Candidates for 2024 primary brave cold for potential ballot advantage
Hundreds of hopefuls aim to claim top spot on ballot
Trans Americans are fleeing to Illinois. Here’s why:
While Illinois has moved to protect access to gender-affirming care and enshrined civil rights for the LGBTQ+ community overall, four of the five states that border Illinois have all seen a massive rise in bills that target the queer community, especially transgender youth. According to the ACLU’s anti-LGBTQ legislation tracker, Missouri’s state legislature has considered 48 bills in 2023 alone that would negatively impact the queer community in areas ranging from healthcare to education to free speech and expression.
Alana Banks made history as the first Black, transgender woman on a school board in the United States. How is she doing now?
Alana Banks made history two years ago, becoming the first Black and transgender woman elected to a school board in the country. Still, she has found balancing the demands of the communities she represents challenging.
Averting government shutdown, Congress approves temporary funding through the holidays
The Senate worked into the night to pass the bill with days to spare before government funding expires Saturday.
Biden to host a solo press conference tonight after meeting with China’s Xi
President Biden is expected to announce agreements on military communication channels and counternarcotics at a solo press conference after speaking with the Chinese leader for the first time in a year. The leaders met just ahead of the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation summit. Their talks come as tensions between the world’s two largest economies have…
Biden says workers need ‘a fair shot’ as he celebrates the labor deal saving an Illinois auto plant
Biden learned in June that the Stellantis plant was set to close and he made keeping it open a priority. The plant will expand as part of the tentative contract with the UAW. Biden met with UAW President Shawn Fain and Democratic Gov. J.B. Pritzker, and plans to hold a fundraiser later in Chicago.
State police still drafting assault weapons registration rules as deadline nears
Items must be registered before Jan. 1, but confusion lingers about what items are covered under ban.
Kentucky Gov. Beshear wins reelection. Ohio passes amendment on abortion rights.
President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris are cheering Ohio’s vote to ensure access to abortion and other forms of reproductive health care.
School buses are safe, and seat belts make them safer. But it’s not cheap to upgrade
School buses are among the safest forms of transportation for children, and seat belts and other safety features can make buses even safer, according to the National Safety Council. But very few states currently have laws requiring seat belts on large school buses. Only eight states – Arkansas, California, Florida, Louisiana, Nevada, New Jersey, New York and…
Judge chides Trump as ex-president testifies in civil fraud trial: ‘This is not a political rally’
State Supreme Court Judge Arthur Engeron also said “we don’t have time to waste” and that “we have one day to do this.” The comments came in response to answers that the judge said he considered irrelevant to the case and repetitive.
Federal appeals court upholds Illinois semiautomatic weapons ban
Two members of a three-judge panel of the 7th District U.S. Court of Appeals recognized a difference between firearms for personal use and those the state law reserves for “trained professionals,” semiautomatic weapons, including the popular AR-15.
Scholarship tax credit program among issues still on the table with 3 legislative days remainin
GOP leader says he’s ready to compromise as governor keeps ball in lawmakers’ court.
Urbana wins $2.9 million award against Stark Excavating of Bloomington over roadwork issues
A Champaign County jury has ruled in favor of the City of Urbana and against the Bloomington-based firm of Stark Excavating over faulty road construction. The award of nearly $2.9 million is a rarity. Stark is widely used in central Illinois for many municipal construction projects, including, for many years, by Urbana. Urbana Mayor Diane…
Supporters of Palestine in C-U want the U.S. to stop funding Israel’s attack on Gaza
Although the protest was student-led, older Palestinians and families from the Champaign-Urbana area also marched alongside the university students.
Community gathers to celebrate ‘I Stand With Immigrants’ Day of Action
Around 80 people met at the University YMCA in Champaign to celebrate “I Stand with Immigrants” Day of Action on Oct. 25. The event was hosted by the Illinois Coalition of Undocumented Students for Education, or I-CAUSE. The student organization’s mission is to create an alliance of undocumented students to provide representation and resources. “I Stand With…