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

Schulte Tosses One-Hit Shutout as Lincoln-Way West Blanks Bradley-Bourbonnais 12-0

The Lincoln-Way West varsity baseball team cruised to a dominant 12-0 conference victory over host Bradley-Bourbonnais on Monday afternoon, pairing an overpowering performance on the mound with an explosive offensive...

Age checks, algorithm regulations proposed to shield Illinois kids online

By Sean Reed | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – Children’s safety online has been an issue of interest for lawmakers in Springfield this year, with dozens...

King Charles defends U.S., NATO alliance during address to Congress

By Sarah Roderick-FitchThe Center Square In honor of the United States’ 250th birthday, King Charles III delivered a joint address in Congress Tuesday afternoon, highlighting the bond between the U.S....

Chinese national indicted in COVID-era hacking scheme extradited to Texas

By Bethany BlankleyThe Center Square A years-long effort has resulted in the extradition of a Chinese national facing multiple espionage charges in Houston. Chinese national Xu Zewei was extradited to...

Illinois Quick Hits: $60M sports complex opens in Springfield

By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – Gov. J.B. Pritzker says a new sports complex in Springfield will bring in an estimated $25 million...

Florida House panel approves new congressional district map

By David BeasleyThe Center Square Plans to redraw Florida’s congressional districts, which could give Republicans a gain of four seats as the midterm elections approach, has been approved by a...

Green Beret pleads not guilty to betting on his own mission

By Brett RowlandThe Center Square A U.S. Army Special Forces soldier who allegedly used classified military intelligence to place winning bets on a prediction market platform pleaded not guilty Tuesday...

Cook County Judge Lyke’s decisions allowed accused cop killer to be free

By Jonathan Bilyk | Legal NewslineThe Center Square As Cook County's courts begin the process of trying accused cop killer Alphonso Talley, attention has turned to questions over how it...

Congress urged to defund abortion in wake of Planned Parenthood $90M COVID loan revelation

By Tate MillerThe Center Square With the revelation that Planned Parenthood – though ineligible – received about $90 million in taxpayer funding via COVID loans under the Biden Administration, Susan...

Madigan’s next option the U.S. Supreme Court

By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – A defense attorney says a U.S. Supreme Court review is the next step for Michael Madigan, after...

Congressional progressives introduce $25 federal minimum wage plan

By Sean Reed | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – Progressive lawmakers in Washington D.C. introduced legislation Tuesday that would increase the federal minimum wage to $25...

Illinois Quick Hits: Gas prices rise again

By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – The average price for a gallon of regular unleaded gasoline in Illinois has risen to $4.45, more...

Illinois Senate to consider megaprojects after Pritzker calls out amusement tax

By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – A proposed stadium for the Chicago Bears and other megaprojects are expected to be up for discussion...

EXCLUSIVE: SPLC called on to remove parental rights groups from its ‘hate map’

By Tate Miller | The Center Square contributorThe Center Square (The Center Square) – An Illinois-based parental rights group sent an open letter to the Southern Poverty Law Center requesting...

Illinois Quick Hits: Driver killed in reported shootout with police on I-88

By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – A man is dead after a reported exchange of gunfire with police on Interstate 88 in DeKalb...

« Previous
1
…
39
40
41
42
43
…
186
Next »