Pritzker signs squatters bill
Illinois law enforcement will soon have the power to remove trespassers from properties where the owner establishes legal ownership with a new law signed by Gov. J.B. Pritzker.
Currently, Illinois law does not distinguish between overstaying tenants and squatters if the squatter claims to be a tenant or owner.
The new law takes effect Jan. 1, 2026.
Accountant sentenced for embezzlement
A former Chicago construction company accountant has been sentenced to two years and two months in prison for embezzling funds.
Joseph Mandarino, 46, of Scarborough, Ontario, Canada was also ordered to pay more than $1.8 million in restitution.
Prosecutors say Mandarino committed the fraud from 2015 to 2017.
14th for STDs
Illinois ranks 14th among U.S. states with the highest infection rates for sexually-transmitted diseases, with 832 new cases per 100,000 residents.
Researchers for Invigor Medical analyzed Centers for Disease Control and Prevention data for chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis and HIV.
Louisiana reported the highest STD infection rate, while Vermont had the lowest.
