Saturday, December 27, 2025
Saturday, December 13, 2025
Saturday, November 22, 2025
Will Trump’s NSPM-7 end all controversial speech?
Here is a summary of NSPM—7”s effects;
Brennan Center for Justice says:
“Building on the Antifa executive order, which already targets a broad range of political speech, NSPM-7 directs federal agencies to prioritize investigations of a swath of identities and ideologies that it depicts as falling under “the umbrella of self-described ‘anti-fascism.’” These include “anti-Americanism, anti-capitalism, and anti-Christianity; support for the overthrow of the United States government; extremism on migration, race, and gender; and hostility towards those who hold traditional American views on family, religion, and morality.” This breathtakingly broad list easily encompasses everyone from labor organizers, socialists, many libertarians, those who criticize Christianity, pro-immigration groups, anti-ICE protesters, and racial justice and transgender activists, to anyone who holds views that the administration considers to be “anti-American.”
For more details go to: 'They Can Take Any Of Us': NJ Activists Rally Against NSPM-7, Criticize Trump Memo
Other references: How Trump’s National Security memo targets political dissent - Salon.com
The actual document: Countering Domestic Terrorism and Organized Political Violence – The White House
Friday, November 7, 2025
Illinois Dept of Human Service: Snap Benefits
Illinois Department of Human ServicesJB Pritzker, Governor · Dulce M. Quintero, Secretary
SNAP Federal Impact Center
As of Friday evening, the Trump Administration has not complied with court orders to provide full funding for November SNAP benefits. Without this federal funding, Illinois cannot distribute full benefits for November. IDHS stands ready to quickly issue full benefits as soon as the Trump Administration fulfills the courts' orders and transfers the required funds. Partial benefits are being paid. Those who are regularly scheduled to receive benefits Nov. 1 through Nov. 6 will receive partial benefits over the next six days, with Nov. 1 benefits loading on Nov. 7, Nov. 2 benefits loading on Nov. 8, etc. Customers who ordinarily would receive their SNAP benefits on Nov. 7 or later will receive a partial benefit on their regular date. Due to the USDA changing their guidance on partial benefits late on Nov. 5, some customers may receive an additional partial benefit payment after their first, scheduled dates. NOTE: For some customers, the federal administration's requirements will leave them with no benefit for November.
SNAP is 100% federally funded, and the Trump Administration delaying, reducing, or entirely eliminating payments affects all 1.9 million recipients in Illinois. The State does not have the budgetary ability to replace these vital resources. Benefits left on cards from previous months can still be used.
We understand that the uncertainty around SNAP benefits is deeply concerning for families across Illinois. IDHS is committed to keeping families informed and supported as this situation continues to evolve in the courts and at the federal level.
Above is from: IDHS: SNAP Federal Impact Center
Use above address for any updates.
Tuesday, October 14, 2025
Tuesday, September 2, 2025
WIFR: Boone County Clerk is sentenced
BELVIDERE, Ill. (WIFR) - Former Boone County Clerk and Recorder Julie Bliss will spend time behind bars for stealing from the county.
On Tuesday, September 2, 2025, Bliss pleaded guilty to one count of theft of government property and two counts of official misconduct.
Bliss is sentenced to four years of probation and 180 days, or about six months, in the Boone County Jail.
Former Boone Co. Clerk Julie Bliss sentenced for theft of government property
The plea and sentence were negotiated by the Public Integrity Unit of the Illinois Attorney General’s Office.
In 2023, Bliss was accused of using a county credit card for personal purchases at Walmart, Farm and Fleet and Amazon; as well as using county funds to pay off personal debt and stole cash.
Thursday, July 31, 2025
Bliss Case may finally be over
The felony case against Boone County Recorder and Clerk, Julie Bliss , may finally becoming to an end. The case against Bliss was initiates on August 31, 2023 A plea deal will be presented to Judge Paccagnini on September 2, 2025. Subject to the judge’s approval the case maybe finally concluded after two years.
For further details go to: Boone County, IL | Case Information
Friday, July 25, 2025
Wednesday, July 16, 2025
Rockford Y takes management of Belvidere YMCA
July 15, 2025
The YMCA of Rock River Valley is excited to announce a new and promising partnership that will strengthen the YMCA mission and broaden our impact. Effective July 7, 2025, the YMCA of Rock River Valley assumed management responsibilities for the Belvidere Family YMCA in partnership with its Board of Directors.
This collaboration represents a strategic step toward greater sustainability, improved services, and broader community outreach.
“By partnering and sharing resources, we can help expand YMCA membership, programs and services in Boone County, which strengthens the YMCA movement for all,” said Brent Pentenburg, CEO, YMCA of Rock River Valley.
Belvidere Family YMCA Executive Director, Cherie Dollinger, has joined the YMCA of Rock River Valley and will remain an on-site leader at the Belvidere Y. Both Ys will remain independent under the management agreement.
“The Y has strong roots in Belvidere, having first opened in 1903 and with an expansion in 1967,” said Dollinger. “We’ve seen a decline in our membership, making it difficult to operate independently. This partnership brings fresh ideas and more resources to our community, so we can work on growing our membership and financial support.”
Through this partnership, both YMCAs will work together to advance the mission and identify opportunities to enhance impact. As always, Belvidere Family YMCA members are able to use YMCA of Rock River Valley facilities through Nationwide Membership.
Saturday, July 12, 2025
3rd Final Pre-trial Court Meeting in Julie Bliss felony case
July 31, 2025 is the final pre-trial. Will the trail date actually be arranged then? This felony case against the Boone County States Attorney was “initiated on 8-31-2023.
Sunday, June 8, 2025
BLISS CASE: “New” Final Pre trial is July 10, 2025
2023CF256 BLISS, JULIE ALast Search | Information | Dispositions | History | Payments | Fines & Fees
Case Information
Case
2023CF256
Last Update
06/05/2025
Last Upload
06/05/2025 @ 11:14
Case Category
Criminal
Case Type - Subtype
CF - 10
Criminal Felony - Felony
Other Litigants
None
Litigant Information
Full Name
BLISS, JULIE A
Date of Birth
11/09/1969
Role
Defendant/Respondent
Physical File Location
Impounded
No
Initial Open Date
08/31/2023
Initial Close Date
Suppress Minutes
No
Reopen Date
Reclose Date
Alias
STAPLER, JULIE A
DefenseAttorney
NOBLE, NATHAN J
ProsecutingAttorney
BOOKHOUT, HALEY C
ArrestingOfficer
BEHNKE, SPECIAL AGENT PHILLIP
Identification
Gender
Female
Height
5'4" ft. in.
