In a significant setback for President Donald Trump’s domestic agenda, five House Republicans joined Democrats on Friday to block a comprehensive tax and spending package in the House Budget Committee, citing concerns that the bill does not include deep enough spending cuts to offset its tax reductions. The unexpected defeat […]
Other News
Supreme Court Blocks Trump Administration’s Rapid Deportations Under Alien Enemies Act, Citing Due Process Concerns
The United States Supreme Court issued a ruling on Friday, May 16, temporarily blocking the Trump administration from deporting Venezuelan nationals under the rarely-used 1798 Alien Enemies Act without providing adequate notice. In a 7-2 decision, the Court held that detainees are entitled to more notification time and better resources […]
Food Insecurity Surges in Champaign, Piatt, and Vermilion Counties
Food insecurity has reached alarming levels in central Illinois, with recent data showing that more than 13% of residents in the region struggle to access enough food. The latest “Map the Meal Gap” report from Feeding America and the Eastern Illinois Foodbank (EIF) highlights a growing crisis, driven by rising […]
IHSA, Lawmakers Announce Agreement to Expand Opportunities for Illinois Student-Athletes
Illinois high school athletes could soon find it easier to play for both their school teams and club squads during the same season, thanks to a new law and a shift in the state’s high school sports rules. The Illinois High School Association (IHSA) and state lawmakers say they’re responding […]
Illinois Lawmakers Ready to Advance Bill to Guide AI Technology in Schools
Illinois lawmakers are poised to pass landmark legislation that would create the state’s first comprehensive framework for evaluating and implementing artificial intelligence (AI) technology in K-12 schools. The proposal, which has garnered bipartisan attention in the final weeks of the legislative session, tasks the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) […]
Illinois Senate Advances Bill to Safeguard Worker Protections Amid Potential Federal Rollbacks
Illinois lawmakers are moving forward with a sweeping measure designed to lock in workplace safety and labor standards, even if federal protections are weakened or repealed in the future. Senate Bill 1976, sponsored by State Senator Robert Peters (D-Chicago), cleared the Senate Labor Committee this week and is now poised […]
Trump Meme Coins Generate Billions and Spark Ethical Concerns
Rarely one to miss a lucrative opportunity, Donald Trump has turned what began as a pre-inauguration crypto experiment into a sprawling, multi-billion-dollar business empire-one that is now at the center of mounting ethical and legal scrutiny over potential conflicts of interest at the highest levels of government. President Donald Trump […]
House Bill Seeks to Boost U.S. Biorefinery and Biobased Manufacturing
A new bill introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives aims to strengthen America’s leadership in renewable energy and rural economic development by expanding federal support for biorefineries, renewable chemicals, and biobased product manufacturing. The “Agricultural Biorefinery Innovation and Opportunity Act of 2025,” sponsored by Rep. Zach Nunn of Iowa […]
Landmark Illinois Study Reveals Unpredictable Patterns in Farm Greenhouse Gas Emissions
A recent study published in Agriculture, Ecosystems and Environment provides valuable insights into the spatial variability of soil carbon dioxide (CO2) and nitrous oxide (N2O) fluxes in agricultural settings, highlighting the impact of management practices and offering recommendations for more accurate measurements. The research, conducted by a team including Nakian […]
Governor’s office cuts revenue projection by $500M in latest downward estimate
by Ben Szalinski, Capitol News Illinois May 14, 2025 SPRINGFIELD — Gov. JB Pritzker’s office is now projecting state revenues to come in about a half-billion dollars below the baseline projections assumed during his February budget address. The latest downward revision comes as lawmakers are entering the final two-week stretch […]