Illinois Governor JB Pritzker has signed into law a ban on carbon sequestration activities near the Mahomet Aquifer, the sole source of drinking water for nearly one million central Illinois residents. The legislation, which takes effect January 1, 2026, marks a significant victory for environmental advocates and local communities who […]
Author: Dani Tietz
Leading Medical Organizations Condemn CDC Panel’s Decision to Downgrade Hepatitis B Vaccine Recommendation
More than 40 leading medical, health and patient advocacy organizations have issued a joint statement sharply criticizing the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) following its December 5 vote to eliminate the universal recommendation for hepatitis B vaccination at birth. The unprecedented statement, signed […]
‘Safe Schools for All’: Illinois to Enact Sweeping Protections for Immigrant Students
Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker has signed into law a measure designed to fortify protections for immigrant students, prohibiting schools from collecting information on citizenship status and restricting how they interact with federal immigration enforcement agents. The new legislation, known as the “Safe Schools for All Act” (Public Act 104-0288), was […]
Illinois To Enact “Sonya Massey Law” to Strengthen Police Officer Background Checks
Illinois Senate Bill 1953, or the “Sonya Massey Law,” will fundamentally transform how law enforcement agencies across Illinois hire new officers. Governor JB Pritzker signed the legislation into law on August 12, 2025, with overwhelming bipartisan support, passing 56-0 in the Illinois Senate and 101-12 in the House. The legislation […]
Thousands of Illinois Veterans to Qualify for SNAP Benefits Under New Income Rules
Thousands of Illinois veterans and active service members will face fewer barriers to accessing food assistance in the new year, thanks to a legislative expansion of the state’s Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) rules. Starting January 1, 2026, Senate Bill 32 (SB0032) officially raises the gross income eligibility cap for veterans […]
New “Safe Gun Storage” Mandates Take Effect in Illinois on Jan. 1
Starting January 1, 2026, Illinois firearm owners will face strict new storage requirements and potential civil penalties under the Safe Gun Storage Act. Signed into law by Governor J.B. Pritzker last July, the law mandates that gun owners secure their weapons in a locked container or with a tamper-resistant safety […]
Trump administration threatens to withhold SNAP funds from Democratic-led states over data dispute
The Trump administration says it will begin withholding federal money tied to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) from most Democratic-controlled states as soon as next week unless those states turn over detailed information about people receiving food aid, Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins said at a Cabinet meeting Tuesday. Rollins […]
TSA to Charge $45 Fee for Air Travelers Without REAL ID Starting February 2026
Air travelers who show up at airport security checkpoints without a REAL ID or other acceptable form of identification will soon face a $45 fee under a new identity verification program announced by the Transportation Security Administration on Monday. Beginning February 1, 2026, passengers aged 18 and older who lack a […]
Illinois Opts Out of Federal “No Tax on Tips” Rule, Leaving Tipped Workers on the Hook for State Income Tax
Illinois has officially declined to adopt the federal “no tax on tips” provision signed into law this summer, meaning service workers across the state will continue to pay Illinois income tax on their tip earnings—even as those same tips are exempt from federal taxation. The decision places Illinois among a […]
Follow Santa’s Secret Star: Family Planetarium Shows Light Up December at Parkland
Santa’s Secret Star, a family-friendly holiday planetarium show, will light up the dome at the William M. Staerkel Planetarium on Saturdays, Dec. 6, 13 and 20, 2025, at 1 p.m. The program blends seasonal storytelling with stargazing, inviting children and adults to help Santa find his way home by discovering […]
