The U.S. Supreme Court granted the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) broad and immediate access to the Social Security Administration’s (SSA) vast troves of sensitive personal data. The ruling, which came on the Court’s so-called “emergency docket,” temporarily lifts a lower court injunction that had sharply limited DOGE’s access to […]
Other News
Baby food safety, press freedom, public defender measures will head to governor
by Ben Szalinski and Jade Aubrey, Capitol News Illinois June 4, 2025 Gov. JB Pritzker will have hundreds of bills to review after lawmakers concluded their spring session, including measures protecting press freedoms and baby food, as well as creating a state public defender’s office. Lawmakers voted along party lines […]
Amid court battle, lawmakers look to push back ‘swipe fees’ ban
by Ben Szalinski, Capitol News Illinois June 4, 2025 SPRINGFIELD – Illinois lawmakers have decided to delay a ban on “swipe fees” for another year as bankers are locked in a court battle with the state over the ban. Lawmakers passed the Interchange Fee Prohibition Act last spring as part […]
Trump Administration Rescinds Federal Emergency Abortion Protections, Leaving Hospitals and Patients in Legal Uncertainty
The Trump administration has officially rescinded a federal directive that required hospitals nationwide to provide emergency abortions when necessary to stabilize a patient’s health, even in states with strict abortion bans. EMTALA (Emergency Medical Treatment and Active Labor Act), enacted in 1986, required hospitals to provide stabilizing care for emergency medical […]
Nearly 11 Million More Americans Uninsured by 2034 Under H.R. 1 as Medicaid and ACA Cuts
A new analysis from the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) projects that if H.R. 1, the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act,” becomes law, the number of Americans without health insurance will rise by 10.9 million by 2034. The proposed cuts to Medicaid and Affordable Care Act (ACA) programs will affect low-income […]
CBO: “Big, Beautiful Bill” Would Add $2.4 Trillion to Federal Deficit Over 10 Years
The non-partisan Congressional Budget Office (CBO) has released its official analysis of H.R. 1, the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act,” revealing that the sweeping legislation would increase the federal deficit by approximately $2.4 trillion over the next decade. This finding stands in stark contrast to repeated promises from House leaders […]
I-57/74 Interchange Ramps Reopen Tonight in Champaign
The Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) has announced that two key ramps at the I-57/74 interchange in Champaign will reopen to traffic tonight, June 3. The newly completed ramps include the connection from northbound Interstate 57 to eastbound Interstate 74, as well as the I-74 eastbound off-ramp at Prospect Avenue. […]
BorderTown & Co. Turns Small-Town Roots Into Big Connections, One Show at a Time
In a world where connection is hard to come by, the six-man band BorderTown & Co. has made it their mission to bridge the gap, transforming small-town roots and spontaneous jam sessions into music that draws strangers together and turns every show into a family reunion. The band’s beginnings were […]
New Study Warns of Health and Financial Risks if States Remove Fluoride from Public Water
A new study published in the JAMA Health Forum projects significant increases in tooth decay and healthcare costs if fluoride is removed from U.S. public water systems, a move currently under consideration in several states and supported by federal proposals from Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Kennedy, as […]
Illinois Passes Landmark Prescription Drug Affordability Act
The Illinois General Assembly has overwhelmingly approved the Prescription Drug Affordability Act (HB 1697), a sweeping measure designed to lower prescription drug costs and bolster independent pharmacies across the state. The bill now awaits the signature of Governor J.B. Pritzker, who has already indicated his strong support. Key Provisions of […]