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This Day in History on April 13: Thomas Jefferson is Born

1 month ago
April 13 holds a significant place in history, marked by events that have reshaped nations, cultures, and the course of humanity. One of the most notable events in history occurred on April 13, 1743, when Thomas Jefferson, the third President of the United States and a key figure in American history, was born. Jefferson was not only a founding father but also the principal author of the Declaration of Independence, which laid the groundwork for democracy and individual rights in the United States. His vision of a nation built on liberty and justice continues to resonate around the world today. Fast forward to April 13, 1870, when the Metropolitan Museum of Art was officially founded in New York City. This institution has become one of the most prestigious art museums globally, housing a vast collection that spans over 5,000 years of art from various cultures and regions. The Met has played a crucial role in shaping the art world and making art accessible to the public, fostering

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Durbin, Duckworth Lead Illinois Democratic Delegation In Message To Secretary Kennedy: Dismantling Of HHS Does Nothing To 'Make America Healthy Again'

1 month ago
SPRINGFIELD – U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today led the Illinois Democratic Delegation in sending a letter to U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) Robert F. Kennedy Jr. expressing frustration and concern that HHS has slashed critical federal funding for the state’s public health programs and infrastructure. “We write to express our real concern about the Department and Health and Human Services’ (HHS) actions to terminate federal funds for state and local health departments, fire critical public health staff, dismantle health agencies, and close regional offices, including the HHS Region 5 office in Chicago, Illinois. Your decision puts the health and well-being of our people at risk, and will do nothing to ‘Make America Healthy Again,’” the lawmakers wrote. Last month, it was reported that HHS would terminate $11.4 billion in federal funding for state and local health

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Chronic Wasting Disease Detected In Four Additional Illinois Counties

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SPRINGFIELD – Chronic wasting disease, or CWD, has been detected in Putnam, Marshall, Adams, and Peoria counties, expanding the geographic presence of the disease in free-ranging deer populations in northern Illinois, the Illinois Department of Natural Resources announced today. Adams County is the first documented case recorded outside of the leading edge of the CWD endemic region. CWD is an always-fatal neurological disease that affects the long-term health of white-tailed deer in Illinois. First documented in Illinois in 2002 near Roscoe, CWD has been detected in 25 counties across northern Illinois and now as far south as Adams County in west-central Illinois. In early February 2025, CWD was detected and confirmed through diagnostic testing in Putnam, Marshall, and Adams counties from routine surveillance of hunter-harvested deer. Peoria County was confirmed in a 2-year-old deer exhibiting clinical signs consistent with CWD infection using the same diagnostic testing procedures

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Duckworth Pushes for More Cooperation with Indo-Pacific Partners on Medical Readiness and Strategic Sealift to Support Servicemembers Abroad

1 month 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)—urged Commander of the United States Indo-Pacific Command (INDOPACOM) Admiral Samuel J. Paparo Jr. and Commander of the United States Forces Korea (USFK) General Brunson to build on their efforts to expand cooperation with Indo-Pacific partners by further implementing her Indo-Pacific Medical Readiness Program and strengthening our sealift fleet, which is aging and insufficient in numbers to support our military in the event of a crisis or conflict. Senator Duckworth’s Indo-Pacific Medical Readiness program—a program she championed in last year’s FY2025 NDAA —will help ensure our nation’s servicemembers as well as their families have access to quality patient care throughout the Indo-Pacific region—where they often must travel long distances to receive care. In her remarks, Duckworth asked

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Rep. Kelly Condemns Budget that Slashes Medicaid

1 month ago
WASHINGTON – U.S. Rep. Robin Kelly (IL-02) released the following statement after the U.S. House of Representatives passed budget reconciliation instructions by 216-214. The budget directs the Energy and Commerce Committee, on which Rep. Kelly sits, to cut Medicaid by $880 billion. “The Republican budget betrays the American people. Republicans voted to slash Medicaid by $880 billion — the largest cut in history — which jeopardizes over 300,000 of my constituents’ healthcare. That’s almost half of the people living in the Second District. As grocery prices skyrocket, Republicans voted to cut food assistance by $230 billion, which would leave almost 190,000 of my constituents without reliable meals. “Even more atrocious, Republicans passed this budget to make way for a $4.5 trillion tax cut for their billionaire friends. The top 0.1% would receive an average annual tax cut of $314,266 — compared to a few hundred dollars for working families.

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