CHICAGO, Illinois, Dec. 20 -- The office of the U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois issued the following news release: A federal jury has convicted a Chicago businessman of scheming to defraud multiple financial institutions out of $4 million. DAVID IZSAK, 48, of Chicago, was a licensed real estate professional and the sole proprietor of Skokie, Ill.-based Premier Assets Inc. and Premier Properties Enterprises, Inc. From 2005 to 2018, Izsak engaged in a scheme to defraud financ  more

REDSTONE ARSENAL, Alabama, Dec. 19 -- The U.S. Army Contracting Command issued the following news: By Ben Gonzales, Army Contracting Command Public Affairs Army Contracting Command members earned the Army Superior Unit Award for their procurement and acquisition efforts supporting the Army modernization priority in addition to the command's support to the Coronavirus pandemic during Operation Warp speed Army officials announced in December. Soldiers and Army civilians serving with ACC between  more

LEWISTON, New York, Dec. 19 -- The U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Customs and Border Protection issued the following news release: U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers at the Port of Buffalo, Lewiston Bridge border-crossing, arrested a 29-year-old female Romanian citizen, who had an active felony arrest warrant from Fairfax, Virginia. On December 15, CBP officers encountered 29-year-old Loredana Lascan, who was heading to Niagara Falls, Canada and made a wrong turn on the   more

CLARKSDALE, Mississippi, Dec. 19 -- The Delta Regional Authority issued the following news release on Dec. 18, 2023: Delta Regional Authority (DRA) is awarding over $1.5 million to 13 communities in Alabama, Illinois, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Missouri in its second round of funding through the Strategic Planning Program. Funding for this program was made available by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law signed by President Biden, a key part of his Investing in America agenda to grow l  more

ARGONNE, Illinois, Dec. 20 (TNSres) -- The U.S. Department of Energy's Argonne National Laboratory issued the following news release: * * * Researchers used the Advanced Photon Source to confirm the rare properties of this material, which could lead to more efficient large-scale computing. * * * As industrial computing needs grow, the size and energy consumption of the hardware needed to keep up with those needs grows as well. A possible solution to this dilemma could be found in superconduc  more

CHAMPAIGN, Illinois, Dec. 20 -- The Illinois House Democrats issued the following news release: State Rep. Carol Ammons, D-Urbana, is applauding recent library grants which will include benefits to Champaign-Urbana School District (CUSD) 4 and Urbana School District 116. "I am happy to announce that two of our school districts in our community will reap benefits worth thousands of dollars to encourage youth literacy in schools," Ammons said. "Reading has many social and academic benefits that   more

GRANITE CITY, Illinois, Dec. 20 -- The Illinois House Democrats issued the following news release on Dec. 18, 2023: State Reps. Jay Hoffman, D-Swansea, and Katie Stuart, D-Edwardsville, are insisting that local workers are heard as Nippon Steel Corporation moves to acquire U.S. Steel without engaging the United Steelworkers (USW) union. Hoffman and Stuart issued the following statements, Monday: "We need to know in no uncertain terms what this deal means for the thousands of Metro East familie  more

AURORA, Illinois, Dec. 20 -- The Illinois House Democrats issued the following news release on Dec. 18, 2023: In partnership with Meridian Retailers, state Rep. Barbara Hernandez, D-Aurora, will hold a turkey giveaway on Tuesday, Dec. 19, from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. at 1, East Benton Street in Aurora. "I'm excited to be able to give back to my community by passing out free turkies this holiday season," Hernandez said. "Winter holidays are a time to eat well and turkeys can be a great part of that tr  more

DECATUR, Illinois, Dec. 20 -- The Illinois House Democrats issued the following news release: To help local seniors live independently and vibrantly, state Rep. Sue Scherer, D-Decatur, recently helped to bring new funding to the Decatur Park District (DPD) to redevelop the Scovill Golf Clubhouse as a senior center. "Our seniors have done so much for us and our community. We must continue to look out for them and their needs," said Scherer. "I am excited to see the joy and relief that this new   more

SPRINGFIELD, Illinois, Dec. 20 -- The Illinois Senate Democrats issued the following news: Illinois veterans will be able to adopt a pet without paying fees on Jan. 1, thanks to a new law from State Senator Meg Loughran Cappel. "Our veterans put their lives on the line to protect our freedom," said Loughran Cappel (D-Shorewood). "Everyone deserves companionship, and we have seen the benefits pets can give veterans including improved health and overall happiness." Across the state, pet adoptio  more

