Vera Liddell, a 68-year-old former food service director for Harvey School District 152 in Illinois, was sentenced to nine years in prison for orchestrating a $1.5 million chicken wing theft. Over nearly two years, Liddell exploited her position by ordering more than 11,000 cases of chicken wings, which she fraudulently billed to the district, all while students were learning remotely. The scheme was uncovered during a routine audit when the district’s business manager noticed a significant budget overrun in the food service department, revealing that Liddell had drained district funds meant to support children’s nutrition.

It began as an effort to clean up landfills, and now it could transform the skies. Scientists at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign have developed a process that converts food waste into sustainable aviation fuel, jet fuel that meets every U.S. aviation standard without needing to be blended with fossil fuels.⁠ ⁠ The method, published in Nature Communications, relies on a reaction called hydrothermal liquefaction, which mimics the geological forces that create crude oil. Under extreme heat and pressure, leftover food scraps from processing plants are transformed into a biocrude. That crude is then purified and refined through catalytic hydrotreating, a step that removes oxygen, nitrogen, and sulfur, leaving behind hydrocarbons that are chemically identical to those in conventional jet fuel.⁠ ⁠ The researchers discovered that cobalt–molybdenum catalysts performed best for this conversion, producing a fuel that passed all ASTM and FAA prescreening tests with no additives. In trials, the food based fuel met every criterion for use in commercial aircraft engines, a rare feat for any renewable energy source.⁠ ⁠ Scaling up will not be easy. Moving from lab batches to airport production will require reliable waste collection streams, new HTL facilities near population centers, and buy in from airlines already experimenting with SAF. The good news is that the science is largely solved, leaving industry to focus on financing, logistics, and certification.⁠ ⁠ Globally, over 30 percent of food is wasted each year, and when it decomposes in landfills, it emits greenhouse gases. This process closes that loop, turning waste into a resource while supporting aviation’s push toward net zero carbon emissions by 2050. Lead researcher Yuanhui Zhang calls it a missing link in the circular economy, a system that reclaims value from waste.

Vera Liddell, a 68-year-old former food service director for Harvey School District 152 in Illinois, was sentenced to nine years in prison for orchestrating a $1.5 million chicken wing theft. Over nearly two years, Liddell exploited her position by ordering more than 11,000 cases of chicken wings, which she fraudulently billed to the district, all while students were learning remotely. The scheme was uncovered during a routine audit when the district’s business manager noticed a significant budget overrun in the food service department, revealing that Liddell had drained district funds meant to support children’s nutrition.

7 must-visit cities across the U.S. that belong on your bucket list 🇺🇸✨ 🌆 Here’s why these destinations stand out: 7️⃣ Seattle, Washington – Coffee culture, mountain backdrops, and waterfront views that inspire creativity. 6️⃣ Honolulu, Hawaii – Where city life meets tropical paradise, framed by beaches and volcanic peaks. 5️⃣ Savannah, Georgia – Spanish moss, charming squares, and Southern elegance that feels timeless. 4️⃣ San Francisco, California – Iconic bridges, steep hills, and colorful Victorian homes. 3️⃣ Charleston, South Carolina – Cobblestones, pastel mansions, and endless coastal charm. 2️⃣ Chicago, Illinois – A skyline that wows, lakefront vibes, and buzzing neighborhoods. 1️⃣ New York City, New York – The ultimate city of energy, culture, and iconic landmarks. 💭 Which one are you adding to your list first? #vacations #seattle #newyorkcity #usatravel #sanfrancisco #honolulu #charleston #chicago

A marriage made in fast-food heaven 🍔👑 In 2015, Joel Burger and Ashley King from Illinois went viral when their engagement announcement revealed their last names formed the fast-food chain ‘Burger King.’ The story caught national attention, and the company stepped in to sponsor their entire wedding. From covering the costs to providing Burger King crowns, custom gifts, and even branded favors for guests, the chain turned it into what they called a ‘Whopper of a Wedding.’ 🎶 Dream - Zeeba, Surf Mesa #Travel #explore #traveling

Vera Liddell, a 68-year-old former food service director for Harvey School District 152 in Illinois, was sentenced to nine years in prison for orchestrating a $1.5 million chicken wing theft. Over nearly two years, Liddell exploited her position by ordering more than 11,000 cases of chicken wings, which she fraudulently billed to the district, all while students were learning remotely. The scheme was uncovered during a routine audit when the district’s business manager noticed a significant budget overrun in the food service department, revealing that Liddell had drained district funds meant to support children’s nutrition.

