Illinois News
Latest fact-checked coverage from Illinois.
Gaza Students Return to In-Person Classes in Tents
About 541,000 students in Gaza resumed in-person schooling on September 19, 2026, using temporary tents and makeshift structures. UNICEF reports that 98% of schools were damaged or destroyed during the conflict.
Gen Z, Millennial Drinking Falls as 50-to-64 Use Rises
A new study finds alcohol use declined among younger adults from 2022 to 2024 while heavy drinking rose over 36% since 2018 for ages 50 to 64.
Texas Governor Halts Data Center Permits
Gov. Greg Abbott ordered a halt to all data center permits in Texas. The pause affects nearly 50 gigawatts of proposed capacity and up to $8 billion in revenue.
Lifeview Pays $5M to Settle False Claims Act Suit
Lifeview Group agreed to pay $5 million to resolve False Claims Act allegations. The settlement addresses false statements made regarding labor composition on a Defense Manpower Data Center contract.
Collins, Murray Oppose Trump NIH Grant Review
Senators Susan Collins and Patty Murray oppose a Trump administration plan to add political review to NIH grants. The effort could halt clinical trials after the White House froze over 1,800 research awards last year.
Jury Convicts Cox of Rights Deprivation and Obstruction
A federal jury found Markelle Jaquan Cox guilty on seven counts involving rights deprivation and obstruction of justice.
Australian Treasury Projects Deaths Will Outnumber Births by 2060s
The Australian Treasury released a report projecting deaths will exceed births by the mid-2060s. The dependency ratio is forecast to rise to 40 older people per 100 workers. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese signed a declaration with le. The City of Sydney council banned smartglasses in community. The Greens called for the triple zero emergency network to b.
Martinez-Gruninger Sentenced to Two Years for Medi-Cal Fraud
Maki Martinez-Gruninger received a two-year state prison sentence after pleading guilty to submitting false Medi-Cal claims.
Albanese Cites 300,000 Lives Improved by Pacific Program in New York
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese stated the REnew Pacific Program has directly improved 300,000 lives. He also noted Australia installed over half a million home batteries in the past year. He said the global community cannot afford to be frozen in time while the world warms around us.
Twenty Nations Call for Global AI Oversight Body
Leaders from 20 countries issued a statement calling for an international institution to regulate advanced AI systems. The document urges safety testing before deployment while the U.S., U.K.
Abbott Pays $348 Million to Settle Formula Claims
Abbott Laboratories will pay $348.7 million to the U.S. and states to settle allegations regarding infant formula safety. California receives over $15 million as part of an agreement involving multiple states.
Crown Medical Solutions Pays $825,000 to Settle Medicare Claims
Crown Medical Solutions LLC and its owners agreed to pay $825,000 to resolve false claims allegations. The settlement covers billing for durable medical equipment that lacked proper prescriptions or medical necessity.
Eight Texas Utilities File Wildfire Plans
Only eight of 160 Texas utility companies have filed required wildfire mitigation plans with regulators. Representative Ken King expressed disappointment that most firms have not submitted documents before the January deadline.
Paramount Skydance Settles Merger With 12 States
Paramount Skydance agreed to a settlement with 12 state attorneys general to resolve antitrust litigation over its merger with Warner Bros. Discovery. The deal mandates $1.5 billion in additional U.S.
Golden Endorses Lawler for New York House Seat
Retiring Representative Jared Golden endorsed Mike Lawler. The pair collaborated to extend a pause on federal lobster regulations until 2035.
Florida Doctor Pays $300,000 to Settle Prescribing Claims
Dr. Twan Phanijphand agreed to pay $300,000 to resolve allegations of unlawful prescribing. He surrendered his DEA registration and accepted monitoring while denying liability.
Jennifer Buckley Arrested for Hiding Son in Crawl Space
Police arrested Jennifer Buckley on Thursday after finding her missing son hidden in her basement crawl space. The 48-year-old mother faces an obstruction charge for concealing the teen during a 44-hour search.
Burlington, Vermont Jury Convicts Eaton of Attempted Murder
A Burlington, Vermont jury convicted Jason Eaton of three counts of attempted second-degree murder for a 2023 shooting. The panel rejected his defense that intelligence agencies commanded him via radio.
Boebert Confronts Ethics Complaint For Staffer Payments
David Wheeler filed an ethics complaint against Representative Lauren Boebert alleging improper relationships and payments to two staffers.
Ukraine Ministry Reports 13 Million Books Destroyed
The Ukraine Ministry of Culture states Russian strikes destroyed 13 million books this summer. Officials plan a support package including grants and state book purchases.
Karollyn and Nate Deliver Baby on San Francisco Roadside
Karollyn and Nate delivered their daughter Cielle Ray on Crossover Drive after traffic trapped them. Paramedics ran two blocks to reach the family before transporting them to a hospital.
Two Die in Helicopter Crash Fighting Dome Fire in Yosemite National Park
Two firefighters died when a FlyPrecision helicopter crashed Sunday while battling the Dome Fire in Yosemite National Park. The National Transportation Safety Board will lead an investigation as the blaze burns over 3,000 acres.
Irish Regulator Fines Google 403 Million Euros for Data Breach
Ireland's Data Protection Commission fined Google 403 million euros for unlawful location data processing. The regulator ordered the company to achieve full compliance with EU privacy laws within six months.
Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker Loses 80 Pounds Using GLP-1 Drug After Diabetes Diagnosis
Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker lost 80 pounds in two years using a GLP-1 medication after a diabetes diagnosis. The state covers the drug for 55,000 employees to reduce health costs.
