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.

Latest News Stories

Pritzker continues fielding presidential question ahead of State Fair rally

By Greg Bishop | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – Illinois Democrats rally at the Illinois State Fair in Springfield Wednesday for Governor’s Day, but whether Gov....

WATCH: Illinois In Focus Daily | Tuesday Aug. 12th, 2025

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 delves into the...

About Us

Your Community, Your News. Welcome to Windmill Media! Our name was inspired by the windmills that once stood as centers of town life, harnessing a natural force to power and...

Everyday Economics: CPI takes center stage as tariff-driven price pressures mount

By Orphe DivounguyThe Center Square The economy was already slowing, and that was before higher tariffs kicked in last week, raising import taxes to the highest level since the Great...

Net negative migration is harmful to the economy, economists say

By Morgan SweeneyThe Center Square Though the economy and immigration were issues that helped President Donald Trump secure the White House, some economists have said that too steep a decline...

Details pending on billions in foreign investments coming from trade deals

By Brett RowlandThe Center Square When President Donald Trump announced a string of trade deals with key U.S. trading partners recently, he touted pledges for billions of dollars in U.S....

Will County Health Department Seeks $1 Million to Avert ‘Drastic’ Service Cuts from Expiring Grants

ARTICLE SUMMARY: The Will County Health Department is requesting an additional $1 million in county funding for its 2026 budget to prevent the elimination of 11 critical staff positions, warning...

Will County’s “First-in-Nation” Veterans Center to House Workforce Services, Sparking Debate

ARTICLE SUMMARY: The new Will County Veteran's Assistance & Support Center will also become the home for the county's Workforce Services department, a move officials say will save approximately $250,000 in...

Improved Vendor Service Creates $1.2 Million Shortfall in Sheriff’s Medical Budget

ARTICLE SUMMARY: The Will County Sheriff’s Office is facing a more than $1.2 million shortfall in its budget for inmate medical services, a problem officials attribute to an ironic cause:...

Will County Public Works Committee Unveils 25-Year Transportation Plan, Projects $258 Million Gap

ARTICLE SUMMARY: Will County officials have presented "Our Way Forward 2050," a new long-range transportation plan that provides a 25-year vision for infrastructure projects while forecasting a $258 million shortfall in...

Will County Animal Protection Services Seeks New Facility Amid “Gaping Wound” of Space Crisis

Article Summary: Will County Animal Protection Services is seeking approval for a new facility, telling a county committee that its current building is critically inadequate for housing animals, leading to...

Board Confronts Animal Services Crowding, Explores Future Facility Options

ARTICLE SUMMARY: Will County officials are grappling with an ongoing animal housing crisis that has overwhelmed the county’s Animal Protective Services facility, prompting discussions about expansion, new construction, or even repurposing...

Will County Board Members Demand Transparency in Cannabis Tax Fund Allocation

ARTICLE SUMMARY: A debate over transparency and process erupted at the Will County Board’s Finance Committee meeting regarding the distribution of local cannabis tax revenue. Board members called for more...

Homer Glenn Residents Push Back on 143rd Street Widening as Officials Signal “Tentative Agreement”

ARTICLE SUMMARY: A Homer Glenn farm owner voiced strong opposition to the planned widening of 143rd Street during a county meeting, while committee members indicated a "tentative agreement" is in the...

Will County Forges 2026 Federal Agenda Amid D.C. Policy Shifts, ‘Big Beautiful Bill’ Impacts

ARTICLE SUMMARY: The Will County Board's Legislative Committee is reshaping its federal priorities for 2026, adding new language on environmental justice and LGBTQIA+ rights while creating a more transparent process for...

« Previous
1
…
35
36
37
38
39
…
55
Next »

FRANKFORT LOCAL