Other News

Federal

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 […]

Federal

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 […]

Federal

HHS Rescinds 50-Year-Old Public Input Policy, Streamlines Rulemaking Process

The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced Friday it is rescinding a decades-old policy that required public input on certain rulemaking procedures, effective immediately. The move eliminates the 1971 “Richardson Waiver,” which mandated notice and comment periods for rules related to public property, loans, grants, benefits, or contracts. […]

State of Illinois

Illinois Launches New REAL ID Initiative Ahead of 2025 Deadline: Expanded DMV Hours, Online Portal

Illinois Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias has launched a new initiative to help residents prepare for the upcoming REAL ID enforcement deadline on May 7, 2025. The program includes several key components: Secretary Giannoulias emphasized that not all residents need a REAL ID before May 7. Those with valid U.S. […]

Federal

Democratic Committees Sue Trump Over Executive Order They Say Undermines FEC Independence

The Democratic National Committee (DNC), DSCC, and DCCC have filed a lawsuit against President Donald Trump and other officials, challenging an executive order that they claim threatens the independence of the Federal Election Commission (FEC). The lawsuit, filed on February 28, 2025, in the U.S. District Court for the District […]

Federal

Federal Judge Halts Mass Firings of Probationary Federal Employees, Rebukes Trump Administration’s Workforce Cuts

A federal judge in San Francisco has determined that the Trump administration likely violated the law by abruptly terminating thousands of probationary federal employees across multiple agencies, issuing a temporary restraining order to halt further firings in key departments. U.S. District Judge William Alsup’s ruling, delivered on February 27, marks […]