Illinois
Week in Review: Dolton mayor exposed by former police chief • Illinois lottery • 400 cars stolen in Chicago
CHICAGO – The former Dolton police chief spoke out about Mayor Tiffany Henyard for the first time; a winning $900,000 Illinois lottery ticket was sold in the suburbs; and more than 400 cars were stolen in Chicago in just one week.
These are the top stories on Fox 32’s Week in Review.
Dolton’s former top cop exposes Mayor Tiffany Henyard’s alleged misuse of police detail
A former south suburban police chief is shedding light on the actions of embattled Dolton Mayor Tiffany Henyard, accusing her of misusing a police security detail that has cost taxpayers thousands of dollars in overtime.
1. Former Dolton police chief exposes Mayor Tiffany Henyard’s alleged misuse of police detail The former police chief of south suburban Dolton is speaking out for the first time about Mayor Tiffany Henyard’s controversial police security detail, and how it affected his ability to fight crime.
In 2023, a FOX 32 investigation showed how that security detail is taking officers off the street and costing taxpayers thousands of dollars in overtime.
2. Illinois Lottery: Winning $900K ticket sold in Chicago suburb A winning lottery ticket worth nearly $1 million was sold in a Chicago suburb Tuesday.
The Fast Play Twenty 20s ticket worth $902,096 was purchased just before midnight at a 7-Eleven located at 4501 W. 91st St., in Oak Lawn.
Chicago crime: 457 cars stolen in a single week, alderwoman weighs in
Car theft in the city reached unprecedented levels last year, and this year, the perpetrators have shown no signs of slowing down.
3. Chicago crime: 457 cars stolen in a single week, alderwoman weighs in Car theft in the city reached unprecedented levels last year, and this year, the perpetrators have shown no signs of slowing down. In just one week, a staggering 65 cars were stolen on average each day.
Dolton Mayor Tiffany Henyard announces $1 million giveaway for Black History Month
Some residents in the south suburbs are concerned after the Dolton Mayor and Thornton Township Supervisor promised a $1 million dollar giveaway, which turned out to be public funds.
4. Dolton Mayor Tiffany Henyard announces $1 million giveaway, sparking concern among residents Some residents in the south suburbs are concerned after the Dolton Mayor and Thornton Township Supervisor promised a $1 million dollar giveaway.
Mayor Tiffany Henyard posted a message on her personal Facebook page earlier this week, asking people to tune in to a live Facebook broadcast for an announcement that she said could change their lives – a $1 million giveaway in honor of Black History Month.
5. Woman, 18, dropped off at Chicago hospital with 10 gunshot wounds A woman suffering from 10 gunshot wounds was dropped off at a hospital Thursday morning on Chicago’s North Side.
The 18-year-old was dropped off at Illinois Masonic Medical Center with six gunshots wounds to the left thigh and four gunshot wounds to the right hand, police said. She was listed in “good condition.”
Governor Pritzker expresses concern over cost of new White Sox stadium
The White Sox teased us this week with pictures of a possible move to the South Loop. But, there was no mention of how it would be paid for. Elizabeth Matthews joins us with what Gov. JB Pritzker has to say.
6. Gov. Pritzker concerned about cost of new White Sox South Loop stadium Renderings of a new Chicago White Sox stadium in the South Loop were revealed on Wednesday.
Last month, the Sun-Times reported the White Sox were in “serious” talks to build a stadium on a parcel of land known as “The 78.” It’s a sprawling 60-plus acres at Clark and Roosevelt, currently owned by Related Midwest.
7. Cook County physician convicted of $1.2M Medicaid fraud A Cook County judge has convicted Dr. William McMiller for defrauding the state of over $1.2 million in Medicaid funds.
McMiller, who is the owner of Dr. Bill’s Learning Center, was found guilty on charges of theft of government property and vendor fraud. These felonies carry penalties of six to 30 years and four to 20 years in prison.
Water rates to rise in Elmhurst
Residents of Elmhurst will see an increase in water and sewer rates after the City Council voted unanimously Monday night in favor of a 28 percent hike.
8. Water rates to rise in Chicago suburb Residents of Elmhurst will see an increase in water and sewer rates after the City Council voted unanimously Monday night in favor of a 28 percent hike.
The decision aims to fund $5 million worth of annual water and sewer main replacements, alongside necessary infrastructure updates to comply with new federal mandates.
Aurora’s Fox Valley Mall undergoes 2nd phase of redevelopment
Phase two of the Fox Valley Mall redevelopment is underway in Aurora.
9. Aurora’s Fox Valley Mall undergoes 2nd phase of redevelopment Phase two of the Fox Valley Mall redevelopment is underway in Aurora.
The city says the second phase will bring an additional 323 apartment homes with dedicated amenities, including a pool deck and resident lounge.
FOX 32’s Nate Rodgers goes undercover as smoking plagues CTA trains
Smoking is prohibited on CTA buses, trains and within station premises, but riders continue to disregard the rule. Nate Rodgers goes undercover on the trains and catches passengers in the act.
