Illinois
Everything Illinoisans need to know about the Real ID ahead of 2025 deadline
Upgrade your license now for domestic flights in 2025
Are you Real ID ready? If not, you have around one year to upgrade your driver’s license to Real ID if you plan to board a domestic flight next year.
In less than one year, Illinois residents 18 and older will be required to have a Real ID card in order to board planes and to enter certain federal facilities.
“I strongly encourage residents who intend to fly to get their REAL ID as soon as possible to avoid future headaches,” Illinois Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias said in a news release. “Our DMV facilities stand readyto help customers get their new driver’s licenses and identification cards before the federal deadline.”
In charge of administering the licenses in the state is the Illinois secretary of state’s office, who said only 23.5% of Illinoisans had the license as of May.
Here’s everything you need to know about the Real ID.
When is the deadline to have a Real ID?
May 7, 2025, is the deadline set by the federal government to have the license created under the REAL ID Act in 2005 — a post-9/11 security measure.
Are Real ID’s mandatory?
No, if you have a valid passport, military ID or other federally approved identification, you don’t need a Real ID to board a plane or enter certain federal buildings.
How do I apply for the license?
Those applying for a REAL ID card first need to either make an appointment or walk-in to a secretary of state DMV facility. The SOS website shows what facilities require appointments.
More: ‘This is history’: Supporters urge Springfield Race Riot site to become national monument
What do I need to apply for a Real ID?
You will need to provide proof of your identity, your full Social Security number, signature and have two documents showing your current residency. A full checklist of requirements can also be found at the SOS website.
How much does a Real ID cost?
The fees for a Real ID are the same as a standard driver’s license/ID. More information can be found on the SOS website.
Who needs a REAL ID?
The Transportation Security Administration will not any accept identification besides the Real ID, meaning no passengers attempting to board planes without it will be permitted. It is also required to enter military bases or visit nuclear power plants, per the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.
Air travel and visiting these facilities will still be allowed if the individual can present a valid US passport, which is compliant with the REAL ID.
Do I need a Real ID to vote?
No. You don’t need a Real ID to vote or do any of the following:
- Drive
- Open a bank account
- Apply for/receive federal benefits
- Enter a federal facility that does not require IDs like a post office
- Visit a hospital
Contact Patrick M. Keck: 312-549-9340, pkeck@gannett.com, twitter.com/@pkeckreporter.
Illinois
Cash App parent company agrees to $45 million settlement with Illinois, 44 other states
Illinois will get $1.1 million of a $45 million, 45-state settlement with money transfer app Cash App’s parent company, which was accused of misleading customers about the app’s security.
Block Inc. will face $55 million in civil penalties and also have to pay customers nationwide somewhere from $75 million to $120 million as part of the settlement, which includes the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.
In a statement, Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul said the settlement holds the company accountable and requires it to “change its harmful practices.”
“Block told Cash App users their money was safe and falsely implied that the app worked like a bank, with the same protections,” Raoul said. “Block was aware that fraud on its platform was rising sharply and failed to warn users, strengthen protections or provide real help to users when things went wrong.”
A company spokesperson confirmed the settlement and said the company has made “significant investments in consumer protection, customer service, and compliance.”
“We share the commitment of the attorneys general to addressing industry challenges and continue to invest in operations and technology to promote a safe and healthy financial ecosystem,” the spokesperson said in a statement provided to the Sun-Times Wednesday night.
The lawsuit accused the company of not preventing fraud, and even of having systems that made it easier to commit that fraud. Minimal identity verification allowed someone to create fake or multiple accounts, and the company had no phone support line. Instead, customers who had been defrauded often were provided by those fraudsters with fake online customer support phone numbers, the suit alleged.
As part of the agreement, the company must offer at least 13.5 hours of human-staffed phone lines per day as part of 24-hour support, as well as reimburse customers for fraudulent transactions, stop marketing the app as safe and educate users about the dangers of fraud.
Illinois
Illinois girl, 8, dies after being struck by lightning
SERENA, Ill. – An 8-year-old girl has died after she was struck by lightning while outside in the backyard of her home in LaSalle County over the Fourth of July weekend.
Girl killed by lightning strike
What we know:
The LaSalle County Coroner’s office said it was called to emergency department at OSF St. Elizabeth Hospital in Ottawa on the evening of July 3 after the child was brought in following the lightning strike.
A forensic autopsy was conducted on Sunday. Preliminary findings determined the girl died from injuries caused by the lightning strike.
