Illinois quick hits: Bovino bounty trial to begin; Judge sentences Kentucky man to 15 years in drugs case; Pritzker criticizes Trump’s first year as Trump marks accomplishments

January 20, 2026/

Spread the love

By Jim Talamonti | The Center Square
The Center Square

Bovino bounty trial to begin

Jury selection is complete for the trial of a man accused of putting a bounty on U.S. Border Patrol Commander Gregory Bovino. Juan Espinoza Martinez, 37, was charged last fall with soliciting the murder of a senior law enforcement official. Opening statements are scheduled to begin Wednesday morning at the Everett McKinley Dirksen U.S. Courthouse in Chicago.

Judge sentences Kentucky man to 15 years in drugs case

A southern Illinois district judge has sentenced a Kentucky man to 15 years in federal prison for possessing more than 150 grams of meth and a firearm as a felon. James W. Towery, 45, of Salem, Kentucky, pleaded guilty to one count of possession with intent to distribute meth and one count of felon in possession of a firearm. Prosecutors say law enforcement found a handgun along with the drugs during a traffic stop in Massac County on March 11, 2024.

Pritzker criticizes Trump’s first year as Trump marks accomplishments

Gov. J.B. Pritzker held a roundtable discussion in Chicago on Tuesday to discuss the impact of federal government actions on Illinoisans. Pritzker said manufacturers feel it when tariffs go up and farmers pay the price for trade wars. President Donald Trump held a White House briefing Tuesday afternoon and said Democrats created the affordability problem and his administration is solving it.

Latest News Stories

Meeting Summary and Briefs: New Lenox Village Board for June 8, 2026

New Lenox Village Board Meeting | June 8, 2026 The New Lenox Village Board moved through a lengthy agenda on Monday, June 8, 2026, with Trustees Lindsay Scalise and Amy...

Meeting Summary and Briefs: Will County Board Executive Committee for June 11, 2026

Will County Board Executive Committee Meeting | June 11, 2026 The Will County Board Executive Committee met Thursday, June 11, 2026, in Joliet, advancing a slate of items to the...

Will County Mental Health Board Touts Crisis Program in Quarterly Report

Will County Board Executive Committee Meeting | June 11, 2026 Article Summary: The Will County Community Mental Health Board's quarterly report to the Executive Committee on Thursday, June 11, 2026,...

Meeting Summary and Briefs: Will County Board Finance Committee for June 2, 2026

Will County Board Finance Committee Meeting | June 2, 2026 The Will County Board Finance Committee took up a short slate of budget and appropriation items at its regular meeting...

New Lenox Approves $92,954 Purchase for Railroad Quiet Zone Delineators

New Lenox Village Board Meeting | June 8, 2026 Article Summary: The New Lenox Village Board on June 8 waived formal bidding and approved a purchase of about $92,954 for...

Will County Coroner Reports Nearly 8,000 Death Investigations in 2025

Will County Board Executive Committee Meeting | June 11, 2026 Article Summary: Will County Coroner Laurie Summers presented her 2025 annual report to the Executive Committee on Thursday, June 11,...

Will County Committee Advances Three New Assistant State’s Attorneys

Will County Board Executive Committee Meeting | June 11, 2026 Article Summary: The Will County Board Executive Committee on Thursday, June 11, 2026, recommended increasing the authorized number of assistant...

Will County Committee Advances $75,000 for U of I Extension

Will County Board Finance Committee Meeting | June 2, 2026 Article Summary: The Will County Board Finance Committee on Tuesday, June 2, 2026, voted to advance a resolution committing $75,000...

Baldermann Credits Public Pressure for Stalling State Housing ‘Build Plan’

New Lenox Village Board Meeting | June 8, 2026 Article Summary: Mayor Tim Baldermann used his June 8 report to the New Lenox Village Board to detail what he described...

Will County Committee Pulls Single-Member District Referendum

Will County Board Executive Committee Meeting | June 11, 2026 Article Summary: The Will County Board Executive Committee on Thursday, June 11, 2026, removed a proposed referendum on single-member county...

Will County Land Bank Clears Committee With Two Amendments

Will County Board Executive Committee Meeting | June 11, 2026 Article Summary: The Will County Board Executive Committee on Thursday, June 11, 2026, recommended creating a Will County Land Bank...

Will County Committee Advances $179,000 Coroner Cot Purchase

Will County Board Finance Committee Meeting | June 2, 2026 Article Summary: The Will County Board Finance Committee on Tuesday, June 2, 2026, voted to advance a request authorizing $179,000...

147-Room Hilton Hotel Approved Near New Lenox Crossroads Sports Complex

New Lenox Village Board Meeting | June 8, 2026 Article Summary: The New Lenox Village Board on June 8 approved a site plan and set surety for a 147-room Hilton...

New Lenox Advances Cedar Pointe Annexation and Rezoning on First Read

New Lenox Village Board Meeting | June 8, 2026 Article Summary: The New Lenox Village Board held a public hearing and first readings June 8 on ordinances that would annex,...

Will County Board Members Spar Over Wheatland Township Mental Health Grant

Will County Board Executive Committee Meeting | June 11, 2026 Article Summary: A $155,000 mental health grant to Wheatland Township drew sharp questioning at the Will County Board Executive Committee...