A federal judge on Thursday issued a court order mandating that the Trump administration must fully fund Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits for November by Friday, rejecting the administration’s proposal to provide only reduced payments to approximately 42 million low-income Americans during the ongoing government shutdown. This is the […]
Other News
Supreme Court Allows Trump Administration to Enforce Passport Sex Designation Policy
The U.S. Supreme Court granted a stay on Thursday, permitting the Trump administration to enforce a policy requiring all new passports to display biological sex at birth rather than gender identity, overturning months of lower court protections for transgender and nonbinary Americans. In an unsigned order issued November 6, the […]
U.S. Job Cuts Hit 22-Year High in October
U.S. employers announced 153,074 job cuts in October 2025, the highest total for the month since 2003. This is a 175% increase from the same period last year, according to a report released Thursday by outplacement firm Challenger, Gray & Christmas. The surge is a 183% spike from September’s total […]
U.S. Household Debt Reaches Record $18.59 Trillion as Student Loan Delinquencies Surge
American household debt climbed to $18.59 trillion in the third quarter of 2025, marking a $197 billion increase from the previous quarter, according to a report released Tuesday by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York. The 1% quarterly increase brought total household debt up $642 billion year-over-year, with mortgage […]
Champaign County 4-H Team Wins National Livestock Judging Title, Heads to Scotland for International Competition
The Champaign County 4-H Livestock Judging Team has achieved a historic victory, clinching first place at the American Royal Livestock Judging Contest in Kansas City, Missouri, and earning the honor of representing the United States at the International Livestock Judging Contest in Scotland in the summer of 2026. Team members […]
Judge Slams “Unnecessarily Cruel” Conditions at Broadview ICE Facility, Orders Swift Overhaul
U.S. District Judge Robert W. Gettleman issued a temporary restraining order on Wednesday requiring federal immigration authorities to immediately improve conditions at the Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility in Broadview, Illinois, after hearing testimony describing what he called “unnecessarily cruel” treatment of detainees. The order, issued at 4:15 p.m. on […]
Illinois lawmakers approve state-specific vaccine guidelines, punt on gambling bill
by Brenden Moore, Capitol News Illinois November 5, 2025 Article Summary Illinois lawmakers passed 24 bills during the two-week fall veto session. House Bill 767 would allow IDPH Director Sameer Vohra to issue state-specific guidelines while granting more authority to the department’s Immunization Advisory Committee. It awaits Gov. JB Pritzker’s […]
FAA Warns of Flight Cuts as Government Shutdown Continues
The Federal Aviation Administration announced Wednesday that it will reduce scheduled flights by 10 percent at 40 major U.S. airports beginning Friday morning unless Congress reaches a government shutdown deal. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy disclosed the capacity reductions during a Wednesday press briefing, describing them as a necessary step to […]
Trump Claims SNAP Benefits Tied to Shutdown, Administration Confirms Court-Ordered Payments
President Donald Trump sparked confusion Tuesday when he posted on Truth Social that SNAP benefits would only be distributed once Democrats end the government shutdown, shortly before White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt clarified that the administration is complying with a federal court order to provide partial food assistance. In […]
Illinois bill ‘decouples’ state, federal taxes, raising revenue and angering businesses
by Ben Szalinski, Capitol News Illinois November 4, 2025 Article Summary Illinois lawmakers approved a bill last week to “decouple” some state taxes on businesses from the federal government. The changes allow Illinois to collect more taxes from corporations after the federal domestic policy bill passed this summer reduced taxes […]
