Illinois quick hits: O'Fallon man allegedly work with cartel; most dangerous for nursing home safety

Illinois quick hits: O’Fallon man allegedly work with cartel; most dangerous for nursing home safety

September 25, 2025/
Spread the love

By Jim Talamonti | The Center Square
The Center Square

O’Fallon man allegedly work with cartel

High-ranking members of the Sinaloa Cartel are among 26 defendants facing federal charges for their alleged involvement in trafficking hundreds of kilograms of methamphetamine, fentanyl and cocaine into southern Illinois and laundering the proceeds to Mexico.

Earl Frank, 56, of O’Fallon, Illinois is among the 26 defendants who allegedly participated in the cartel-sourced drug distribution pipeline.

U.S. Attorney General Pamela Bondi said the indictment is a significant blow to the Sinaloa Cartel’s infrastructure.

Most dangerous for nursing home safety

According to a new study, Illinois is the most dangerous state in the nation for nursing home safety violations.

Anidjar & Levine found that Illinois had 2,300 penalties among its 682 certified nursing facilities.

Total fines reached $78.4 million for an average of $115,000 per facility.

Blue Ribbon Schools announced

A record-breaking number of Catholic schools in the Archdiocese of Chicago have met the criteria for the National Blue Ribbon School Award, given by the U.S. Department of Education.

Ten schools were informed in August that they would receive the honor. Several schools scheduled celebrations Thursday.

Leave a Comment





Latest News Stories

Illinois Quick Hits: Comptroller Mendoza announces run for Chicago mayor

Illinois Quick Hits: Comptroller Mendoza announces run for Chicago mayor

By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – Illinois Comptroller Susana Mendoza is running for mayor of Chicago. Mendoza said in a campaign video released...
Wiener, Gallagher, Gray lead in congressional races

Wiener, Gallagher, Gray lead in congressional races

By Madeline ShannonThe Center Square As results poured in for several congressional races Tuesday night, incumbent U.S. Rep. Adam Gray, California Assemblymember James Gallagher and California state Sen. Scott Wiener...
Waters, other incumbents ahead in LA congressional races

Waters, other incumbents ahead in LA congressional races

By Zachery SchmidtThe Center Square Democratic incumbents topped the vote counts in Los Angeles congressional districts in Tuesday's primary. U.S. House District 43 U.S. Rep. Maxine Waters, D-Inglewood, got the...
Desmond, Wilpert ahead in District 48 race to succeed Issa

Desmond, Wilpert ahead in District 48 race to succeed Issa

By Chris WoodwardThe Center Square Republican Jim Desmond has a big lead in the race for California Congressional District 48. The race will decide who replaces U.S. Rep. Darrell Issa....
Candidates advance in redrawn congressional districts

Candidates advance in redrawn congressional districts

By Andrew RiceThe Center Square Several candidates across altered congressional districts in California are projected to head to November’s general election. California voters passed Proposition 50, a measure that altered...
Kiley, Pan neck to neck in Congressional District 6 race

Kiley, Pan neck to neck in Congressional District 6 race

By Chris WoodwardThe Center Square U.S. Rep. Kevin Kiley, I-Rocklin, has a slight edge over the competition in the race for Congressional District 6 in California. Kiley emerged with 24.9%...
Bass, Pratt lead Los Angeles mayoral race

Bass, Pratt lead Los Angeles mayoral race

By Chris WoodwardThe Center Square Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass and Republican candidate Spencer Pratt could be headed for a runoff in November in a race that is getting national...
Becerra, Hilton to face each other in gubernatorial race

Becerra, Hilton to face each other in gubernatorial race

By Chris WoodwardThe Center Square Republican Steve Hilton and Democrat Xavier Becerra apparently will square off in the Nov. 3 general election for governor of California, according to unofficial results...
Miller-Meeks, Bohannan to face off again in November

Miller-Meeks, Bohannan to face off again in November

By Andrew RiceThe Center Square Voters across Iowa selected partisan candidates on Tuesday night in races that could determine control of Congress. U.S. Rep. Mariannette-Miller Meeks will face off against...
Gulf allies targeted by Iran as strikes continue despite ceasefire

Gulf allies targeted by Iran as strikes continue despite ceasefire

By Sarah Roderick-FitchThe Center Square Despite the ongoing ceasefire between the U.S. and Iran, the two countries exchanged fire once again, with the Islamic Republic targeting regional neighbors. U.S. Central...
U.S. Supreme Court approves Alabama redistricting map

U.S. Supreme Court approves Alabama redistricting map

By Andrew RiceThe Center Square The U.S. Supreme Court allowed Alabama to move forward with an altered election map, that costs taxpayers an additional $4.45 million. Justices on the high...
Trump rolls back tariffs on farm equipment, HVAC systems

Trump rolls back tariffs on farm equipment, HVAC systems

By Brett RowlandThe Center Square President Donald Trump reduced tariffs on certain agricultural equipment, residential air conditioning systems and industrial machinery, marking the second rollback of import taxes since returning...
Law firm: California's gender policies violate Constitution

Law firm: California’s gender policies violate Constitution

By Chris WoodwardThe Center Square A law firm is putting California Attorney General Rob Bonta on notice about keeping parents in the dark about their children's gender transitions. Liberty Justice...
Group challenges gender policies in New Mexico schools

Group challenges gender policies in New Mexico schools

By Esther WickhamThe Center Square As New Mexico students continue to rank among the lowest in the nation in academic proficiency, some parents are questioning why gender ideology has become...
Supreme Court rules for Texas in Rio Grande River lawsuit

Supreme Court rules for Texas in Rio Grande River lawsuit

By Bethany BlankleyThe Center Square The U.S. Supreme Court has handed Texas a win in a lawsuit first brought by Gov. Greg Abbott when he was attorney general. Abbott was...