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

‘Good Food For All’ Initiative Proposes Local Agricultural Asset Mapping for Will County

Will County Board Public Health & Safety Committee Meeting | January 7, 2026 Article Summary: Bob Heuer of HNA Networks presented a "Good Food For All" initiative to the Public...

Public Works Committee Advances $3.2 Million Engineering Contract for Mills Road Reconstruction

Will County Public Works & Transportation Committee Meeting | January 6, 2026 Article Summary: The committee forwarded a resolution to award a $3.2 million contract to HDR Engineering, Inc. for...

Board Members Debate “Commitment to Truth” in Media Resolution

Will County Board Legislative Committee Meeting | January 6, 2026 Article Summary: A proposal to demand the reinstatement of the "Fairness Doctrine" for news media sparked a philosophical debate on...

Executive Committee: Speaker VanDuyne and Member Butler Clash Over Removal of Committee Chair

Will County Board Executive Committee Meeting | January 8, 2026 Article Summary: A heated exchange erupted during the January 8 Executive Committee meeting when Member Daniel Butler challenged Speaker Joe...

Finance Committee: County Appropriates Fees from $25 Million Wilmington Warehouse Project

Will County Board Finance Committee Meeting | January 6, 2026 Article Summary: The Finance Committee approved the appropriation of an administrative fee tied to a major industrial renovation in Wilmington....

Assaults against ICE up 1300%, vehicular attacks up 3200%, death threats up 8000%

By Bethany BlankleyThe Center Square Assaults against U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers are up 1,300%, vehicular attacks are up 3,200% and death threats are up 8,000%, the Department of...

Bipartisan bill to cap annual deficits at 3% could curb debt growth

By Brett RowlandThe Center Square Lawmakers introduced a bipartisan proposal to cap annual deficits at 3% of GDP, but this resolution would still permit spending beyond annual revenue. House Resolution...

One year in, a ‘ho-hum’ jobs report

By Morgan SweeneyThe Center Square December’s jobs data changed little from November, rounding out an underwhelming year for the U.S. labor market. Initial estimates put job gains at 50,000, though...

Five battleground governor’s races for 2026

By Andrew RiceThe Center Square Voters from 36 states across the country will return to the polls to elect their next governors in 2026. Several governors races are expected to...

Chicago Flips Red calls for audit after public schools report

By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – A grassroots Chicago group is calling for a forensic audit of the city’s entire public school system...

Capital Imp Committee: Begins Drafting Policy to Regulate Artificial Intelligence in County Government

Capital Improvements & IT Committee Meeting | January 6, 2026 Article Summary:The Will County Board Capital Improvements and IT Committee began formulating a comprehensive policy regarding the use of Artificial...

Public Health Committee Chair Demands Animal Control Agreements for Crete, Monee

Will County Board Public Health & Safety Committee Meeting | January 7, 2026 Article Summary: During the January 7, 2026, Public Health and Safety Committee meeting, Chair Daniel Butler demanded...

Public Works Committee Considers Taking Over Kankakee County Line Road to Expedite Bridge Repairs

Will County Public Works & Transportation Committee Meeting | January 6, 2026 Article Summary: The Will County Division of Transportation (WCDOT) is exploring a jurisdictional transfer of a section of...

Trump signs order protecting Venezuelan oil revenue from legal claims

By Dan McCalebThe Center Square President Donald Trump on Saturday signed an executive order to protect revenue from all sales of Venezuelan oil held in U.S. Treasury accounts from seizure...

Retirements and resignations to impact midterms as balance of power at stake

By Andrew RiceThe Center Square Over the past several months, politicians once regarded as central to their party have bowed out of reelection campaigns or resigned from their positions altogether....

« Previous
1
…
77
78
79
80
81
…
133
Next »