Illinois Quick Hits: Pritzker creates AI cabinet

(The Center Square) – Gov. J.B. Pritzker has signed an executive order to create the Illinois Artificial Intelligence Cabinet.

According to a statement released by the governor’s office on Tuesday, the group will bring together academic and subject-matter experts along with leaders of state agencies.

Pritzker said Congress and the White House need to treat AI risks with urgency. The governor is expected to announce the members of the AI cabinet in the coming weeks.

FLORIDA CHAMBER EXPANDS FREE ENTERPRISE CAMPAIGN TO ILLINOIS

The Florida Chamber of Commerce has expanded its Free Enterprise Florida campaign to Illinois with billboards naming Gov. J.B. Pritzker a runner-up for Florida Economic Developer of the Year.

The billboards in the Chicago area follow the campaign launch in New York’s Times Square last month.

The campaign highlights differences between Illinois and Florida in business relocations, population growth, taxable income migration and new business startups.

ILLINOIS AG HAILS ORDER PREVENTING CHANGES TO BENEFITS ACCESS LAW

Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul is hailing a federal court order that vacates the Trump administration’s rule changes for certain taxpayer-funded benefits.

Raoul was part of a coalition of 21 attorneys general that filed suit in July 2025 challenging the federal government’s reinterpretation of the law governing access to social services.

A statement from Raoul’s office said Illinois stood to lose $182.5 million annually for mental health and substance abuse prevention, treatment and recovery programs.

MAN SENTENCED FOR THREATENING FEDERAL IMMIGRATION AUTHORITIES

A Park Forest man has been sentenced to one year in prison for threatening violence against federal immigration authorities.

Government attorneys said Michael D. Stover, 34, admitted that his social media post on July 7, 2025 was made knowing that it would be viewed as a threat to injure.

Stover allegedly made previous postings advocating violence against government officials.

MAN GETS 12 YEARS FOR FENTANYL, DRUG TRAFFICKING

A Chicago man has been sentenced to 12 years in federal prison for trafficking fentanyl and other drugs from Arizona to Illinois.

Prosecutors said Alonzo Powe, 55, arranged to receive parcels of fentanyl, methamphetamine and cocaine in 2022 and 2023 with the intention of distributing the narcotics to customers in and around the Chicago area.

This story originally appeared on thecentersquare.com.