President Donald Trump stated Thursday that his administration will not seek a declaration of war from Congress before conducting military strikes against suspected drug traffickers, declaring bluntly, “I don’t think we’re necessarily going to ask for a declaration of war. I think we’re just gonna kill people that are bringing […]
Author: Dani Tietz
U.S. Existing-Home Sales Rise 1.5% as Mortgage Rates Drop, Inventory Hits Five-Year High
U.S. existing-home sales increased for the second straight month in September, lifted by falling mortgage rates and growing inventory, according to the latest report from the National Association of REALTORS® (NAR). The 1.5% month-over-month gain brings the seasonally adjusted annual sales pace to 4.06 million units, marking a continued recovery […]
Social Security Announces 2.8% Benefit Increase for 2026
The Social Security Administration (SSA) announced today that millions of Americans receiving Social Security and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) will see a 2.8 percent increase in their benefits beginning in 2026, intended to keep pace with rising living costs. This annual cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) applies to approximately 75 million recipients […]
U.S. Consumer Price Index Rises 3.0% Over Past Year, Driven by Energy and Food Increases
Consumer inflation continued its gradual climb in September, with the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) rising 0.3 percent on a seasonally adjusted basis for the month. Over the last 12 months, the all items index increased 3.0 percent, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). […]
Illinois Achieves Credit Rating Upgrade as Moody’s Raises State to A2
Moody’s Ratings upgraded Illinois’ credit rating to A2 from A3 on October 23, marking the state’s tenth credit rating improvement since Governor JB Pritzker took office in 2019 and bringing Illinois to its highest credit rating in more than 20 years. The upgrade, which applies to the state’s general obligation […]
Arizona Sues House Speaker Mike Johnson for Blocking Swearing-In of Rep.-Elect Adelita Grijalva
The State of Arizona and Representative-elect Adelita Grijalva filed a federal lawsuit on Tuesday against the U.S. House of Representatives, challenging House Speaker Mike Johnson’s monthlong refusal to swear in the newly elected congresswoman. The complaint, filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, argues that Johnson […]
Danville to Celebrate Dick Van Dyke’s 100th Birthday with National Film Premiere and Festival
The Fischer Theatre is rolling out the red carpet this December to honor one of America’s most beloved entertainers — and one of Danville’s own. FischerFest: The Life and Legacy of Dick Van Dyke, presented by the Halloran Family Foundation, will take place December 6–7 at the historic Fischer Theatre in […]
Former Military Leaders Warn Supreme Court Against Trump’s National Guard Deployments in Amicus Brief
In an amicus brief filed October 20, nine former high-ranking military officials—including former Army and Navy secretaries and retired four-star admirals and generals—urged the Supreme Court to uphold lower court rulings blocking the deployment of federalized National Guard troops to Illinois. The brief centers on Trump’s October 2025 order federalizing […]
White House East Wing Demolition Begins for Trump’s $250 Million Ballroom
Demolition of the White House East Wing commenced on October 20, 2025, as construction began on President Donald Trump’s $250 million ballroom project. Images show heavy machinery tearing into the East Wing facade, with construction equipment ripping down the covered entrance that has welcomed visitors for decades for tours and […]
DHS Purchases $172 Million Private Jets for Noem During Government Shutdown, Drawing Congressional Fire
The Department of Homeland Security has contracted to purchase two luxury Gulfstream G700 private jets for $172 million, primarily for use by Secretary Kristi Noem and other senior officials. The U.S. Coast Guard finalized the sole-source contract with Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation on October 15, 2025, for two G700 jets—aircraft that […]











