Illinois Quick Hits: Ex-sheriff employee ordered to repay $35,000
(The Center Square) – A judge has ordered a former Cook County Sheriff’s office employee to pay more than $35,000 in restitution for forgery to obtain a Paycheck Protection Program loan during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Kimberly Flowers-Watson, 59, of Chicago pleaded guilty to felony forgery and was sentenced to two years of second-chance probation.
The Illinois Attorney General’s office said Flowers-Watson forged a PPP loan application to the U.S. Small Business Administration by falsely claiming she owned a business that did not exist.
DATA CENTER MORATORIUM PROPOSED
Champaign County officials are considering a one-year ban on the development of large data centers so zoning regulations can be developed for such projects.
Planning and Zoning Director John Hall told The News-Gazette a potential project site west of Champaign was described to him as being about 300 acres, far larger than any data center the county has previously approved.
Hall expressed concerns about water consumption from the Mahomet Aquifer and energy usage.
SUPER BOWL SAFETY
The Illinois Department of Transportation and Illinois State Police are joining local law enforcement departments in a Super Bowl safety campaign this weekend.
State officials are urging party-goers to make sure their designated drivers are not impaired by alcohol, cannabis or other impairing drugs and that everyone in their vehicle is wearing a seat belt.
The Super Bowl safety campaign is part of the Illinois “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over” and “Click It or Ticket” programs that are funded with federal highway safety dollars.
Showers And Thunderstorms Likely
Latest News Stories
Crete-Monee Delays Vote on Non-Union and Administrative Salary Increases
Monee Township Board Authorizes Sweeping Line-Item Budget Transfers Across Departments
Chicago mayor to push for local funding, keeping Bears
Senate Republicans unveil $72 billion budget package to fund ICE, CBP
Illinois AI regulations have mild industry support, could draw federal ire
DOJ files complaint to block Minnesota climate lawsuit
Hegseth: Ceasefire holds despite Iranian aggression
Illinois Quick Hits: Mayors to visit capitol urge protection of local funding
Despite tax revolt, Lower Merion keeps administrator pay high
Supreme Court allows Louisiana to immediately move on drawing new map
Meeting Summary and Briefs: Monee Village Board for April 22, 2026
After Fifth Circuit ruling on TX border security law, ACLU sues to stop it from going into effect
