(The Center Square) – The National Telecommunications and Information Administration announced on Tuesday that it has approved its final Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment Program proposal, including $1.04 billion for Illinois.

According to a statement from Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s office, the funding will connect about 350,000 residents through homes, businesses and community institutions across Illinois by 2031. Since 2019, Pritzker’s administration has invested $420 million in taxpayer funds for broadband access.

COUNCIL COALITION: JOHNSON ADMINISTRATION FAILED TO EXECUTE BUDGET

A group of Chicago City Council members say Mayor Brandon Johnson has failed to execute the budget as required by law and continued to slow-walk structural revenues and efficiencies designed to reduce the deficit.

The Budget Accountability Coalition’s statement followed Johnson’s announcement on Tuesday that his administration would refinance bonds to help close the budget shortfall.

The mayor blamed the deficit on what he called the “corporate caucus” that refused to go along with his plan to impose a $33 per-worker monthly tax on businesses with more than 500 employees.

EX-CARBONDALE TEACHER AIDE DETAINED ON SEXUAL EXPLOITATION CHARGES

A former Carbondale Community High School teacher aide has been charged with two counts of sexual exploitation of a child.

Austin L. Knoob, 32, of Carbondale is accused of communicating with a minor victim to request and receive child sexual abuse material in August 2025 and April 2026.

Knoob is also accused of uploading and sending child sexual abuse material involving the minor victim to online groups. Knoob was ordered to be detained pending trial by a federal magistrate judge.