Other News

State of Illinois

House passes energy bill amid debate over costs to consumers

by Andrew Adams, Capitol News Illinois October 29, 2025 Article Summary House lawmakers passed a sweeping energy reform bill along party lines Wednesday evening. The bill would create new incentives for energy storage, allow construction of new nuclear power plants and give regulators expanded authority over the state’s electric grid. […]

State of Illinois

7th Circuit temporarily halts judge’s order for daily appearances from Border Patrol’s Bovino

by Hannah Meisel, Capitol News Illinois October 29, 2025 Article Summary U.S. Customs and Border Patrol Commander Gregory Bovino was set to appear in front of a federal judge Wednesday evening for the first of his court-ordered daily check-ins over immigration agents’ use of force on civilians. But less than […]

Local

Community Rallies to Support Families During SNAP Funding Delay in Champaign-Urbana

As the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) experiences a temporary funding shutdown, community members across Champaign County are stepping up to help families facing potential food insecurity. Food pantries and small businesses are mobilizing immediate support to make sure no one goes hungry while benefits are on hold. Mom’s […]

Federal

Senators Hawley and Luján Introduce Competing SNAP Bills as 42 Million Americans Face Food Insecurity

As the government shutdown approaches its fifth week, millions of Americans are confronting a historic crisis in food assistance. The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, commonly known as SNAP or food stamps, is set to lapse for the first time in modern history on November 1, 2025, threatening benefits for approximately […]

Federal

Congressional Amicus Brief Challenges Trump’s Tariff Authority in Supreme Court

A bipartisan group of 207 members of Congress has filed an amicus brief urging the Supreme Court to rule that President Donald Trump exceeded his constitutional authority by imposing tariffs under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA). The 31-page brief, filed October 24, 2025, in the consolidated cases Learning Resources, […]

Federal

U.S. Consumer Confidence Edges Lower in October as Expectations Stay Subdued

The Conference Board’s Consumer Confidence Index® inched down by 1.0 point to 94.6 in October, a modest retreat from the revised September reading of 95.6.  The Present Situation Index, a measure of consumers’ assessments of current business and job market conditions, climbed 1.8 points to 129.3, suggesting Americans see slightly […]

State of Illinois

U.S. House Minority Leader Jeffries accelerates Illinois redistricting push

by Brenden Moore, Capitol News Illinois October 27, 2025 Article Summary As Indiana’s governor called a special session to redraw the state’s congressional maps, U.S. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries urged Illinois Democrats to do the same. Jeffries’ pitch has been met with a cool reception in Springfield. Black lawmakers […]

Federal

25 States Sue Trump Administration Over Suspension of SNAP Food Benefits

Twenty-six states filed a federal lawsuit Tuesday against the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the Trump administration, seeking to restore food assistance benefits for more than 42 million Americans amid an ongoing government shutdown.​​ The coalition of states, led by Massachusetts, California, Arizona and Minnesota, alleges the USDA’s decision to […]