Latest news with #KwameRaoul
Yahoo
27-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Illinois Attorney General warns of home and business repair scams
CHICAGO (WMBD) — The spring and summer months can be a scary time for many Illinoisans as it has the potential to bring devastating storms, and with this come scammers looking to exploit those affected. Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul is warning state residents to be on the lookout for scammers trying to exploit homeowners and businesses in need of repairs, he said in a news release. 'Just as severe weather during Illinois spring months is inevitable, so too are the scammers attempting to take advantage of the devastation left in the storms' wake,' he said. 'I encourage people to use the free resources provided by my office, the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation, and other reputable resources to ensure they choose a trustworthy contractor when assessing any damage and making repair plans. 'People should be wary of any individual who solicits home repair or insurance adjusting services door to door,' Raoul said. General contractors are not required by state law to be licensed, but many local municipalities may require permits, so people should check with their local government to get more information on permit requirements before hiring anyone, Raoul said. He also said some groups are required to have state permits such as public adjusters, roofers and plumbers. Any work that costs more than $1,000 is required to have a written contract signed by both the contractor and the customer, they must have at least the minimum insurance for bodily injury, property damage and improper home repair, he said. In the release, Raoul gives the following tips to avoid dishonest contractors: Be wary of contractors who go door to door to offer repair services or 'free' inspections. Ask for recommendations from people you know and trust and, whenever possible, use established local contractors. Visit the Better Business Bureau's St. Louis or Chicago websites to see if a business is a member and whether any complaints have been lodged against it. Contact Raoul's Consumer Fraud Bureau to ask whether consumers have filed complaints against the contractor. Even if there is a need to act quickly, shop around. Get written estimates from multiple contractors, and don't be rushed into a deal. Get all terms of a contract in writing, and obtain a copy of the signed contract. Never make the full payment until all work has been completed to your satisfaction. Never pay in cash. Be aware that you have the right to cancel a contract within three business days if you signed it based on the contractor's visit to your home. In the case of disaster repair, if your insurance carrier denies coverage, you have the right to cancel the contract within five days of your insurance carrier's denial and within 30 days of receiving the proof of loss from your insurance carrier. Be aware that public adjusters do not work for your insurance company and may charge additional fees. If you submit a claim to your insurance company, your insurance company will likely provide an adjuster to review your claim at no additional cost to you. If you contract with a public adjuster, pay particular attention to the amount of fees being charged and whether you are obligated to use a specific contractor for repairs. Ask to see the required state and local permits and licenses. Insurance adjusters and roofers must be licensed by state agencies. It should raise a red flag if the roofer or adjuster does not have a required license, or if the name on the license doesn't match the name on the business card or truck. Please visit the IDFPR's website, to search for roofing licenses. Visit the DOI's website or call (866) 445-5364 to verify that a public adjuster is licensed and in good standing. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
18-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Federal DEI crackdown threatens Illinois graduate student scholarship program
The Trump administration's crackdown on diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives threatens an Illinois program that provides scholarships to minority graduate students who agree to stay in the state and work in the education field. On March 31, the U.S. Department of Justice notified universities participating in the Diversifying Higher Education in Illinois scholarship and the Illinois Board of Higher Education, which disperses the scholarship funds, that the program 'unconstitutionally discriminated on the basis of race in violation of the Fourteenth Amendment,' according to an April 11 Department of Justice news release. 'After the Justice Department threatened to file suit, the state and six universities suspended the program,' the DOJ release said. But Gov. JB Pritzker, who included funding for the program in his February budget proposal, continues to support an expenditure for the scholarship as budget negotiations continue in Springfield, said Alex Gough, a spokesperson for the governor's office. A spokesperson for Attorney General Kwame Raoul's office declined to comment, citing an ongoing DOJ investigation of the scholarship program. The spokesperson did not respond to a request for details about the investigation. The DOJ did not return emailed requests for comment. Colleges and universities nationwide have been under fire from the administration of President Donald Trump for months on a number of fronts, among them DEI initiatives, which the administration has said 'disregard merit and divide Americans based on race.' The DOJ cited a 2023 Supreme Court decision that effectively ended the use of race as a factor in university admissions to justify its decision that the Illinois scholarship program was unlawful. DOJ's statement on the program said the scholarship used 'race as a prerequisite for participation, specifically excluding students of some races but not others in violation of federal law.' 'This Department of Justice is committed to rooting DEI out of American institutions, including in the education system,' Attorney General Pamela Bondi said in the news release on the scholarship program. At an unrelated news conference Monday, Raoul, without pointing specifically to the scholarship, said that while policies must be evaluated to make sure they're consistent with the law, it's also 'critically important' for educational institutions to 'not succumb to fear.' He said if they do, they become vulnerable to continued threats from the federal administration. 'It's important to double down on the type of policies that prevent discrimination in the workplace or at an educational institution in the first place, and not to back away from those,' Raoul said. 