Kane County Reporter

Following a two-week operation led by the FBI, eight individuals in Illinois are now facing federal charges related to a methamphetamine distribution network. Prosecutors from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Illinois attribute these arrests and charges to a regional anti-crime task force made up of local, state, and federal authorities. The task force aims to dismantle violent criminal networks in the area. This investigation began in late May and continued through early June. The U.S. Attorney’s Office commended law enforcement's efforts, noting this as part of an intensified campaign against organized drug crime in Illinois. The investigation is ongoing, with potential for further arrests.

In another development, Stellantis has announced plans to recall workers laid off from its Belvidere assembly plant once it reopens. This decision marks progress toward reopening the closed motor vehicle assembly plant. When the plant was initially shut down, workers were given the opportunity to register their seniority and indicate if they wished to return when operations resumed. This list will be used upon reopening, which is expected to provide jobs for 1,500 people in northern Illinois.

Additionally, Wood River has approved a plan to transform the former EnviroTech Business Park into a $62 million film studio and entertainment complex. Developer WR Farm Investments LLC has received approval to purchase the 105-acre site for constructing sound stages for film production and an e-gaming arena. During a presentation to Wood River officials, the CEO of WR Farm Investments credited an enhanced film production tax credit enacted by the Illinois General Assembly in 2024 as instrumental in moving forward with this proposal.