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

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.

Leave a Comment





Latest News Stories

Groups urge House leaders to reject E15 expansion, calling it a hidden tax

Groups urge House leaders to reject E15 expansion, calling it a hidden tax

By Tom JoyceThe Center Square A coalition of conservative and free-market groups urged Congress to reject a bill that would permanently allow year-round sales of E15 gasoline nationwide. The coalition...
Lincoln Way West Warriors Softball

Lincoln-Way West Edges Bradley-Bourbonnais in 5-4 Conference Thriller

The Lincoln-Way West varsity softball team secured a hard-fought 5-4 victory over Bradley-Bourbonnais on Tuesday, rallying late to claim a narrow home conference win. The game was a competitive back-and-forth...
Illinois Quick Hits: Home insurance regulations approved by Illinois Senate

Illinois Quick Hits: Home insurance regulations approved by Illinois Senate

By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – A bill to regulate homeowners insurance rates will be up for consideration in the Illinois House after...
Senate confirms Warsh on narrow partisan lines

Senate confirms Warsh on narrow partisan lines

By Andrew RiceThe Center Square The U.S. Senate, in a 54-45 vote, confirmed Kevin Warsh, President Donald Trump's pick to lead the Federal Reserve on Wednesday. The Senate voted closely...
Illinois Senate passes bill to regulate auto insurance rates

Illinois Senate passes bill to regulate auto insurance rates

By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – The Illinois Senate has approved legislation to regulate auto insurance rates, but a former Illinois Department of...
Exclusive: GOP defends report, points to Walz administration failures on fraud

Exclusive: GOP defends report, points to Walz administration failures on fraud

By Elyse ApelThe Center Square The Republican-led Minnesota House fraud prevention and state oversight committee adopted its majority report on Wednesday, concluding a two-year review of alleged fraud across multiple...
Op-Ed: The FAA's O'Hare decision is a win for travelers – and for competition

Op-Ed: The FAA’s O’Hare decision is a win for travelers – and for competition

By Mario H. Lopez | Hispanic Leadership FundThe Center Square At Chicago's O'Hare International Airport, one of the nation's most critical travel hubs and a gateway for millions of passengers...
Bill to prevent fraud on elderly, disabled opposed by financial institutions

Bill to prevent fraud on elderly, disabled opposed by financial institutions

By Sean Reed | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – Based on the multiple billions of dollars lost to scams and exploitation of elderly and disabled adults...
Will County Board Graphic.01

Legislative Committee Advances Resolution Opposing Kidney Disease Treatment Delegation Act

Will County Board Legislative Committee Meeting | May 5, 2026 Article SummaryThe Will County Legislative Committee unanimously approved a resolution formally opposing Senate Bill 3445 and House Bill 4402, citing...
Cooper gets $31.4M share of $111.2M spend

Cooper gets $31.4M share of $111.2M spend

By Alan WootenThe Center Square The bid of Roy Cooper to the U.S. Senate is getting a $31.4 million infusion for television advertising, the Senate Majority PAC told The Center...
Appeals court freezes tariff ruling, businesses keep paying

Appeals court freezes tariff ruling, businesses keep paying

By Brett RowlandThe Center Square Two small businesses that won a court ruling against President Donald Trump's tariffs must continue paying them for now, after a federal appeals court on...

Illinois Quick Hits: Gas tops $5 a gallon

By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – AAA says the average price for a gallon of regular unleaded gasoline is now $5.03 in Illinois,...
Pretrial Fairness Act invoked as Illinois Supreme Court hears detention case

Pretrial Fairness Act invoked as Illinois Supreme Court hears detention case

By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – A case involving the continued detention of defendants under the Pretrial Fairness Act portion of the SAFE-T...
Border crisis fallout: Midwest prosecutions of SATG crime ongoing

Border crisis fallout: Midwest prosecutions of SATG crime ongoing

By Bethany BlankleyThe Center Square After a record number of border crimes were reported during the Biden administration, criminal investigations and prosecutions are ongoing. In the Midwest, prosecutors are also...
EXCLUSIVE: Medical watchdog urges social work accreditor to remove DEI requirements

EXCLUSIVE: Medical watchdog urges social work accreditor to remove DEI requirements

By Tate RosentreterThe Center Square Medical watchdog Do No Harm sent a letter to social work accreditor the Council on Social Work Education Wednesday urging that it remove all diversity,...