CHICAGO, Illinois, May 22 -- The office of the U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois issued the following news release on May 21, 2024: A flight attendant and two bank employees in Indiana have been charged in a federal indictment that accuses a Mexico-based drug trafficking organization of moving thousands of kilograms of cocaine into the United States and laundering tens of millions of dollars in proceeds. A superseding indictment unsealed Friday in U.S. District Court in Chica  more

SPRINGFIELD, Illinois, May 22 -- The Illinois National Guard issued the following news: Col. Shawn Strahle of Chatham has been selected as the Commander of the Illinois Air National Guard's 183rd Wing based in Springfield. Strahle, who has served as the wing's deputy commander since September 2023, will assume command of the wing on June 3 from Col. Robert Gellner of Sherman. Gellner has served as the wing's commander since July 2021. He has accepted a position as the vice commander of the 603  more

HARTFORD, Connecticut, May 22 -- Connecticut Attorney General William Tong issued the following news release: Attorney General William Tong joined a coalition of 19 attorneys general calling on the U.S. Department of Education to swiftly implement recently proposed regulations, which would provide needed relief for some of the nation's most burdened student loan borrowers and help address the student debt crisis. The proposed regulations would waive or reduce student loan repayment for certain   more

SPRINGFIELD, Illinois, May 22 -- The Illinois National Guard issued the following news: Master Sgt. David Berry of Cuba, Illinois, who enlisted in the Illinois Army National Guard in 2004 - a dozen years after graduating from Rushville High School in 1992 - retired from the Army after 20 years of service on May 18. Berry's two decades of service included two combat tours overseas. A motor transport noncommissioned officer, he deployed to Iraq from 2006 to 2007 with the 1744th Transportation Co  more

IDAHO FALLS, Idaho, May 22 -- The U.S. Department of Energy's Idaho National Laboratory issued the following news release: Todd Combs, a highly respected leader and seasoned national laboratory expert, was selected this week as Idaho National Laboratory's next deputy laboratory director for science and technology and chief research officer. Combs replaces Marianne Walck, who left INL earlier this year to become the laboratory director at the National Energy Technology Laboratory. Combs' hiring   more

SPRINGFIELD, Illinois, May 22 -- The Illinois House Democrats issued the following news on May 21, 2024: Working to help disabled veterans modify their homes to better accommodate their needs, state Rep. Dagmara "Dee" Avelar, D-Bolingbrook, voted to waive local building permit fees under a plan supported unanimously in the House Wednesday. "By waiving local permit fees for disabled veterans, we're opening doors for those who fought for our country by recognizing their sacrifices and promoting   more

SPRINGFIELD, Illinois, May 22 -- The Illinois House Democrats issued the following news: State Rep. Kam Buckner, D-Chicago, recently passed a measure to allow the creation of digital drivers' licenses and state IDs in Illinois, utilizing modern technology to streamline transportation. "Creating digital drivers' licenses is an important step in streamlining Illinois transportation," Buckner said. "We have the necessary technology to give people new options for showing identification, and it's t  more

SPRINGFIELD, Illinois, May 22 (TNSres) -- The Illinois House Democrats issued the following news: Patients would have more opportunities to access in vitro fertilization (IVF) under a proposal supported by state Rep. Jehan Gordon-Booth, D-Peoria, that would remove insurance caps that can limit necessary rounds of treatment. "IVF is incredibly expensive and can be a long process that requires multiple tries," Gordon-Booth said. "Patients looking to become a parent, in consultation with their do  more

SPRINGFIELD, Illinois, May 22 -- The Illinois House Democrats issued the following news: Disabled veterans who need to modify their home to accommodate their needs would no longer be charged local building permit fees under a plan supported Wednesday by state Rep. Jehan Gordon-Booth, D-Peoria. "When a veteran needs to make safety adjustments to their home due to their disability, the least we can do is remove government permit fees," Gordon-Booth said. "Many of these individuals were willing t  more

SPRINGFIELD, Illinois, May 22 -- The Illinois House Democrats issued the following news: State Rep. Nabeela Syed, D-Palatine, working with a constituent of the 51st District, recently passed groundbreaking legislation to fill gaps in breast cancer screening coverage and ensure that all people who need medically recommended screening can afford it. "I feel lucky that I live in a community of people so interested in taking part in the lawmaking process and helping build a stronger future for the  more

SPRINGFIELD, Illinois, May 22 -- The Illinois House Democrats issued the following news: State Rep. Dave Vella, D-Loves Park, and state Rep. Abdelnasser Rashid, D-Bridgeview, passed legislation that would empower mobile home residents by providing them the right of first refusal to purchase the land their homes sit on when a sale is considered. "This bill will help to end surprise sales impacting our manufactured home communities. They deserve to have a say over the possibility of a sale that   more

