ROSEMONT, Illinois, Dec. 18 [Category: Nursing] -- The American Association of Nurse Anesthesiology issued the following news release: * * * AANA Honors Education Excellence in Nurse Anesthesiology: Clinical Instructor of the Year Award Presented to Susan Newell * Rosemont, Ill. - The American Association of Nurse Anesthesiology (AANA) will present Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA) Susan Newell, DNP, CRNA, FAANA, with the Clinical Instructor of the Year Award during its top educa  more

ROSEMONT, Illinois, Dec. 18 [Category: Nursing] -- The American Association of Nurse Anesthesiology issued the following news release: * * * AANA Honors Education Excellence in Nurse Anesthesiology: Didactic Instructor of the Year Award Presented to Carrie Bowman Dalley * The American Association of Nurse Anesthesiology (AANA) will present Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA) Carrie Bowman Dalley, PhD, MS, CRNA, FAANA with the Didactic Instructor of the Year Award during its top edu  more

ROSEMONT, Illinois, Dec. 18 [Category: Nursing] -- The American Association of Nurse Anesthesiology issued the following news release: * * * AANA Honors Education Excellence in Nurse Anesthesiology: Program Administrator of the Year Award Presented to Lori Anderson * The American Association of Nurse Anesthesiology (AANA) will present Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA) Lori Anderson, DNP, CRNA, APRN, FAANA, with the Program Administrator of the Year Award during its top educator e  more

CHICAGO, Illinois, Dec. 18 -- The AIDS Foundation of Chicago issued the following news: * * * Chicago to Lose 279 HIV-Dedicated Housing Units Due to Trump Admin Rule Change By Patty Conway, Director of Communications As many as 4,000 Chicagoans, 7,500 Illinoisians, and 170,000 people across the country will lose their housing and be at risk of becoming homeless due to a policy change impacting permanent housing funding from the US Department of Housing and Urban Development's (HUD) Continuum  more

CHICAGO, Illinois, Dec. 18 [Category: Libraries] -- The American Library Association posted the following news release: * * * ALA welcomes pathbreaking study on the state of the nation's library facilities * Report finds thousands of public libraries with a building system in poor condition WASHINGTON - The American Library Association (ALA) today welcomed the release of a major national study about the condition of public library buildings. The study was conducted by the U.S. Government A  more

CHICAGO, Illinois, Dec. 18 [Category: BizTravel] -- Hyatt Hotels Corp., a hospitality company, issued the following news release: * * * ANDAZ ONE BANGKOK OPENS ITS DOORS IN THAILAND The first Andaz hotel in Bangkok opens as part of the vibrant One Bangkok overlooking Lumphini Park *  CHICAGO (Decembe r 2025 ) Hyatt Hotels Corporation (NYSE: H) today announced the opening of Andaz One Bangkok this December 19 th, 2025 - a distinctive new lifestyle hotel for curious urban travelers seeking t  more

CHAMPAIGN, Illinois, Dec. 18 -- The University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign campus issued the following news: * * * At 250 years after Jane Austen's birth, why do her novels remain so popular? * This week marks the 250th anniversary of Jane Austen's birth she was born Dec. 16, 1775 and fans of her novels have been celebrating with tea parties, brunches and balls. Her novels including "Sense and Sensibility," "Pride and Prejudice" and "Emma" enjoy immense popularity. They are the subject of n  more

WASHINGTON, Dec. 18 -- Rep. Mike Bost, R-Illinois, issued the following news release: * * * BOST, BUDZINSKI INTRODUCE BILL TO MODERNIZE USDA LOAN PROGRAMS * WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Reps. Mike Bost (IL-12) and Nikki Budzinski (IL-13) introduced legislation Wednesday to remove outdated eligibility barriers that prevent modern family farms from accessing U.S. Department of Agriculture loan programs. The USDA Loan Modernization Act updates eligibility standards to better reflect the structure of  more