Illinois has become the first U.S. state to outlaw AI from acting as a therapist, with Governor JB Pritzker signing the Wellness and Oversight for Psychological Resources Act (HB 1806) into law. The measure bans AI tools from making therapeutic decisions, conducting counseling sessions, or creating treatment plans without human review. Only licensed professionals can provide mental health services, and violations can result in fines up to $10,000 per offense.⁠ ⁠ The legislation, passed unanimously in both chambers, still permits AI for administrative support such as scheduling, billing, or note-taking. Lawmakers say the goal is to prevent harm from unregulated chatbots posing as therapists, citing cases where AI tools encouraged suicidal thoughts or dangerous behaviors. In one example, an AI “therapist” suggested a fictional recovering addict take meth to cope with stress.⁠ ⁠ Supporters, including the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation and the National Association of Social Workers, argue the law safeguards patients and maintains ethical standards that AI cannot meet. Mental health professionals emphasize that human connection, empathy, and situational judgment are essential in therapy—qualities machines can’t replicate.⁠ ⁠ The move follows similar, though narrower, actions in Nevada, Utah, and New York, and comes amid a broader debate over AI’s role in healthcare. Federal policy under the Trump administration seeks to limit state-level AI regulation, potentially setting up legal clashes.⁠ ⁠ While some see AI as a way to address the shortage of therapists, experts warn that overreliance on unregulated systems can worsen mental health crises. For now, Illinois draws a clear line: AI can help schedule your session, but it cannot replace the human sitting across from you.⁠ ⁠ #ai #mentalhealth #therapy #illinois #technology #ethics #regulation #healthtech #psychology

In 2015, an Illinois couple named Joel Burger and Ashley King went viral thanks to their perfectly matched last names. When their engagement made the local news, Burger King jumped in and offered to pay for their entire wedding—turning a quirky coincidence into a brilliant PR moment. From custom gifts to full wedding coverage, the fast-food giant made sure the “Burger-King” celebration was one to remember. — #funny #burgerking #storytelling #kindness #positivevibes #goodnews #vacations #burger #love #marriage

Grubhub will pay $25 million to settle a lawsuit from the Federal Trade Commission and Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul over unlawful practices, including misleading customers about delivery costs, deceiving drivers about potential earnings, and listing restaurants on its platform without their permission. The agencies claim that Grubhub hid the true cost of its delivery services, resulting in a final price that was often double what was originally advertised due to “service fees” or “small order fees.” They also claim Grubhub’s ads inflated hourly pay rates well above what drivers would realistically earn. In addition, Grubhub had as many as 325,000 unaffiliated restaurants on its platform, which the FTC says led to significant harm to both the unaffiliated restaurants and customers. Under the proposed settlement, Grubhub is being required to stop these practices. Grubhub said in a statement that “while we categorically deny the allegations made by the FTC, many of which are wrong, misleading or no longer applicable to our business, we believe settling this matter is in the best interest of Grubhub and allows us to move forward.” Image Credits: Gary Hershorn / Contributor / Getty Images #TechCrunch #technews #GrubHub #fooddelivery #apps

President-elect Donald Trump has announced that Hussain Sajwani, an Emirati billionaire businessman who founded the property development giant DAMAC Properties, will invest $20 billion in new data centers across the United States. The first phase of the multi-year investment will fund data centers in Arizona, Illinois, Indiana, Louisiana, Michigan, Ohio, Oklahoma, and Texas, Trump said during a press conference at his Mar-a-Lago home on Tuesday. The data centers will primarily support AI and cloud technologies. “We’ve been waiting for years to increase our investments in the U.S.,” Sajwani said. “We’re trying to invest $20 billion, and [potentially] even more than that.” Read more on Trump's $20B plan at the link in the bio 👆 Article by Kyle Wiggers Image Credits: Rebecca Noble / Stringer / Getty Images #TechCrunch #technews #artificialintelligence #datacenter #tech