Illinois quick hits: Medicaid coverage for parental home visits; 'Trouble in Toyland' report

Illinois quick hits: Medicaid coverage for parental home visits; ‘Trouble in Toyland’ report

November 24, 2025/
Spread the love

By Jim Talamonti | The Center Square
The Center Square

Medicaid coverage for parental home visits

The Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services has launched new Medicaid coverage of home visiting services for pregnant and parenting customers.

Covered prenatal home visits include health education, blood pressure monitoring, behavioral health screenings, domestic and intimate partner violence education, stress management and more.

IDPH Director Dr. Sameer Vohra said the expanded Medicaid coverage is a critical step in the agency’s mission to improve health outcomes.

‘Trouble in Toyland’ report

The Trouble in Toyland 2025 report is out ahead of the holiday shopping season and it raises concerns around hidden dangers in toys.

The Public Interest Research Group’s Education Fund released the 40th annual report Monday and highlights AI toys with privacy concerns and explicit content, toys with lead from other countries and water beads, something the group says is a longtime threat.

Construction lanes to open

The Illinois Department of Transportation announced Monday that lanes that have been closed for construction will reopen, where possible, for the long Thanksgiving weekend to minimize travel disruption.

Non-emergency closures will be suspended from 3 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 26, to 11:59 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 30.

Leave a Comment





Latest News Stories

Bipartisan praise for federal charges in Minnesota fraud cases

Bipartisan praise for federal charges in Minnesota fraud cases

By Elyse ApelThe Center Square Minnesota officials are applauding after federal prosecutors announced sweeping fraud charges against 15 people accused of stealing more than $90 million from state-managed Medicaid programs....
Congress rejects Trump's proposed NASA budget cuts

Congress rejects Trump’s proposed NASA budget cuts

By Brett RowlandThe Center Square House lawmakers advanced a spending bill rejecting President Donald Trump's proposed cuts to NASA, keeping the agency's budget flat at $24.4 billion. The White House...
Comptroller, Chicago officials debate tax fund sweeps

Comptroller, Chicago officials debate tax fund sweeps

By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – Illinois Comptroller Susana Mendoza and Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson’s administration are at odds over legislation that would...
No public funds for new transit safety group

No public funds for new transit safety group

By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – The Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office says no public funds are being used for the agency’s new...
The future of American troops in Europe; Iran lead Rubio's meeting with NATO

The future of American troops in Europe; Iran lead Rubio’s meeting with NATO

By Sarah Roderick-FitchThe Center Square Defense spending, troop placement and Iran took center stage during a meeting between Secretary of State Marco Rubio and NATO leaders on Friday in Sweden....
Screenshot 2026-05-22 at 9.30.00 AM

Monee Adopts Resolution Asserting Local Control Over Housing as State Bills Loom

Village of Monee Board of Trustees Meeting | May 13, 2026 Article Summary: The Monee Village Board on Tuesday, May 13, 2026, unanimously adopted a resolution supporting municipal authority over...
Tennessee congressman files articles of impeachment against Roberts

Tennessee congressman files articles of impeachment against Roberts

By Kim JarrettThe Center Square U.S. Rep. Steve Cohen, D-Tennessee, filed six articles of impeachment against U.S. Supreme Court Justice John Roberts, saying Roberts's leadership is marked by "arbitrary, unexplained,...
Illinois Quick Hits: Chicagoland chamber opposes ditigal ad tax

Illinois Quick Hits: Chicagoland chamber opposes ditigal ad tax

By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – The Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce is urging the Illinois legislature to reject a proposed new tax on...
Board suspends Camp Mystic co-owner's nursing license

Board suspends Camp Mystic co-owner’s nursing license

By Bethany BlankleyThe Center Square The Texas Board of Nursing has suspended the nursing license of Mary Liz Eastland, a co-owner of Camp Mystic, the flooded all-girls camp in Hunt,...
Illinois bill banning ‘easily convertible’ handguns could pass this session

Illinois bill banning ‘easily convertible’ handguns could pass this session

By Greg Bishop | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – An Illinois measure to prohibit the sale and manufacture of handguns some legislators say are “easily convertible”...
Deadline approaches for $1 million school choice award

Deadline approaches for $1 million school choice award

By Bethany BlankleyThe Center Square The June 1 deadline for a $1 million Yass Prize school choice award is approaching, and education providers nationwide are encouraged to apply. The Yass...
Biometrics privacy law’s territorial reach limited, appeals court says

Biometrics privacy law’s territorial reach limited, appeals court says

By Jonathan Bilyk | Legal NewslineThe Center Square Amazon has turned aside another attempt to use Illinois' stringent biometrics privacy law to extract a potentially big payout from the company,...
Watchdog says Biden Education Department defied court order on Title IX enforcement

Watchdog says Biden Education Department defied court order on Title IX enforcement

By Tom JoyceThe Center Square The U.S. Department of Education still has not released a final investigative report about allegations that the Biden administration ignored federal court orders on Title...
Congress skips town without passing $72B immigration enforcement bill

Congress skips town without passing $72B immigration enforcement bill

By Thérèse BoudreauxThe Center Square In an epic breakdown of negotiations, Congress is leaving town without voting on Republicans’ roughly $72 billion budget reconciliation bill. Senate Republicans ultimately deadlocked Thursday...
EPA slashes regulations on refrigerants finalized during Biden-era

EPA slashes regulations on refrigerants finalized during Biden-era

By Morgan SweeneyThe Center Square The Environmental Protection Agency is slashing some regulations on refrigerants finalized in the Biden-era in an effort it says will reduce grocery costs for Americans...