U.S. District Judge Loren AliKhan issued a temporary block on President Donald Trump’s directive to freeze federal aid spending, just minutes before it was set to take effect on Tuesday, January 28, 2025. The judge’s decision comes as a response to a lawsuit filed by a coalition of nonprofit organizations […]
Illinois experienced a positive shift in its labor market during December, with the unemployment rate decreasing and job numbers rising, according to the latest data from IDES (Illinois Department of Employment Security). Unemployment Rate Drops The unemployment rate in Illinois fell to 5.2% in December, a 0.1 percentage point decrease […]
40 North | 88 West is calling on local artists to submit their artworks for a chance to become the official signature image of the 2025 Boneyard Arts Festival. The selected piece will be prominently featured across festival materials including registration packets, posters, billboards, and more. The submission deadline is […]
President Donald Trump announced on Sunday, January 26, 2025, that he would impose immediate “emergency” tariffs on all goods imported from Colombia. The move comes in response to Colombia’s refusal to accept two U.S. military flights carrying deported migrants. Trump declared an “emergency” 25% tariff on all Colombian imports, with […]
Senator Chapin Rose introduced Senate Bill 0211, a measure to expand financial disclosure requirements for public officials on Jan. 22, 2025. The proposed legislation seeks to broaden the scope of information that must be included in the statement of economic interests filed by public officials. The key addition to the […]
Illinois State Senator Chapin Rose introduced Senate Bill 0181, an election reform measure that would significantly alter voting procedures in the state. The bill, if passed, would implement several key changes to Illinois’ election laws: Voter Identification Requirements The most notable provision of SB0181 is the introduction of a voter […]
President Donald Trump has carried out a significant purge of inspectors general across multiple federal agencies. On Friday, January 24, 2025, Trump fired independent inspector generals in the Department of State, Department of Agriculture, Department of Interior, Department of Transportation, Department of Housing and Urban Development, Department of Education, Department […]
Despite its name suggesting a full-fledged department, President Trump established DOGE (Department of Government Efficiency) as a temporary organization within the Executive Office of the President during his first day in office. This organization, officially called the “U.S. DOGE Service Temporary Organization,” was created through an executive order that also […]
Executive orders are in the spotlight following President Trump’s flurry of impactful orders in the first days of his second presidency. These powerful tools of presidential authority allow for swift policy changes without congressional approval, but their scope and longevity are subject to certain limitations. Executive orders are official directives […]
Representative Michael J. Kelly has introduced House Bill 1295 in the Illinois General Assembly, aiming to significantly expand regulations on per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in consumer products. The bill, part of the 104th General Assembly for 2025-2026, proposes amendments to the existing PFAS Reduction Act with far-reaching implications for […]
