In direct response to Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s controversial health policies, a coalition of scientists and public health experts released an evidence-based alternative report titled “Improving the Health of Americans Together” (IHAT), challenging what they characterize as Kennedy’s “fake MAHA agenda” built on pseudoscience and […]
Author: Dani Tietz
Fourth Circuit Court Strikes Down DOGE Data Access Protections in Split Decision
The Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals has vacated a preliminary injunction that had blocked the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) from accessing sensitive personal data held by three major federal agencies. In the 2-1 decision issued August 12, the appeals court ruled that labor unions and federal employee groups were […]
Illinois Partially Complies with Federal Request for Voter Data
The Illinois State Board of Elections has responded to a Department of Justice request for comprehensive voter data by providing some information while withholding sensitive personal details. In an August 11, 2025 letter to DOJ officials, Illinois State Board of Elections General Counsel Marni M. Malowitz confirmed the state provided […]
Cyclists Gear Up for 2025 River to Rail Ride in Danville
Bicyclists from across the region are invited to take in some of Vermilion County’s most scenic landscapes during the 2025 River to Rail Ride on Sept. 13, starting at Kennekuk County Park’s White Oak Barn. Hosted by the Vermilion County Conservation District, the annual event offers a variety of well-marked, […]
Gene Hackman’s Cinematic Legacy Celebrated at FischerFest in Danville
The Fischer Theatre is rolling out the red carpet August 16–17 for FischerFest: The Cinematic Legacy of Gene Hackman, a two-day event honoring the illustrious career of Danville’s own Oscar-winning actor. FischerFest’s lineup will showcase five of Hackman’s most acclaimed films. On Saturday, guests will enjoy Bonnie and Clyde, The French Connection, […]
Federal Judge Denies Justice Department’s Bid to Unseal Ghislaine Maxwell Grand Jury Records
A federal judge in Manhattan delivered a scathing rebuke to the Trump administration on Monday, denying the Justice Department’s request to unseal grand jury transcripts and exhibits from the criminal case against Jeffrey Epstein associate Ghislaine Maxwell. U.S. District Judge Paul A. Engelmayer dismissed the DOJ’s motion in a 31-page […]
Trump Cites False Crime Statistics to Justify Takeover of D.C.
President Donald Trump, who was convicted of 34 felony counts and found legally liable for sexual abuse and defamation, announced Monday that he is placing Washington D.C.’s police department under federal control and deploying National Guard troops to the nation’s capital, claiming the city faces a “crime emergency” despite official […]
Mahomet Village Board to Consider Liquor License Expansion for New Haymakers Gas Station
The Village of Mahomet Board of Trustees is set to discuss a proposed ordinance amendment during their study session on Aug. 12, which would increase the allowed number of Class P Package Liquor Licenses from ten to eleven to accommodate a new Haymakers gas station and convenience store. The 5,820-square-foot […]
Trump’s Non-Binding $750 Billion EU Energy Deal
President Donald Trump on July 27 touted a sweeping trade agreement that he said would see the European Union purchase $750 billion worth of American energy over the next three years. The deal, according to Trump, also includes a 15% tariff on most EU exports to the United States. But […]
House Committee Issues Subpoenas for Jeffrey Epstein Files and High-Profile Depositions
The House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform has issued a far-reaching set of subpoenas to former top law enforcement and political figures, including former U.S. Presidents and Attorneys General, demanding testimony and documents related to the government’s decades-long knowledge and prosecution of the Epstein scandal. The motion to subpoena […]