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NPR sues over Trump order cutting off its funding, citing First Amendment

1 month 1 week ago
WASHINGTON — A collection of National Public Radio stations sued the Trump administration on Tuesday, seeking to block an executive order that would cut off their federal funding. The 43-page filing says the order that President Donald Trump signed earlier this month “violates the expressed will of Congress and the First Amendment’s bedrock guarantees of freedom […]
Jennifer Shutt

Attorney General Raoul Warns Residents To Be On Alert For Storm-Related Repair Scams

1 month 1 week ago
CHICAGO – With several strong storms causing damage across Illinois recently, Attorney General Kwame Raoul today warned Illinois residents to be on alert for scammers looking to exploit homeowners and business owners who may need repairs from storm-related damage. Raoul cautioned residents that scammers often move quickly into communities to take advantage of people with damage to their homes or businesses. Raoul noted these “storm chasers” use the opportunity to pressure people into making quick and often expensive decisions about cleanup and construction work. Raoul also warned residents that scam artists may be operating as public adjusters who offer so-called “free” inspections to help property owners submit claims to their insurance companies. “Just as severe weather during Illinois spring months is inevitable, so too are the scammers attempting to take advantage of the devastation left in the storms’ wake,” Raoul said. “I encourag

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Attorney General Raoul Opposes HHS Rollback Of Protections For Unaccompanied Children

1 month 1 week ago
CHICAGO – Attorney General Kwame Raoul today, as part of a coalition of 19 attorneys general, submitted a comment letter opposing the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ (HHS) interim final rule that makes significant changes to the 2024 Unaccompanied Children Program Foundational Rule. Raoul and the coalition argue that these changes will deter prospective sponsors, many of whom are parents or close relatives, from coming forward to sponsor unaccompanied children, prolonging the time these children spend in federal custody. “Holding unaccompanied immigrant children in federal custody for prolonged periods of time further traumatizes these children and does not represent the morals of the American people,” Raoul said. “We must do everything possible to unite immigrant children with sponsors, who are oftentimes family members, and support their smooth transition into their new communities. I am proud to stand with my colleagues to protect

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Budzinski, Brownley, McGarvey Introduce Bill to Codify Veterans Experience Office at VA

1 month 1 week ago
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, Congresswoman Nikki Budzinski (IL-13), Congresswoman Julia Brownley (CA-26), and Congressman Morgan McGarvey (KY-03) introduced the Improving Veterans’ Experience Act to codify the Veterans Experience Office (VEO) within the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). VEO, established in 2015, gathers feedback directly from veterans, their families, and caregivers on their experience with VA services. VEO has been crucial to improving veterans' trust in VA outpatient care, enhancing digital experiences with the VA Health and Benefits Mobile App and expanding direct outreach to veterans about resources, special eligibility windows, and other important information. “There is no better way to improve VA services than to hear from the veterans, family members and caregivers who are navigating the process firsthand,” said Congresswoman Budzinski. “By giving veterans a voice and putting their insights into action, VEO has made VA services

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IDPH Recommends Testing of Private Water Wells in Areas with Elevated PFAS Levels in Community Water Systems

1 month 1 week ago
SPRINGFIELD – The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) is advising private well owners to check if they are in the vicinity of community water systems (CWS) that have shown elevated levels of one or more Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) in testing conducted by the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (Illinois EPA). Illinois EPA recently sent notices to 47 CWS , and 10 CWS with emergency connections , around the state whose systems indicated levels of PFAS in excess of groundwater quality standards. The presence of PFAS, also known as “forever chemicals,” in the source water for those CWSs means there could also be elevated levels in the groundwater that supplies nearby private wells. IDPH recommends well owners in the vicinity of impacted CWS have their water tested by a private laboratory, and consider other options, such as installing carbon filters on their faucets. “The overwhelming majority of Illinois’s water systems do

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Duckworth, Durbin Help Introduce Legislation to Expand Medicare Drug Price Negotiation and Lower Costs for Americans

1 month 1 week ago
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) joined U.S. Senators Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) and Peter Welch (D-VT) in reintroducing legislation to expand Medicare negotiation of drug prices. The Strengthening Medicare and Reducing Taxpayer (SMART) Prices Act would help lower drug costs for consumers, reduce federal spending and give the Department of Health and Human Services stronger tools to negotiate lower drug prices in Medicare Part B and Part D. “No one should have to choose between paying for their lifesaving prescription or paying the rent—that’s why three years ago the Democrats passed the Inflation Reduction Act , to empower Medicare to directly negotiate with drug manufacturers,” Duckworth said. “I’m proud to join Senator Durbin and our Democratic colleagues in reintroducing the SMART Prices Act to help build on the progress we’ve made to lower the cost of prescription

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RiverBender Blog: I Moved, Then Returned to My Old Home

1 month 1 week ago
This past weekend, among all the stress of my move to a new place , I found myself on a road trip to Decatur, Illinois. I got the keys to my new apartment on Friday, so one could argue that I was busy enough without devoting all of Saturday to a trip up north. In fact, I argued that, several times, with myself, debating whether or not to go. But I bought concert tickets months ago, before the lease was signed, and the concert was on Saturday at the Decatur amphitheater. So I spent Friday at work, then did a flurry of cleaning and moving on Friday night, and then was up bright and early on Saturday for a two-hour drive. I lived in Decatur for a few years when I was going to college at Millikin University, so the drive itself wasn’t a problem. It felt nostalgic to navigate the backroads, a route I discovered eight years ago (!!) when I first visited campus. The main struggle was staying awake after my late Friday night. I blared music and drove blearily through the

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