WASHINGTON, Dec. 18 -- Rep. Sean Casten, D-Illinois, issued the following news release: * * * Casten, Durbin, Duckworth Introduce Resolution Honoring Illinois' Blue Ribbon Schools After Trump Administration Ends Program * Washington, D.C. (December 18, 2025) After the Trump Administration ended the Blue Ribbon Schools Program, U.S. Representative Sean Casten (D-IL-06), U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today introduced a resolution to rec  more

WASHINGTON, Dec. 19 -- Rep. Mike Bost, R-Illinois, chairman of the House Veterans' Affairs Committee, issued the following news release on Dec. 18, 2025: * * * Chairman Bost, House Republicans Introduce Veteran Education and Workforce Reforms, Acquisition Improvements through Reauthorization Strategy Today, House Committee on Veterans' Affairs Chairman Mike Bost (R-Ill.), alongside Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity Chairman Rep. Derrick Van Orden (Wis.), Subcommittee on Technology Moderniz  more

CARLINVILLE, Illinois, Dec. 19 -- Blackburn College issued the following news: * * * Clay Target Arrives at Blackburn with Championship Expectations Blackburn College continues to broaden its competitive opportunities for students with the launch of its new Clay Target program. The program is designed not only to introduce students to one of the fastest-growing collegiate sports but to prepare them to train and compete at an elite level. Leading this initiative is Head Coach Lauren Dunn, who  more

WASHINGTON, Dec. 18 -- Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi, D-Illinois, issued the following news release: * * * Congressman Krishnamoorthi Raises Alarm Over Planned VA Health Care Staffing Cuts, Presses for Answers on Impact to Veterans * WASHINGTON Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-IL) today sent a letter to Department of Veterans Affairs Secretary Doug Collins expressing serious concern over reports that the VA plans to eliminate as many as 35,000 health care positions across the Veterans Health Ad  more

EVANSTON, Illinois, Dec. 18 -- Northwestern University posted the following news release: * * * Cosmic crash caught on camera * * Link to: Northwestern Now Story * Astronomers directly imaged two separate collisions between rocky objects in the Fomalhaut star system * Scientists previously thought the aftermath of one collision was a dust-covered exoplanet, reflecting starlight * Observable collisions provide unprecedented insights into the processes of planet formation EVANSTON,  more

CHICAGO, Illinois, Dec. 17 [Category: Education] -- Chicago Teachers Union issued the following news release: * * * CTU's Davis Gates on federal cuts to Community School Programs * CHICAGO- The President of the Chicago Teachers Union and the Illinois Federation of Teachers, Stacy Davis Gates, issued the following statement on news of the Department of Education halting federal funds for Community School Programs, including a grant for CPS' community schools: "The Trump administration's lat  more

WASHINGTON, Dec. 18 -- Sen. Tammy Duckworth, D-Illinois, issued the following news release: * * * Duckworth Leads Her Colleagues in Demanding the Trump Administration Reverse its Termination of TPS for Burma * December 18, 2025 [WASHINGTON, D.C.] - After Donald Trump continued his extreme, anti-immigrant campaign by terminating Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Burma, U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) led her Senate Democratic colleagues in demanding that the Trump Administration imme  more

WASHINGTON, Dec. 17 -- Sen. Tammy Duckworth, D-Illinois, issued the following news release: * * * Duckworth Pushes for Long-Term Funding Certainty for Air Traffic Control System Modernization Project and Calls on FAA to Invest in Both Technology and Training * December 17, 2025 [WASHINGTON, D.C.] - At today's U.S. Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee (CST) Aviation Subcommittee hearing, Ranking Member Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) reiterated the urgent need to modernize our natio  more

WASHINGTON, Dec. 18 -- Sen. Tammy Duckworth, D-Illinois, issued the following news release: * * * Duckworth-Led Provisions to Protect Rock Island Arsenal, Support Illinois Quantum Technology Research and Safeguard Care for Veterans Passes Congress, Awaits President's Signature * December 18, 2025 [WASHINGTON, D.C.] Combat Veteran and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), who served in the Reserve Forces for 23 years and is a member of the U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC), success  more

