CHICAGO, Illinois, March 6 -- Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul issued the following news release: * * * ATTORNEY GENERAL KWAME RAOUL CHALLENGES FEDERAL TERMINATION OF K-12 TEACHER PREPARATION PIPELINE GRANTS Chicago - Attorney General Kwame Raoul today joined a coalition of eight attorneys general in opposition to the Trump administration's unlawful termination of grant funding for K-12 teacher preparation programs. Beginning in mid-February, Illinois institutions received letters from t  more

CHICAGO, Illinois, March 6 -- Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul issued the following news release: * * * ATTORNEY GENERAL RAOUL SECURES PRELIMINARY INJUNCTIONS IN TWO LAWSUITS CHALLENGING TRUMP ADMINISTRATION POLICIES Court Blocks Federal Funding Freeze and Cuts to Medical, Public Health Research Chicago - Attorney General Kwame Raoul today announced that a court blocked the Trump administration's illegal decision to freeze critical federal funding to states. It is the second of two pre  more

WASHINGTON, March 6 (TNSrep) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following In Focus white paper (No. IF10675) on March 4, 2025, by military ground forces specialist Andrew Feickert: * * * Army Security Force Assistance Brigades (SFABs) What Is Security Force Assistance (SFA)? Security Force Assistance (SFA) is defined as "unified action to generate, employ, and sustain local, host-nation, or regional security forces in support of a legitimate authority." By definition "security  more

WASHINGTON, March 6 -- The U.S. Department of Transportation has released the following public communication on Feb. 27, 2025, from Illinois Waterway Ports Commission: * * * To: Department of Transportation [Docket No. DOT-OST-2025-0002] * * * We support the current and long-standing U.S. Waterborne Commerce Statics Center (WCSC) standard that the definitional starting point is "port limits are defined by overarching legislative enactments of state, county, or city governments, or the corpo  more

WASHINGTON, March 6 -- The U.S. Department of Transportation has released the following public communication on Feb. 27, 2025, from the Iowa Department of Transportation: * * * The Iowa Department of Transportation (DOT) appreciates the opportunity to provide comments on the draft National Multimodal Freight Network (NMFN). Designating this national network assists state DOTs with freight transportation planning, developing department policies relating to design and use, and decision-making fo  more

WASHINGTON, March 6 -- Sen. Tammy Duckworth, D-Illinois, issued the following news release: * * * Duckworth, Democrats Demand Answers from Trump and VA Secretary Collins on Indiscriminate Firing of Veterans and VA Employees, Including Veterans Crisis Line Staff March 06, 2025 [WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Today, combat Veteran and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL)--a member of the U.S. Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs (SVAC)--led her fellow Democratic colleagues in demanding answers from Pres  more

WASHINGTON, March 6 -- Sen. Richard J. Durbin, D-Illinois, issued the following news release: * * * Durbin Discusses U.S.-Israel Relations, Antisemitism With JACPAC March 06, 2025 WASHINGTON - Today, U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, met with members of the Joint Action Committee for Political Affairs (JACPAC). JACPAC is a national organization dedicated to supporting issues reflective of Jewish values, including promoting stro  more

WASHINGTON, March 5 -- Sen. Richard J. Durbin, D-Illinois, issued the following news release: * * * Durbin Hosts Call With Rural Illinois Hospitals On Harms From Republicans' Proposed Cuts To Medicaid March 05, 2025 Republicans have called for $880 billion in cuts to Medicaid, jeopardizing health care for 3.4 million Illinoisans, including 1.5 million children WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today convened a call with the leadership of nine rural hospitals base  more

WASHINGTON, March 5 -- Sen. Richard J. Durbin, D-Illinois, issued the following news release: * * * Durbin Questions Witnesses During Senate Judiciary Committee Hearing On Combating The Rise Of Antisemitism In America March 05, 2025 Due to the Trump Administration's actions, the Office for Civil Rights has been unable to adequately address cases of discrimination WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today questioned  more

WASHINGTON, March 6 -- Sen. Richard J. Durbin, D-Illinois, issued the following news release: * * * Durbin Shares Story Of Illinois Researcher At USDA Fired During DOGE's Short-Sighted Purge Of Critical Government Employees March 06, 2025 In a speech on the Senate floor, Durbin shared the story of Jeannie Klein-Gordon, an agricultural researcher that was fired from her position at the Peoria Ag Lab WASHINGTON - In a speech on the Senate floor, U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL  more

