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 […]
Urbana School District 116 (USD116) will once again offer free meals to all children 18 years old and younger during the summer months through its annual Summer Meal Program. The initiative, running from June through mid-July 2025, is designed to ensure that local youth have consistent access to nutritious food […]
A bill aimed at bolstering safe drinking water protections across Illinois is now headed to Governor JB Pritzker’s desk, following approval by both chambers of the General Assembly. Senate Bill 2266 seeks to enhance oversight and enforcement for non-community water systems, facilities like schools, factories, restaurants, resorts, and churches that […]
On May 1, 1865, just weeks after the Civil War’s end, a remarkable procession unfolded at Charleston’s old racecourse. Nearly 10,000 people, most of them newly freed African Americans, gathered to honor 257 Union soldiers who had died as prisoners of war and were buried in a mass grave behind […]
The Village of Mahomet Board of Trustees is set to vote on awarding a $541,786 contract for extensive sidewalk and pavement improvements at its upcoming meeting on May 27. The project aims to address deteriorating streets and sidewalks in several older subdivisions. Project Scope and Locations The 2025 PCC Patching […]
The Village of Mahomet Board of Trustees is set to vote on May 27 on two major technology upgrades for the police department: a nine-year contract for advanced Axon body cameras with artificial intelligence features, and the purchase of a dozen additional Flock Safety license plate reader (LPR) cameras, including […]
Illinois lawmakers are moving forward with legislation that would make it significantly easier for residents to access a full range of contraceptive options, including the prescription-only emergency contraceptive Ella (ulipristal acetate), directly from pharmacists, without the need for a doctor’s visit. House Bill 3489, championed by State Senator Rachel Ventura […]
In a significant bipartisan move, an Illinois House committee has unanimously moved a bill that would expand insurance coverage for Alzheimer’s disease treatments forward, aiming to ensure that all Illinoisans with health insurance have access to the latest FDA-approved therapies and essential diagnostic testing. The proposed legislation builds on a […]
The recent settlement between the Department of Justice (DOJ) and Rare Breed Triggers marks a pivotal moment for the aftermarket trigger industry, especially for forced reset triggers (FRTs) like the Rare Breed FRT-15. The agreement ends the federal government’s ban on these devices, which had previously been classified as illegal […]
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has announced a significant rollback of federal limits on several types of “forever chemicals” in drinking water, marking a sharp reversal from the landmark standards set just last year under the Biden administration. The decision will rescind and reconsider enforceable limits for four out of […]