Weight
170 Pounds
Eye Color
Blue
Hair Color
Brown
Address
Street 1
916 SULLIIVAN DR
City
BELVIDERE
State
IL
Postal Code
610080000
Country
Phone Numbers
None
Hearings
Type
Date
Time
Judge
Location
143 - Bond date
09/07/2023
1:30 P.M.
TOBIN
1
1 - Arraignment
10/18/2023
1:30 P.M.
SWIFT
2
13 - Pre-trial
11/22/2023
1:30 P.M.
SWIFT
2
13 - Pre-trial
01/10/2024
1:30 P.M.
SWIFT
2
13 - Pre-trial
03/13/2024
1:30 P.M.
SWIFT
2
13 - Pre-trial
04/10/2024
1:30 P.M.
SWIFT
2
47 - Final pre-trial
05/29/2024
1:30 P.M.
SWIFT
2
47 - Final pre-trial
06/26/2024
1:30 P.M.
SWIFT
2
136 - Subpoenaed records
08/16/2024
1:30 P.M.
SWIFT
2
110 - Motion/quash
09/20/2024
1:30 P.M.
SWIFT
2
110 - Motion/quash
10/02/2024
2:30 P.M.
SWIFT
2
35 - Status hearing
10/16/2024
2:00 P.M.
TOBIN
4
35 - Status hearing
10/21/2024
10:00 A.M.
PACCAGNINI
4
110 - Motion/quash
11/07/2024
11:00 A.M.
PACCAGNINI
4
113 - Argument
12/02/2024
11:00 A.M.
PACCAGNINI
4
35 - Status hearing
01/23/2025
11:00 A.M.
PACCAGNINI
4
136 - Subpoenaed records
02/27/2025
11:00 A.M.
PACCAGNINI
4
35 - Status hearing
03/27/2025
11:00 A.M.
PACCAGNINI
4
88 - Rule/show cause
03/27/2025
11:00 A.M.
PACCAGNINI
4
136 - Subpoenaed records
05/08/2025
11:00 A.M.
PACCAGNINI
4
47 - Final pre-trial
06/05/2025
11:00 A.M.
PACCAGNINI
4
47 - Final pre-trial
07/10/2025
11:00 A.M.
PACCAGNINI
Tuesday, May 20, 2025
May 15, 2025 Health Security Decoded
Roundup and analysis of the top headlines on health security, pandemic preparedness, COVID-19, and other news from the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security
Please note that some links may require subscription or registration.
May 15, 2025
TOP NEWS
U.S. Measles Cases Exceed 1,000 in 2025; Texas-Centered Outbreak Largest Since 2019
The confirmed number of measles cases in the U.S. this year officially exceeded 1,000 in early May, although the actual number likely is higher. One ongoing outbreak is the nation’s largest since 2019, and the total count marks only the second time in 30 years that more than 1,000 cases have been confirmed. CDC is tracking 14 outbreaks nationwide responsible for 93% of cases, and these outbreaks threaten the nation’s elimination status first achieved in 2000. Nearly all the infections are among individuals who are unvaccinated or whose vaccination status is unknown, particularly children.
Most of the cases are concentrated in Texas, New Mexico, and Kansas. A recent outbreak in North Dakota prompted officials to require nearly 200 unvaccinated school-aged children to quarantine for three weeks following exposure at their schools. Health officials in the U.S., and across the border in Mexico, are working to vaccinate those who need shots amid federal funding cuts and misinformation about vaccines and treatments.
Secretary Kennedy faces questions on vaccines
Despite the proven safety and effectiveness of the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine, HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. continues to spread mixed messages about it and other vaccines, including at congressional hearings yesterday. During heated exchanges with lawmakers, Kennedy misrepresented vaccine safety testing standards, skirted questions about whether he would vaccinate his own children today, and repeated misleading claims about vaccine ingredients and effectiveness, even as he argued that his “opinions about vaccines are irrelevant.” Lawmakers and public health experts have criticized Secretary Kennedy for fueling confusion and undermining vaccine confidence. According to a new poll, only about one-third of Americans say the Trump administration is handling the measles outbreaks responsibly.
This Health Affairs Forefront article, authored by members of the Center for Outbreak Response Innovation (CORI) at the Center for Health Security, explains how predictive analytics can transform a measles outbreak response from a reactive scramble into a proactive strategy that addresses the situation early.
MORE HEADLINES
TOP NEWS
U.S. Measles Cases Exceed 1,000 in 2025; Texas-Centered Outbreak Largest Since 2019
The confirmed number of measles cases in the U.S. this year officially exceeded 1,000 in early May, although the actual number likely is higher. One ongoing outbreak is the nation’s largest since 2019, and the total count marks only the second time in 30 years that more than 1,000 cases have been confirmed. CDC is tracking 14 outbreaks nationwide responsible for 93% of cases, and these outbreaks threaten the nation’s elimination status first achieved in 2000. Nearly all the infections are among individuals who are unvaccinated or whose vaccination status is unknown, particularly children.
Most of the cases are concentrated in Texas, New Mexico, and Kansas. A recent outbreak in North Dakota prompted officials to require nearly 200 unvaccinated school-aged children to quarantine for three weeks following exposure at their schools. Health officials in the U.S., and across the border in Mexico, are working to vaccinate those who need shots amid federal funding cuts and misinformation about vaccines and treatments.
Secretary Kennedy faces questions on vaccines
Despite the proven safety and effectiveness of the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine, HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. continues to spread mixed messages about it and other vaccines, including at congressional hearings yesterday. During heated exchanges with lawmakers, Kennedy misrepresented vaccine safety testing standards, skirted questions about whether he would vaccinate his own children today, and repeated misleading claims about vaccine ingredients and effectiveness, even as he argued that his “opinions about vaccines are irrelevant.” Lawmakers and public health experts have criticized Secretary Kennedy for fueling confusion and undermining vaccine confidence. According to a new poll, only about one-third of Americans say the Trump administration is handling the measles outbreaks responsibly.
This Health Affairs Forefront article, authored by members of the Center for Outbreak Response Innovation (CORI) at the Center for Health Security, explains how predictive analytics can transform a measles outbreak response from a reactive scramble into a proactive strategy that addresses the situation early.
