In a recent executive order, the White House has announced significant changes to the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) Program, aiming to redefine what constitutes “public service” and exclude organizations involved in illegal activities from eligibility. Established by Congress in 2007, the PSLF Program was designed to encourage individuals to […]
Author: Dani Tietz
Supreme Court Denies Trump Administration’s Bid to Halt $2 Billion Foreign Aid Payment, Upholding District Court Order
The U.S. Supreme Court rejected the Trump administration’s emergency request to block a federal judge’s order requiring the release of nearly $2 billion in frozen foreign aid funds on March 5. The 5-4 ruling, issued without detailed analysis, permits the continuation of payments to contractors and nonprofits for work completed […]
Supreme Court Limits EPA Authority in Water Pollution Permits, Siding with San Francisco
4o In a 5-4 decision, the United States Supreme Court sided with the City and County of San Francisco in a case against the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), restricting the agency’s authority to impose certain conditions in water pollution permits. The decision, authored by Justice Samuel Alito, held that the […]
Trump Suspends Tariffs on Canadian and Mexican Goods—Again, but Uncertainty Remains
In a pattern reminiscent of previous trade actions, the Trump administration has once again suspended tariffs on certain Canadian and Mexican goods, mere days after their implementation. This temporary reprieve is set to last until April 2, with uncertainty looming over whether the tariffs will be reinstated at that time. […]
State lawmakers brace for possible federal cuts to Medicaid
by Peter Hancock, Jade Aubrey and UIS Public Affairs Reporting (PAR), Capitol News Illinois March 5, 2025 SPRINGFIELD – Health care advocates, hospital officials and people who rely on Medicaid for their medical coverage warned state lawmakers Wednesday of consequences that could result from proposed cuts in federal Medicaid funding. […]
With electricity price spikes coming, environmental and industry groups pitch reform
by Andrew Adams, Capitol News Illinois March 4, 2025 Illinois faces potential energy shortfalls and all-but-guaranteed price spikes for northern Illinois this summer, consumer and environmental advocates say. Lawmakers and advocates in Springfield have proposed bills that they say would address their concerns — but it’s unclear whether they’re likely […]
High school student helps draft bill to require opioid overdose medications in Illinois libraries
by Ismael M. Belkoura and Medill Illinois News Bureau, Capitol News Illinois March 6, 2025 ELGIN – High school students generally don’t participate in drafting legislation. Jordan Henry is an exception. A senior at the Illinois Math and Science Academy, the Elgin native is working with her local state representative […]
Trump administration ends reimbursements for Illinois food programs
by Ben Szalinski, Capitol News Illinois March 4, 2025 SPRINGFIELD — The Trump administration has stopped reimbursing Illinois for a program designed to help farmers and supply fresh food to Illinois food banks. The Illinois Department of Agriculture announced Tuesday that changes to federal funding mean Illinois is missing reimbursements […]
Trump Threatens to Cut Federal Funding for Colleges Allowing “Illegal Protests”
President Donald Trump ignited a firestorm of controversy with a Tuesday morning Truth Social post threatening to strip federal funding from colleges and universities that permit “illegal protests” on their campuses. Trump wrote, “All Federal Funding will STOP for any College, School, or University that allows illegal protests. Agitators will […]
Global Trade War Escalates: U.S. Tariffs on Canada, Mexico, and China Trigger Swift Retaliation
The global trade landscape entered a volatile new phase on March 4, 2025, as the United States implemented sweeping tariffs on imports from Canada, Mexico, and China, triggering immediate retaliatory measures from its trading partners. Tariffs are taxes imposed on imported goods, paid by the importer (usually a U.S. company) […]