WASHINGTON, March 5 -- Sen. Richard J. Durbin, D-Illinois, issued the following news release: * * * Durbin Speaks Against Trump Administration Efforts To Intimidate Judges & Undermine The Rule Of Law March 05, 2025 Senate Republican objects to Durbin's UC request to pass a resolution that simply affirms the rule of law and the legitimacy of judicial review WASHINGTON - In a speech on the Senate floor, U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary C  more

WASHINGTON, March 5 -- Sen. Richard J. Durbin, D-Illinois, issued the following news release: * * * Durbin Votes Against Todd Blanche To Be Deputy Attorney General March 05, 2025 Durbin: We need a Deputy Attorney General who will bring independent thinking and a commitment to the rule of law back to the Justice Department. Mr. Blanche is not that person. WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today voted against the n  more

WASHINGTON, March 6 -- Sen. Richard J. Durbin, D-Illinois, issued the following news release: * * * Durbin, Senate Judiciary Democrats File Misconduct Complaint Against Interim U.S. Attorney Ed Martin With D.C. Bar March 06, 2025 Requesting a disciplinary investigation into Martin, SJC Dems cite multiple abuses of power by Martin WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, led all Senate Judiciary Democrats in filing a pro  more

WASHINGTON, March 6 -- Sen. Richard J. Durbin, D-Illinois, issued the following news release: * * * Durbin, Shaheen Host Lithuanian Minister Of Defense To Discuss Increased Russian Aggression Toward The Baltic Region March 06, 2025 The meeting comes after President Trump's shameful outburst toward Ukrainian President Zelenskyy in the Oval Office last Friday WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Co-Chair of the Senate Baltic Freedom Caucus, and U.S. Senator Jeanne Sh  more

FAIRVIEW HEIGHTS, Illinois, March 6 -- The office of the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Illinois issued the following news release: * * * Fayette County meth dealer sentenced to 10 years' imprisonment EAST ST. LOUIS, Ill. - A district judge sentenced a Vandalia woman to 10 years in federal prison after she admitted to possessing methamphetamine for distribution. Melissa P. Workman, 52, of Vandalia, pleaded guilty to one count of possession with intent to distribute a controlled s  more

WASHINGTON, March 6 -- The U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Transit Administration has released the following public communication dated Feb. 14, 2025, from the Regional Transportation Authority, Chicago, Illinois: * * * To: Mr. Matthew Welbes Executive Director Federal Transit Administration Department of Transportation 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE Washington, DC 20590 Re: Notice of Proposed Policy Statement Regarding the Applicability of FTA's Drug and Alcohol Testing Program to  more

FAIRVIEW HEIGHTS, Illinois, March 6 -- The office of the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Illinois issued the following news release: * * * Former small business office manager sentenced to 4+ years in federal prison for embezzlement, identity theft EAST ST. LOUIS, Ill. - A district judge sentenced a Collinsville woman to 51 months' imprisonment after she embezzled more than $158,000 and stole the identity of a coworker while employed by AMK Heating and Cooling in Edwardsville. Ang  more

WASHINGTON, March 6 -- The Federal Trade Commission issued the following news release: * * * FTC Challenges Medical Device Coatings Deal The Federal Trade Commission today sued to block GTCR BC Holdings, LLC's (GTCR) acquisition of Surmodics, Inc. (Surmodics), alleging that the deal, which seeks to combine the two largest manufacturers of critical medical device coatings, is anticompetitive. The FTC charges that private equity firm GTCR's proposed acquisition of Surmodics would create a com  more

COLUMBIA, South Carolina, March 6 -- The office of the U.S. Attorney for the District of South Carolina issued the following news release: * * * Healthcare Providers and Laboratory Marketers Agree to Pay Over $1.9M to Settle Kickback Allegations COLUMBIA, S.C. -- Gerald Congdon, M.D., of Pawleys Island, South Carolina, Gbenga Aluko, M.D., of Charlotte, North Carolina, and Anup Banerjee, M.D., of Gastonia, North Carolina, and their medical practices, as well as Curis Healthcare Inc., of Chicag  more

WASHINGTON, March 6 -- The U.S. House of Representatives conducted 17 committee hearings on March 5, 2025: * * * MEMBER DAY Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Financial Services and General Government held a hearing entitled "Member Day". Testimony was heard from Representatives Budzinski, Elfreth, Hoyle of Oregon, Scholten, Stansbury, and Titus. * * * MEMBER DAY Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies held a   more