MORE HEADLINES
WHO halves senior leadership team, significantly reduces number of departments
STAT: WHO trims top management ranks amid financial crunch
Devex: Tedros reveals new WHO leadership without deputy Mike Ryan
Geneva Health Files: The New Leadership Team at WHO: Restructuring Update
See also: USA Today: Who needs the WHO? Americans' poor health leaves us vulnerable. (opinion)
WHO member states begin process to reach final pandemic agreement
Health Policy Watch: WHO Outlines Long Road Ahead Before Pandemic Agreement Comes into Force
The BMJ: Pandemic treaty is a win for multilateralism and global health (opinion)
Related: Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists: Introduction: How to stop the next pandemic
RFK Jr. defends vaccine messaging, HHS cuts, MAHA agenda in congressional hearings
The Hill: 4 takeaways from RFK Jr.’s dual congressional hearings
STAT: In combative hearings, Kennedy defends HHS cuts, backtracks — and lashes out
New York Times: Kennedy, Defending Downsizing, Clashes With Democrats in Tense Hearings
Science: Kennedy, Trump’s health chief, confronts criticism and praise from U.S. lawmakers
Related: Washington Post: Unpacking RFK Jr.’s ‘doublespeak’ on vaccines
Rep. Sen. Cassidy light on scrutiny in hearing after questioning RFK Jr. during confirmation process
NBC News: GOP Sen. Bill Cassidy, who wavered over confirming RFK Jr., says he's 'lived up' to his promises on vaccines
Politico: Why the 1 senator who can rein in RFK Jr. isn’t calling him out
See also: STAT: Former FDA head Robert Califf says RFK Jr.’s vaccine rhetoric is ‘doing harm’ to Americans
Media outlets profile NIH director in interview, FDA CBER head in analysis
Politico: Trump’s NIH Chief Lets Loose on Fauci, Vaccines and Covid Cover-Ups
The Guardian: Critic of Covid boosters set to enact tough agenda as top US vaccines official
Experts discuss gain-of-function research, oversight in podcast, analysis
BBC: Science in Action - Gain-of-Function: Loss-of-Funding
Think Global Health: A Bio-Responsibility Strategy for Gain-of-Function Research Oversight
Related: Tony Blair Institute: A New National Purpose: Biosecurity as the Foundation for Growth and Global Leadership
U.S. cuts to domestic, international bird flu programs raise concerns among farmers, experts
Financial Times: American farmers raise alarm as US cuts funds for UN bird flu fight
Reuters via AOL: Staff exodus at US farm agency leaves fewer experts to battle bird flu
See also: News Medical: New model reveals H5N1 is spreading undetected in US dairy herds
COVID vaccine recommendations likely to become more targeted; FDA says new industry ‘framework’ coming soon
STAT: Beyond politics, even U.S. vaccine experts may envision fewer Covid shots in the future
STAT: FDA commissioner says new vaccine ‘framework’ for industry is coming within weeks
Bloomberg: RFK Jr. Takes Aim at Covid Shots for Kids, Worrying Vaccine Experts
Related: Nature: How political attacks could crush the mRNA vaccine revolution
Angola experiencing severe cholera outbreak; situation requires regional response, African officials say
Medical Xpress: Angola sees over 20,000 cholera cases since January: ministry
CIDRAP: African officials eye coordinated response to curb cholera outbreaks
ICYMI: The Lancet: Angola's cholera outbreak: a wake-up call for global action
New medical tools for RSV likely helped lower hospitalizations among very young children
STAT: RSV sent fewer babies to the hospital last winter, after new treatment and vaccine arrived
AP: US infant mortality dropped in 2024. Experts partly credit RSV shots
See also: CIDRAP: US flu activity now at low levels, but CDC confirms 10 more kids' flu deaths
U.S. government advises against chikungunya vaccine for older adults, issues travel warning for Indian Ocean region over outbreaks
AP: US health officials advise older travelers not to get a chikungunya vaccine
CIDRAP: CDC issues Indian Ocean travel warning over chikungunya outbreaks
Related: France 24: Europe on brink of endemic dengue and chikungunya as mosquitoes move north
Researchers work to unravel mystery of malaria complication, modify mosquitoes to prevent disease transmission
The Guardian: The deadly riddle of blackwater fever: the search for answers over illness killing Uganda’s children
The Guardian: GM mosquitoes: inside the lab breeding six-legged agents in the war on malaria
Mpox cases surge in Sierra Leone; other affected nations see promising signs
CIDRAP: Sierra Leone battles mpox surge
TV 360 Nigeria: Sierra Leone Reports More Than 2,000 Mpox Cases, 11 Deaths
See also: WHO: Multi-country outbreak of mpox, External situation report #52 - 14 May 2025
Papua New Guinea faces first polio outbreak since 2018; Nigeria uses wastewater to track disease
ABC News (Australia): Polio outbreak confirmed in Papua New Guinea, World Health Organization says
Nature Africa: Nigeria’s polio battleground
Saudi Arabia reports nine new MERS cases, including two deaths, asymptomatic cases in health workers
CIDRAP: Saudi Arabia confirms 9 MERS cases, including hospital cluster
Vax Before Travel: Fatal MERS Outbreak Confirmed in Arabia
U.S. suspends imports of live cattle, bison, horses from Mexico over screwworm concerns
NPR: U.S. halts cattle imports from Mexico, citing fears of flesh-eating maggot
AP: Mexico says US suspension of beef imports because of screwworm is unfair
U.S. listeria outbreak sickens at least 10 people
AP: At least 10 people sickened in US listeria outbreak linked to prepared foods
USA Today: Ready-to-eat chicken prompts public health alert over listeria risk: See affected states
Friday, May 9, 2025
Julie Bliss is finally going to trial
Below is from: Boone County, IL | Case Search
47 - Final pre-trial
06/05/2025
11:00 A.M.
PACCAGNINI
4
2023CF256 BLISS, JULIE ALast Search | Information | Dispositions | History | Payments | Fines & Fees
Case Information
Case
2023CF256
Last Update
05/08/2025
Last Upload
05/08/2025 @ 00:24
Case Category
Criminal
Case Type - Subtype
CF - 10
Criminal Felony - Felony
Other Litigants
None
Litigant Information
Full Name
BLISS, JULIE A
Date of Birth
11/09/1969
Role
Defendant/Respondent
Physical File Location
Impounded
No
Initial Open Date
08/31/2023
Initial Close Date
Suppress Minutes
No
Reopen Date
Reclose Date
Alias
STAPLER, JULIE A
DefenseAttorney
NOBLE, NATHAN J
ProsecutingAttorney
BOOKHOUT, HALEY C
ArrestingOfficer
BEHNKE, SPECIAL AGENT PHILLIP
Identification
Gender
Female
Height
5'4" ft. in.
