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 […]
Other News
NPR Investigation Finds Kennedy’s HHS Vaccine FAQ Misrepresents Science; Kennedy Defends Policy Shift
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 […]
EPA Moves to Repeal Limits on Power Plant Emissions, Mercury
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 […]
House Narrowly Passes Bill to Slash Public Broadcasting Funds
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 Take to Streets in Historic “No Kings” Protests Across United States
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 […]
Pritzker signs $55.1B state budget reliant on $700M of new taxes
by Ben Szalinski, Capitol News Illinois June 16, 2025 Gov. JB Pritzker signed Illinois’ fiscal year 2026 budget into law Monday, taking shots at President Donald Trump’s budget management to defend hard choices state lawmakers were forced to make this year. The $55.1 billion spending plan set to take effect […]
D.C. Military Parade Carries $45 Million Price Tag
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, […]
Champaign-Urbana Kicks Off Juneteenth 2025 with Food, Music, and Community
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 […]
ICE Expands 287(g) Program, Sparking Fears Over Community Trust and Oversight
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 […]
Federal Judge Blocks Key Provisions of Trump Executive Order on Elections
A federal judge in the District of Massachusetts has issued a preliminary injunction against major provisions of President Donald J. Trump’s recent executive order on federal elections, siding with a coalition of 19 states that argued the order unlawfully usurped congressional authority and threatened to disenfranchise eligible voters. The executive […]