The Champaign County Forest Preserve District is set to kick off its 2025 Summer Concert Series with a highly anticipated performance by Candy Foster and Shades of Blue. The event will take place on Saturday, June 7, from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM at the Lake of the Woods Peninsula. […]
Month: June 2025
U.S. Halts New Student Visa Interviews, Announces Aggressive Revocation of Chinese Student Visas
On May 27, the Trump administration ordered U.S. embassies and consulates worldwide to halt the scheduling of new student and exchange visitor visa interviews. The State Department is preparing to roll out expanded screening of visa applicants’ social media activity, with new guidelines expected soon. The pause does not affect […]
Amid uncertainty in Washington, Illinois lawmakers pass slimmed-down Medicaid package
by Peter Hancock, Capitol News Illinois June 1, 2025 SPRINGFIELD — Nearly every year, Illinois lawmakers pass a package of measures dealing with the state’s Medicaid program, the joint federal and state health care program that covers low-income individuals. Known as the Medicaid omnibus bill, it sometimes includes bold components, […]
New taxes on sports bets, nicotine products as Democrats pass $55.2B budget
by Ben Szalinski and Jerry Nowicki, Capitol News Illinois June 1, 2025 SPRINGFIELD – Giving almost no time for public review, Illinois Democrats pushed through a $55.2 billion budget for next fiscal year late Saturday, bolstering coffers with new taxes on sports bets, nicotine products and businesses. The $55.2 billion […]
Illinois bill aims to lower cost of prescriptions, rein in pharmacy benefit managers
by Peter Hancock, Capitol News Illinois May 30, 2025 SPRINGFIELD — A bill that seeks to control the rising cost of prescription drugs while also offering financial help for many small, independent pharmacies in Illinois cleared the state Senate on Thursday and awaits action in the House. The bill, known […]