(SPRINGFIELD) New numbers are out in the 2024 North American Van Lines Annual Migration Report, showing that Illinois was second in the country for outbound moves, behind only California. In fact, 60% of the moves involving Illinois were from those leaving the state, while 40% were from those moving into the Land of Lincoln. It’s the first time in ten years that Illinois did not lead the country in outbound moves. The top states where people are moving to are North and South Carolina, plus Idaho, Tennessee, and Georgia.
(CHICAGO) A Chicago man has pleaded guilty to charges of stealing more than $1.5 million from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program by using over 1,200 different cards. The 44 year old man, charged with federal wire fraud, admitted that from 2018 to 2023, he gave cash and other items to SNAP recipients in exchange for access to their SNAP cards and ID numbers. He then used the cards to purchase various goods at stores, reselling most of the items and keeping the proceeds for himself and his family.
(CHICAGO) U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers have seized eight shipments of more than 161,000 counterfeit U.S. postage stamps in Chicago. The intercepted parcels from China, containing fake stamps, would have been worth more than $118,000 if they were real. While the seized stamps had poor print quality, officials said the fakes are improving, making it harder for the average consumer to spot the difference between real or fake.
(SPRINGFIELD) Illinois lawmakers have differing budget ideas as the state faces a projected $3.2 billion deficit. Republicans say statewide residents have been taxed enough, but Democrats are talking about new revenue, all ahead of the Governor’s scheduled state budget address next Wednesday in Springfield. Last year’s budget included a record $53.1 billion in state funds, including about $970 to help illegal immigrants coming into Illinois. The state budget has risen 32% since J.B. Pritzker became Illinois’ governor in 2019.