. agricultural products, ease restrictions on rare earth minerals and import oil and natural gas...
Illinois quick hits: Energy omnibus bill advancing; ICE protesters indicted

Illinois quick hits: Energy omnibus bill advancing; ICE protesters indicted

By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square Energy omnibus bill advancing A small business advocacy organization says the energy omnibus bill passed by the Illinois House last night...
Exclusive: America’s HealthShare launches as alternative to 'broken' healthcare system

Exclusive: America’s HealthShare launches as alternative to ‘broken’ healthcare system

By Tate MillerThe Center Square America’s HealthShare launched Thursday as a free-market, community-based healthcare alternative that allows for affordability and personalized care without funding procedures individuals may morally oppose. America’s...
Senators, pro-life group seek answers on FDA approval of abortion pill

Senators, pro-life group seek answers on FDA approval of abortion pill

By Tom JoyceThe Center Square Two Republican U.S. senators and a national pro-life organization say they want the Trump administration to explain why the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved...
Cartel bounties on ICE agents similar to bounties placed in Texas communities for years

Cartel bounties on ICE agents similar to bounties placed in Texas communities for years

By Bethany BlankleyThe Center Square Over the past month, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers working with federal partners have arrested more than 1,500 violent criminals in Chicago as they...
Trump slices China fentanyl tariff in half following meeting with Xi

Trump slices China fentanyl tariff in half following meeting with Xi

By Sarah Roderick-FitchThe Center Square President Donald Trump feels confident the flow of fentanyl from China will be curbed following a “great meeting” with Chinese President Xi Jinping in South...
Trump orders Department of War to begin testing nuclear weapons

Trump orders Department of War to begin testing nuclear weapons

By Brett RowlandThe Center Square President Donald Trump on Wednesday ordered the U.S. Department of War to immediately start testing U.S. nuclear weapons just ahead of a meeting with President...
WATCH: Tax proposals draw questions from Pritzker and GOP state rep

WATCH: Tax proposals draw questions from Pritzker and GOP state rep

By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – Illinois lawmakers are considering progressive revenue measures in the final hours of the fall veto session, but...
Illinois quick hits: Former sheriff's deputy guilty in Massey murder; appeals court intervenes in Bavino case

Illinois quick hits: Former sheriff’s deputy guilty in Massey murder; appeals court intervenes in Bavino case

By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square Former sheriff's deputy guilty in Massey murder A jury has found a former Sangamon County sheriff’s deputy guilty of second-degree murder...

WATCH: Warnings of higher IL property taxes heard as pension bill advances

By Greg Bishop | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – Supporters of an Illinois Statehouse pension measure say it is a “fix” for Tier 2 public employee...
Top-selling automaker confirms U.S. investment, but no details yet

Top-selling automaker confirms U.S. investment, but no details yet

By Brett RowlandThe Center Square The world's top-selling automaker said it plans to continue investing in U.S. operations but wouldn't confirm on Wednesday that it will be $10 billion, as...
Fentanyl poised to take center stage during Trump, Xi meeting

Fentanyl poised to take center stage during Trump, Xi meeting

By Sarah Roderick-FitchThe Center Square Fentanyl is set to be at the center of President Donald Trump’s scheduled meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping Thursday morning. Trump told reporters last...