WASHINGTON, Dec. 18 -- Sen. Richard J. Durbin, D-Illinois, issued the following news release: * * * Durbin Statement On FBI Deputy Director's Announced Departure * December 18, 2025 WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, released the following statement after FBI Deputy Director Dan Bongino announced he's departing his post after less than a year of service: "Dan Bongino was a bad pick from the start. His service was  more

WASHINGTON, Dec. 19 -- Sen. Richard J. Durbin, D-Illinois, ranking member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, issued the following news release: * * * Durbin Statement On FBI Deputy Director's Announced Departure U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, released the following statement after FBI Deputy Director Dan Bongino announced he's departing his post after less than a year of service: "Dan Bongino was a bad pick from the start. Hi  more

WASHINGTON, Dec. 19 -- Sen. Richard J. Durbin, D-Illinois, ranking member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, issued the following news release on Dec. 18, 2025: * * * Durbin, Duckworth Submit Criminal Referral To DOJ Regarding Trump Officials' Unconstitutional Immigration Enforcement Activity The Senators notify DOJ they are gathering and preserving additional evidence of violations of Section 242 amid "Operation Midway Blitz" and other unlawful immigration raids across the country * U.S. S  more

WASHINGTON, Dec. 18 -- Sen. Richard J. Durbin, D-Illinois, issued the following news release: * * * Durbin, Duckworth, Casten Introduce Resolution Honoring Illinois' Blue Ribbon Schools After Trump Administration Ends Program * December 18, 2025 The resolution recognizes the 28 Illinois schools who earned a designation as a Blue Ribbon School before the Trump Administration ended the program earlier this year WASHINGTONAfter the Trump Administration ended the Blue Ribbon Schools Program,  more

WASHINGTON, Dec. 18 -- Sen. Richard J. Durbin, D-Illinois, issued the following news release: * * * Durbin, Graham Introduce Bill To Sunset Section 230 Immunity For Tech Companies, Protect Americans Online * December 18, 2025 The Sunset Section 230 Act would repeal Section 230 two years after the date of enactment so that those harmed online can bring legal action against companies WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committ  more

WASHINGTON, Dec. 19 -- Sen. Richard J. Durbin, D-Illinois, ranking member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, issued the following news release on Dec. 18, 2025: * * * Durbin, Graham Introduce Bill To Sunset Section 230 Immunity For Tech Companies, Protect Americans Online U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, and U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham (R-SC) today introduced the Sunset Section 230 Act, which would repeal Section 230 two years a  more

WASHINGTON, Dec. 18 -- Sen. Richard J. Durbin, D-Illinois, issued the following news release: * * * Durbin, Shaheen Meet With Polish Embassy's Head Of Mission * December 18, 2025 WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Co-Chair of the Senate Ukraine Caucus, and U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, met with the Head of Mission at the Polish Embassy, Bogdan Klich, to discuss Poland's strong support of Ukraine as Vl  more

WASHINGTON, Dec. 18 -- Sen. Richard J. Durbin, D-Illinois, issued the following news release: * * * Durbin, Tillis, Conaway, Maloy Introduce Bipartisan Legislation To Strengthen And Improve Enforcement Of Illegal Tobacco Products * December 18, 2025 In 2024, DOJ and FDA established a task force to crack down on illegally sold vape products after Durbin urged the agencies to enforce federal laws against the unlawful sale of unauthorized e-cigarette products to children WASHINGTON U.S. Sen  more

EDWARDSVILLE, Illinois, Dec. 18 -- Southern Illinois University's Edwardsville campus issued the following news: * * * The Graduate School at SIUE Announces Two Distinguished Research Professor Awards The Graduate School at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville in conjunction with the Office of the Provost has announced the Distinguished Research Professor Award to two faculty members: Kristine Hildebrandt, PhD, and Faith Liebl, PhD. The committee of distinguished research faculty awarde  more