Weight
170 Pounds
Eye Color
Blue
Hair Color
Brown
Address
Street 1
916 SULLIIVAN DR
City
BELVIDERE
State
IL
Postal Code
610080000
Country
Phone Numbers
None
Hearings
Type
Date
Time
Judge
Location
143 - Bond date
09/07/2023
1:30 P.M.
TOBIN
1
1 - Arraignment
10/18/2023
1:30 P.M.
SWIFT
2
13 - Pre-trial
11/22/2023
1:30 P.M.
SWIFT
2
13 - Pre-trial
01/10/2024
1:30 P.M.
SWIFT
2
13 - Pre-trial
03/13/2024
1:30 P.M.
SWIFT
2
13 - Pre-trial
04/10/2024
1:30 P.M.
SWIFT
2
47 - Final pre-trial
05/29/2024
1:30 P.M.
SWIFT
2
47 - Final pre-trial
06/26/2024
1:30 P.M.
SWIFT
2
136 - Subpoenaed records
08/16/2024
1:30 P.M.
SWIFT
2
110 - Motion/quash
09/20/2024
1:30 P.M.
SWIFT
2
110 - Motion/quash
10/02/2024
2:30 P.M.
SWIFT
2
35 - Status hearing
10/16/2024
2:00 P.M.
TOBIN
4
35 - Status hearing
10/21/2024
10:00 A.M.
PACCAGNINI
4
110 - Motion/quash
11/07/2024
11:00 A.M.
PACCAGNINI
4
113 - Argument
12/02/2024
11:00 A.M.
PACCAGNINI
4
35 - Status hearing
01/23/2025
11:00 A.M.
PACCAGNINI
4
136 - Subpoenaed records
02/27/2025
11:00 A.M.
PACCAGNINI
4
35 - Status hearing
03/27/2025
11:00 A.M.
PACCAGNINI
4
88 - Rule/show cause
03/27/2025
11:00 A.M.
PACCAGNINI
4
136 - Subpoenaed records
05/08/2025
11:00 A.M.
PACCAGNINI
4
FINAL PRE TRIAL –6/5/2025 11:00AM
Tuesday, April 22, 2025
Belvidere Ward 2 Alderwomen arrested
BELVIDERE, Ill. (WTVO) — Belvidere’s 2nd Ward Alderman, Natalie Mulhall, has been arrested on charges of drug possession.
According to Boone County court records, Mulhall was arrested on Sunday, April 20th, and faces felony charges for possession of narcotics and misdemeanor charges for driving under the influence of alcohol. She has since been..,
For the rest of the story: Belvidere alderwoman Natalie Mulhall arrested on drug possession charges
Sunday, March 30, 2025
Next Action on County Clerk Bliss’ case is May 5, 2025
This case has been pending since August 2023.
2023CF256 BLISS, JULIE ALast Search | Information | Dispositions | History | Payments | Fines & Fees
Case Information
Case
2023CF256
Last Update
03/28/2025
Last Upload
03/28/2025 @ 03:31
Case Category
Criminal
Case Type - Subtype
CF - 10
Criminal Felony - Felony
Other Litigants
None
Litigant Information
Full Name
BLISS, JULIE A
Date of Birth
11/09/1969
Role
Defendant/Respondent
Physical File Location
Impounded
No
Initial Open Date
08/31/2023
Initial Close Date
136 - Subpoenaed records
05/08/2025
11:00 A.M.
PACCAGNINI
4
Saturday, March 29, 2025
Friday, March 14, 2025
Thursday, March 13, 2025
Wednesday, March 12, 2025
BELVIDERE, Ill. (WIFR) - A 77-year-old Boone County Board member faces a felony theft charge, according to online court records.
Marion Thornberry of Belvidere is accused of stealing from a school or place of worship. He was charged March 11 and must appear in court March 13.
Marion Thornberry(Boone County)
Thornberry represents Boone County Board District 3. He was elected to the position in the Nov. 5, 2024, general election, with his term set to expire in December 2028.
Go to the following for more of the story:
250,000 have signed this petition
DEMAND ACCOUNTABILITY.
IMPEACH TRUMP.
again.
✦“A republic, if you can keep it.” Benjamin Franklin, 1787✦“Benjamin Franklin,
Defend democracy.
Donald Trump has been sworn in as President of the United States for a second time. Not only is he disqualified from the presidency, but he has already violated the United States Constitution. And, just like eight years ago, more violations will certainly follow. During his campaign and in the months between his election and inauguration, Trump has threatened to engage in unlawful, unconstitutional conduct. He has once more positioned himself to abuse the office for personal profit and power in violation of clear constitutional commands and at the expense of our democratic institutions, constitutional precedent, and the safety of our country’s most vulnerable.
Demand accountability.
Trump is not a monarch. He is beholden to the Constitution, as is Congress. And as the Founders understood, if we are to preserve our democracy for the people, then Congress has a duty to investigate and, if necessary, remove a corrupt executive.
Free Speech For People is calling on Congress to launch an immediate impeachment investigation to determine whether there are sufficient grounds to impeach Donald Trump for offenses that have already occurred and that will continue in the days to come. Congress must also be prepared to expand its investigation if Trump undertakes any of the other impeachable actions that he has threatened to carry out.
Join the campaign.
Add your name to history.
Sign below to demand that Congress immediately open an impeachment investigation into Trump’s unlawful conduct.
GI O HERE TO SIGN: IMPEACH TRUMP. AGAIN.
Tuesday, March 11, 2025
Will Greenland become “Red, White and Blueland”?
Well the process has started.
H.R. 1161 — A bill to authorize the President to enter into negotiations to
acquire Greenland and to rename Greenland as ‘‘Red, White, and Blueland’’;
to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, and in addition to the Committee on
Natural Resources, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions
as fall within the
jurisdiction of the committee concerned. By Mr. CARTER of Georgia, H613 [10FE]
02/10/2025
Referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, and in addition to the Committee on Natural Resources, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
Action By: House of Representatives
02/10/2025
Referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, and in addition to the Committee on Natural Resources, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
Action By: House of Representatives
02/10/2025
Introduced in House
Action By: House of Representatives
For action updates go to: https://ww55.affinity.net/sssdomweb?enk=6383dabdeb5e62aa12e566d10dce117627fcc3ca988d0acb276a49e0d9b54340bcfb90634a3d10e1b02644a6b1ad86cf3acec33b49c3549d297065f2975465e8f2c8d29d83cedfdb&subid=EN-US-shopping-edge-tiles
April 1 Election==Candidate Meet and Greet
Thursday March 20
6:00 pm – 8:00 pm
Candidate Meet & Greet
Belvidere North High School
9393 Beloit Rd, Belvidere, IL 61008, United States
April 1 Election
It is the Airborne Mapping Aerial Study
- During March residents of Boone County will see this historic aerial study as a helicopter collects vital geological data for the county to better understand from where its drinking water is coming..
