Illinois quick hits: 700,000 customers' health information potentially exposed

Illinois quick hits: 700,000 customers’ health information potentially exposed

January 2, 2026/Newspaper Staff/

By The Center Square
The Center Square

IDHS announces health information potentially exposed

Protected health information for more than 700,000 customers of rehabilitation services and Medicaid and Medicare savings programs may have been compromised.

The Illinois Department of Human Services announced maps meant to determine where to open new local offices were publicly viewable.

To date, IDHS said it was unaware of any actual or attempted misuse of personal information as a result of this incident.

ICE looking for child predator

Federal authorities are searching for an alleged child predator last seen in Chicago.

According to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Ricardo Vega is a citizen of Mexico wanted for contacting underage girls online, sending them sexually abusive videos and images, and instructing them to reproduce the explicit material using themselves or their younger siblings.

ICE said Vega was active in online chat rooms frequented by child predators.

Christmas tree recycling program

Biologists at Illinois Department of Natural Resources fisheries are collecting live Christmas trees to be used as fish habitat in local lakes after the holidays.

Agency officials said the trees will be bundled, weighted and submerged at lakes, providing habitat for multiple species and promoting algae growth for insects that attract fish for anglers.

The IDNR Office of Fisheries website has drop-off location information and instructions.

Leave a Comment





Latest News Stories

Minneapolis seeks federal aid as Operation Metro Surge ends

Minneapolis seeks federal aid as Operation Metro Surge ends

By Elyse ApelThe Center Square As Operation Metro Surge is expected to wind down in the coming week, the City of Minneapolis is seeking financial assistance from the federal government...
Ongoing smuggling operations continue at U.S.-Canada border

Ongoing smuggling operations continue at U.S.-Canada border

By Bethany BlankleyThe Center Square Ongoing smuggling operations continue at the U.S.-Canada border. After alleged offenders are arrested and charged by federal immigration officers, they are being indicted and prosecuted....
Groups call on Canada to safeguard national security, combat expansive crime

Groups call on Canada to safeguard national security, combat expansive crime

By Bethany BlankleyThe Center Square Two Canadian groups have called on the Canadian government to strengthen border security, highlighting failures to crack down on drug trafficking and illicit trade. While...
montgomery county Graphic Logo.2

County Donates $30,000 for Urgent Electrical Repairs at Fairgrounds

Montgomery County Board Meeting | Jan. 13, 2026 Article Summary: Recognizing critical infrastructure needs, the County Board voted to donate $30,000 from coal royalty funds to the Montgomery County Fair...

Everyday Economics: The jobs report mirage: Hiring looks fine until revisions hit

By Orphe DivounguyThe Center Square Last week’s jobs report said the U.S. added 130,000 jobs in January. But the more consequential news landed in the fine print: the Bureau of...
This family business paid $200,000 in tariffs last year, but won't cut corners

This family business paid $200,000 in tariffs last year, but won’t cut corners

By Brett RowlandThe Center Square La Tienda has been delivering the best of Spanish cuisine to Americans for three decades, but the task has become more expensive after President Donald...
27 members of TdA, anti-Tren members charged in New York

27 members of TdA, anti-Tren members charged in New York

By Bethany BlankleyThe Center Square An additional 27 members of Venezuelan transnational criminal organizations, Tren de Aragua and its splinter faction, anti-Tren, have been indicted in New York in an...
montgomery county Graphic Logo.4

Montgomery County Board Approves $315,000 for New Dump Truck, Advances Infrastructure Projects

Montgomery County Board Meeting | Jan. 13, 2026 Article Summary: The Montgomery County Board authorized the purchase of a new tandem dump truck and approved several engineering agreements to address road...
Litchfield Brush Fire_5494

Fire Department Responds to Brush Fire

The Litchfield Fire Department responded to a brush fire on 15th Avenue on Friday afternoon. Mutual aid was called for but not needed as crews brought the fire under control....
Illinois Quick Hits: Bills filed to create small business accounts

Illinois Quick Hits: Bills filed to create small business accounts

By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – Democratic state Sen. Doris Turner, D-Springfield, and Republican state Rep Amy Elik, R-Alton, have filed legislation to...
Taxpayers funding $52.8M Route 9 upgrade; residents raise safety concerns

Taxpayers funding $52.8M Route 9 upgrade; residents raise safety concerns

By Catrina Barker | The Center Square contributorThe Center Square (The Center Square) – Illinois is set to receive $52.8 million in federal taxpayer funding to overhaul roughly 6 miles...
Report: ‘Lawfare’ used to enforce ‘woke’ policies outside legislative process

Report: ‘Lawfare’ used to enforce ‘woke’ policies outside legislative process

By Tate MillerThe Center Square A new report released by Alliance for Consumers shows how the American Left has been pushing its agenda through what it calls “lawfare,” enforcing “woke”...
Climate and energy experts praise Trump’s Endangerment Finding repeal

Climate and energy experts praise Trump’s Endangerment Finding repeal

By Tate MillerThe Center Square Climate and energy experts have praised President Donald Trump’s recent elimination of former President Barack Obama’s Endangerment Finding, with several noting the freedom the action...
Taxpayer group urges Trump, Congress to confront rising federal debt

Taxpayer group urges Trump, Congress to confront rising federal debt

By Tom JoyceThe Center Square A national taxpayer advocacy group is calling on President Donald Trump and Congress to address the nation’s rising debt, warning that interest payments and long-term...
WATCH/EXCLUSIVE: Bill limits governor's emergency powers

WATCH/EXCLUSIVE: Bill limits governor’s emergency powers

By Madeline ShannonThe Center Square The governor’s ability to act unilaterally during states of emergency would be limited, if a new California bill becomes law. Assembly Bill 1835, introduced by...