The U.S. Supreme Court rejected the Trump administration’s emergency request to block a federal judge’s order requiring the release of nearly $2 billion in frozen foreign aid funds on March 5. The 5-4 ruling, issued without detailed analysis, permits the continuation of payments to contractors and nonprofits for work completed […]
Federal
Supreme Court Limits EPA Authority in Water Pollution Permits, Siding with San Francisco
4o In a 5-4 decision, the United States Supreme Court sided with the City and County of San Francisco in a case against the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), restricting the agency’s authority to impose certain conditions in water pollution permits. The decision, authored by Justice Samuel Alito, held that the […]
Trump Suspends Tariffs on Canadian and Mexican Goods—Again, but Uncertainty Remains
In a pattern reminiscent of previous trade actions, the Trump administration has once again suspended tariffs on certain Canadian and Mexican goods, mere days after their implementation. This temporary reprieve is set to last until April 2, with uncertainty looming over whether the tariffs will be reinstated at that time. […]
State lawmakers brace for possible federal cuts to Medicaid
by Peter Hancock, Jade Aubrey and UIS Public Affairs Reporting (PAR), Capitol News Illinois March 5, 2025 SPRINGFIELD – Health care advocates, hospital officials and people who rely on Medicaid for their medical coverage warned state lawmakers Wednesday of consequences that could result from proposed cuts in federal Medicaid funding. […]
Trump Threatens to Cut Federal Funding for Colleges Allowing “Illegal Protests”
President Donald Trump ignited a firestorm of controversy with a Tuesday morning Truth Social post threatening to strip federal funding from colleges and universities that permit “illegal protests” on their campuses. Trump wrote, “All Federal Funding will STOP for any College, School, or University that allows illegal protests. Agitators will […]
Global Trade War Escalates: U.S. Tariffs on Canada, Mexico, and China Trigger Swift Retaliation
The global trade landscape entered a volatile new phase on March 4, 2025, as the United States implemented sweeping tariffs on imports from Canada, Mexico, and China, triggering immediate retaliatory measures from its trading partners. Tariffs are taxes imposed on imported goods, paid by the importer (usually a U.S. company) […]
U.S. Senate Votes Down Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act
The U.S. Senate failed to advance the Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act of 2025 on March 3. The bill, which aimed to codify restrictions on transgender athletes in women’s sports, did not garner the necessary 60 votes to overcome a filibuster, resulting in a 51-45 party-line vote […]
Trump Confirms 25% Tariffs on Mexico and Canada, Citing Border Security and Drug Crisis
President Donald Trump confirmed on Monday that 25% tariffs on imports from Mexico and Canada will take effect on March 4, 2025. Tariffs are taxes imposed by a government on imported goods, and while they are technically paid by the importing businesses at the border, the costs are often passed […]
Trump Signs Executive Order to Expand U.S. Timber Production, Sparking Environmental and Economic Debate
President Donald J. Trump signed a March 1 executive order mandating a dramatic expansion of domestic timber production through regulatory rollbacks, accelerated permitting processes, and revised forest management protocols. The order, titled Immediate Expansion of American Timber Production, aims to reduce reliance on foreign lumber, lower construction costs, and enhance […]
Trump Declares English the Official U.S. Language, Revoking Federal Language Assistance Policy
In a landmark move marking the first federal designation of an official language in U.S. history, President Donald Trump signed an executive order on March 1, 2025, declaring English the official language of the United States. The order, titled Designating English as the Official Language of the United States, revokes […]