'I would say, 'Fight back.' You can do the evaluation and continue to do and to embrace the tools that create a diverse and inclusive workplace.' The Diversifying Education in Illinois scholarship program offers up to four years of need-based financial aid for minority students pursuing graduate degrees if the students agreed to accept a teaching or staff position at an Illinois higher education institution, governing board or education-related position in a state agency when they graduate or leave their school. The scholarship is open to Illinois residents who are members of an 'underrepresented group,' including Black, Hispanic and Asian-American populations, according to the program's website. The program was created by a 2004 state law that was passed after an IBHE study found that 'the presence of students and faculty/staff from various ethnic groups was very important in the decision of underrepresented students to stay in school.' More than $2 million was appropriated in the state's budget last year to fund scholarships at 14 universities in Illinois. A spokesperson for the Illinois Board of Higher Education said the remaining funds for the current year were dispersed to students following the DOJ threat. 'As the Board of Higher Education explained to the DOJ, there are no activities scheduled to take place over the next few months on Illinois' scholarship program,' said José García, an IBHE spokesperson. 'Illinois agreed to conduct an evaluation of the program and will consult with the General Assembly since this program is enshrined in Illinois law.' State Rep. La Shawn Ford, a Chicago Democrat, said he has been working with IBHE and plans to support funding for the program going forward. But he said it won't include funding for private universities that withdrew from the program after the DOJ's threat. While IBHE said all remaining scholarship funds were dispersed, some private university students said they did not receive the last installment of their scholarship because their institution turned down the funds to stay in compliance with the DOJ. Spokespersons for several of the private universities the DOJ said dropped the scholarship program referred questions to the IBHE. Adler University in Chicago received the letter from the DOJ in March saying the institution's participation in the program 'endangered its compliance with Title VI regulations,' according to a university spokesperson. The university's decision to drop the scholarship has left some students in a tough spot, particularly since the federal government has resumed collecting defaulted federal student loans, ending a COVID-19 era pause. Sahar Al-Najjar, a doctoral candidate studying clinical psychology at Adler University, said she was informed she was losing the scholarship the same week she was expected to resume payment on her federal student loan. Al-Najjar had to drop a summer course she couldn't afford without the scholarship's support. 'I had to really sit down and move things around and try to figure out what is most feasible in the moment,' Al-Najjar said. 'This fellowship had really took off that load, that stress, the past few years because of the support that extended in various ways — the community piece, the financial piece, the connection piece with other scholars and fellows. I'm really grateful for it, but really sad, because it would have been great to finish off this year with it.' Margaritta Fultz, a doctoral candidate at Adler University who works as an administrative aide at the University of Illinois Springfield, said she did not receive the last $6,000 of her $18,000 scholarship, which would have supported her summer term. Fultz said she is also unsure if students who promised to stay in the state to teach are still bound to do so. 'My response was just complete and utter horror,' Fultz said. 'I needed that funding, now the burden of my long-term debt is going to be pressed more to complete my study and my dissertation.' Fultz said the scholarship helped her continue her doctoral degree last year after she had dropped out due to costs and loan burdens. 'The scholarship was an opportunity pathway with me being a neurodivergent Black woman,' said Fultz, who was recently diagnosed with autism. 'It was already a challenge to make sure I had the technology that I needed, and things of that nature so that I could even perform academically at the rate that you have to.'
Reuters
16-05-2025
- Business
- Reuters
Energy company claims use of private prosecutors in Illinois violates due process
May 15 (Reuters) - A Texas energy company facing a consumer fraud lawsuit brought by Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul has filed its own lawsuit against Raoul, claiming his office's use of outside counsel to pursue the fraud case is a violation of due process rights. In a lawsuit filed on Wednesday in U.S. District Court for the Central District of Illinois, Spark Energy said Raoul's use of lawyers from private law firms as 'Special Assistant Attorneys General' in the case against the company is barred by the U.S. Constitution because they are not neutral public officials. The lawsuit also argues that the Illinois Constitution requires officers of the state's executive branch to be compensated with state salaries. Representatives for Raoul's office did not immediately respond to requests for comment, nor did an attorney for Spark. Spark's lawsuit seeks a declaration that the Illinois Attorney General can't rely on outside counsel in its case against Spark, plus punitive damages. Raoul's office filed the lawsuit against two Spark units in January in Cook County, Illinois Circuit Court, claiming the companies conned consumers into purchasing their electricity and natural gas from Spark instead of the public utility with misleading telemarketing. The lawsuit seeks at least $50,000 per deceptive act or practice. Raoul filed the lawsuit with help from Special Assistant Attorneys General from private law firms Edelson, Hughes Socol Piers Resnick & Dym and Miner, Barnhill & Galland, court records show. Attorneys at the firms working on the Spark litigation did not respond to requests for comment. Spark has moved to dismiss the AG's lawsuit, according to court records, arguing among other things that the Illinois attorney general improperly has relied on private law firms to pursue the case. In a footnote, Spark said it had filed public information requests seeking details of the fee agreement between the firms and the state. Spark argued that if the private lawyers were to be paid based on a contingency, it would be a violation of the state's constitution.
