Illinois quick hits: Trump signs Duckworth’s BABES Act; REAL ID portals promoted

December 3, 2025/

Spread the love

By Jim Talamonti | The Center Square
The Center Square

Trump signs Duckworth’s BABES Act

President Donald Trump has signed bipartisan legislation to help parents travel by air with breast milk and breastfeeding supplies.

Along with U.S. Senators Steve Daines, R-MT, Ted Cruz, R-TX and Mazie K. Hirono, D-HI, Illinois U.S. Sen. Tammy Duckworth, D-Schaumburg, proposed the Bottles and Breastfeeding Equipment Screening (BABES) Enhancement Act.

The new law requires the Transportation Security Administration to clarify and update guidance on handling breast milk, baby formula and other related products.

REAL ID portals promoted

Illinois Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias says his office has streamlined its REAL ID portal and extended the lease on its REAL ID walk-in facility in Chicago’s Loop through the end of 2026.

Giannoulias made the announcement after the Transportation Security Administration announced Monday that, starting Feb. 1, 2026, it will refer all passengers who do not present an acceptable form of ID the option of paying a $45 fee to use an alternative identity verification system.

Country music star announced for Fair

The Illinois State Fair has announced that country music star Ella Langley will take the Grandstand Stage as part of the 2026 fair lineup on Friday, Aug. 21, 2026.

Langley’s breakout single “you look like you love me” featuring Riley Green won Country Music Association (CMA) awards for Single of the Year (2025), Song of the Year (2025), Music Video of the Year (2025), and Musical Event of the Year (2024).

Tickets are scheduled to go on sale Saturday, Dec. 6 at 10 a.m. via Ticketmaster.

Latest News Stories

Defensive Collapse Plagues Kankakee in 20-11 Loss to Crete-Monee

The Kankakee varsity softball team suffered a crushing 20-11 conference defeat at the hands of Crete-Monee on Tuesday. Despite a persistent offensive effort from the hosts, a total defensive collapse—featuring...

Crete-Monee’s Eight-Run Seventh Inning Sinks Kankakee Baseball 9-2

For six innings on Tuesday afternoon, the Kankakee varsity baseball team engaged Crete-Monee in a tense, tightly contested conference battle. However, a massive eight-run surge by the visitors in the...

Chicago office vacancy rates worsen, card swipe numbers offer hope

By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – As Chicago’s downtown office vacancy rate hits another record high, homeowners in the city can expect to...

Illinois Quick Hits: Illiois gas prices keep rising

By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – The average gas price in Illinois has risen 89 cents per gallon in the last month. According...

IL Supreme Court says it can remove Cook Co. judge for pro-Trump column

By Jonathan Bilyk | Legal NewslineThe Center Square The justices on the Democrat-dominated Illinois Supreme Court are asking a federal judge to declare they have the constitutional authority to abruptly...

FBI: Illinois’ cyber crime losses reached $535M in 2025

By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – The FBI Internet Crime Report for 2025 ranks Illinois fifth in the U.S. for cyber crime complaints...

Minnesota, Illinois AGs challenge federal orders to keep coal plants running

By Elyse ApelThe Center Square Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison is challenging the Trump administration over orders requiring coal-fired power plants in Indiana to remain open past their planned retirement...

FBI finds Americans lose billions to cryptocurrency scams

By Brett RowlandThe Center Square Americans lost more than $20 billion to cryptocurrency and other online scams in 2025, a 26% increase over the year before, according to the latest...

Illinois lawmakers seek to regulate, tax prediction markets amid federal lawsuit

By Sean ReedThe Center Square Illinois may soon allow prediction markets to operate in the state, but lawmakers and the federal government are at odds with how they want it...

Report: Teacher’s union gives nearly 2M to org that trains for May Day protests

By Tate MillerThe Center Square An education group has uncovered that teacher’s union the National Education Association has given nearly two million dollars in donations since 2020 to an organization...

Illinois Quick Hits: Downtown Chicago office vacancies hit another record high

By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – Downtown Chicago’s office vacancy rate has risen to a record high for the 15th consecutive quarter. Crain’s...

Trump issues dire warning to Iran as deadline looms

By Sarah Roderick-FitchThe Center Square “A whole civilization will die tonight, never to be brought back again,” President Donald Trump warned the Iranian regime as the clock ticks toward the...

Report: Iran, inflation concern small businesses

By Andrew RiceThe Center Square U.S. small businesses reported reduced spending and hiring amid concerns over military strikes against Iran and looming inflation data, according to a new report. The...

U.S.-Israel-Iranian conflict escalating global energy, supply chain crisis

By Bethany BlankleyThe Center Square The U.S.-Israel led attack against Iran continues to impact the global oil supply by cutting off Persian Gulf crude production and distribution. It’s not only...

Will County Board Land Use Committee Graphic.1

Meeting Summary and Briefs: Will County Board Land Use & Development Committee for March 26, 2026

Will County Board Land Use & Development Committee Meeting | March 26, 2026 The Will County Board Land Use & Development Committee held a special workshop meeting on Thursday, March...

« Previous
1
…
26
27
28
29
30
…
126
Next »