Agricultural Marketing Service Sets Lumber Assessment Rate
The Agricultural Marketing Service sets a new assessment rate for imported softwood lumber. The change adds over $367,000 to the board budget and takes effect in 2026.
Palace Challenges Spencer Memoir Claims About King
Buckingham Palace issued a statement on September 16 challenging claims in Charles Spencer's upcoming memoir. Spencer called the response an attempt to discredit his account without addressing specific allegations.
Netherlands Seeks Grace Period Before U.S. ICC Sanctions
Dutch officials request a six-month delay before U.S. sanctions target the International Criminal Court. The measures could block dollar transactions and disrupt payments to staff and witnesses.
Trump Pardons Caddie Eric Larson for 1995 Cocaine Conviction
President Donald Trump pardoned caddie Eric Larson on September 3, clearing a federal cocaine conviction from three decades ago. The action restores Larson's travel rights after he missed $126,000 in earnings due to UK entry denial.
Giants Announce Death of Former GM Ernie Accorsi
The New York Giants announced that former general manager Ernie Accorsi died Saturday at age 84 after a brief battle with cancer.
Belleville Officer, Man Hospitalized After Synagogue Gunfire
A Belleville police officer and an unidentified man were hospitalized after gunfire near the Sons of Jacob Synagogue. The Ontario Special Investigations Unit is investigating the incident while Yom Kippur services were canceled.
Converse Removes Karina Ad For Klan Imagery
Converse removed an ad featuring Karina after critics said it evoked Ku Klux Klan and lynching imagery. Representative Troy Carter demanded transparency on who approved the campaign.
Model Presley Gerber Dies at Rehab Facility in Los Angeles County at Age 27
Model Presley Gerber died September 20, 2026, at a Los Angeles County rehabilitation facility. An autopsy remains pending as family requests privacy.
Trump Administration Deports 25,000 to Third Countries
The Trump administration has deported over 25,000 people to nations where they lack connections since 2025. A federal court ruled the policy unlawful, but the government plans to appeal the decision.
Six Nobel Laureates Endorse California Wealth Tax
Six Nobel Prize-winning economists endorsed Proposition 40 on September 19, 2026. The measure would impose a one-time 5% tax on California residents with net worth exceeding $1 billion. If the state that houses some of the country’s most powerful billionaires votes to tax their wealth, it could kickstart a movement to tax ultra-high-net-worth individuals in other states and at the federal level.
Mediterranean Children Face More Extreme Fire Weather Days
A new study projects children born in 2025 in the Mediterranean will face up to 473 additional days of extreme fire weather.
Three South Korean Officers Injured in DMZ Blast
An explosion injured three South Korean military officers in the western Demilitarized Zone on Monday. The Joint Chiefs of Staff stated an investigation is underway with United Nations Command participation expected.
Congo Vaccinates Staff in Bunia Against Ebola
Congo began vaccinating healthcare workers in Bunia on September 19, 2026. The campaign uses Ervebo despite uncertainty about its efficacy against the Bundibugyo virus.
Forest Service Lacks Staff for Record Wildfires in U.S.
The U.S. Forest Service states it does not have enough personnel to handle the record acreage burned in 2026. Workforce cuts of 16% last year reduced support staff needed for wildfire logistics.
Rally Protests AMC Kips Bay Theater Closure Plan in Manhattan
Over 100 New Yorkers rallied Sunday to protest the planned 2026 closure of the AMC Kips Bay Theater. Manhattan Community Board 6 scheduled a public hearing on the matter for September 9, 2026.
Judges Order Removal of Children Since January
Immigration judges have ordered the removal of children from the United States since January 2025. Stephen Miller directs a multi-agency effort to locate these minors while Senator Ron Wyden condemns the actions.
Stellantis Recalls 201,976 Jeep Vehicles for Software Fix
Stellantis is recalling 201,976 Jeep vehicles in the U.S. to fix a tire-pressure monitoring system software error.
California Sees Record Black Bear Encounters in 2026
California reports a record number of black bear encounters in 2026 as urban expansion and climate change drive animals into neighborhoods.
Patrick Clancy Remarries in New York City After Wife's Trial Ends
Patrick Clancy married Dr. Rachel Danis in April 2025 after Lindsay Clancy's trial ended in a mistrial. He plans to honor his deceased children while starting a new family with his wife.
Dollar General CEO Says $100K Earners Feel Squeezed
Dollar General CEO Todd Vasos stated that consumers earning $100,000 annually no longer feel like higher-income earners due to inflation.
Paramount, California AG Hold Talks on $111B Merger Deal
Paramount Skydance and California Attorney General Rob Bonta held advanced settlement talks regarding an antitrust lawsuit blocking the merger. The delay could cost Paramount about $1.3 billion in fees to Warner Bros. Discovery shareholders.
Anthropic, OpenAI, SpaceXAI, Google Sued for AI Slowdown in California
A class-action antitrust suit accuses four tech firms of coordinating an AI development slowdown. The plaintiffs argue this agreement reduces the value consumers receive from paid AI subscriptions.
For 3,700 Trucks Stuck at Iran's Borders With Turkey, Pakistan
More than 3,700 cargo trucks are stranded at Iran's borders with Turkey and Pakistan, with drivers waiting up to 24 days.
Malawi Police Rescue Briton Nusrat Osman in Shootout
Malawi police rescued British national Nusrat Osman after a shootout killed four suspected kidnappers in Blantyre.