The U.S. Senate passed the Guiding and Establishing National Innovation for U.S. Stablecoins Act, better known as the GENIUS Act, by a decisive 68-30 vote on June 17. This marks the first time the Senate has approved major legislation to regulate digital assets, specifically targeting stablecoins, which are cryptocurrencies pegged […]
Brad Lander, New York City’s comptroller and a leading Democratic candidate for mayor, was arrested by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents outside Manhattan’s federal immigration court on Tuesday. Lander was at 26 Federal Plaza, the city’s main immigration courthouse, to observe proceedings and support immigrants facing deportation. According […]
Governor J.B. Pritzker has signed a measure that delays the implementation of Illinois’ Interchange Fee Prohibition Act (IFPA) by one year into law, pushing its effective date to July 1, 2026. The bill aims to provide additional time for legal challenges and industry adjustments before the law takes effect. The […]
A recent NPR investigation has raised serious concerns about the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) document sent to Congress to justify Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s decision to withdraw CDC recommendations for COVID-19 vaccination in healthy children and pregnant women. According to NPR, the FAQ distributed by HHS […]
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced a proposal to repeal regulations that limit greenhouse gas emissions and mercury pollution from power plants, marking a significant reversal of Biden-era environmental policies. The EPA’s proposal consists of two major regulatory changes: Mercury is a potent neurotoxin that affects the nervous system and […]
The U.S. House of Representatives narrowly approved legislation Thursday to eliminate $1.1 billion in federal funding for public broadcasting, marking the closest NPR and PBS have ever come to losing all government support. The bill passed by a razor-thin margin of 214-212, with four Republicans joining all present Democrats in opposition. […]
Millions of Americans participated in what organizers called the largest single-day protest against President Donald Trump’s second administration, with demonstrations taking place in more than 2,000 cities and towns across all 50 states on June 14. The “No Kings” protests, which coincided with Trump’s 79th birthday and a military parade in […]
The nation’s capital was the stage for the largest military parade in decades on Saturday to mark the U.S. Army’s 250th anniversary, an event that also coincided with President Donald Trump’s 79th birthday and Flag Day. The spectacle, which featured thousands of troops, dozens of tanks, and dramatic aerial flyovers, […]
Although Juneteenth is now recognized as a federal holiday nationwide, local traditions often shape how and when it is celebrated. In Champaign-Urbana, Juneteenth festivities began over Father’s Day weekend in 2025, but there is still time to celebrate the end of slavery in the United States. The name “Juneteenth” merges […]
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is rapidly expanding its controversial 287(g) program, deputizing a record number of local police officers to enforce federal immigration law during routine policing. Since January 2025, ICE has initiated 514 new 287(g) agreements across 40 states, bringing the total to nearly 650 active partnerships […]