SPRINGFIELD, Illinois, May 22 -- The Illinois Senate Democrats issued the following news: State Senator Mary Edly-Allen passed an initiative to align nutrition and restraint protections for pregnant and postpartum incarcerated individuals in state prisons. "Every jail in Illinois has their own policies and procedures when it comes to pregnant incarcerated individuals and their rights," said Edly-Allen (D-Libertyville). "This bill ensures that every pregnant, postpartum, and breastfeeding indiv  more

SPRINGFIELD, Illinois, May 22 -- The Illinois Senate Democrats issued the following news: State Senator Adriane Johnson championed a measure to ensure students have the housing and resources they need to succeed. "Students deserve adequate shelter and transportation. It is crucial for their physical and emotional well-being," said Johnson (D- Buffalo Grove). "Moreover, when basic needs are met, parents are more likely to engage with their child's school activities, attend meetings, and support  more

SPRINGFIELD, Illinois, May 22 -- The Illinois Senate Democrats issued the following news: State Senator Emil Jones is leading a measure to allow municipalities to have a greater say in its development plans. "Concentrating IDOT funding for pedestrian and bicycle ways to larger cities will increase efficiency and usability of said funding," said Jones (D-Chicago). "This measure will make sure that resources are not wasted." Currently, IDOT must fund pedestrian and bicycle ways to in conjunctio  more

SPRINGFIELD, Illinois, May 22 -- The Illinois Senate Democrats issued the following news: State Senator Robert Peters advanced legislation to enhance access to health care services and protect the rights and interests of consumers through a comprehensive plan that targets key issues within health insurance plans. "This legislation makes health care more accessible and transparent," said Peters (D-Chicago). "It also ensures accountability for large insurance companies that have gone unchecked b  more

SPRINGFIELD, Illinois, May 22 -- The Illinois Senate Democrats issued the following news: State Senator Ram Villivalam is leading the charge in expanding the list of documents an employee can request from an employer, and how they can do so. "Making sure that workers have necessary protections is important to prevent possible retaliation," said Villivalam. "That's why expanding the options for what documents they can request, and how they can request them, is vital." This measure would expand  more

SPRINGFIELD, Illinois, May 22 -- The Illinois National Guard issued the following news: Brig. Gen. Dan McDonough, the Assistant Adjutant General - Air of the Illinois National Guard and Commander of the Illinois Air National Guard, was the keynote speaker for the Illinois Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve Awards Banquet, May 17, at the Marriott in Normal, Illinois. The banquet honored employers throughout the state who have helped their National Guard and Reserve employees serve and de  more

BOSTON, Massachusetts, May 22 -- The John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum issued the following news release on May 20, 2024: The John F. Kennedy Library Foundation today announced that Ruby McIntee, a U.S. Citizen and senior at the High School of Dundee in Dundee Scotland, has won the national John F. Kennedy Profile in Courage Essay Contest for High School Students. The winning essay describes how former U.S. Representative Vito Marcantonio (New York 18th District) courageously oppo  more

SPRINGFIELD, Illinois, May 22 -- The Illinois National Guard issued the following news: The Illinois State Military Museum's Armed Forces Day Military Vehicle Show on May 18 included a special presentation by veterans of the Quincy, Illinois-based 126th Supply and Services Co. at the museum in Springfield, Illinois. The unit was the only Illinois Army National Guard unit to deploy to Vietnam. The unit deployed in September 1968 and returned to a parade and celebration in Quincy in August 1969.  more

NEW ORLEANS, Louisiana, May 22 -- The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers-New Orleans District issued the following news release: The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, New Orleans District has scheduled two virtual public update meetings for the Lower Mississippi River Comprehensive Management Study (LMR Comp) on Thursday, June 20 at 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. Both meetings will be held via WebEx with the following log in information: * Meeting number: 1991 65 9004 * Online: https://usace1.webex.com/meet/mvnpa  more

CHICAGO, Illinois, May 16 -- Vice President Kamala Harris issued the following remarks at a campaign event at a private residence: * * * THE VICE PRESIDENT: Thank you, thank you. (Applause.) Good afternoon, everyone. Good afternoon. Good afternoon. Please -- please have a seat. Good afternoon. (Referring to a handheld microphone.) Is this on? It is now on. Karen and Jon, thank you so very much for opening your beautiful home for all of us. I -- you know, I was saying to them: I know that   more