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.

Community Events

Leave a Comment





Latest News Stories

Trump takes aim at Chicago crime, no-cash bail while singling out Pritzker

Trump takes aim at Chicago crime, no-cash bail while singling out Pritzker

By Greg Bishop | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – President Donald Trump says Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker is incompetent, that he may send the national guard...
Burrows: Only thing standing in the way of disaster relief are missing Democrats

Burrows: Only thing standing in the way of disaster relief are missing Democrats

By Bethany BlankleyThe Center Square (The Center Square ) – Texas House Speaker Dustin Burrows, R-Lubbock, gaveled in the Texas House on Monday, and again, no quorum was reached. Only...
Trump confirms Nvidia chip agreement

Trump confirms Nvidia chip agreement

By Andrew RiceThe Center Square Nvidia will pay the United States 15% of the money it makes from selling artificial intelligence chips to China, President Donald Trump said in a...
States challenge federal report promoting coal plants

States challenge federal report promoting coal plants

By Elyse ApelThe Center Square Michigan has joined a coalition of states challenging a Department of Energy report claiming the U.S. will face a significantly increased risk of power outages...
U.S. Supreme Court could rule on Texas lawsuits brought in Democratic-led state courts

U.S. Supreme Court could rule on Texas lawsuits brought in Democratic-led state courts

By Bethany BlankleyThe Center Square If courts in Democratic-led states don’t honor a request by the Texas House of Representatives to domesticate civil warrants for the arrest of absconding Texas...
WATCH: Illinois In Focus Daily | Monday Aug. 11th, 2025

WATCH: Illinois In Focus Daily | Monday Aug. 11th, 2025

By Greg Bishop | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – In today's edition of Illinois in Focus Daily, The Center Square Editor Greg Bishop reviews the latest...
Illinois quick hits: Judge denies Madigan's motion; legislator urges action on DCFS interns

Illinois quick hits: Judge denies Madigan’s motion; legislator urges action on DCFS interns

By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square Judge denies Madigan's motion U.S. District Court Judge John Robert Blakey has denied former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan’s motion to...
Windmill Media Logo

About Us

Your Community, Your News. Welcome to Windmill Media! Our name was inspired by the windmills that once stood as centers of town life, harnessing a natural force to power and...
Everyday Economics: CPI takes center stage as tariff-driven price pressures mount

Everyday Economics: CPI takes center stage as tariff-driven price pressures mount

By Orphe DivounguyThe Center Square The economy was already slowing, and that was before higher tariffs kicked in last week, raising import taxes to the highest level since the Great...
Net negative migration is harmful to the economy, economists say

Net negative migration is harmful to the economy, economists say

By Morgan SweeneyThe Center Square Though the economy and immigration were issues that helped President Donald Trump secure the White House, some economists have said that too steep a decline...
Details pending on billions in foreign investments coming from trade deals

Details pending on billions in foreign investments coming from trade deals

By Brett RowlandThe Center Square When President Donald Trump announced a string of trade deals with key U.S. trading partners recently, he touted pledges for billions of dollars in U.S....
WCO-Finance-Aug-5.1

Will County Health Department Seeks $1 Million to Avert ‘Drastic’ Service Cuts from Expiring Grants

ARTICLE SUMMARY: The Will County Health Department is requesting an additional $1 million in county funding for its 2026 budget to prevent the elimination of 11 critical staff positions, warning...
WCO-Cap-Imp-8.5.1

Will County’s “First-in-Nation” Veterans Center to House Workforce Services, Sparking Debate

ARTICLE SUMMARY: The new Will County Veteran's Assistance & Support Center will also become the home for the county's Workforce Services department, a move officials say will save approximately $250,000 in...
WCO-Finance-Aug-5.2

Improved Vendor Service Creates $1.2 Million Shortfall in Sheriff’s Medical Budget

ARTICLE SUMMARY: The Will County Sheriff’s Office is facing a more than $1.2 million shortfall in its budget for inmate medical services, a problem officials attribute to an ironic cause:...
WCO-PZ-Aug-5.1

Will County Public Works Committee Unveils 25-Year Transportation Plan, Projects $258 Million Gap

ARTICLE SUMMARY: Will County officials have presented "Our Way Forward 2050," a new long-range transportation plan that provides a 25-year vision for infrastructure projects while forecasting a $258 million shortfall in...