SPRINGFIELD, Illinois, Dec. 20 -- The Illinois Senate Democrats issued the following news: Illinois residents who are victims of fertility fraud will soon be able to bring action against health care providers, thanks to a new law from State Senator Dave Koehler. When Bloomington resident Curt Richardson got his DNA test results back from Ancestry.com in June 2021, his life - and those of his parents - changed forever when they learned they had been victims of fertility fraud. Richardson's sto  more

SPRINGFIELD, Illinois, Dec. 20 -- The Illinois Senate Democrats issued the following news: Beginning Jan. 1, residents will see expanded protections from utility disconnections on days of extreme heat, thanks to a new law from State Senator Mattie Hunter. "For people who fall behind on their bills, having their utilities shut off on an extremely hot day can have dire consequences," said Hunter (D-Chicago). "By recognizing the dangers of heat and the value in access to air conditioning and prop  more

SPRINGFIELD, Illinois, Dec. 20 -- The Illinois Senate Democrats issued the following news: Illinois is one step closer to becoming smoke free thanks, in part, to a new law from State Senator Julie Morrison set to take effect on Jan. 1 that bans e-cigarettes inside public places. "E-cigarettes, in all of their many forms, continue to be one of the most addictive products readily available for purchase in gas stations, vape shops and online," said Morrison (D-Lake Forest). "We have made solid pr  more

SPRINGFIELD, Illinois, Dec. 20 -- The Illinois Senate Democrats issued the following news: Illinois residents will have greater access to care and mental health services after State Senator Ann Gillespie's comprehensive Medicaid overhaul takes effect Jan. 1. "Thousands of Illinois residents depend on health care through Medicaid," said Gillespie (D-Arlington Heights). "We are helping providers with offering affordable and high-quality care by expanding services, investing in telehealth and inc  more

SPRINGFIELD, Illinois, Dec. 20 -- The Illinois Senate Democrats issued the following news: Illinois will become the first state in the nation to prohibit the banning of books in libraries, thanks to a measure championed by State Senator Laura Murphy that takes effect Jan. 1, 2024. "Illinois is the first to take a stand and tell the rest of the country that we won't bend to censorship," said Murphy (D-Des Plaines). "I am proud we are standing up for First Amendment rights and standing against p  more

SPRINGFIELD, Illinois, Dec. 20 -- The Illinois Senate Democrats issued the following news: Beginning Jan. 1, a new law from State Senator Christopher Belt will put an end to traffic stops from law enforcement that solely involve minor windshield obstructions. "This measure is not about hindering officers but about creating an understanding between law enforcement and drivers about what a legitimate reason is to be pulled over," said Belt (D-Swansea). "With this new law, we are sending a powerf  more

SPRINGFIELD, Illinois, Dec. 20 -- The Illinois Senate Democrats issued the following news on Dec. 19, 2023: A law championed by State Senator Willie Preston requiring the Secretary of State to provide previously incarcerated individuals with an Illinois ID upon their release goes into effect Monday, Jan. 1, 2024. "We are offering a lifeline to individuals who have paid their debt to society," said Preston (D-Chicago). "Access to valid identification isn't just about a card; it's a key to unloc  more

CHICAGO, Illinois, Dec. 20 -- The Illinois Senate Democrats issued the following news: State Senator Mike Simmons announced the launch of the 7th District Small Business Restoration Grant, which will have$2.5 million available to assist small businesses located in the 7th District. "Small business owners across the 7th District have frequently reached out to my office or stopped me in passing to talk about the pressures they face. My staff and I have seen a clear trend of small businesses clos  more

SPRINGFIELD, Illinois, Dec. 20 -- The Illinois Environmental Protection Agency issued the following news release: The Illinois Environmental Protection Agency has announced $750,000 of grant funding available for the development and completion of energy efficiency projects at public water supply (PWS) facilities, commonly referred to as drinking water treatment plants (DWTP). The grant program seeks to invest U.S. Department of Energy Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) funds in publ  more

ATLANTA, Georgia, Dec. 20 -- The Small Business Administration issued the following news release on Dec. 19, 2023: The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) encourages businesses of all sizes, private nonprofit organizations, homeowners, and renters to apply for a disaster loan before the Jan. 19 deadline. Survivors in the declared Cook County, who incurred damage from severe storms and flooding on Sept. 17-18, should apply for a physical damage disaster loan by Jan. 19, 2024. Disaster surv  more

MADISON, Wisconsin, Dec. 19 -- The Wisconsin Economic Development Corp. issued the following news release: Kwik Trip will invest more than $151 million to expand its operations at multiple locations throughout Wisconsin, creating more than 500 jobs by 2027 and qualifying the La Crosse-based retailer to earn an additional $15 million in performance-based Enterprise Zone tax incentives from the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation (WEDC). "Kwik Trip is one of Wisconsin's most instantly rec  more