- This project is funded through a partnership between Boone County and Illinois State geological Survey.
- For further questions: Contact Dan Kane at dkane@boonecountyil.gov or 779 537 0171.
Monday, March 10, 2025
Elon Musk and ketamine
What Ketamine Does to the Human Brain
Health Excessive use of the drug can make anyone feel like they rule the world. March 05, 2025 Last month, during Elon Musk’s appearance at the Conservative Political Action Conference, as he hoisted a chain saw in the air, stumbled over some of his words, and questioned whether there was really gold stored in Fort Knox, people on his social-media platform, X, started posting about ketamine. Musk has said he uses ketamine regularly, so for the past couple of years, public speculation has
Read in The Atlantic: https://apple.news/AgPLWEpKIQMq_xaoX6DmByw
Shared from Apple News
*******************************************************************************************************************
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
For the functional group referred to as ketimine, see Imine.
Ketamine
Legal status
- AU: S8 (Controlled drug)
- BR: Class C1 (Other controlled substances)
- CA: Schedule I
- DE: Anlage III (Special prescription form required)
- UK: Class B
- US: Schedule III
- UN: Unscheduled
- In general Rx-only
Ketamine is a dissociative anesthetic used medically for induction and maintenance of anesthesia. It is also used as a treatment for depression and in pain management.[19] Ketamine is an NMDA receptor antagonist which accounts for most of its psychoactive effects.[20]
At anesthetic doses, ketamine induces a state of dissociative anesthesia, a trance-like state providing pain relief, sedation, and amnesia.[21] Its distinguishing features as an anesthestic are preserved breathing and airway reflexes, stimulated heart function with increased blood pressure, and moderate bronchodilation.[21] At lower, sub-anesthetic doses, it is a promising agent for treatment of pain and treatment-resistant depression.[22] As with many antidepressants, the results of a single administration wane with time.[23]
Ketamine is used as a recreational drug for its hallucinogenic and dissociative effects.[24] When used recreationally, it is found both in crystalline powder and liquid form, and is often referred to by users as "Special K" or simply "K". The long-term effects of repeated use are largely unknown and are an area of active investigation.[25][26][27] Liver and urinary toxicity have been reported among regular users of high doses of ketamine for recreational purposes.[28]
Ketamine was first synthesized in 1962, derived from phencyclidine in pursuit of a safer anesthetic with fewer hallucinogenic effects.[29][30] It was approved for use in the United States in 1970.[19] It has been regularly used in veterinary medicine and was extensively used for surgical anesthesia in the Vietnam War.[31] It is on the World Health Organization's List of Essential Medicines.[32] It is available as a generic medication.[33]
Where is our moral leadership?
MORAL LEADERSHIP
By Allen M.
I see where Michael Flynn thinks LSS (Lutheran Social Service) is a money laundering operation. President Trump sues J. Ann Selzer and the Des Moines Register; says they caused his campaign to spend more money in Iowa than he planned. Elon Musk feeds people and programs into a woodchipper. The Administration advocates cuts to multiple agencies and plans negotiations with Russia and somehow initially forgets mentioning Ukraine
We are where we are because it is becoming clear we are abandoning our moral leadership.
With it, great things are possible, without it, not so much.
We earned that moral leadership through the years by being a good friend, by standing by others even when they didn't pay their fair share for defense. We earned with USAID by thinking of others, the most downtrodden, first.
We earned it over many years by medical and scientific advances made possible by NIH and NSF.
We earned it by our efforts in WWII, even though if we had entered sooner more lives could have been saved.
We earned it by doing our best to hold the WWII war criminals responsible.
We earned after WWII by being clear eyed about the Soviet Union. American historian Timothy Snyder has stated that Stalin deliberately killed about 6 million of his citizens.
We earned it and then some with the Marshall Plan. I can't think of anything that makes me prouder to be a U.S. citizen than that.
Moral leadership is hard. It requires courage and sacrifice.
Saturday, March 8, 2025
Thursday, March 6, 2025
Illinois lost 86% of journalists since 2005
Pat Nabong
/
Chicago Sun Times
Since 2005, Illinois has lost 36% of its newspapers.
As newspapers continue to close across the country, Illinois has been particularly hard hit. The state has lost 86% of its journalists since 2005 — the highest percentage decline in the nation, according to the Medill State of Local News report released in October. Nationally, there was a 60% drop in newspaper journalist positions during that same period.
Illinois’ disproportionately larger number of newspaper job losses is because many of its news organizations are owned by corporate chains, Tim Franklin, director of the Medill Local News Initiative at Northwestern University’s Medill School of Journalism, said at a presentation last month at the Field Foundation. Several of those corporations are all, or in part, controlled by private equity or hedge funds.
For rest of the story go to: Illinois is hard hit by newspaper closures, study finds | STLPR
Illinois has lost 86% of its journalists since 2005
Pat Nabong
/
Chicago Sun Times
Since 2005, Illinois has lost 36% of its newspapers.
As newspapers continue to close across the country, Illinois has been particularly hard hit. The state has lost 86% of its journalists since 2005 — the highest percentage decline in the nation, according to the Medill State of Local News report released in October. Nationally, there was a 60% drop in newspaper journalist positions during that same period.
Illinois’ disproportionately larger number of newspaper job losses is because many of its news organizations are owned by corporate chains, Tim Franklin, director of the Medill Local News Initiative at Northwestern University’s Medill School of Journalism, said at a presentation last month at the Field Foundation. Several of those corporations are all, or in part, controlled by private equity or hedge funds.
/
Wednesday, February 5, 2025
How much do Illinois school districts rely on federal funding?
How much do Illinois school districts rely on federal funding?
Northern Public Radio | By Peter Medlin
Published February 4, 2025 at 2:21 PM CST
Listen • 0:54
Spencer Tritt
DeKalb High School
President Trump says he wants Congress to close the Department of Education.
Illinois school districts count on federal funds for 12% of their revenue. The majority of school revenue comes from local taxes and a smaller chunk comes from the state.
