Illinois
Social Media Buzzes as Illinois Basketball Lands Another International Recruit
For years, it was a verifiable fact that the Balkans was a region located in Southeastern Europe. Recently, though, there has been some confusion, as the area has seen a notable migration of its populace to a certain central Illinois city.
Champaign could now aptly be dubbed “The Little Balkans,” but even that would be counterintuitive given that it likely holds the world record for the town with the tallest average height among its Balkan population.
On Tuesday, 6-foot-3 Serbian point guard Mihailo Petrovic announced his commitment to the Illini and his intention to join seven-foot twin brothers Tomislav and Zvonimir Ivisic (Croatia) and 6-foot-8 David Mirkovic (Montenegro) in what may be the NCAA’s first-ever Balkans alliance.
NEWS: Mega Superbet PG Mihailo Petrovic has committed to Illinois, agent Misko Raznatovic told ESPN. The 22-year-old Serbian is an MVP candidate in the Adriatic League, ranking second in assists (7.3 per game) and top-10 in scoring (14.3 ppg). Big pickup for Brad Underwood. pic.twitter.com/2363F0nuHk
— Jonathan Givony (@DraftExpress) April 22, 2025
Petrovic is a current pro who has been a difference-maker in Europe’s Adriatic League, averaging 14.3 points and 7.3 assists to insert himself in the MVP discussion.
With his experience (Petrovic is 22) and skill set, he appears well-positioned to step into the point guard role left behind by fellow international-born guard Kasparas Jakucionis, who is off to the NBA.
Naturally, with Illinois landing a premier talent (and yet another overseas prospect), social media has caught ablaze. Here are a few of the best reactions:
Me trying to learn where all of the 2025-26 Illinois Fighting Illini players are from: pic.twitter.com/EzCmqxisDa
— Illini Nation (@IlliniNation_) April 22, 2025 From an NBA scout pic.twitter.com/AXYdTHflPY
— ᗩᑎT ᗯᖇIGᕼT (@itsAntWright) April 22, 2025 No need for Adam Miller
Illinois goes STEALTH and snags a stud PG
Mihailo Petrovic
No need for NIL portal drama
— Dariush Takhtehchian, M.D (@takhtehchianmd) April 22, 2025 Not even saying this because he is an Illini, but a 22 year old pro in a good league shouldn’t have college eligibility.
Where does the NCAA draw the line???
Can we get 30 year olds at this rate? https://t.co/b6zFppAem3
— Wildcat Nation (@NUcatsnation) April 22, 2025 Illinois is assembling a Balkan dream team this off-season, with the Serbian Petrovic, Croatian twins Zvonimir and Tomislav Ivisic, and Montenegrin David Mirkovic. Will be fun to see how it comes together. https://t.co/Hh4gxhri0x
— Jonathan Givony (@DraftExpress) April 22, 2025 No one in CBB has invested more in recruiting Europe than Illinois.
Brad Underwood told me last summer they recruit top European events just like they would recruit Peach Jam. Mihailo Petrovic, one of the Adriatic League’s best players, is another example of that paying off.
— Kevin Sweeney (@CBB_Central) April 22, 2025 Brad Underwood – international gangster @JonRothstein #illini pic.twitter.com/0xX1bgTTQb
— Andrew Fulk (@fulknA) April 22, 2025
Illinois Coach Brad Underwood Seeking Experience in Transfer Portal
Illinois Basketball ‘In the Mix’ for Elite Transfer Portal Prospect
Cal Transfer Andrej Stojakovic Set to Visit Illinois Campus on Tuesday
Illinois
4 shot in Rockford, suspect in custody; police ask public to avoid area
Saturday, July 18, 2026 11:43AM
ROCKFORD, Ill. (WLS) — Rockford police are investigating a quadruple shooting on Saturday.
ABC7 Chicago is now streaming 24/7. Click here to watch
The shooting happened near Island and Clifton Avenues, police said.
Police said four people were shot. All injuries appeared to be non-life-threatening, police said.
The shooting suspect was in police custody.
No other information was immediately available.
The public is asked to avoid the area as they continue to investigate.
Copyright © 2026 WLS-TV. All Rights Reserved.
Illinois
Produce Recall Issued In Parasite Outbreak Hitting IL
A number of Taco Bell locations have posted signs announcing they are “currently unable to sell Lettuce, Cilantro Onion, Pico de Gallo, and Guacamole due to a nationwide recall,” according to Detroit-area news radio outlet WWJ.
Taco Bell told the Post it would keep monitoring the situation and follow authorities’ guidance.
Taco Bell Lettuce Linked To Growing MI Parasite Outbreak: FDA
“Public health officials have not confirmed a link to Taco Bell or any specific ingredient, supplier, restaurant or retailer,” the company told the Post. “While authorities continue their broader review, Taco Bell has voluntarily and temporarily removed limited ingredients at select restaurants as a precautionary measure.”
