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Duckworth Joins Cramer, Klobuchar, Colleagues in Introducing Bipartisan Legislation to Make Adoption Tax Credit Refundable

4 months 4 weeks ago
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) this week joined U.S. Senators Kevin Cramer (R-ND), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) and 15 Senate colleagues in introducing bipartisan legislation to help ease the financial cost of adoption and support prospective and adoptive families. The Adoption Tax Credit Refundability Act restores the refundable portion of the Adoption Tax Credit. By allowing the tax credit to be refundable, families will be able to access the full amount as a refund, even if the credit exceeds a family’s tax burden. The existing Adoption Tax Credit allows adoptive families to deduct up to $16,810 in qualified expenses. “We should be doing everything we can to make things more affordable for families,” Duckworth said. “Adoption can put a financial strain on families, but by making the Adoption Tax Credit fully refundable we’re helping ensure these families can keep more of their hard-earned money to pay for their loved ones’

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Gov. Pritzker Appoints Brandon Ragle As Next Secretary Of Illinois Department Of Innovation And Technology

4 months 4 weeks ago
CHICAGO - Today, Governor JB Pritzker announced his appointment of Brandon Ragle, a leader in IT strategy and management with 20+ years of experience, to lead the Illinois Department of Innovation and Technology. Ragle currently serves as interim Secretary following the departure of Sanjay Gupta. Before his position as Interim Secretary, Ragle served as Deputy Secretary and Deputy Chief Information Officer from 2023-2025. “As part of our continued efforts to bolster the technology and innovation sectors across our state, I’m excited to appoint Brandon Ragle as the next leader of DoIT,” said Governor JB Pritzker. “I’m confident that his extensive expertise and leadership experience will optimize software systems and support staff across the agency. I look forward to leveraging his distinct operational knowledge to further DoIT’s critical statewide initiatives.” Ragle began his career with the State of Illinois in May 2002, working as a software

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Duckworth, Murkowski, Houlahan, Bacon Renew Bipartisan, Bicameral Push to Give Public Health Crisis Responders Essential Leave Benefits Enjoyed by All

4 months 4 weeks ago
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, combat Veteran and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL)—a member of the U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC)—U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) and U.S. Representatives Chrissy Houlahan (D-PA-06) and Don Bacon (R-NE-02) reintroduced bipartisan, bicameral legislation that would help expand leave benefits for the millions of devoted health professionals serving in the U.S. Public Health Service (PHS) Commissioned Corps. Despite being responsible for leading our nation’s emergency response to dangerous public health crises, PHS officers are still the only federal entity—civilian or uniformed—without access to essential leave benefits, including extended parental leave, emergency leave, court appearance leave and rest and recuperation leave. The lawmakers’ Uniformed Services Leave Parity Act would rectify this issue by ensuring PHS officers have access to the same authorized leave that is available to members of th

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Illinois Senators present legislative package to make childcare more affordable and accessible for Illinois families

4 months 4 weeks ago
SPRINGFIELD– Illinois Senate Republican Leader John Curran (41st–Downers Grove), alongside State Senator Erica Harriss (56th–Glen Carbon) and State Senator Darby Hills (26th–Barrington Hills), today unveiled their legislative package to make childcare more affordable for Illinois families and businesses. “Investing in childcare is investing in Illinois families and businesses,” said Curran. “Our legislative package is a holistic approach that empowers families, businesses and the state to work together to provide both immediate relief and long-term structural improvements to childcare in Illinois.” According to Capitol News Illinois, the state has lost nearly 4,300 licensed childcare providers—approximately 33 percent—over the past decade. In response, Curran has filed Senate Bill 1120 to help reduce staffing shortages and red tape for providers in childcare deserts and provide financial relief to working families struggling

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ISP: Move Over Or Get Pulled Over

4 months 4 weeks ago
SPRINGFIELD – The Illinois State Police (ISP) and the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) are warning drivers to Move Over or Get Pulled Over. ? The Move Over Law, known as Scott’s Law in Illinois, requires drivers to move over and slow down when approaching a stationary emergency vehicle with its emergency lights activated. ? If changing lanes is unsafe or ? impossible, drivers must slow down to a safe speed, proceed with caution, and be prepared to stop if necessary. ? “We’ve all heard it, move over and slow down for emergency vehicles on the side of the road with their emergency lights activated,” said ISP Director Brendan F. Kelly. ? “Despite this, we continue to see to crashes, including deadly crashes, because someone refused to move over and slow down. ? To help end this reckless behavior, we want the public to know that if you fail to move over and slow down in Illinois, you will get a ticket. ? The days of receiving a warning are

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Illinois Celebrates Major Medicaid Milestone: 60 years of Providing Critical Healthcare Coverage