And that 12% is actually higher than usual due to pandemic relief funding over the past few years. Pre-COVID, it made up around 7 or 8% of school revenues.
But that percentage can vary a lot, depending on the district. The federal government’s Title I program sends out billions of dollars a year to low-income schools across the country.
Rockford Public Schools, for example, receives 22% of their revenue from the federal government, while a wealthier district like Oak Park-River Forest gets just 3% from the feds.
But the big question is, if the U.S. Department of Education gets axed, does all of this federal money disappear? Not necessarily. Certain programs can be cut, but the Title I program existed before the Department of Education and it would take a separate congressional act to end it.
Would that be a priority for Trump? Well, the conservative policy playbook Project 2025, co-authored by current and former Trump staffers, calls for Title 1 to be wound down and ended.
Federal funding doesn't just come to school districts through Title I either. Schools receive federal grants to help fund lots of initiatives including mental health services and career & technical education programming.
Even if federal funds make up a relatively small percentage of school district revenue, losing it would mean steep cuts at some of the poorest school districts.
Sunday, February 2, 2025
Trump 180 on Fed Rates Cuts
President Trump says the Fed was right to stop cutting interest rates
President Donald Trump stunned reporters on Sunday night when he praised the Federal Reserve’s decision to hit pause on its rate cuts. “I’m not surprised,” he said as he arrived in Washington aboard Air Force One. “Holding the rates at this point was the right thing to do.”
Now this is a complete 180 for a man who spent much of the past year relentlessly demanding that the Fed cut rates immediately. During his second day back in office, Trump flatout said he was gonna force chair Jerome Powell into cutting rates one way or another.
Read whole story at: President Trump says the Fed was right to stop cutting interest rates
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Saturday, February 1, 2025
Catholic Bishops Call for Immigration Reform
Migrants run Jan. 28, 2025, after entering the United States undetected through a hole in a section of the U.S.-Mexico border wall at in Sunland Park, N.M. (OSV News photo/Jose Luis Gonzalez, Reuters)
Bishops across U.S. defend migrants, calling for immigration reform in ‘justice and mercy’
January 31, 2025
By Gina Christian
OSV NewsFiled Under: Catholic Social Teaching, Feature, Immigration and Migration, News, World NewsShare
The United States is a “nation with a proud legacy of welcome to immigrants” that also “needs secure, safe, sturdy borders,” said Cardinal Timothy M. Dolan of New York.
But in a video message released Jan. 28 through The Good Newsroom, the media platform of the Archdiocese of New York, the cardinal declared the Catholic Church “should not be blasted for simply obeying the Bible and caring for those immigrants” who have entered the country through its “clumsy, fractured” immigration system.
The cardinal — a successor to New York Archbishop “Dagger John” Hughes, the 19th-century defender of Irish Catholic immigrants who laid the cornerstone of today’s St. Patrick’s Cathedral — is among the many U.S. prelates to weigh in on sweeping changes newly inaugurated President Donald Trump has made in recent days to the nation’s immigration policies.
Migrants run Jan. 28, 2025, after entering the United States undetected through a hole in a section of the U.S.-Mexico border wall at Sunland Park, N.M. (OSV News photo/Jose Luis Gonzalez, Reuters)
Trump administration officials sparred with Catholic organizations after pushback on some of their immigration policies.
In her debut press briefing as White House press secretary Jan. 28, Karoline Leavitt suggested the Trump administration would strip federal funds from Catholic Charities. The comments came two days after Vice President JD Vance questioned the motives of the U.S. bishops’ criticism of the new immigration policies in a Jan. 26 interview — including raids on churches and schools — suggesting the bishops are actually concerned about receiving federal resettlement funding and “their bottom line.”
Fulfilling campaign pledges to tighten border security and ensure mass deportations of unauthorized migrants, Trump issued a slew of executive orders following his Jan. 20 inauguration. Refugee travel to the U.S. has been canceled; policies preventing immigration arrests at houses of worship, schools and other “sensitive locations” have been scrapped; and a program enabling private U.S. citizens to sponsor refugees has been halted. Some 1,600 U.S. troops have also been dispatched to the U.S.-Mexico border to assist with immigration enforcement.
Trump also ordered an end to the 14th Amendment’s provision for birthright citizenship, effective Feb. 19 — although that action has since been temporarily blocked by a federal judge in Seattle, who described the move as “blatantly unconstitutional.”
Archbishop Timothy P. Broglio of the U.S. Archdiocese for the Military Services, who is president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, said in a Jan. 22 statement that some of Trump’s executive orders “focused on the treatment of immigrants and refugees” are “deeply troubling and will have negative consequences.”
Bishop Mark J. Seitz of El Paso, Texas, chair of the USCCB’s Committee on Migration, issued multiple statements, warning some of the executive orders seek to “eviscerate humanitarian protections enshrined in federal law and undermine due process, subjecting vulnerable families and children to grave danger” and that immigration enforcement could only be carried out morally “in a targeted, proportional, and humane way.”
Catholic social teaching on immigration balances three interrelated principles — the right of persons to migrate in order to sustain their lives and those of their families, the right of a country to regulate its borders and control immigration, and a nation’s duty to regulate its borders with justice and mercy.
Referencing this teaching, the Colorado Catholic bishops issued a statement condemning an “open borders policy” while temporary or permanent legal immigration “takes years and is expensive.”
“This is not conducive for families who need to migrate quickly to sustain their lives or the lives of their families,” they said.
The bishops also stressed, “Mass deportation is not the solution to our present situation in the United States, especially when it may separate parents and children.”
A reference point for that teaching can be found in the Second Vatican Council’s teaching in “Gaudium et Spes” — reaffirmed verbatim in two encyclicals on truth and the dignity of human life by St. John Paul II — that names deportation (“deportatio”) along with abortion in a list of specific acts offensive to human life and dignity. The council teaches they “are a disgrace, and so long as they infect human civilization they contaminate those who inflict them more than those who suffer injustice, and they are a negation of the honor due to the Creator.”
Catholic bishops’ conferences from several states — among them Texas, Maryland and Michigan — have also issued statements on the immigration changes, assuring immigrants of their solidarity and pastoral concern. They called upon the new administration to address the immigration crisis with a focus on human dignity, root causes of migration and the need to fix the nation’s troubled immigration legal system.
The Texas bishops emphasized their support of the USCCB’s statements, and underscored the importance of the government respecting the life of the church.
“In exercising the basic human right of religious liberty, all Catholics, regardless of national origin or citizenship status, have a right to gather for the celebration of Mass and to receive the Sacraments without harassment or intimidation,” they said.