WASHINGTON, Dec. 18 -- Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-South Carolina, issued the following news release: * * * Graham Leads Bill to Sunset Section 230 Immunity, Protect Americans Online * WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Lindsey Graham (R-South Carolina), Dick Durbin (D-Illinois), Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-Rhode Island), Josh Hawley (R-Missouri), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minnesota), Marsha Blackburn (R-Tennessee), Richard Blumenthal (D-Connecticut), Ashley Moody (R-Florida) and Peter Welch (D  more

CHICAGO, Illinois, Dec. 18 [Category: BizFood/Beverage] -- Grubhub, an online food delivery marketplace, issued the following news release: * * * Grubhub's Commitment to Tipping: Simple, Transparent, and Driver-First * At Grubhub, tipping has always been simple: it's part of checkout, easy to find, and fully optional. We believe customers should be able to reward great service at the moment they're placing an orderwithout friction, confusion, or extra steps. That's been our approach for year  more

HAMMOND, Indiana, Dec. 19 -- The office of the U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Indiana posted the following news release on Dec. 17, 2025: * * * Illinois Man Sentenced to 360 Months in Prison Marco Sole, 52 years old, of Lynwood, Illinois, was sentenced by United States District Court Judge Gretchen S. Lund after pleading guilty to distributing 40 grams or more of fentanyl, announced Acting United States Attorney M. Scott Proctor. Sole was sentenced to 360 months in prison followe  more

WASHINGTON, Dec. 17 [Category: Environment] -- The Sierra Club posted the following news release: * * * Illinois Transit Bill Includes 'Transit to Trails' Grant Program Expanding Bus Routes to Parks * SPRINGFIELD, IL On Tuesday, December 16, Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker signed Senate Bill 2111 into law, which represents a major initiative to modernize and enhance Illinois' public transit system. The Sierra Club's Illinois Chapter and Outdoors for All campaign applaud the bill for improving Illi  more

EVANSTON, Illinois, Dec. 19 -- The International Society for Stem Cell Research issued the following news release: * * * Insights Into Dry Eyes Gained from Stem cell-derived Tear Glands An estimated 5-15% of people have problems with dry eyes, with symptoms including eye redness, stinging, or burning sensation, and eye fatigue. Dry eye disease (DED) occurs when the eyes' tear glands produce insufficient or poor-quality tears which can be due to allergy or autoimmune disease, hormonal changes,  more

CHICAGO, Illinois, Dec. 19 -- Littelfuse, a circuit protection manufacturer, issued the following news release: * * * Littelfuse Introduces Automotive-Qualified Current Sensors for EV Battery, Motor, and Safety Systems A new family of six open-loop hall-effect current sensors delivers accurate, isolated current measurement with analog or digital outputs for next-generation electric and hybrid vehicles. * ROSEMONT, Ill, December 18, 2025 -- Littelfuse, Inc. (NASDAQ: LFUS), a diversified indu  more

DECATUR, Illinois, Dec. 19 -- Millikin University issued the following news: * * * Millikin Market receives $3,000 grant from WSOY Community Food Drive The grant supports Millikin's efforts to address student food insecurity. By Matthew Flaten Millikin University's Millikin Market has received a $3,000 grant from the WSOY Community Food Drive, which will provide additional support for the University's on-campus food pantry and reinforce the community's shared commitment to addressing food i  more

DECATUR, Illinois, Dec. 19 -- Millikin University issued the following news on Dec. 17, 2025: * * * Millikin University celebrates its 2025 graduates at Winter Commencement Student speaker Quartus Rassi '25 and keynote speaker Angel Lawrence challenged the Class of 2025 to pursue purpose, impact, and service. By Matthew Flaten Millikin University honored more than 65 graduates during the 2025 Winter Commencement ceremony on Sunday, Dec. 14, 2025, in Kirkland Fine Arts Center, celebrating th  more

