Illinois Quick Hits: At least 7 tornadoes hit Illinois last week

Illinois Quick Hits: At least 7 tornadoes hit Illinois last week

Spread the love

(The Center Square) – The National Weather Service says at least seven tornadoes impacted Illinois last Friday afternoon and evening.

The Stephenson County Sheriff’s office said the village of Lena suffered widespread damage, but there were no deaths or serious injuries reported.

The National Weather Service reported three tornadoes in Winnebago County as well as twisters in LaSalle, Livingston, Ford and Iroquois counties.

FIRM’S SPACE REDUCED BY CHICAGO LEASE EXTENSION

A Chicago consulting firm says its workforce is not affected by the company’s reduced square footage in downtown Chicago.

A spokesperson for Huron Consulting Group told The Center Square that the firm modified and extended its lease through 2037 to formalize adjustments made during the pandemic.

The spokesperson said the current agreement reflects a reduction in square footage, but the company has not occupied that square footage since 2020.

PENSION BUYOUT PROGRAM EXTENDED

A two-year extension of Illinois’ COLA pension buyout program is headed to the state Senate.

The voluntary program allows retirees in Illinois’ four statewide retirement systems to receive a lump-sum payment in exchange for forgoing future 3% compounded cost-of-living adjustments.

The House passed HB 5196 unanimously on Friday. Supporters say the buyouts have reduced Illinois’ pension liabilities by an estimated $2.6 billion.

MAN GETS 25 YEARS IN PRISON FOR PROVIDING MATERIAL SUPPORT TO ISIS

A Chicago man has been sentenced to 25 years in federal prison for conspiring to provide material support to the Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham by using social media to encourage attacks on ISIS enemies and to recruit ISIS members.

Prosecutors said Ashraf Al Safoo, 41, was a leader of Khattab Media Foundation, an online organization that created and disseminated threats and ISIS propaganda on social media and other online platforms.

Al Safoo, 41, has been in custody since his 2018 arrest in Chicago.

⚠️ Severe Thunderstorm Watch issued July 27 at 6:15PM CDT until July 27 at 7:00PM CDT by NWS Chicago IL
Today Jul 26
Showers And Thunderstorms then Mostly Cloudy
69°

Showers And Thunderstorms then Mostly Cloudy

Leave a Comment





Latest News Stories

DeWine vetoes absentee voter photo ID

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

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

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...
Chicago's potential 'teen takeover' solutions cost taxpayers

Chicago’s potential ‘teen takeover’ solutions cost taxpayers

By Sean Reed | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – As the trend sometimes referred to as “teen takeovers” continues to trouble the city of Chicago, government...
Congressional proposal aims at ‘loophole’ for ideology policies

Congressional proposal aims at ‘loophole’ for ideology policies

By Alan WootenThe Center Square Taxpayer dollars going through “a loophole to promote far-left, radical ideology” needs to stop, says North Carolina’s junior senator as he seeks to codify an...
Illinois Quick Hits: Opioid overdose deaths decline in Cook County

Illinois Quick Hits: Opioid overdose deaths decline in Cook County

By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square0 – Opioid overdose deaths are down for the third straight year in Chicago and suburban Cook County. According...
Frankfort Village Board Meeting Graphic

Meeting Summary and Briefs: Frankfort Village Board for June 15, 2026

Frankfort Village Board Meeting | June 15, 2026 The Frankfort Village Board moved through a full agenda on Monday, June 15, 2026, approving roughly $6.1 million in capital contracts and...

WATCH: How data centers rescued a struggling central Washington community

By Carleen JohnsonThe Center Square Imagine the value of your home goes way up, but your property tax bill goes down. Imagine the small town you live in has a...
Oppenheimer’s grandson supports nuclear energy bill

Oppenheimer’s grandson supports nuclear energy bill

By Madeline ShannonThe Center Square The grandson of the man who oversaw the invention of the atomic bomb spoke out Wednesday morning in support of nuclear energy development in California....
Trump expresses frustration with NATO as Rutte praises the president

Trump expresses frustration with NATO as Rutte praises the president

By Sarah Roderick-FitchThe Center Square NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte met with President Donald Trump Wednesday, putting NATO on the defensive as the president has questioned the alliance's relationship with...
Ex-fire chief sues Los Angeles mayor for defamation

Ex-fire chief sues Los Angeles mayor for defamation

By Chris WoodwardThe Center Square The former Los Angeles fire chief is suing Mayor Karen Bass for defamation related to the devastating Palisades Fire. Kristin Crowley was removed from her...
Teachers unions call for special session, more money

Teachers unions call for special session, more money

By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – The Chicago Teachers Union and the Illinois Federation of Teachers are calling for a special session of...
Illinois Quick Hits: Bond, TIF money helps fund Chicago neighborhood grants

Illinois Quick Hits: Bond, TIF money helps fund Chicago neighborhood grants

By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson has announced $42.5 million in grant support for 56 neighborhood development projects. A...
Trump won't sign bipartisan housing bill, reignites voter ID debate

Trump won’t sign bipartisan housing bill, reignites voter ID debate

By Thérèse BoudreauxThe Center Square Major housing legislation that overwhelmingly passed both chambers of Congress won’t become law this week after the president refused to sign it Wednesday. President Donald...
Poll: Two thirds say gas prices will shape their November vote

Poll: Two thirds say gas prices will shape their November vote

By Brett RowlandThe Center Square Nearly half of American voters blame wars and conflicts for elevated gas prices, and two thirds say fuel costs will influence their vote in November,...