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 […]
Other News
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 […]
Bill to regulate homeowners’ insurance rates fails on final day of veto session
by Peter Hancock, Capitol News Illinois November 3, 2025 Article Summary A bill that failed on the House floor last week would have given state insurance regulators authority to review and approve rates charged for homeowners’ insurance in Illinois. JB Pritzker and legislative leaders called for the legislation following State […]
USDA to Provide Half-Benefit SNAP Payments After Court Orders, Citing Child Nutrition Program Concerns
The U.S. Department of Agriculture announced Monday it will use contingency reserves to pay approximately half of November benefits for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). In a supplementary declaration filed in Rhode Island federal court, Patrick A. Penn, Deputy Under Secretary for Food, Nutrition, and Consumer Services at USDA, […]
‘They are literally targeting people.’ ICE comes to southern Illinois
by Beth Hundsdorfer and Illinois Answers Project, Capitol News Illinois October 31, 2025 Article Summary A man who is undocumented was detained inside the Clinton County Courthouse in Carlyle as he arrived for a Spanish-language traffic docket. Immigration arrests in and around county courthouses would be barred under legislation that […]
Lawsuit alleges ICE detainees denied access to counsel while held in ‘inhumane’ conditions
by Hannah Meisel, Capitol News Illinois November 1, 2025 Article Summary A lawsuit alleges the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement processing facility in the Chicago suburb of Broadview is a “black box” where detainees are denied access to counsel while held in squalid, overcrowded cells. Though the processing facility is […]
