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) […]
The U.S. Senate failed to advance the Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act of 2025 on March 3. The bill, which aimed to codify restrictions on transgender athletes in women’s sports, did not garner the necessary 60 votes to overcome a filibuster, resulting in a 51-45 party-line vote […]
The Champaign County Forest Preserve District has officially launched registration for its 2025 summer camp programs. As of March 3, parents and guardians can now secure spots for their children in a variety of outdoor activities and educational experiences. The district’s summer camps are designed to provide local youth with […]
President Donald Trump confirmed on Monday that 25% tariffs on imports from Mexico and Canada will take effect on March 4, 2025. Tariffs are taxes imposed by a government on imported goods, and while they are technically paid by the importing businesses at the border, the costs are often passed […]
President Donald J. Trump signed a March 1 executive order mandating a dramatic expansion of domestic timber production through regulatory rollbacks, accelerated permitting processes, and revised forest management protocols. The order, titled Immediate Expansion of American Timber Production, aims to reduce reliance on foreign lumber, lower construction costs, and enhance […]
In a landmark move marking the first federal designation of an official language in U.S. history, President Donald Trump signed an executive order on March 1, 2025, declaring English the official language of the United States. The order, titled Designating English as the Official Language of the United States, revokes […]
The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced Friday it is rescinding a decades-old policy that required public input on certain rulemaking procedures, effective immediately. The move eliminates the 1971 “Richardson Waiver,” which mandated notice and comment periods for rules related to public property, loans, grants, benefits, or contracts. […]
Illinois Representatives Ryan Spain and Tony M. McCombie and Senator Senate Craig Wilcox have introduced a bill to create a new income tax deduction for gratuities. House Bill 1383 and Senate Bill 0140, introduced in the 104th General Assembly, aim to amend the Illinois Income Tax Act to allow taxpayers […]
The Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) has announced a significant road closure that will impact drivers in Champaign. The westbound Interstate 74 ramp connecting to southbound I-57 will be closed starting overnight on Sunday. This closure is part of ongoing construction work on the I-74 bridge over I-57 and is […]
Illinois Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias has launched a new initiative to help residents prepare for the upcoming REAL ID enforcement deadline on May 7, 2025. The program includes several key components: Secretary Giannoulias emphasized that not all residents need a REAL ID before May 7. Those with valid U.S. […]