4 months 4 weeks ago
SPRINGFIELD - As Medicaid marks its 60th anniversary in April, the Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services (HFS) is celebrating the program’s six decades of high-quality healthcare coverage and Medicaid’s position as the backbone of Illinois’ healthcare landscape. Medicaid provides a wide range of essential healthcare services to roughly 3.4 million people in Illinois, or roughly one in four Illinois residents. Illinois Medicaid is the largest health insurer in the state, providing coverage to people and supporting the healthcare infrastructure in every region of Illinois. Now is a time to preserve and protect Medicaid Medicaid in the face of federal Congressional proposals that would do just the opposite. “On the 60th anniversary of Medicaid, I am reflecting upon the millions of working families across Illinois that depend on these live-saving services,” said Governor JB Pritzker. “Even as we uplift how this vital healthcare program

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Grammy-Award Winning Chainsmokers To Play At Illinois State Fair On Aug. 15

4 months 4 weeks ago
SPRINGFIELD – The Illinois State Fair is thrilled to announce that The Chainsmokers , GRAMMY® Award-winning, RIAA Diamond-certified duo, will perform at the Illinois Lottery Grandstand stage on Friday, August 15. Known for their boundary-defying fusion of pop, indie, electronic, alternative, and rock, Drew Taggart and Alex Pall have consistently shaped the landscape of popular music. Fans can expect an electrifying performance featuring some of their biggest hits like Closer, Something Just Like This, the GRAMMY®-winning Don’t Let Me Down, and anthemic new classics from Addicted to the cross-genre smash, Don’t Lie. “Bringing world-class talent like The Chainsmokers to the Illinois State Fair emphasizes our commitment to providing top-tier entertainment for fairgoers,” said Illinois Department of Agriculture Director Jerry Costello II. Since their independent breakthrough in 2013, The Chainsmokers have consistently delivered viral sensations

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Rep. Amy Elik Celebrates Victory for Homeschool Families

4 months 4 weeks ago
SPRINGFIELD – Rep. Amy Elik (R-Alton) says the fight for homeschool families continues following news that the Homeschool Act, HB 2827, was held on third reading and not brought for a vote by Friday’s House bill deadline. This bill places unnecessary mandates on homeschool families and includes an annual registration scheme. The public has been vocal in opposition to this bill. Elik’s concerns are about the cost of the mandates on different levels of government as well as the restrictions this will have on homeschool families. “This is a bad bill, and it couldn’t get the votes necessary to pass it through the House,” said Rep. Amy Elik. “Illinois has far bigger problems right now than mandating homeschool families. Although this bill could still come back, this is a big win for Illinois families.” The sponsor held HB 2827 on third reading, meaning it could still come back to for a vote prior to adjournment on May 31, however

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Durbin, Hirono, Warren Lead Colleagues In Urging DOJ To Reverse Decisions Greenlighting Cryptocurrency-Based Crime

4 months 4 weeks ago
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, along with U.S. Senators Mazie K. Hirono (D-HI), a senior member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, and Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Ranking Member of the Senate Banking Committee led six Senators in urging Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche to reverse the Department of Justice’s (DOJ) recent decisions to effectively terminate the Department’s cryptocurrency investigations and prosecutions. The memo , sent to staff earlier this week, also stated that DOJ will disband its National Cryptocurrency Enforcement Team (NCET), which was established to investigate and prosecute criminal misuse of cryptocurrencies and digital assets. In their letter, the Senators also raise concerns about the potential connections between DOJ’s actions and the cryptocurrency ventures of President Trump and his family. “We write in response to your April 7, 2025

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Trump Admits US Can Get Abrego Garcia Back From Torture Camp He Was Accidentally Sent To; But DOJ Makes Clear It Wonโ€™t Even Ask

4 months 4 weeks ago
For a brief moment last week, Donald Trump acknowledged what everyone already knew โ€” that the US government could bring Abrego Garcia home from the El Salvador torture facility known as CECOT, where he was wrongly sent in what the administration claims was an “administrative error.” But within days, Trump’s administration was back to mocking […]
Mike Masnick

One Day One SIUE 2025 to Feature Celebration, Community Impact, and Student-Centered Giving

4 months 4 weeks ago
EDWARDSVILLE - SIUE will host its fourth annual One Day One SIUE celebration on Thursday, April 24. The event, which combines the University's day of giving with a vibrant outdoor celebration, will take place on the Stratton Quadrangle and feature music from the Red Jackets Band, a BBQ buffet, and an INDYCAR showcase presented by World Wide Technology Raceway (WWTR) in a fun raceway themed celebration. “The fundraising festival has rapidly evolved into one of the University’s most anticipated annual events,” said Julie Babington, Senior Director of Annual Giving and the architect of One Day One SIUE. “What began as a modest giving initiative has grown into a signature celebration of community pride and philanthropy.” The final tally for SIUE’s 2024 One Day, One SIUE fundraiser was a record $2,344,574. “Each year, the amount contributed toward student success has increased significantly as has the awareness and participation across our

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