2nd bomb threat reported at Q Center in St. Charles where Texas lawmakers have stayed

St. Charles police responded to a second bomb threat Friday morning at the Q Center, where Texas lawmakers have been staying.

No explosive device was found after a bomb squad search at the hotel and conference center, local police reported.

It was the same location from which hundreds of people – including Texas lawmakers – were evacuated Wednesday after a different bomb threat.

The Texas state legislators traveled to Illinois to try to thwart an attempt by Republicans to redraw the Texas Congressional District map to try to get the GOP a wider majority in the U.S. House after next year’s election.

Police said they responded about 8:30 a.m. Friday to the Q Center complex, at 1405 N. Fifth Ave.

The building was searched by local police, the Kane County Sheriff’s Office Bomb Squad and the Explosive Detection K-9 Unit.

“The area has been secured by authorities, and all 70 hotel guests are safe,” police said in a news release.

As a continued precaution, the St. Charles Police Department has increased patrols in the area since the initial report.

Little else is known as of Friday afternoon about the nature of the threats. Authorities have not said publicly how the threats came in and who they were specifically directed to.

Authorities with the sheriff’s office and St. Charles police did not respond to a request for further comment.

When reached on Friday, the office of Gov. JB Pritzker referred comment to Illinois State Police. ISP has not returned a request for comment as of 3 p.m.

Pritzker earlier this week said he was “aware” of the Wednesday morning threat. He’d appeared the night before on “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert” where he vowed to do “whatever it takes to preserve democracy.”

Police said they “continue to work with the agencies involved as the investigation continues.” Anyone with information is urged to contact the St. Charles Police Department at 630-377-4435.

Some Texas lawmakers who fled to Illinois spoke Wednesday night at a special meeting of the Kane County Democratic Women, though they appeared virtually, telling attendees they feared for their safety. A Shaw Local News Network reporter was told on Wednesday that Texas Democrats are not publicizing where in Illinois they are staying, fearful for the same reason.

Appearing on Fox News this week, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott said he intends to push for the legislative maps’ passage until he’s successful.

“We do expect a quorum to be coming sometime soon,” Abbott said in a clip posted to the governor’s X account on Friday. “We’re not afraid because a special session lasts 30 days. And I will be calling special session after special session. And we are going to get these maps passed, regardless of how long the Democrats hold out in these leftist states like Illinois, New York and others.”

This story was updated at 3 p.m. Aug. 8, 2025. Additional updates could occur.