ILLINOIS STATE NEWS BRIEF (05/31/2024)

(SPRINGFIELD) In a deal with ten states and the District of Columbia, the National Collegiate Athletic Association agreed to end its transfer rule requiring athletes who transfer a second time, to sit out a year. However, the proposed lawsuit settlement must be approved by a U.S. District Judge. The settlement requires the NCAA to not retaliate against schools that protested the rule, or reward those that followed it, plus the NCAA must grant an added year of eligibility to any athlete who lost a year due to the rule since it began five years ago. While led by Ohio and West Virginia, the other states in the lawsuit were North Carolina, New York, Virginia, Mississippi, Colorado, Tennessee, Minnesota, and Illinois.

(SPRINGFIELD) Stolen food benefits are a growing problem throughout Illinois. WGN TV reports that during a 6-month span, more than $4.5 million was stolen from Illinois’ SNAP Program, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. While money is loaded on an electric card that can be used at most grocery stores, thieves are placing skimming devices on the in-store payment systems, allowing them to steal money from the cards.

(SPRINGFIELD) A Jacksonville man has been sentenced to 14 months in prison after prosecutors said he made threats toward President Joe Biden and other officials. 40 year old Adam Mouser was sentenced after pleading guilty to charges back in January. He used social media to threaten violence against the President and his family, along with Secretary of State Anthony Blinken and various members of Congress, especially those from Illinois.

(CHICAGO) The Chicago Air & Water Show is being moved because of a scheduling conflict. With the Windy City hosting the Democratic National Convention for the first time since 1996, the Air & Water Show will take place one week earlier than normal. The annual show will now take place August 10th and 11th, with at least 2 million people expected to attend.