U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. said he may prohibit government scientists from publishing their research in leading medical journals, including The New England Journal of Medicine, The Lancet, and JAMA. Kennedy made the remarks during a recent appearance on the “Ultimate Human” podcast, accusing these journals of being […]
Month: May 2025
CDC Shifts to ‘Shared Decision-Making’ on COVID-19 Vaccines for Children After Kennedy’s Surprise Announcement
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released updated immunization guidelines for children and adolescents on May 29, 2025, retaining COVID-19 vaccination as part of routine care for individuals aged 6 months and older under a revised framework of “shared clinical decision-making.” The update follows a contentious announcement by […]
Pritzker to consider bill mandating gun owners lock up firearms near minors
by Jade Aubrey and UIS Public Affairs Reporting (PAR), Capitol News Illinois May 29, 2025 SPRINGFIELD — A bill that would require gun owners to keep any firearms in a locked box whenever a minor is present will soon head to Gov. JB Pritzker. Senate Bill 8, also referred to […]
Supreme Court Narrows Scope of Environmental Reviews for Major Projects in Unanimous Ruling
The U.S. Supreme Court has unanimously ruled to limit the scope of environmental reviews required for major infrastructure projects under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), fundamentally reshaping how federal agencies must assess the environmental impacts of such projects. The case, Seven County Infrastructure Coalition v. Eagle County, Colorado, centered on […]
Supreme Court Allows Immediate Termination of Humanitarian Parole for Hundreds of Thousands
The U.S. Supreme Court has granted the federal government’s request to stay a lower court order that had blocked the mass termination of humanitarian parole for more than 500,000 noncitizens from Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua, and Venezuela. The ruling, delivered without explanation from the majority, allows the Department of Homeland Security […]
‘Medical aid in dying’ bill moves forward in Illinois
by Andrew Adams, Capitol News Illinois May 30, 2025 SPRINGFIELD — Terminally ill Illinoisans may have the legal option to end their own life with the help of a physician next year under a bill approved by lawmakers Thursday. The procedure, which advocates and the bill call “medical aid in […]
Senate passes bill requiring Illinois libraries to supply opioid overdose medication
by Isabella Schoonover and Medill Illinois News Bureau, Capitol News Illinois May 28, 2025 SPRINGFIELD — Legislation that would require Illinois public libraries to have life-saving medications on hand for people experiencing opioid overdoses and provide staff training has unanimously passed the Illinois Senate and is now on Gov. JB […]
Pritzker threatens to veto any budget containing ‘broad-based’ tax increase
by Ben Szalinski and Jerry Nowicki, Capitol News Illinois May 28, 2025 SPRINGFIELD – Gov. JB Pritzker said Wednesday he will not sign a budget that includes broad tax hikes to fund new spending as lawmakers are in the final hours of budget negotiations. “Anything that’s broad-based and would have […]
CDC and FDA Announce Major Changes to COVID-19 Vaccine Recommendations
The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) has issued a strong response following a decision by a federal advisory committee to remove COVID-19 vaccines from the recommended routine immunization schedules for healthy children and pregnant people. The AAP warns that this move disregards established scientific review processes and could increase health […]
FEMA Faces Deep Cuts and Layoffs Amid Major Budget Overhaul
With tornado outbreaks and hurricane season looming, he nation’s primary responder to natural disasters, FEMA, is at a crossroads. President Trump’s 2026 budget proposal calls for a $646 million cut to FEMA, targeting grant programs that the administration says duplicate existing state and federal efforts, while the department, which responds […]