NORTHBROOK, Illinois, Dec. 18 [Category: BizInsurance] -- Allstate, a property and casualty insurance company, issued the following news release: * * * November 2025 Monthly Release * NORTHBROOK, Ill., December 18, 2025 - The Allstate Corporation (NYSE: ALL) today announced estimated catastrophe losses for the month of November of $46 million or $36 million, after-tax. Total catastrophe losses for October and November were $129 million or $101 million, after-tax. Allstate Protection polici  more

EVANSTON, Illinois, Dec. 18 -- Northwestern University posted the following news release: * * * NU-9 halts Alzheimer's disease in animal model before symptoms begin * * Link to: Northwestern Now Story * Experimental drug NU-9 shows promise in clearing toxic proteins associated with neurodegenerative diseases * Scientists tested NU-9 in a pre-symptomatic animal model of Alzheimer's disease * Drug dramatically reduced brain changes that emerge near the disease's onset * Team also   more

WASHINGTON, Dec. 18 -- Sen. Richard J. Durbin, D-Illinois, issued the following news release: * * * On Senate Floor, Durbin Announces Criminal Referral To DOJ Regarding Trump Officials' Unconstitutional Immigration Enforcement Activity * December 18, 2025 Durbin: Today, I am putting those participating in "Operation Midway Blitz" on notice; you will be held accountable for unlawful actions WASHINGTON - In a speech on the Senate floor, U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranki  more

WASHINGTON, Dec. 19 -- Sen. Richard J. Durbin, D-Illinois, ranking member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, issued the following news release on Dec. 18, 2025: * * * On Senate Floor, Durbin Announces Criminal Referral To DOJ Regarding Trump Officials' Unconstitutional Immigration Enforcement Activity In a speech on the Senate floor, U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, announced he, along with U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), h  more

WASHINGTON, Dec. 18 [Category: Environment] -- The Sierra Club posted the following news release: * * * Prairie Rivers Network and Sierra Club Illinois File Lawsuit Challenging Massive Federal Expansion of Illinois Coal Mining * Franklin County, Illinois - Today, Prairie Rivers Network and Sierra Club Illinois are suing the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA), a federally owned public power provider, to block the federal government from a massive expansion of coal mining in Illinois. The deci  more

WASHINGTON, Dec. 18 -- Rep. Mike Quigley, D-Illinois, issued the following news release: * * * Quigley, Jayapal, McBride, Foushee Lead Legislation to End Trump Use of Police for Immigration Enforcement * Today, U.S. Representatives Mike Quigley (IL-05), Pramila Jayapal (WA-07), Sarah McBride (DE-At Large), and Valerie Foushee (NC-04) re-introduced the Protecting the Rights of Towns against federal Enforcement contrary to Constitutional Tenets for (PROTECT) Immigration Act, legislation which   more

WASHINGTON, Dec. 18 -- Rep. Delia Ramirez, D-Illinois, issued the following news release: * * * Ramirez, Tlaib Statement on Death of Illinois Resident at North Lake Processing Center in Michigan * Washington, DC Today, Congresswomen Delia C. Ramirez (IL-03) and Rashida Tlaib (MI-12) released the following statement after receiving notification that a 56-year-old immigrant man, Nenko Stanev Gantchev, a resident of Illinois and a citizen of Bulgaria, died on December 15th in ICE custody at the  more

WASHINGTON, Dec. 19 -- Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi, D-Illinois, ranking member of the House Select Committee on the Strategic Competition Between the U.S. and the Chinese Communist Party, issued the following news release on Dec. 18, 2025: * * * Ranking Member Krishnamoorthi and Chairman Moolenaar Release Bipartisan "Ten More for Taiwan" Report on Strengthening Deterrence Against CCP Aggression Ranking Member Raja Krishnamoorthi and Chairman John Moolenaar today released Ten More for Taiwan, a b  more

