U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke L. Rollins announced the rescission of the 2001 Roadless Rule, a move the Department of Agriculture (USDA) says will remove longstanding restrictions on road construction and timber harvesting across nearly 59 million acres of the National Forest System. The Roadless Rule, enacted in 2001, prohibited […]
Author: Dani Tietz
Appeals Court Strikes Down Louisiana’s Ten Commandments Classroom Law
A federal appeals court has blocked Louisiana from enforcing a law that would have required the display of the Ten Commandments in every classroom across the state’s public schools and universities, ruling the statute “plainly unconstitutional” and a violation of the First Amendment. The legislation, signed by Republican Governor Jeff […]
Painkillers Blues Band to Headline Summer Concert Series at Homer Lake
Music lovers in Champaign County are in for a treat as the Painkillers Blues Band takes the stage at the Summer Concert Series, set for June 29 from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. at the Interpretive Center in Homer Lake Forest Preserve. The Painkillers Blues Band, a central Illinois favorite, is […]
Supreme Court Allows U.S. to Resume Third-Country Deportations Amid Criticism Over Due Process and Human Rights
The U.S. Supreme Court has granted the Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) emergency request to stay a lower court order that required the government to provide advance notice and an opportunity to contest deportations to so-called “third countries”, nations other than a migrant’s country of origin or prior residence. The […]
Federal Judge Vacates Biden Administration’s HIPAA Rule on Reproductive Health Privacy
A federal judge in the Northern District of Texas has vacated the Biden administration’s 2024 amendments to the HIPAA Privacy Rule that sought to strengthen privacy protections for reproductive health care information. The ruling, issued in the case Purl v. United States Department of Health and Human Services, found that the […]
Explore the Cosmos: Big Bird’s Moon Trip and Niyah’s Multiverse Journey Come to Parkland College
The William M. Staerkel Planetarium at Parkland College is set to ignite imaginations this week with two highly anticipated planetarium shows: One World, One Sky: Big Bird’s Adventure and Niyah and the Multiverse. These interactive experiences are scheduled for Tuesday, June 24, and Thursday, June 26, 2025. One World, One Sky: Big Bird’s […]
“Take Me Fishing 2025” Casts a Line for Family Fun at Homer Lake
The Champaign County Forest Preserve is gearing up for a morning of outdoor adventure as the Champaign County Forest Preserve District hosts its annual “Take Me Fishing 2025” event at Homer Lake Forest Preserve. The event is scheduled for June 28 from 9:00 to 11:00 a.m. at the Walnut Hill […]
“Let’s Celebrate Summer: Playscape Party” Set for June 25 at Homer Lake Forest Preserve
Families and nature lovers are invited to kick off the season at the “Let’s Celebrate Summer: Playscape Party,” happening Wednesday, June 25, 2025, from 4:00 to 6:00 p.m. at the Natural Playscape in Homer Lake Forest Preserve. Hosted by the Champaign County Forest Preserve District, this free event promises two […]
Judge Issues Split Ruling in Lawsuit Over Officials’ Use of Auto-Deleting Apps for Government Business
A federal judge has issued a mixed ruling in a closely watched lawsuit over the use of encrypted, auto-deleting messaging apps by senior executive branch officials to conduct government business, a practice watchdogs say threatens the preservation of vital public records. The case, brought by the nonprofit American Oversight, targeted […]
Transcript of JD Vance speech in Los Angeles
Vice President JD Vance delivered his speech in Los Angeles at a federal operations center on June 20, amid ongoing immigration raids and days of protests. In response, President Donald Trump deployed federal law enforcement and military personnel to the city. JD Vance: All right. Well, good afternoon, everybody. Thank […]