Illinois Quick Hits: Bears want more from state

April 23, 2026/Newspaper Staff/

By Jim Talamonti | The Center Square
The Center Square

(The Center Square) – The Chicago Bears say a megaprojects bill passed by the Illinois House needs additional amendments in order to make Arlington Heights a feasible stadium site.

The Bears said in a statement that they support Illinois leaders as they determine the path to making essential changes and aligning on infrastructure funding.

The House passed Amendment 3 to House Bill 910 on Wednesday night.

MAN IN CUSTODY AFTER CENTRALIA SHOOTING

A Centralia man is charged with murder, attempted murder and several firearm-related felonies after a shooting left one person dead and three others hospitalized last Sunday.

Illinois State Police say Shavonte D. Samuels, 21, is in custody pending a hearing on the state’s request that he be denied pretrial release. Samuels is charged with killing Stephen McCary III, 19, and wounding three others.

STUDY RANKS LUCKIEST ILLINOIS CASINOS

A new report has ranked 11 commercial casino resorts in Illinois from luckiest to unluckiest.

The data study analyzed Tripadvisor reviews and found that Hollywood Casino Joliet ranked luckiest, followed by Par-A-Dice in East Peoria and Grand Victoria in Elgin. Jumer’s Casino Rock Island finished last.

The report pegged the economic impact of Illinois’ major casinos at $7.04 billion.

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