Illinois Quick Hits: State taxpayers to cover student loan debt for civil engineers

Illinois Quick Hits: State taxpayers to cover student loan debt for civil engineers

Spread the love

(The Center Square) – The Illinois Department of Transportation has announced that the state will pay $15,000 of eligible student loan debt annually for up to 50 new civil engineers who graduate from Illinois schools.

IDOT says payments will be capped at $60,000 and will begin once the engineer has worked at the agency for at least four years.

The pilot program is the result of legislation proposed by State Sen. Ram Villivalam, D-Chicago, to address a downward trend in engineering graduates.

IDOC WORKER CHARGED WITH LOAN FRAUD

Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul says a Will County woman fraudulently received a Paycheck Protection Program loan for more than $20,000 while she was employed by the Illinois Department of Corrections.

Jamilah Franklin, 48, of Joliet, was charged with loan fraud and forgery after Raoul’s office said she falsely claimed she owned a business and received $20,516 in 2021 as a result.

PRITZKER URGES COMMERCE SECRETARY TO APPROVE BROADBAND PROPOSAL

Gov. J.B. Pritzker is urging U.S. Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick to promptly approve Illinois’ Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment proposal.

The governor says the measure would provide $1.04 billion from federal taxpayers to expand broadband access to more than 383,000 Illinois residents.

According to a statement from Pritzker’s office, Illinois and California are the only states awaiting approval.

PELOSI GARDEN PAVILION ANNOUNCED AT OBAMA CENTER

When the Obama Presidential Center opens in Chicago next month, it will feature the Nancy Pelosi Garden Pavilion.

The Obama Foundation announced the tribute to the former U.S. House Speaker on Tuesday, thanks to a donation by philanthropist and business leader Ron Conway.

Former President Barack Obama said in a statement that he would always be grateful for Pelosi’s support of the Affordable Care Act.

Leave a Comment





Latest News Stories

Indiana voters to decide compeititive congressional primary races Tuesday

Indiana voters to decide compeititive congressional primary races Tuesday

By Andrew RiceThe Center Square Indiana voters head to the polls Tuesday to elect party representatives in several competitive primary races. Across the Hoosier state, local political figures are seeking...
U.S. debt tops 100% of GDP, 'deeply troubling' for economy, national security

U.S. debt tops 100% of GDP, ‘deeply troubling’ for economy, national security

By Thérèse BoudreauxThe Center Square The U.S. national debt is now larger than the entire American economy and is only set to keep growing, further exacerbating the affordability crisis and...

U.S. troops in Italy, Spain hang in balance as troop reduction in Germany announced

By Sarah Roderick-FitchThe Center Square On the heels of President Donald Trump threatening to reduce troops in Europe, the Department of War announced Friday the reduction of 5,000 troops from...
Federal appeals court halts access to mail-order abortion drug

Federal appeals court halts access to mail-order abortion drug

By Dan McCalebThe Center Square A federal appeals court on Friday temporarily halted a Biden-era rule that allowed individuals to receive the abortion pill mifepristone through the mail without a...
New Lenox Village Board Graphic.1

Village Board Approves Industrial Rezoning on Gougar Road Over Resident Protests, But Freezes Construction for Years

New Lenox Village Board of Trustees Meeting | April 27, 2026 Article Summary:Following intense pushback from neighboring residents, the New Lenox Village Board approved a development agreement and rezoning for...
Labor unions back McCormick’s plan to reform federal permitting

Labor unions back McCormick’s plan to reform federal permitting

By John ColeThe Center Square In a rare show of solidarity, building trade unions and U.S. Sen. Dave McCormick, R-Pa., want to streamline the federal permitting process so that projects...
Court-ordered tariff refunds bypass consumers who paid

Court-ordered tariff refunds bypass consumers who paid

By Brett RowlandThe Center Square The Trump administration has begun returning $166 billion in tariff refunds, launching a new portal for U.S. importers to claim their money back, but consumers...
Professor: Surging gas prices will have long-term effects

Professor: Surging gas prices will have long-term effects

By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – A University of Chicago professor says the effects of high gas prices will ripple through the economy...
Professor: Surging gas prices will have long-term effects

Professor: Surging gas prices will have long-term effects

By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – A University of Chicago professor says the effects of high gas prices will ripple through the economy...
Illinois Quick Hits: DHS says ICE captures child sex abuser released by Illinois DOC

Illinois Quick Hits: DHS says ICE captures child sex abuser released by Illinois DOC

By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – The U.S. Department of Homeland Security says U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers have arrested a Guatemalan...
Durbin calls probe ‘sham’; state lawmaker backs transparency

Durbin calls probe ‘sham’; state lawmaker backs transparency

By Catrina Barker | The Center Square contributorThe Center Square (The Center Square) – An Illinois state lawmaker is voicing strong support for a federal investigation into dozens of school...
Lawmen believe trip from Carolinas to Washington a threat to Trump

Lawmen believe trip from Carolinas to Washington a threat to Trump

By Alan WootenThe Center Square An Army veteran lawmen believed was going to travel from the Carolinas to Washington in an attempt to kill President Donald Trump will be in...
Trump threatens new EU auto taxes that could drive up prices

Trump threatens new EU auto taxes that could drive up prices

By Brett RowlandThe Center Square President Donald Trump threatened to raise tariffs on European Union cars and trucks to 25%, accusing the EU of violating a trade agreement the bloc...
Independent tax tribunal faces elimination by Pritzker budget proposal

Independent tax tribunal faces elimination by Pritzker budget proposal

By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – The chief judge of the Illinois Independent Tax Tribunal says it will be bad for taxpayers if...
States consider drones to stop school shootings

States consider drones to stop school shootings

By Ella DawsonThe Center Square The first drones intended to stop school shootings from Campus Guardian Angel are set to go live Friday at Deltona High School. Florida’s legislature has...