10. ‘It’s really bad on the train’: CTA riders caught smoking in plain sight despite ban Smoking has not been allowed on Chicago Transit Authority trains, buses and platforms for quite some time. However, many riders are still disregarding the rule.
The CTA said Wednesday they’re taking proactive measures to address smoking on its properties after the Chicago Police Department reported a significant increase in smoking citations issued in 2023, marking the highest number since 2019.
Illinois
1 dead, 3 injured after interstate crash in Morton, State Police say
MORTON (25News Now) – One person is dead and three others are injured after a two-vehicle crash on Interstate 74 in Morton Thursday.
Illinois State Police said the crash happened around 5:40 a.m. at mile marker 102 the eastbound lanes of I-74 in Morton.
One westbound lane is closed. All eastbound lanes are being directed off and back on the interstate at North Morton Avenue.
No further information is available.
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Illinois
UChicago Medicine performs first-known quadruple transplant surgery in Illinois
CHICAGO (WLS) — Jasmine Jones says cystic fibrosis was slowly destroying her body.
Months after she had both lungs, her kidney and her liver replaced, she’s thankful for her donor and doctors for giving her a second chance at life.
ABC7 Chicago is now streaming 24/7. Click here to watch
Jones, 28, has spent her entire life battling the genetic disease that attacks the lungs and digestive system with thick, sticky mucus.
Over time, the disease ravaged multiple organs.
First, her liver began to fail.
“I was retaining a lot of fluid. I was in pain, very fatigued, no energy,” Jones said.
And last year, she slipped into a coma for two days.
SEE ALSO: Long Island teen’s parents issue plea for kidney donor, a surprise neighbor responds
Doctors at University of Chicago Medicine suggested replacing the liver with a donor organ, but one of Jones’ kidneys was shutting down. And her lungs were severely compromised.
“We as a team decided that it was the best option for her long-term survival was to replace all her organs in one surgery,” said Dr. Pablo Sanchez, with UChicago Medicine.
So in January, surgeons performed the first-known quadruple transplant in Illinois, replacing both of Jones’ lungs, her liver and a kidney with organs from one donor.
The procedure took place over two days.
“My donor’s organs fit perfectly. They thought they would have to shave something down or alter certain things, but everything just fit into place,” Jones said.
Jones goes to rehab three times a week, and her ultimate goal is to learn how to roller skate.
In the meantime, she says she’s grateful to the donor who made her recovery possible.
“Thank you for another chance at life and for giving me a new outlook on life,” Jones said.
Jones faces months of rehabilitation and lifelong anti-rejection medications. But she says she hopes her story will inspire others to register as organ donors.
Copyright © 2026 WLS-TV. All Rights Reserved.
Illinois
2 ways to improve Illinois spending decisions
Lawmakers make costly decisions without understanding the economic impact.
Illinois lawmakers should get economic impact studies before enacting major taxes and regulations and review costly policies they’ve already enacted.
The state faces nearly $21 billion in projected budget deficits in the next five years, with expenditures projected to grow nearly 20% and revenues only 11%.
Lawmakers can revisit policies that were enacted with limited analysis of their long-term cost. Illinois vastly underestimated spending on migrant health care. In 2023 alone, the state expected to spend $220 million, but the total came in nearly three times higher, at $644 million. Lawmakers eventually reversed part of this policy, but only after lengthy audits after the policy was enacted. A quicker reviewing of the policy that didn’t require audits could have helped.
State lawmakers also passed economically damaging business taxes for fiscal 2026 with little discussion or debate, prioritizing short-term increases in revenue while risking long-term economic growth in a state whose economy is already falling behind.
The bipartisan Illinois Joint Committee on Administrative Rules is required to consider the financial impact of proposed rules on small businesses and local governments, but its authority is limited. Either expanding its role or creating a similar mechanism to include comprehensive economic impact reviews of major tax and policy changes and their long-term consequences would provide lawmakers more information before making decisions. Too often, policy changes are adopted with little scrutiny, often in the final hours of the legislative session.
Regulations are another issue. As the fourth-most regulated state in the U.S., with over 282,000 restrictions, many of them unnecessary and costly, Illinois should more closely review economically significant regulations before they take effect.
The state should look to the federal Regulations from the Executive in Need of Scrutiny Act. That bill would mandate that the U.S. Congress explicitly approve any “major rules,” or those that would have a significant impact on the economy or business.
Illinois could adopt a similar approach, requiring legislative approval for regulations with at least $10 million in economic impact. This could ensure that major regulatory decisions receive both thorough analysis and democratic accountability.
A threshold of $10 million in annual economic impact would ensure that:
- Economic impacts are evaluated early in the rulemaking process.
- Lawmakers have ample time to review proposed rules.
- Costly or ideologically driven rules are prevented from taking effect by default.
- There is legislative responsibility for economically significant policy decisions.
Illinois finances will only deteriorate further if lawmakers focus on short-term policymaking rather than the future health of Illinois. For a more thorough roadmap on fiscal reforms, see our report Illinois Forward 2027.
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