Illinois Quick Hits: Pritzker requests FEMA assistance
(The Center Square) – Gov. J.B. Pritzker has requested a presidential major disaster declaration from the Federal Emergency Management Agency for severe weather that impacted eight Illinois counties last month.
If approved, FEMA grants would be available for temporary housing and home repairs, low-cost loans to cover uninsured property losses and other programs to help residents and businesses. The governor also extended his August 18 disaster proclamation for another 30 days.
Pritzker’s FEMA request covers Champaign, Cook, Ford, Fulton, McLean, Tazewell, Vermilion and Will counties.
AFP ILLINOIS QUESTIONS DISTRICT 214 REPORT
Americans for Prosperity Illinois deputy state director Brian Costin has filed objections to Township High School District 214’s Sept. 3 investigative report concerning two taxpayer-funded telephone surveys connected to the district’s bond referendum.
Fagen, Friedman & Fulfrost LLP, a law firm retained by the district, prepared the report and said there is no evidence District 214 violated the election code.
AFP Illinois is challenging the credibility of the investigation by asking the District 214 board to send the related documents to Cook County State’s Attorney Eileen O’Neill Burke for an independent review.
CHICAGO MAN SENTENCED FOR SMUGGLING FIREARMS INTO MEXICO
A Chicago man who smuggled five firearms and more than 1,700 rounds of ammunition into Mexico has been sentenced to three years in federal prison.
Two of the smuggled firearms were allegedly straw purchased by a Chicago police officer. Prosecutors said Diego Valdez, 26, and Officer Kevin Rodriguez, 29, schemed for Rodriguez to purchase the weapons on Valdez’s behalf.
Valdez pleaded guilty earlier this year to unlawfully receiving a firearm. Rodriguez has pleaded not guilty to conspiracy and firearm charges, but a change-of-plea hearing is scheduled for Oct. 27.
PAKISTANI NATIONAL SENTENCED FOR PONZI SCHEME
A federal judge in St. Louis has sentenced a Pakistani national who ran a Ponzi scheme that bilked investors out of millions of dollars to 11 years in prison.
Prosecutors said Siddharth Jawahar, 38, was in the U.S. illegally. From 2016 to 2023, Jawahar allegedly took in about $35 million from investors in his company, Swiftarc Capital LLC while investing about $10 million and fueling an extravagant lifestyle.
Jawahar was also ordered to pay $31.35 million in restitution.
GAS PRICES RISE AGAIN
Gas prices have risen again. According to AAA, the average price for a gallon of regular unleaded in Illinois jumped from $4.53 on Tuesday to nearly $4.63 on Wednesday.
The national average increased from $4.33 to $4.37.
One year ago, the average price was $3.44 in Illinois and $3.19 across the country.
The price for a gallon diesel in Illinois was $6.26 on Wednesday, up from $6.22 on Tuesday.
The national average on Wednesday was $6.31.
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