The Trump administration announced Saturday the termination of the United States Department of Agriculture’s annual Household Food Security Reports, ending a three-decade-long survey that has served as the nation’s primary tool for measuring hunger in America. The USDA justified the cancellation by characterizing the reports as “redundant, costly, politicized, and […]
Other News
California Enacts First-in-Nation No Secret Police Act
California Governor Gavin Newsom signed the No Secret Police Act (Senate Bill 627) on September 20, making it illegal for federal and local law enforcement officers to conceal their faces with ski masks, balaclavas, neck gaiters, and similar face coverings while conducting official business. The law takes effect January 1, […]
Durbin hopes to meet with ICE this week about Chicago-area raids
by Ben Szalinski, Capitol News Illinois September 24, 2025 Article Summary U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin said there is a “chance” Illinois’ Democratic members of Congress get a long-requested meeting with immigration officials this week. Illinois leaders say they’ve been left largely uninformed about immigration enforcement actions in the Chicago area. […]
Trump Threatens Mass Federal Layoffs as Government Shutdown Looms
President Donald Trump escalated his standoff with congressional Democrats on Thursday by threatening permanent mass layoffs of federal employees if the government shuts down next week. The Trump administration raised the stakes significantly when the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) sent a memo to federal agencies on Wednesday night, […]
Darren Bailey enters Illinois governor’s race, pledging new approach to Chicago area
by Ben Szalinski, Capitol News Illinois September 25, 2025 Article Summary Former Republican State Sen. Darren Bailey launched his second campaign for governor on Thursday. Bailey said his message will look different this time around and will focus more on voters in Chicago and the suburbs. Cook County Republican Party […]
Judge rules feds can’t block Illinois’ disaster funding in response to immigration laws
by Ben Szalinski, Capitol News Illinois September 25, 2025 Article Summary Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul won a court order barring the Trump administration from withholding federal emergency funding for Illinois because it is a “sanctuary state.” A judge ruled Congress controls spending and federal agencies cannot block funding because […]
Housing Market Momentum Built Before Fed Rate Cut as Mortgage Applications Surge, Then Normalize”
The Federal Reserve’s September 17 rate cut triggered significant activity in mortgage markets, though the most dramatic surge in applications actually preceded the official policy announcement. The most significant spike in mortgage activity occurred in early September, before the Federal Reserve’s official rate cut announcement. For the week ending September […]
Democrats Hold Firm on Healthcare Demands as Trump Cancels Shutdown Negotiations
Democratic leaders in Congress are drawing a red line around healthcare protections as the federal government inches toward a partial shutdown on October 1, demanding comprehensive healthcare measures in exchange for their votes on a funding extension. President Donald Trump has not only refused to meet with Democratic leaders but has […]
Illinois health department recommends COVID vaccines for all adults
by Ben Szalinski, Capitol News Illinois September 24, 2025 Article Summary The Illinois Department of Public Health recommended all adults receive the COVID-19 vaccine this fall. The decision goes against recent guidelines from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. JB Pritzker also issued an executive order earlier this […]
Pritzker directs agencies to limit spending in response to Trump’s economic policies
by Ben Szalinski, Capitol News Illinois September 23, 2025 Article Summary JB Pritzker signed an executive order requiring state agencies to identify spending reductions and reserve 4% of their budgets as the state anticipates slowing revenue growth. Pritzker pointed to economic indicators showing slowing growth, poor job reports and increasing […]
