Illinois quick hits: Fatal helicopter crash; Comptroller orders another extra pension payment
August 7, 2025/
Fatal helicopter crash
Two people are dead after a helicopter crashed into a barge on the Mississippi River.
The Federal Aviation Administration said the Hughes 369D with two people on board went down around 11:05 a.m. Thursday in East Alton.
The National Transportation Safety Board is investigating.
Comptroller orders another extra pension payment
Illinois Comptroller Susana Mendoza says she is ordering a third round of pension pre-payments.
Mendoza said more than $1.3 billion in payments to the state’s five retirement systems will include $428 million in pre-payments, allowing the pension systems to keep more money in their portfolios and earn more in returns.
Statehouse rematch shaping up
State Rep. Amy Briel, D-Ottawa, and Republican Liz Bishop are gearing up for a potential rematch in Illinois’ 76th House District.
Briel defeated Bishop by 595 votes, or 1%, in the general election last November.
Bishop will first face a primary rematch with Crystal Loughran.
⚠️ Severe Thunderstorm Watch issued June 10 at 8:31PM CDT until June 11 at 1:00AM CDT by NWS Chicago IL
⚠️ Flood Watch issued June 10 at 6:54PM CDT until June 11 at 4:00AM CDT by NWS Chicago IL
Wed Jun 10
88° 60°
Partly Sunny then Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
Latest News Stories
Illinois lawmaker calls FDA hormone therapy reversal ‘overdue’
By Catrina Barker | The Center Square contributorThe Center Square (The Center Square) – An Illinois lawmaker and practicing physician weighs said U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F....
IL Rep on congressmen trading: ‘We’re not going to take a pile of money to hell’
By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – An Illinois congresswoman says the public is right to be alarmed about elected officials enriching themselves through...
Illinois quick hits: Officer shot report numbers down; Thanksgiving meal costs down
By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square Officer shot report numbers down The National Fraternal Order of Police reports, through Oct. 31, 285 police officers have been shot...
WATCH: Chicago activist testifies; Quinn’s millionaire surcharge; High SNAP error rate
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 shares highlights from...
GE Appliances announces $150 million partnerships
By Andrew Rice | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) - GE Appliances announced Thursday it is investing more than $150 million into contracts for suppliers in the...
Frankfort, Will County Partner on Wildlife Rabies Control
Will County Board Executive Committee Meeting | November 13, 2025 Article Summary: The Will County Board Executive Committee recommended approval of an intergovernmental agreement on Thursday, November 13, 2025, that allows...
Executive Committee Approves Appointments for Washington Township, Emergency Telephone Boards
Will County Board Executive Committee Meeting | November 13, 2025 Article Summary: The Will County Board Executive Committee on Thursday, November 13, 2025, recommended the approval of two key appointments, filling...
Trump signs bill to release Epstein files
By Brett RowlandThe Center Square President Donald Trump signed a bill late Wednesday to release federal files related to former financier and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. After fighting the...
WATCH: Dysolve AI offers approach to dyslexia in schools
By Esther WickhamThe Center Square While education leaders search for breakthroughs in special education, one AI platform, Dysolve, claims it has found part of the answer. Dysolve AI, created by...
Inventors back effort to tackle intellectual property thefts
By Chris WoodwardThe Center Square A five-time world champion jump roper, Molly Metz of Louisville, Colorado, created a jump rope in the early 2000s to help her go faster and...
WATCH: Dems leave hearing before minority group’s testimony on Biden border policies
By Jim TalamontiThe Center Square A member of a minority grassroots Chicago organization testified before the U.S. Senate Committee on the Judiciary Wednesday that violent gang members in the U.S....
Illinois quick hits: ICC approves smaller rate increases
By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square ICC approves smaller rate increases The Illinois Commerce Commission has approved smaller utility rate hikes than the ones requested by Ameren...
WATCH: Ex-Illinois governor pushes for ‘millionaire’s surcharge’ amendment
By Greg Bishop | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – The push continues to have voters if Illinois should be a 3% surcharge on millionaires. Former Illinois...
Lawmakers weigh replacing Obamacare tax credits with health savings accounts
By Thérèse BoudreauxThe Center Square With millions of Americans’ health insurance premiums projected to rise in 2026, due partially to enhanced Obamacare subsidies expiring, Republicans are eyeing health savings accounts...
