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Durbin Slams Senate Republicans For Blocking Bill To Fund TSA, FEMA, And More While DHS Funding Negotiations Continue

7 months 3 weeks ago
WASHINGTON – In a speech on the Senate floor, U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee and a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, slammed Senate Republicans for blocking a bill that would fund every agency within the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS)—except U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Customs and Border Patrol (CBP), and the Office of the Secretary—while negotiations continue to rein

Senator Erica Harriss Introduces Bill to Create Illinois Pediatric Cancer Fund

7 months 3 weeks ago
SPRINGFIELD — State Senator Erica Harriss (56th–Glen Carbon) has introduced legislation aimed at strengthening research efforts to help fight childhood cancer and improve outcomes for young patients across Illinois. Senate Bill 3954 would create the Illinois Pediatric Cancer Fund, a special fund within the State Treasury Department dedicated to supporting research, prevention, and treatment efforts related to pediatric cancer. The fund would provide grants to physicians, hospitals,

Gov. Pritzker, Governors Across Country Urge Congress to End Trump's Illegal Tariffs on Working Families

7 months 3 weeks ago
CHICAGO – Today, Governor JB Pritzker joined a coalition of 19 governors from across the country urging congressional leaders to take action following the U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling which found that the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) does not authorize the President to impose tariffs. In a joint letter to Congressional leadership, the Governors warned that sweeping tariffs imposed by the Trump Administration over the past year have caused significant economic

Former Florissant Police Officer Sentenced to 24 Months in Prison for Searching Women's Phones for Nude Images

7 months 3 weeks ago
ST. LOUIS — A former Florissant, Mo., police officer who illegally searched the phones of 20 women for nude photos during traffic stops was sentenced Wednesday, March 11, 2026, to 24 months in prison and ordered to pay $2,681 in restitution, according to information from the U.S. District Court. The U.S. District Court reported that Julian Alcala, 31, pulled the women over while on duty, in uniform, and in a marked police vehicle between Feb. 6, 2024, and May 18, 2024. Alcala took mobile

Duckworth Helps Lead Bipartisan Push to Increase Veterans' Access to Benefits, Encourage Participation in Apprenticeship Programs

7 months 3 weeks ago
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Combat Veteran and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) joined U.S. Senators Tim Sheehy (R-MT), Elissa Slotkin (D-MI) and Kevin Cramer (R-ND) in leading a bipartisan push to increase access to Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits for Veterans pursuing apprenticeships. The Senators’ Reducing Arbitrary Barriers to Apprenticeship Act would allow Post-9/11 GI Bill beneficiaries pursuing On-the-Job Training (OJT) or Apprenticeship (APP) programs to have access to the full

As Prices Continue To Rise, Durbin Condemns Trump Administration Policies That Continue To Hurt American Families

7 months 3 weeks ago
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) spoke on the Senate floor today criticizing the Trump Administration for disregarding Americans’ concerns with the rising costs of food, power, housing, health care, and more. President Trump has previously dismissed the affordability crisis we are facing in the U.S. as a “hoax.” “Our job as elected officials is to give Americans a helping hand to afford these necessities. Sadly, the Administration has

Suicide Prevention Awareness And Education Could Be Expanded Under Belt's Measure

7 months 3 weeks ago
SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Christopher Belt advanced a measure to increase access to life-saving mental health resources and strengthen suicide prevention efforts across the state. “This measure takes crucial steps to ensure help is always within reach for those in crisis,” said Belt (D-Swansea). “This will give residents additional resources they may need to stay safe and feel supported.” Belt’s measure would require numerous public buildings across Illinois

EF-1 Tornado Hits Moro With Speed Of 95 MPH

7 months 3 weeks ago
MORO, IL. - The National Weather Service in St. Louis has confirmed that two EF-1 tornadoes moved through the Metro East early Wednesday morning, March 11, 2026, including one in Moro, Illinois, and the other in St. Clair County. Jayson Gosselin, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in St. Louis, confirmed the information. More will be in another story about the St. Clair County tornado. According to NWS officials, the first confirmed tornado traveled 1.6 miles and had peak winds