SPRINGFIELD, Illinois, March 7 -- The Illinois Commerce Commission issued the following news release: * * * ICC approves Stephenson County rail safety upgrades Springfield, IL - On Thursday, the Illinois Commerce Commission (ICC) authorized public safety upgrades at the Five Corners Rd (AAR/DOT #306846Y) and Crossroads Rd (AAR/DOT #306848M) highway-rail grade crossings of Chicago, Central & Pacific Railroads' (CC&P) tracks near Lena. "The Grade Crossing Protection Fund helps make critical pu  more

WASHINGTON, March 7 -- The U.S. Department of Justice issued the following news release on March 6, 2025: * * * Health Care Providers and Laboratory Marketers Agree to Pay Over $1.9 Million to Settle Kickback Allegations Gerald Congdon, M.D., of Pawleys Island, South Carolina; Gbenga Aluko, M.D., of Charlotte, North Carolina; and Anup Banerjee, M.D., of Gastonia, North Carolina, and their medical practices; as well as Curis Healthcare Inc., of Chicago, Illinois, Omar Hussain, of South Miami,   more

SPRINGFIELD, Illinois, March 6 -- Gov. JB Pritzker, D-Illinois, issued the following news release: * * * Pritzker Administration Announces Illinois Overdose Deaths Declined 8% in 2023 IDPH unveils expanded Overdose Data Dashboard as Semiannual Overdose Report shows 317 fewer overdose deaths in 2023, first decline since 2018 SPRINGFIELD \- The Administration of Governor JB Pritzker announced that Illinois recorded an 8.3% drop in overall drug overdose deaths in 2023, exceeding a nationwide d  more

SPRINGFIELD, Illinois, March 7 -- The Illinois Department of Public Health issued the following news: * * * Pritzker Administration Announces Illinois Overdose Deaths Declined 8% in 2023 IDPH unveils expanded Overdose Data Dashboard as Semiannual Overdose Report shows 317 fewer overdose deaths in 2023, first decline since 2018 SPRINGFIELD - The Administration of Governor JB Pritzker announced that Illinois recorded an 8.3% drop in overall drug overdose deaths in 2023, exceeding a nationwide   more

WASHINGTON, March 6 -- The U.S. Senate conducted 10 committee hearings on March 5, 2025: * * * USTRANSCOM POSTURE Committee on Armed Services: Subcommittee on Readiness and Management Support concluded open and closed hearings to examine the posture of the United States Transportation Command in review of the Defense Authorization Request for Fiscal Year 2026 and the Future Years Defense Program, after receiving testimony from Randall Reed, USAF, Commander, United States Transportation Comman  more

WASHINGTON, March 6 -- Sen. Richard J. Durbin, D-Illinois, issued the following news release: * * * Senate Republicans Reject Durbin's Resolution To Condemn Russia's Abduction Of Ukrainian Children March 06, 2025 Since Russia's full-scale war started in 2022, the Russian government has abducted, forcibly transferred, or facilitated the illegal deportation of at least 20,000 Ukrainian children WASHINGTON - In a speech on the Senate floor, U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Co-  more

WASHINGTON, March 6 -- The U.S. Department of Agriculture Food Safety and Inspection Service has released the following public communication dated Feb. 26, 2025, from the Climate Reality Project Chicago Metro Chapter: * * * To: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Food Safety and Inspection Service 1400 Independence Avenue SW, Mailstop 3758 Washington, DC 20250-3700 Docket No. FSIS-2024-0021 Re: Comments Responding to the Request for Information on Food Date Labeling * * * These comments are   more

WASHINGTON, March 6 -- Sen. Jeff Merkley, D-Oregon, issued the following news release: * * * Wyden, Merkley Reintroduce Legislation to Help Recreation and Wildfire Prevention Work in SW Oregon and Near Molalla River Washington D.C.-- - U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley today reintroduced their legislation that would boost recreation opportunities in Southwestern Oregon and on the Molalla River in Clackamas County, while ensuring wildfire prevention work in both regions. The senators'  more

WASHINGTON, March 6 -- Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Oregon, issued the following news release: * * * Wyden, Merkley Reintroduce Legislation to Help Recreation and Wildfire Prevention Work in SW Oregon and Near Molalla River Washington D.C.-- - U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley today reintroduced their legislation that would boost recreation opportunities in Southwestern Oregon and on the Molalla River in Clackamas County, while ensuring wildfire prevention work in both regions. The senators' Or  more