What we don’t know:
Officials have not yet released the child’s identity.
The incident remains under investigation by the LaSalle County Coroner’s Office and the LaSalle County Sheriff’s Office.
The Source: The information in this report came from the LaSalle County Coroner’s Office.
Illinois
Lake Geneva boat accident, 3 kids drowned; Illinois school district responds
LAKE GENEVA, Wis. – We’re learning more about the victims in Friday’s tragedy on Geneva Lake.
Three kids, ages 10, seven, and six, were killed after they were trapped in the sinking boat during the severe storms.
Officials won’t comment on their identities, but FOX6 learned at least two of them were students at the Community Unit School District 200 (CUSD 200) in Wheaton, Illinois.
FREE DOWNLOAD: Get breaking news alerts in the FOX LOCAL Mobile app for iOS or Android
The district released a statement, saying:
“On behalf of Community Unit School District 200, our deepest condolences are with the family and friends of the children who died in a tragic boating incident in Lake Geneva on July 3. We ask that you join us in supporting these families during this difficult time, and keep them in your thoughts as we all cope with this incredible loss.”
Lake Geneva Police Chief statement
What we know:
The City of Lake Geneva Police Department is opening up on the incident and the property destruction caused by the storms.
The police chief says, in part:
“In moments of tragedy, we often see the very best in people, and that has certainly been true here. While there is still healing ahead, I hope everyone knows how grateful we are for the outpouring of support shown over these past several days. It has been humbling to witness and a reminder that no one faces hardship alone when a community stands together.”
–Chief Ed Gritzner, City of Lake Geneva Police Department
The backstory:
Walworth County experienced what law enforcement described as a “sudden and severe” storm on July 3. The National Weather Service said it created a downburst with peak winds estimated at 90–100 mph.
FREE DOWNLOAD: Get breaking news alerts in the FOX LOCAL Mobile app for iOS or Android
The storm downed hundreds of trees and power lines, damaged several buildings and created hazardous boating conditions on Geneva Lake. One boat with 10 people on board overturned and ultimately sank.
Six adults and one child were rescued from the water, while three of the kids were missing when emergency responders got there. Those three children were found and later died despite life-saving attempts.
Emergency response on Geneva Lake after storms lead to calls for water rescue on July 3, 2026.
Who was on the boat?
The latest:
The three children who died have been identified as a 10-year-old girl, a 7-year-old girl and a 6-year-old boy.
The boat operator was a 47-year-old man. The other passengers were a 75-year-old man, a 73-year-old woman, a 49-year-old woman, a 46-year-old man, a 44-year-old woman and a 12-year-old boy.
The group included residents of Fontana, as well as residents of Batavia and Wheaton, Illinois. All four kids were wearing properly fitted life jackets, according to law enforcement.
SIGN UP TODAY: Get daily headlines, breaking news emails from FOX6 News
What happened on Geneva Lake?
Dig deeper:
Law enforcement said the boat operator had “extensive boating experience” and was unable to find safe harbor when the storm hit. At least two large waves broke over the bow, causing it to take on water. Another wave hit the side of the boat, causing it to roll, capsize and sink.
The sunken vessel was found in 32 feet of water, and three children were found inside the boat. Divers were able to get them out and bring them to the surface, and they were pronounced dead despite life-saving attempts. Investigators determined they had no external injuries and drowned.
What’s next:
The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources and Geneva Lake Law Enforcement Agency are still conducting a joint investigation into the accident. Eleven other agencies assisted with the immediate needs.
The Source: Information in this post comes from the City of Lake Geneva Police Department and Community Unit School District 200 (CUSD 200), along with prior
-
Los Angeles, Ca1 hour agoLoved ones search for missing 34-year-old Southern California woman
-
Detroit, MI2 hours agoChickens, geese found at vacant home after nonprofit reports them stolen
-
San Francisco, CA2 hours agoWhat’s next for San Francisco Giants as MLB trade deadline approaches?
-
Dallas, TX2 hours agoDallas millionaire files lawsuit against groundwater district
-
Miami, FL2 hours ago7 more women arrested at southwest Miami-Dade massage parlors, accused of prostitution in undercover sting
-
Boston, MA2 hours ago‘They’re my buddies’: 96-year-old Back Bay woman befriends French soccer team
-
Denver, CO2 hours agoDenver officers cited for separate incidents, 1 fired
-
Seattle, WA2 hours agoStudy finds dangerous chemicals in the breast milk of Seattle moms