Durbin Introduces Bill To Create Interagency Committee To Expand Oversight On For-Profit College Industry

7 months 3 weeks ago
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), along with U.S. Senators Tina Smith (D-MN), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Adam Schiff (D-CA), and Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), today reintroduced the Proprietary Education Oversight Task Force Act , legislation that will establish an interagency committee tasked with improving coordination of federal oversight of for-profit colleges to ensure that students are not scammed out of an education and into a mountain

Illinois Joins Poison Centers Nationwide to Raise Awareness About Poisoning Prevention, Promote Safety

7 months 3 weeks ago
CHICAGO - The Illinois Poison Center (IPC), the nation’s oldest poison center, joins poison centers around the country to raise awareness about poison dangers and educate the public on ways to further protect their loved ones during National Poison Prevention Week (NPPW), which runs from March 15 – 21. This year’s theme is “When the Unexpected Happens, We’re Here for You.” For more than 70 years, poison centers have provided vital information and resources

Storm destroys barn at Hootie's Rescue Haven in St. Clair

7 months 3 weeks ago
When powerful storms rolled through the St. Clair area around 3 a.m., the owners of Hootie's Rescue Haven woke to a loud boom and heavy rain, realizing strong winds had torn through their property. But it wasn’t until sunrise that they saw just how much damage the storm had caused.
Caroline Pettey

Gov. Pritzker Launches Down Payment Assistance Program for First-Time Homebuyers

7 months 3 weeks ago
CHICAGO – Governor JB Pritzker and the Illinois Housing Development Authority (IHDA) today launched IHDAccess Home ( Access Home ), a new program offering up to $15,000 in down payment and closing cost assistance for eligible first-time homebuyers statewide. The initiative expands IHDA’s popular Access mortgage suite and is designed to help more working families achieve homeownership amid rising housing costs. This announcement follows Governor Pritzker’s proposed FY27 Budget

Attorney General Raoul Leads Coalition Standing Up To Trump Administration Attacks On Professional Medical Organizations

7 months 3 weeks ago
CHICAGO – Attorney General Kwame Raoul today led a coalition of 19 state attorneys general in support of the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), which is being targeted by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) over recommendations that run counter to the Trump administration’s preferred policies. The coalition filed an amicus brief in support of a lawsuit filed by the Illinois-based AAP challenging the FTC’s improperly motivated demands that the organization turn over extensive

Hawley introduces bill to remove FDA approval for Mifepristone

7 months 3 weeks ago
Sen. Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) on Wednesday unveiled legislation to remove Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval for the use of mifepristone to end pregnancies, a bill that has quickly gained the support of major anti-abortion groups. The legislation is an ambitious undertaking given the drug’s widespread use in the United States, where an estimated 7.5 [...]
Alexander Bolton

District 7 to Host Senior Breakfast for Community Members

7 months 3 weeks ago
EDWARDSVILLE – Edwardsville Community Unit School District 7 will host a Senior Breakfast on Friday, April 17 from 8:00-9:30 a.m. at Edwardsville High School for senior members of the District 7 community. The new event is designed to strengthen relationships with senior residents while providing an opportunity to hear district updates, meet administrators, ask questions, and engage in conversation about District 7 schools. Guests will also enjoy a special performance by the Edwardsville

SPRINGFIELD: Budzinski Convenes Local Park Districts to Celebrate Grant Funding

7 months 3 weeks ago
SPRINGFIELD — On Monday, Congresswoman Nikki Budzinski (IL-13) convened local park district leaders from Springfield, Champaign, and Grandview to celebrate the successful award of state funding that her office helped them secure. In recent months, Congresswoman Budzinski’s office has held a series of workshops to assist local organizations and municipalities with identifying and applying for grants – specifically Illinois’ Open Space Lands Acquisition and Development (OSLAD