Maryland’s bishops committed to advocating for policies that protect migrants’ rights and dignity, while also declaring the church’s “parishes, schools, and ministries are here for you, offering spaces where you can find community and grow in faith.”
Michigan’s bishops pleaded with elected officials “to support policies that keep immigrant and undocumented families safe and united, and to protect those who arrived as children.”
Like Cardinal Dolan, other U.S. bishops have also spoken out individually as well, pledging the church’s firm solidarity with immigrants while also calling on the nation’s leaders to make a deal on immigration within moral parameters.
In a Jan. 21 statement, Archbishop John C. Wester of Santa Fe, N.M., said that he felt “a profound obligation to speak on behalf of immigrants,” particularly those whose countries of origins are in dire straits, and called for “a bipartisan effort to enact immigration reform that honors both citizens and immigrants, addressing the intricate issues at hand.”
Likewise, in a Jan. 24 letter to the faithful of northwest Iowa, Bishop R. Walker Nickless of Sioux City, said the Catholic Church stands “ready to work with our national leaders on responsible immigration reform, including smart border security, (and) pathways to lawfully being present in our country and towards citizenship.”
But he also said the church and the nation had a “duty” from Jesus Christ, defined in Scripture, to “value each and every person created by our loving God and give them the dignity they deserve as sons and daughters of God our Father.”
He said, “All of this must be done in justice and mercy.”
Above is from: Bishops across U.S. defend migrants, calling for immigration reform in 'justice and mercy' - Catholic Review
ICE and Illinois Law Enforcement==the guide
SEE Full document at: ImmigrationLawGuidancetoLawEnforcement.pdf
This maybe an important to understanding Illinois news in the coming days.
Head Start is it open or not? And for how long?
Now-rescinded Trump federal grant freeze causes chaos for childcare programs
Northern Public Radio | By Peter Medlin
Published January 29, 2025 at 4:52 PM CST
Peter Medlin
Kids at Taylor's Tots in Rockford
On Tuesday, the Trump administration’s broad freeze on federal grants caused chaos for northern Illinois child care providers and families.
Two Rivers Head Start operates child care programs in Aurora, Elgin, and Sycamore. Executive director Kelly Neidel had to tell her staff they’d been laid off, and had to tell her 200-plus families that their services were shutting down.
“It's affecting so many people, it's literally just heartbreaking,” she said.
A few hours later, a federal judge stopped the freeze. Neidel then had to backtrack and tell everyone they were staying open. The administration has since rescinded the freeze.
She says the situation caused a lot of undue stress for their low-income families who had to spend the afternoon scrambling to find new childcare. And even though they’ve had some reassurances that they shouldn’t be impacted by the freeze, it’s difficult for staff to believe their jobs are totally safe.
Neidel says they’ve also briefly lost access to their Community Services Block Grant which helped fund food pantries, assisting families in crisis with rental assistance or car repairs, a senior food and clothing initiative and more. Now, they can draw down on those funds again.
She says they conduct federal audits every year, so she doesn’t buy that there’s any waste in the program.
*
Peter joins WNIJ as a graduate of North Central College. He is a native of Sandwich, Illinois.
Wednesday, January 29, 2025
Trump’s Resignation Email Offer
Fork in the Road
Below is the email that was sent to federal employees on January 28, 2025 presenting a deferred resignation offer. If you did not respond to that email and wish to accept the deferred resignation offer, you may do so by following these steps.
1)
Send an email to hr@opm.gov from your government account. Only an email from your .gov or .mil account will be accepted.
2)
Type the word "Resign" into the "Subject" line of the email. Hit "Send".
Deferred Resignation Email to Federal Employees
January 28, 2025
During the first week of his administration, President Trump issued a number of directives concerning the federal workforce. Among those directives, the President required that employees return to in-person work, restored accountability for employees who have policy-making authority, restored accountability for senior career executives, and reformed the federal hiring process to focus on merit. As a result of the above orders, the reform of the federal workforce will be significant.
The reformed federal workforce will be built around four pillars:
1)
Return to Office: The substantial majority of federal employees who have been working remotely since Covid will be required to return to their physical offices five days a week. Going forward, we also expect our physical offices to undergo meaningful consolidation and divestitures, potentially resulting in physical office relocations for a number of federal workers.
2)
Performance culture: The federal workforce should be comprised of the best America has to offer. We will insist on excellence at every level — our performance standards will be updated to reward and promote those that exceed expectations and address in a fair and open way those who do not meet the high standards which the taxpayers of this country have a right to demand.
3)
More streamlined and flexible workforce: While a few agencies and even branches of the military are likely to see increases in the size of their workforce, the majority of federal agencies are likely to be downsized through restructurings, realignments, and reductions in force. These actions are likely to include the use of furloughs and the reclassification to at-will status for a substantial number of federal employees.
4)
Enhanced standards of conduct: The federal workforce should be comprised of employees who are reliable, loyal, trustworthy, and who strive for excellence in their daily work. Employees will be subject to enhanced standards of suitability and conduct as we move forward. Employees who engage in unlawful behavior or other misconduct will be prioritized for appropriate investigation and discipline, including termination.
Each of the pillars outlined above will be pursued in accordance with applicable law, consistent with your agency's policies, and to the extent permitted under relevant collective-bargaining agreements.
If you choose to remain in your current position, we thank you for your renewed focus on serving the American people to the best of your abilities and look forward to working together as part of an improved federal workforce. At this time, we cannot give you full assurance regarding the certainty of your position or agency but should your position be eliminated you will be treated with dignity and will be afforded the protections in place for such positions.
If you choose not to continue in your current role in the federal workforce, we thank you for your service to your country and you will be provided with a dignified, fair departure from the federal government utilizing a deferred resignation program. This program begins effective January 28 and is available to all federal employees until February 6. If you resign under this program, you will retain all pay and benefits regardless of your daily workload and will be exempted from all applicable in-person work requirements until September 30, 2025 (or earlier if you choose to accelerate your resignation for any reason). The details of this separation plan can be found below.
Whichever path you choose, we thank you for your service to The United States of America.
*********************************************************************
Upon review of the below deferred resignation letter, if you wish to resign:
1)
Select “Reply” to this email. You must reply from your government account. A reply from an account other than your .gov or .mil account will not be accepted.
2)
Type the word “Resign” into the body of this reply email. Hit “Send”.
THE LAST DAY TO ACCEPT THE DEFERRED RESIGNATION PROGRAM IS FEBRUARY 6, 2025.