Yahoo
14-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Illinois AG files lawsuits over immigration conditions placed on federal funding
ILLINOIS (WCIA) — Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul is suing the Trump Administration over the immigration conditions that have been placed on federal funding. Raoul and 19 other attorneys general filed two separate lawsuits. The first is aimed against the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and DHS Secretary Kristi Noem. The second was filed against the Department of Transportation (DOT) and DOT Secretary Sean Duffy. Illinois AG wins court order supporting libraries, museums, minority-owned businesses Raoul said the lawsuits were filed against the Trump administration for 'attempting to illegally coerce their states into sweeping immigration enforcement,' by threatening to withhold billions. Each agency named in the suit has imposed new conditions that would require the states to cooperate with federal immigration enforcement efforts — or risk losing federal dollars. Raoul said that funding from FEMA and the Department of Transportation is 'quite literally, lifesaving.' 'This critical funding has nothing to do with immigration, and the administration's attempts to hold it hostage unless states agree to do the federal government's job of civil immigration enforcement is unconstitutional and outrageous,' Raoul said. Illinois AG sues to stop dismantling of Health and Human Services department Raoul said Congress has established federal grant programs which are administered by FEMA and the DOT. It covers projects from disaster relief to airport construction. In February, Noam directed federal agencies, including DHS and FEMA, to stop federal funding to areas that do not assist with federal immigration law. In March, the DHS amended the conditions, requiring funding recipients to certify they will assist in enforcing immigration law. Soon after, Duffy issued a letter to grant recipients. It said that state and local governments would be required to assist in federal immigration enforcement to obtain DOT funds. Recently, state grant applications have also seen similar language requirements added to the terms and conditions of grants from the Federal Railroad Administration, the Federal Highway Administration and the Federal Transit Administration, Raoul said. Illinois Attorney General urges Congress to block halt of health research, protections Raoul and the coalition said immigration conditions 'exceed FEMA's legal authority.' The coalition added that the conditions are unconstitutional — Congress appropriated the money, and the safety of Americans could be at risk if they cannot prepare for, protect against and respond to disasters. Withholding DOT money could also lead to increased traffic accidents, and damage public infrastructure across the country. Last year, Illinois received more than $122 million in federal funding from FEMA and more than $2 billion in DOT grant money. Joining Raoul in filing the lawsuits are attorneys general from California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Mexico, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island, Washington, Wisconsin and Vermont. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
09-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Illinois AG wins court order supporting libraries, museums, minority-owned businesses
CHICAGO, Ill. (WCIA) — Attorney General Kwame Raoul, in a coalition with 20 other attorneys general, won a court order stopping the Trump administration from dismantling three federal agencies. In April, Raoul joined this coalition in suing the administration to stop the implementation of an executive order that would dismantle the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS), the Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA) and the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service (FMCS). These three agencies provide services and funding supporting public libraries, museums, workers and minority-owned businesses across the country. Brother answers burning question: Is Pope Leo XIV a Chicago White Sox or Cubs fan? The U.S. District Court for the District of Rhode Island issued an order on Tuesday granting the states' request for a preliminary injunction to stop the administration from implementing the order and protecting these agencies. 'The administration's actions jeopardize critical library and museum programs across the state. These programs help residents of rural communities and underserved youth access educational opportunities and technology,' Raoul said. 'I am proud to stand with my fellow attorneys general to stop the unconstitutional attempt to dismantle agencies created by Congress.' This executive order is the administration's most recent attempt to dismantle federal agencies in defiance of Congress. Raoul and the coalition are seeking to stop the dismantling of the three agencies targeted in the administration's executive order: The IMLS, which supports libraries and museums across the nation through grantmaking, research and development The MBDA, which promotes the growth and inclusion of minority-owned businesses through federal financial assistance programs The FMCS, which promotes the resolution of labor disputes Illinois' gas tax goes up on July 1st. Here's by how much: According to Raoul, as the coalition continues to assert in the lawsuit, dismantling these agencies will hurt communities throughout Illinois and across the nation that rely on them to provide important services to the public. These include funding for libraries, promoting minority-owned businesses and protecting workers' rights. The preliminary injunction that has been granted halts the executive order as it applies to IMLS, MBDA and FMCS. The court also found that the states had established a 'strong likelihood of success' on their claims that the order violates the Administrative Procedure Act and disregards the Constitution by attempting to dismantle agencies that Congress both established and funded by law. Attorneys general from the following states joined Raoul in this coalition: Arizona California Colorado Connecticut Delaware Hawaii Maine Maryland Massachusetts Michigan Minnesota Nevada New Jersey New York New Mexico Oregon Rhode Island Vermont Washington Wisconsin Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
