Illinois Quick Hits: Gas prices show slight uptick as US military action resumes

Illinois Quick Hits: Gas prices show slight uptick as US military action resumes

July 8, 2026/
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By Jim Talamonti | The Center Square
The Center Square

(The Center Square) – Illinoisans will be watching gas prices after the United States launched new military strikes against Iran on Tuesday.

AAA listed the average Illinois price for regular unleaded at $3.99 a gallon on Wednesday, up from $3.975 the day before. T

he national average was $3.80, up less than a penny from Tuesday.

FOREIGN NATIONAL SENTENCED

U.S. District Court Judge John Robert Blakey has sentenced a native of India to six years and a month in prison and ordered him to pay full restitution to victims of a tech support fraud scheme.

Prosecutors said Kartik Saini, 33, and co-schemers falsely represented in 2020 and 2021 that they were tech support or security employees of large companies, informed victims that their accounts had been hacked, and convinced them to transfer money so it could be kept safe.

Saini defrauded at least four victims with an intended loss of more than $1.2 million.

STATE POLICE INVESTIGATE DOUBLE HOMICIDE IN OLNEY

One person is in custody after two homicides were reported in Olney.

Police say 52-year-old John D. Jones Jr. and 73-year-old Deborah J. Jones were found dead at separate homes in the 400 block of East Monroe Street on Tuesday.

State police are investigating at the request of the Olney Police Department and the Richland County Sheriff’s Office.

AG LEASE CONTRACTS TO GO UP FOR BID

The Illinois Department of Natural Resources says it will accept sealed bids this fall for about 40 agricultural lease contracts for the 2027-2031 crop years.

IDNR says the leases are used to support wildlife populations and recreational opportunities at sites it owns or manages.

Available leases will be announced on BidBuy. More information is available at the IDNR agriculture lease website.

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