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

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.

Leave a Comment





Latest News Stories

Chicago tax proposals draw concern over legality, 'economic death spiral'

Chicago tax proposals draw concern over legality, ‘economic death spiral’

By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson’s allies have launched a seven-figure campaign to support his 2026 budget proposal, but...
Illinois quick hits: Former governor proposes millionaire's surcharge; digital state ID launched

Illinois quick hits: Former governor proposes millionaire’s surcharge; digital state ID launched

By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square Former governor proposes millionaire's surcharge Former Gov. Pat Quinn is pushing for a state constitutional amendment requiring Illinois millionaires to pay...
U.S. Senate passes bill to release Epstein files, heads to Trump's desk

U.S. Senate passes bill to release Epstein files, heads to Trump’s desk

By Andrew RiceThe Center Square The U.S. Senate on Tuesday agreed to pass a bill by unanimous consent requiring the U.S. attorney general to release all documents related to convicted...
Louisiana Rep. Clay Higgins defends Epstein 'no' vote

Louisiana Rep. Clay Higgins defends Epstein ‘no’ vote

By Natalie ChandlerThe Center Square Republican Rep. Clay Higgins of Lafayette, the only House lawmaker who voted against releasing documents associated with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein on Tuesday, said...
Abbott designates Muslim Brotherhood, CAIR as foreign terrorist organizations

Abbott designates Muslim Brotherhood, CAIR as foreign terrorist organizations

By Bethany BlankleyThe Center Square Gov. Greg Abbott is the first governor in the United States to designate two Muslim groups as Foreign Terrorist and Transnational Criminal Organizations. On Tuesday,...
Judge blocks feds from freezing California education funding

Judge blocks feds from freezing California education funding

By Esther WickhamThe Center Square A federal judge blocked the Trump administration from freezing University of California's federal funding over alleged violation of anti-discrimination laws. U.S. District Judge Rita Lin...
Texas appealing El Paso court ruling against new congressional maps

Texas appealing El Paso court ruling against new congressional maps

By Bethany BlankleyThe Center Square Texas is appealing a federal district court ruling in a lawsuit filed over its new redistricting law. On Tuesday, a panel of three judges on...
Elections board drops campaign finance fines against IL Senate President

Elections board drops campaign finance fines against IL Senate President

By Greg Bishop | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – The campaign finance violation against Illinois Senate President Don Harmon, D-Oak Park, is over after the Illinois...
Senate gears up for Epstein vote

Senate gears up for Epstein vote

By Andrew RiceThe Center Square The U.S. Senate is preparing to vote as soon as late Tuesday on a bill forcing the Department of Justice to release documents associated with...
Illinois corrections officials say they are on schedule for prison mail scan rule

Illinois corrections officials say they are on schedule for prison mail scan rule

By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – Illinois Department of Corrections officials are promising to have a permanent rule on electronic mail scanning drafted...
Asset managers retreat from ESG push, report finds

Asset managers retreat from ESG push, report finds

By Tom JoyceThe Center Square Many of the largest asset managers in the United States have sharply reduced their support for environmental, social, and governance (ESG) investing during the most...
U.S. House passes bill to release Epstein files, moves to Senate

U.S. House passes bill to release Epstein files, moves to Senate

By Andrew RiceThe Center Square The U.S. House of Representatives passed a bipartisan bill for the release of documents associated with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. “This is about the...
Policy expert: How will GOP pay for its plan to send tax dollars to flex spending plans?

Policy expert: How will GOP pay for its plan to send tax dollars to flex spending plans?

By Tate MillerThe Center Square Congressional Republicans are proposing sending government subsidies to flexible spending plans, with an expert suggesting that tax dollars saved by reducing Medicare fraud could be...
Trade expert calls on Trump to eliminate all tariffs

Trade expert calls on Trump to eliminate all tariffs

By Brett RowlandThe Center Square A trade expert is calling on President Donald Trump to eliminate all tariffs after the president exempted more than 200 food products to reduce consumer...
Colorado reports largest fentanyl pill seizure in state history

Colorado reports largest fentanyl pill seizure in state history

By Elyse ApelThe Center Square Colorado law enforcement seized its largest stash of illegal fentanyl pills in state history. It was also the sixth-largest one-time fentanyl pill seizure in U.S....