Deferred resignation is available to all full-time federal employees except for military personnel of the armed forces, employees of the U.S. Postal Service, those in positions related to immigration enforcement and national security, and those in any other positions specifically excluded by your employing agency.
*********************************************************************
DEFERRED RESIGNATION LETTER
January 28, 2025
Please accept this letter as my formal resignation from employment with my employing agency, effective September 30, 2025. I understand that I have the right to accelerate, but not extend, my resignation date if I wish to take advantage of the deferred resignation program. I also understand that if I am (or become) eligible for early or normal retirement before my resignation date, that I retain the right to elect early or normal retirement (once eligible) at any point prior to my resignation date.
Given my impending resignation, I understand I will be exempt from any “Return to Office” requirements pursuant to recent directives and that I will maintain my current compensation and retain all existing benefits (including but not limited to retirement accruals) until my final resignation date.
I am certain of my decision to resign and my choice to resign is fully voluntary. I understand my employing agency will likely make adjustments in response to my resignation including moving, eliminating, consolidating, reassigning my position and tasks, reducing my official duties, and/or placing me on paid administrative leave until my resignation date.
I am committed to ensuring a smooth transition during my remaining time at my employing agency. Accordingly, I will assist my employing agency with completing reasonable and customary tasks and processes to facilitate my departure.
I understand that my acceptance of this offer will be sent to the Office of Personnel Management (“OPM”) which will then share it with my agency employer. I hereby consent to OPM receiving, reviewing, and forwarding my acceptance.
Upon submission of your resignation, you will receive a confirmation email acknowledging receipt of your email. Any replies to this email shall be for the exclusive use of accepting the deferred resignation letter. Any other replies to this email will not be reviewed, forwarded, or retained other than as required by applicable federal records laws.
Once your resignation is validly sent and received, the human resources department of your employing agency will contact you to complete additional documentation, if any.
OPM is authorized to send this email under Executive Order 9830 and 5 U.S.C. §§ 301, 1103, 1104, 2951, 3301, 6504, 8347, and 8461. OPM intends to use your response to assist in federal workforce reorganization efforts in conjunction with employing agencies. See 88 Fed. Reg. 56058; 80 Fed. Reg. 72455 (listing routine uses). Response to this email is voluntary. Although you must respond to take advantage of the deferred resignation offer, there is no penalty for nonresponse.
Friday, January 24, 2025
CPS response to ICE threat
January 24, 2025
A Note From CPS Leadership
Click here to view this letter in Spanish, Arabic, Simplified Chinese, Filipino, Polish, Ukrainian, Urdu, or Vietnamese. Use the Google Translate feature at the top of the page to change the language.
Dear CPS Colleagues, Families, and Supporters,
Much has happened in just the first week of the new presidential administration, including the elimination of a long-held policy that named schools as “sensitive spaces” when it comes to immigration enforcement. I know that this has many in our CPS community feeling deeply unsettled, and I am truly sorry for the unfair burden of fear and anxiety that is being placed on our immigrant families right now.
I want to speak directly to our CPS parents. Even with everything that’s happening, the best, safest place for your children is at school. First off, school is where they will receive the high-quality education they need and deserve. But beyond that, each CPS school is FILLED with adults who will go above and beyond every day to protect and care for your children.
As we’ve said many times, CPS DOES NOT ask for the immigration status of our students or families, and WILL NOT cooperate with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents who come to our schools unless they have a criminal judicial warrant signed by a federal judge. Even in that rare instance, we have a team of lawyers available at all times to review those warrants.
I want families to know that our District, city, and state are completely aligned on this issue. There are laws and policies, including the Illinois Trust Act and Chicago Welcoming City Ordinance, that are in place to protect our children, regardless of any changes that are made at the federal level.
The one thing we are asking of our families is to make sure your school has updated emergency contact information on file. Beyond that, we simply want you to send your kids to school every day with the confidence that we will protect and care for them.
Families can find a wealth of resources on immigration services, including a schedule of free “Know Your Rights” trainings and workshops, on our website at cps.edu/newadminguidance.
Saturday, January 18, 2025
46 towns have passed a grocery tax. Is your town next?
Dylan Sharkey
Assistant Editor
January 16, 2025
Already 46 towns around Illinois have voted to impose a 1% grocery tax in 2026. Other Illinoisans will start to save 1% on groceries when the statewide tax ends.
There are 46 Illinois towns that will continue the 1% grocery tax once the statewide tax ends in 2026, according to data from the Illinois Department of Revenue. The rest of the state will start to see 1% savings at the grocery store.
The map below shows which towns will begin taxing groceries in 2026, but the list will only get longer unless residents show they are opposed to taxing residents’ unavoidable need to eat. Even if a town is not on the map, communities have until October 2025 to decide whether to keep or kill the 1% tax on everyday grocery items.
Grocery shoppers around the state saved $360 million the year state leaders suspended the tax as a way to combat rampant inflation. That was roughly $30 per Illinoisan. That means a family of four could save about $115 a year on food, depending on where they live.
Grocery tax revenue exclusively went to local governments, so they will choose between budget cuts and grocery taxes. Illinois is one of only 13 states with a grocery tax, and the only state among the 10 most populated.
Grocery tax revenue by community for 2023 is in the table below, which is a gauge for what the tax repeal or imposition could mean for you and your neighbors.
In 2026 the tax could be gone for good, a move 70% of Illinois voters supported. Gov. J.B. Pritzker called the tax “kind of embarrassing.”
“It was the most regressive tax you could possibly have, taxing people on food,” Pritzker said. “Wealthy people, middle-class people can afford to go to the grocery store and pay 1%. Everybody else, it’s hard. That’s one of the reasons I went after it.”
Communities can choose to tax their residents on the need to eat. Or, they can give their retailers a competitive advantage by taxing 1% less than some tax-hungry neighbors.
As of yet neither Rockford nor Belvidere have passed the tax.To see map as to which cities have, go to:
Friday, January 17, 2025
ERA is now law????
Biden Says ERA Is Ratified, But Supreme Court Gets Final Say
By Ed Kilgore, political columnist for Intelligencer since 2015
READ the rest of the story at: Biden Says ERA Is Ratified, But Supreme Court Gets Final Say
Monday, January 13, 2025
Congressman Kinzinger was a “real hero” back in 2006
EXCLUSIVE: Adam Kinzinger's damsel in distress reveals true story of PTSD knife attack
Read the story at: Adam Kinzinger's damsel in distress reveals true story of PTSD knife attack | Daily Mail Online
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