The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released updated immunization guidelines for children and adolescents on May 29, 2025, retaining COVID-19 vaccination as part of routine care for individuals aged 6 months and older under a revised framework of “shared clinical decision-making.” The update follows a contentious announcement by […]
Author: Dani Tietz
Supreme Court Narrows Scope of Environmental Reviews for Major Projects in Unanimous Ruling
The U.S. Supreme Court has unanimously ruled to limit the scope of environmental reviews required for major infrastructure projects under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), fundamentally reshaping how federal agencies must assess the environmental impacts of such projects. The case, Seven County Infrastructure Coalition v. Eagle County, Colorado, centered on […]
Supreme Court Allows Immediate Termination of Humanitarian Parole for Hundreds of Thousands
The U.S. Supreme Court has granted the federal government’s request to stay a lower court order that had blocked the mass termination of humanitarian parole for more than 500,000 noncitizens from Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua, and Venezuela. The ruling, delivered without explanation from the majority, allows the Department of Homeland Security […]
CDC and FDA Announce Major Changes to COVID-19 Vaccine Recommendations
The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) has issued a strong response following a decision by a federal advisory committee to remove COVID-19 vaccines from the recommended routine immunization schedules for healthy children and pregnant people. The AAP warns that this move disregards established scientific review processes and could increase health […]
FEMA Faces Deep Cuts and Layoffs Amid Major Budget Overhaul
With tornado outbreaks and hurricane season looming, he nation’s primary responder to natural disasters, FEMA, is at a crossroads. President Trump’s 2026 budget proposal calls for a $646 million cut to FEMA, targeting grant programs that the administration says duplicate existing state and federal efforts, while the department, which responds […]
Urbana School District 116 Launches 2025 Summer Meal Program
Urbana School District 116 (USD116) will once again offer free meals to all children 18 years old and younger during the summer months through its annual Summer Meal Program. The initiative, running from June through mid-July 2025, is designed to ensure that local youth have consistent access to nutritious food […]
Illinois Legislature Passes Bill to Strengthen Safe Drinking Water Standards
A bill aimed at bolstering safe drinking water protections across Illinois is now headed to Governor JB Pritzker’s desk, following approval by both chambers of the General Assembly. Senate Bill 2266 seeks to enhance oversight and enforcement for non-community water systems, facilities like schools, factories, restaurants, resorts, and churches that […]
Congressional Budget Office Projects $3.8 Trillion Deficit Surge from Sweeping “One Big Beautiful Bill Act”
The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) provided its analysis of the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act” (H. Con. Res. 14) on May 20, 2025, setting the stage for a contentious vote in the House just days later. The legislation narrowly passed the House of Representatives in a 215-214 pre-dawn vote. The […]
Charleston’s Forgotten Tribute: How Freed Slaves Sparked America’s Memorial Day Tradition
On May 1, 1865, just weeks after the Civil War’s end, a remarkable procession unfolded at Charleston’s old racecourse. Nearly 10,000 people, most of them newly freed African Americans, gathered to honor 257 Union soldiers who had died as prisoners of war and were buried in a mass grave behind […]
Illinois Senate Executive Committee Advances Bill the Would Allow Pharmacists to Dispense Emergency Contraceptives Without Prescription
Illinois lawmakers are moving forward with legislation that would make it significantly easier for residents to access a full range of contraceptive options, including the prescription-only emergency contraceptive Ella (ulipristal acetate), directly from pharmacists, without the need for a doctor’s visit. House Bill 3489, championed by State Senator Rachel Ventura […]
