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.

Latest News Stories

One in five calls answered on IRS identity theft line, watchdog says

By Brett RowlandThe Center Square The IRS processed nearly 139 million returns in 2026, but millions of taxpayers still faced refund delays, identity theft backlogs and phone lines they couldn't...

‘Don’t be a hypocrite:’ Congressional hearing with DHS Secretary Mullin heats up

By Thérèse BoudreauxThe Center Square A U.S. House Appropriations subcommittee hearing devolved into a shouting match between Rep. Rosa DeLauro, D-Conn., and Department of Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin. The...

Hawaii gun law struck down by U.S. Supreme Court

By Morgan SweeneyThe Center Square The U.S. Supreme Court ruled 6-3 along ideological lines Thursday that a Hawaii law requiring concealed-carry permit holders to obtain permission before entering most private...

Illinois SNAP error rate rises; Pritzker blames Trump

By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – Illinois now has the fifth-highest error rate in the nation for improper payments to recipients of federal...

Watchdog: Canceled NASA contracts more than doubled in cost

By Brett RowlandThe Center Square A new federal watchdog report found contract values on canceled Artemis systems more than doubled, to $5.9 billion, and NASA still hasn't disclosed what its...

Senate committee explores ways to protect American citizenship

By Christine JohnsonThe Center Square The U.S. Senate Committee on the Judiciary’s Subcommittee on the Constitution met on Wednesday to discuss the subject of protecting America’s citizenship, considering America’s 250th...

Chicago video gambling hearing abruptly ends in debate, disarray

By Sean Reed | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – A public meeting Wednesday on the state of legal gambling in Chicago was brought to an abrupt...

$87.6B war supplemental draws bipartisan questions about unrelated riders

By Thérèse BoudreauxThe Center Square The Trump administration has requested Congress authorize $87.6 billion in immediate appropriations, most of which reimburses the costs of Operation Epic Fury and boosts Pentagon...

Illinois Quick Hits: Court rules against parents in East St. Louis busing case

By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – The Illinois Supreme Court has reversed an appellate court’s ruling in a case involving state requirements of...

DHS secretary blasts Illinois correctional centers

By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin is calling out state correctional facilities after he faced questions from...

Walz files for information on Trump ‘retribution campaign’

By Elyse ApelThe Center Square Gov. Tim Walz has filed 16 Freedom of Information Act requests with federal agencies seeking records he says could reveal what he has labeled as...

Supreme Court upholds executive authority in immigration cases

By Morgan SweeneyThe Center Square Asylum seekers who arrive at the border are not entitled to entry and the Department of Homeland Security has broad authority over the temporary protected...

DeWine vetoes absentee voter photo ID

By David BeasleyThe Center Square Ohio legislative Republicans have not committed to an override of Republican Gov. Mike DeWine’s veto of a bill requiring voter ID for absentee ballots, but...

U.S. jumping into action to assist Venezuela following massive earthquakes

By Sarah Roderick-FitchThe Center Square The U.S. is vowing to assist following two powerful earthquakes that rocked Venezuela Wednesday evening, with thousands of casualties feared. In a Truth Social post,...

Parents warned of YMCA camps’ transgender-inclusive policies for cabins, restrooms

By Tate RosentreterThe Center Square The American Parents Coalition released a “Lookout” notification to parents over the YMCA’s transgender-inclusive camp and programming policies that include allowing males into female cabins...

« Previous
1
…
16
17
18
19
20
…
233
Next »