CHICAGO, Illinois, Dec. 18 [Category: Business] -- The National Marine Manufacturers Association posted the following news release: * * * Recreational Boating Industry Perspective Shared at State Lawmaker Summit * The National Marine Manufacturers Association (NMMA) recently participated in the 2025 American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) States & Policy Summit in Fort Worth, Texas, joining state lawmakers, policy experts, and industry leaders for discussions on economic growth, competi  more

WASHINGTON, Dec. 18 -- Rep. Robin Kelly, D-Illinois, issued the following news release: * * * Rep. Kelly sends letters to Secretary RFK Jr., Administrator Oz, health insurance companies to investigate mistreatment of Mercedes Wells, Karrie Jones * WASHINGTON - After announcing the WELLS Act, U.S. Rep. Robin Kelly (IL-02) continues to take action and demand accountability for her constituent, Mercedes Wells, who was discharged while in active labor. She sent letters to five of the largest hea  more

CHICAGO, Illinois, Dec. 18 [Category: BizConsulting] -- RSM U.S., an independent audit, tax and consulting firm, issued the following news release: * * * RSM Awards 2025 NextWave Champion, Showcasing AI-Enabled Transformation for The Middle Market RSM US LLP ("RSM") - the leading provider of assurance, tax and consulting services for the middle market - today announced the winner of its 2025 NextWave innovation program, RSM's annual global initiative that empowers employees to design technolo  more

WASHINGTON, Dec. 18 -- Sen. Richard J. Durbin, D-Illinois, issued the following news release: * * * Senate Judiciary Democrats Press For Hearing On Legality Of Trump's Extrajudicial Killings In Caribbean Sea * December 18, 2025 Durbin, SJC Dems to Grassley: "These strikes are extrajudicial killings and shocking violations of fundamental principles of due process and the right to life under U.S. and international law." WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking M  more

WASHINGTON, Dec. 19 -- Sen. Richard J. Durbin, D-Illinois, ranking member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, issued the following news release: * * * Senate Judiciary Democrats Press For Hearing On Legality Of Trump's Extrajudicial Killings In Caribbean Sea U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, led all Senate Judiciary Democrats in urging Chairman Chuck Grassley (R-IA) to hold a hearing on the Trump Administration's executions of all  more

CARBONDALE, Illinois, Dec. 19 -- Southern Illinois University issued the following news release: * * * SIU's 2025 Innovation and Entrepreneurship Showcase honors announced By Christi Mathis The Innovation and Entrepreneurship Showcase held recently at Southern Illinois University Carbondale drew scores of people to celebrate some of the region's most impressive new innovators, inventors and entrepreneurs. The December event featured a variety of awards and special recognitions at the Dunn-R  more

CHICAGO, Illinois, Dec. 18 [Category: BizFood/Beverage] -- Grubhub, an online food delivery marketplace, issued the following news release: * * * The Grubhub Community Fund's Full Plate Program Offering $1 Million in Microgrants to Support 200 Nonprofits in Chicago and NYC * Grubhub is proud to expand the Full Plate Program, powered by the Grubhub Community Fund, to support nonprofit organizations in Chicago and New York City that provide access to food and meal services. Now in its third ye  more

NORTHBROOK, Illinois, Dec. 17 [Category: BizLaboratory Sciences] -- UL Solutions, a company that says it delivers testing, inspection and certification services, together with software products and advisory offerings, issued the following news release: * * * UL Solutions and Saudi Electricity Company Join Forces to Enhance Fire Safety in Saudi Arabia * NORTHBROOK, Ill. Dec. 17, 2025 UL Solutions (NYSE: ULS), a global leader in applied safety science, announced that it has signed a memorandum  more

EVANSTON, Illinois, Dec. 18 -- Northwestern University posted the following news release: * * * With overdose deaths down, new dashboard watches for rebound * * National, regional and state dashboard tracks drug overdose deaths from January 1999 to April 2025 * Overdose deaths in March continued to decelerate, but pace slowed; West Census region of U.S. began accelerating * New tool is designed to help respond faster to evolving crisis, "showing where trends are headed' * Scientist  more