SPRINGFIELD – The Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) has selected waterfowl season dates and zone lines for the 2026-2030 seasons based on a thorough review of scientific information and input from waterfowl hunters. “Illinois is a large, diverse state with weather and climate patterns that change significantly from north to south,” said Doug McClain, IDNR’s wetland wildlife program manager. “Taking this reality into account, along with the federal waterfowl framework and the diverse hunting styles and opinions of waterfowl hunters, these dates and zone lines offer opportunity for all waterfowl hunters across the state. Illinoisans hunt in different habitat types and with different styles, necessitating compromises on these regulations.” U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) regulations require states to establish zone lines for a five-year period, and the USFWS establishes the frameworks within which states must select their regulations.
CHICAGO – Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul today, as part of a coalition of 21 attorneys general, filed an amicus brief supporting Planned Parenthood’s lawsuit challenging a provision in the sweeping budget reconciliation law that eliminates federal funding for health care services provided by its health centers. The so-called Defund Provision blocks federal Medicaid funding for any health care services provided by Planned Parenthood health centers. Although federal law already disallowed federal funding for abortion, the Defund Provision targets other essential medical services normally covered by Medicaid, such as cancer screenings, birth control, sexually transmitted infection (STI) testing and wellness exams. “This provision is a direct attack on access to health care for millions of low-income Americans and disproportionately harms women, LGBTQ+ individuals, and communities of color,” Raoul said. “Without Planned Parenthood, many patients
SPRINGFIELD – The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) is observing Lead Poisoning Prevention Week, October 19-25, and reminding all parents and caregivers of young children to be aware of risk factors for lead poisoning and how to prevent it. IDPH has been steadily expanding the state’s testing regimen for lead exposure in children, gradually increasing the number of high-risk ZIP codes where blood testing is required, as the state moves toward universal lead testing in 2026. Additionally, Illinois has adopted a more stringent standard, which requires medical intervention for tests that show a confirmed blood lead level of 3.5 micrograms per deciliter (µg/dL). In those cases, a home inspection is conducted to determine the source of the lead contamination. If lead is found, the inspector works with the homeowner to remove the sources of lead. In addition, a public health nurse will contact the family about ways to protect children from the harmful effects
CHICAGO – The Illinois Department of Insurance (IDOI) is calling on insurance companies to provide relief to policyholders who are experiencing financial hardship during the federal government shutdown (CB 2025-17), in an effort to ensure that Illinoisans do not lose insurance coverage. “The lapse in federal appropriations since October 1, impacts more than 153,000 Illinoisans who are employees of the federal government,” said IDOI Director Ann Gillespie. “These consumers should not have the added burden of losing insurance coverage because they are not being paid and cannot pay their auto or homeowners insurance premiums.” The Department is urging all insurers to immediately consider implementing protective measures for their policyholders who are federal employees. 1. Moratorium on cancellations. Insurers should seek to postpone or withdraw any previous notice of cancellation or nonrenewal in which the cancellation or nonrenewal occurs on o
GODFREY – Godfrey trustees are considering an ordinance which would establish a new way to limit the number of video gaming licenses in the village. For any business in Illinois to legally operate video gaming terminals (except for truck stops), they must first obtain a liquor license . Trustee Sarah Woodman said she suspects many of the businesses who have applied for liquor licenses in Godfrey have only done so to get approval for video gaming. Under the village’s current ordinance, if an establishment with a liquor and/or video gaming license goes out of business, that license could potentially be transferred to another entity as the number of licenses allowed in Godfrey would remain the same. This new ordinance would prevent that from happening by decreasing the number of liquor licenses allowed in the village by one each time such a licensed establishment goes out of business. The 21 Godfrey businesses which currently offer video gaming will be allowed to continue
The allegations in Tashana Syas' lawsuit mirror those contained in a six-count federal indictment accusing Sheriff Alfred Montgomery of firing people who cooperated with investigators.
The St. Louis Sheriff's Office exceeded its 2025 fiscal year budget by nearly $1 million, according to a new city audit highlighting widespread financial mismanagement.
The “appearance of impropriety” doesn’t bother this administration. It prefers open impropriety, having learned the wrong lessons from Trump’s first term, where most of his worst impulses were somewhat muted by the adults in the room. There are no adults left. If they haven’t been fired, it’s because they were never invited to participate in […]
In a lawsuit filed with St. Louis County Tuesday, Webster Groves-based McCallum Group, LLC alleges that Robust Wine Bar owes more than $84,000 in rent and other charges.
WASHINGTON — More than 42 million low-income Americans are at risk of losing food assistance Nov. 1 if the government shutdown continues. The U.S. Department of Agriculture, which operates the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, has about $6 billion in a multi-year contingency fund. That’s short of the roughly $9 billion needed to cover […]
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