by Ben Szalinski, Jade Aubrey and UIS Public Affairs Reporting (PAR), Capitol News Illinois March 27, 2025 SPRINGFIELD — President Donald Trump’s administration is pulling back $477 million from Illinois that was to be used to prevent infectious disease and treat mental health and substance abuse issues. The Illinois Department […]
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Trump Dismantles of Voice of America, United States Agency for Global Media
President Donald Trump has issued an executive order aimed at dismantling the Voice of America (VOA), a federally funded news organization that has been a cornerstone of U.S. global influence since World War II. This decision not only affects VOA but also impacts other U.S.-funded media outlets through United States […]
Parkland College to increase tuition fees in Summer 2025
The Parkland College Board of Trustees has voted to increase tuition and fees by 4.2% starting from the Summer 2025 term. This decision will affect students in District 505, who will now pay $186 per credit hour for tuition and fees, representing a $7.50 increase for most of the college’s program […]
Trump Administration Halts Operations at Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, Undermining Post-Crisis Safeguards
The Trump administration has effectively shut down the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), an agency created to protect consumers after the 2008 financial crisis. Russell Vought, the newly installed director of the Office of Management and Budget and acting head of the CFPB, has ordered the agency to cease nearly […]
Federal Judge Halts Trump’s ‘Fork in the Road’ Federal Employee Buyout Plan Hours Before Deadline
U.S. District Judge George A. O’Toole Jr. has temporarily blocked President Donald Trump’s contentious plan to offer federal employees a “deferred resignation” package. The ruling came just hours before the midnight deadline on Thursday, February 6, 2025, when government workers were required to decide whether to accept the administration’s buyout […]
New Trump Tariffs on China Begin: The Impact on U.S. Consumers and Industries
Beginning February 4, Trump’s new tariffs on Chinese products are expected to cause some “pain” for Americans. The 10% tariffs on Chinese goods will be in addition to any tariffs on China that already exist. While talking about tariffs on China, Canada and Mexico, Trump wrote “THIS WILL BE THE […]
Illinois Labor Market Shows Improvement in December
Illinois experienced a positive shift in its labor market during December, with the unemployment rate decreasing and job numbers rising, according to the latest data from IDES (Illinois Department of Employment Security). Unemployment Rate Drops The unemployment rate in Illinois fell to 5.2% in December, a 0.1 percentage point decrease […]
Champaign County Celebrates Art and Creativity with Exciting Opportunities for Local Artists
40 North | 88 West is calling on local artists to submit their artworks for a chance to become the official signature image of the 2025 Boneyard Arts Festival. The selected piece will be prominently featured across festival materials including registration packets, posters, billboards, and more. The submission deadline is […]
Laken Riley Act Clears Congress, Heads to Trump’s Desk
The Laken Riley Act, a contentious immigration enforcement bill, has successfully navigated both chambers of Congress and now awaits President Donald Trump’s signature. This legislation marks a significant shift in U.S. immigration policy and is poised to become the first law enacted under Trump’s second administration. Congressional Approval The House […]
Senate scheduled to vote on Laken Riley Act
The U.S. Senate has advanced the Laken Riley Act, scheduling a final Senate vote for Jan. 20. This contentious immigration bill is named after Laken Riley, a 22-year-old nursing student from Georgia who was tragically murdered by Jose Ibarra, a Venezuelan immigrant previously detained and released by U.S. Border Patrol. […]