In Michigan, where cases have been concentrated, media reports said notices were posted at some Detroit-area Taco Bell restaurants last week telling customers the chain was “currently unable to sell Lettuce, Cilantro-Onion, Pico de Gallo, and Guacamole due to a nationwide recall.”
Illinois
Illinois GOP trails badly in midterm cash
The Illinois Republican Party filed its quarterly campaign finance report on the July 15 deadline. The party reported having just $223K in the bank. The next day, the party sent a letter to the Illinois State Board of Elections saying they were “reconciling” their records after a leadership change, and then noted that their actual end balance was $101K higher than it had reported the day before.
But that bit of found money was basically the end of the “good news” for the GOP last week.
Republicans no longer have a pet billionaire. Bruce Rauner and Ken Griffin have fled the state. The legions of wealthy business titans who once contributed and raised money have either retired to sunnier climes or passed away. Several prominent party members have publicly shunned labor unions and their hefty political war chests, although the state GOP legislative leaders have at least tried to rebuild ties to trade unions and even the Illinois Education Association. But the heavily gerrymandered legislative map combined with the current political climate means they’ll mostly receive scraps.
And, yes, the House Democrats are struggling this month with scandals, including a state representative who resigned under pressure and another who was indicted. I’m not trying to downplay that at all. But Democrats have the national political environment, the local infrastructure and tons of cash behind them. The Republicans have little to none of that.
The GOP’s gubernatorial candidate, Darren Bailey, raised $1.3 million in the second quarter, which ended June 30. That sounds like a lot, but he spent almost all of that on direct mail fundraising costs. The huge expenditures do give him a prospect list for future fundraising, but he ended the quarter with a mere $128K in the bank. That was still a whole lot more than the rest of the statewide ticket.
Attorney General nominee Bob Fioretti, a perennial candidate, raised $31K, spent $39K and had $28K on hand at the end of the quarter along with almost $15K in recent debt. Secretary of State candidate Diane Harris raised $6K, spent a bit over $4K and had a paltry $1,816.42 in the bank. Treasurer candidate Max Solomon, who ran as a write-in during the primary because the party failed to recruit anyone, raised less than $3K, reported no spending and ended the quarter with less than $8K. Comptroller candidate Bryan Drew raised $30K and received $47K in in-kind contributions from a company owned, ironically, by independent gubernatorial candidate Collin Corbett, spent less than $3K, ended with $54K and had $25K in debt from earlier this year.
Man, that’s just downright pathetic.
But I suppose it doesn’t really matter anyway unless we see a massive sea-change in national opinion in the coming months or the federal government finds a way to not certify certain election results. Regardless of where individual candidates are at this moment, they’ll have the money to compete. Unlike the Republicans, the Dems do have a pet billionaire (JB Pritzker) and, I assume eventually for most of them, organized labor.
The Republican legislative leaders have tried to scrape and claw as much as they can, but they’re vastly outgunned. Senate Republican Leader John Curran raised just $75K in the second quarter. He spent $71K and reported having a bit more than $3 million in the bank. His caucus committee reported having $160K in the bank.
Leader Curran has three Republican-held districts to defend in the Chicago media market that have all trended Democratic in the last three cycles. Depending how bad things get, he could be defending a couple, two or three more.
The Senate Democrats have a ton of money to do whatever they want. Senate President Don Harmon has about $20 million in his personal campaign account and $1.7 million in his caucus account.
Over in the House, Republican Leader Tony McCombie has at least four Democratic-trending or swingy districts to defend and just $1.3 million in her personal campaign account and another $363K in her caucus account so far.
In contrast, House Speaker Chris Welch had $11.4 million in his personal account and $1.2 million in his caucus account. Like Senate President Harmon, he has more than enough money already, but more is never enough when there’s so much out there, so those numbers will likely rise by November.
Rich Miller also publishes Capitol Fax, a daily political newsletter, and CapitolFax.com.
-
Michigan2 minutes agoQ&A: Bernie Sanders on wildfires, the Senate race, cyclosporiasis
-
Massachusetts8 minutes agoMassachusetts’ high-stakes $1B race to sustain World Cup glory: ‘A tipping point’
-
Minnesota14 minutes agoMinnesota access to Osceola, Wis., bridge to be closed for 30 days starting Monday
-
Mississippi20 minutes agoOur Mississippi Magazine announces new class of ‘Most Influential African Americans’ statewide
-
Missouri26 minutes agoNew Missouri law requires child support if drunk driver kills a parent
-
Montana32 minutes ago
Montana Lottery Powerball, Lotto America results for July 18, 2026
-
Nebraska38 minutes agoNebraska flag football announces home facilities
-
Nevada44 minutes agoNevada’s Off-The-Beaten-Path Living Ghost Town Has A Museum, Historic Cemetery, And Mountain Views – Islands