


Jordan loses 20 Republicans in speaker’s vote, creating uphill climb to win gavel
Rep. Carlos Gimenez of Florida was among 20 Republicans who voted for alternatives to Rep. Jim Jordan (R-OH) in Tuesday’s House speaker vote, dooming his bid on the first round of balloting.

Advocates push for guns to be taken from domestic abusers when order of protection served
Bill named for Chicago domestic violence victim allegedly shot and killed by husband this summer.

U of I students and community members rally in support of Palestine
Around 100 people gathered at the Alma Mater on the University of Illinois’ Urbana campus Thursday in support of Palestine amid Israel’s “complete siege” of the Gaza strip. The University’s chapter of Students for Justice in Palestine organized the “emergency rally” on the organization’s national day of Palestinian resistance. Attendees chanted, “Free Palestine” — a…

Palestinians flee northern Gaza after Israel orders 1 million to evacuate as ground attack looms
The U.N. warned that so many people fleeing en masse would be calamitous. Hamas dismissed the evacuation order as a ploy and called on people to stay in their homes.

Just In: GOP’s Scalise ends his bid to become House speaker after failing to secure the votes to win gavel
Next steps are uncertain as the House is now essentially closed while the Republican majority tries to elect a speaker after ousting Kevin McCarthy from the job.

Pritzker calls Illinois’ support for Israel ‘unequivocal’ after weekend’s Hamas attacks
Governor calls attacks ‘sickening’ at pro-Israel rally, acknowledges ‘many peace-loving Palestinians’.

U of I students and community members show support for Israel through campus rally
More than 100 people rallied at the University of Illinois Main Quad Monday to show support for Israel amidst the ongoing conflict with the Palestinian militant group Hamas. Over the weekend, hundreds of people were killed and thousands wounded after Hamas launched a large-scale attack on Israel. In the attack, around 1,000 militants gunned down civilians. …

Israel declares war and bombards Gaza as fighting rages for second day after Hamas attack
At least 700 people have reportedly been killed in Israel. More than 400 have been killed in Gaza.

Speaker McCarthy ousted in historic House vote, but Illinois Republicans did not agree with it
Most Republicans also rejected the effort to oust Speaker McCarthy including Rep. Mike Bost of Illinois’ 12th Congressional District, Rep. Darin LaHood of the 16th, and Rep. Mary Miller of the 15th district.

McCarthy becomes first speaker removed by U.S. House vote
Updated October 3, 2023 at 5:01 PM ET The House has voted to remove Kevin McCarthy as speaker, marking the first time in history that a House speaker has been removed in this way. The final vote was 216-210 in favor of a motion to “vacate the chair.” Eight Republicans, led by Florida Rep. Matt…

Government shutdown averted with little time to spare as Biden signs funding before midnight
Federal agencies would cease all actions deemed nonessential, and many of the federal government’s roughly 2 million employees, as well as 2 million active-duty military troops and reservists, wouldn’t be paid.

Congress will miss the farm bill deadline in the midst of a likely government shutdown
The leaders of both Congressional agriculture committees say federal lawmakers will move back farm bill negotiations to December. The current law expires Sept. 30, but experts say there should be little peril despite the blown deadline. In the midst of a likely government shutdown, Congress is missing another big deadline — the farm bill. The…

Democratic Sen. Dianne Feinstein of California dies at age 90, sources tell the AP
Feinstein was 90. Feinstein served as California’s senior senator since 1992 and was one of several trailblazing women elected to Congress that year.

Illinois House Speaker’s staff could test limits of Workers’ Rights Amendment
Labor expert says it could be a hard legal argument to make.