A leaked federal budget proposal has revealed plans to eliminate specialized suicide prevention services for LGBTQ+ youth through the national 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. The 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, launched in 2022, was designed as a universal, easy-to-remember number for individuals in mental health crisis-similar to 911 for […]
In a significant decision affecting hospitals that serve low-income patients, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled 7-2 on Tuesday in favor of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) in a long-running dispute over how Medicare calculates extra payments to hospitals treating a disproportionate share of poor patients. The case, […]
Parkland College’s Support for Workforce Training (SWFT) program is set to launch a new Telecommunicator 9-1-1 training this summer, offering local residents a pathway into high-demand emergency dispatcher careers. The two-week training, which begins June 2, will be held through Parkland’s Office of Workforce Development and is open to community […]
An Illinois House Bill aimed at strengthening protections for students with disabilities by prohibiting certain waivers in special education agreements has passed the House and moved to the Senate for consideration. House Bill 2337 (HB2337), sponsored by State Representative Laura Faver Dias and a broad coalition of co-sponsors, seeks to […]
The U.S. Department of Education has announced that it will resume collections on defaulted federal student loans starting Monday, May 5. This marks the end of a pause that began in March 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The average amount of student loan debt college graduates leave with in […]
The grassroots movement “50501” is planning a peaceful demonstration called “Light in the Darkness,” on May 1. The event will take place from 7:00 to 8:30 p.m. along Florida Avenue/Kirby Avenue in Urbana, stretching from Blair Park to Hessel Park. Organizers are encouraging participants to bring signs to display before […]
The Illinois Network for Pretrial Justice has announced a public listening session to address the state’s ongoing public defense crisis, scheduled for May 1. The event aims to gather community input and spotlight policy solutions for improving legal representation for those awaiting trial across Illinois. Date & Time: Thursday, May […]
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has suspended a major quality control program used in food safety testing due to significant staffing cuts at the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), according to Reuters. These reductions, affecting around 3,500 full-time employees, nearly 19% of the FDA’s workforce, were […]
The Trump administration is actively weighing a series of proposals aimed at encouraging American women to have more children. Among the most discussed ideas is a $5,000 “baby bonus” – a direct cash incentive that would be awarded to every American mother following childbirth. The bonus, if implemented, could supplement […]
A coalition of higher education leaders, including several prominent Illinois colleges, has joined a nationwide initiative urging campuses to foster constructive engagement and uphold the principles of free expression amid rising tensions and polarization. “As leaders of America’s colleges, universities, and scholarly societies, we speak with one voice against the […]
