Illinois quick hits: Pritzker signs abortion bills; Operation Purple Heart returns medals

August 22, 2025/

Spread the love

By The Center Square
The Center Square

Pritzker signs abortion bills

Two bills Gov. J.B. Pritzker enacted Friday impact access to abortion procedures.

House Bill 3637 shields health care providers from discipline for providing abortion services that are lawful in Illinois.

House Bill 3709 requires colleges and universities to offer contraception and medication abortion if they have an on-campus pharmacy or student health center.

Operation Purple Heart returns medals

A 16th family has been reunited with their relative’s Purple Heart military honors.

Illinois Treasurer Michael Frerichs’ office announced as part of Operation Purple Heart, they returned Army Private Stephen J. Grabowski’s military medals with grand-niece Chrystal Cantrell during a ceremony in Marion.

Frerichs, who handles unclaimed property, also returned Grabowski’s Bronze Star and other medals.

Product Expo to open at Du Quoin State Fair

The Illinois Product Expo will be open at the Du Quoin State Fair for the final weekend.

Located in the Expo Hall at the Du Quoin State Fairgrounds from 5 to 9 p.m. Friday, Aug. 29, from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 30, and from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 31.

Products include food, drinks, crafts and items like soaps, essential oils and more.

###

Latest News Stories

Federal court backs union on feds’ partisan emails

By Esther WickhamThe Center Square A federal judge ruled Friday that the Trump administration violated employees’ First Amendment rights by allegedly hijacking their email accounts to send automated partisan messages...

Senate Democrats propose new govt. funding deal; Republicans reject it

By Thérèse BoudreauxThe Center Square After nearly six weeks of continuously blocking Republicans’ bill to end the ongoing government shutdown, Senate Democrats have modified their funding counterproposal. Instead of demanding...

Trump administration will fully fund SNAP despite appeal

By Brett RowlandThe Center Square The Trump administration said Friday afternoon that it would fully fund the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program for November, despite the funding lapse and government shutdown....

Report: Princeton ranked best university, best school overall

By Esther WickhamThe Center Square Princeton University claimed the nation's top spot for universities and best school overall in WalletHub's 2026 Best Colleges rankings. The WalletHub report analyzed 800 higher-education...

Trump blasts cost overruns at Obama Presidential Center in Chicago

By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – Chicago is back in the mind of President Donald Trump, but this time the commander-in-chief’s focus is...

Illinois quick hits: Get Covered Illinois premiums to spike

By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square Get Covered Illinois premiums to spike The Get Covered Illinois division of the Illinois Department of Insurance says Illinoisans enrolling in...

Colorado boosts WIC, food pantries amid D.C. stalemate

By Elyse ApelThe Center Square Editor's note: This story was updated Friday evening since its initial publication earlier in the day. Colorado is moving forward with stop-gap funding for food...

Aldermen oppose Chicago mayor’s ‘punishing’ head tax proposal

By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (THE CENTer SQUAre) – Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson says he wants corporations to pay more in taxes, but with some city...

Critics slam Mamdani’s policies, push for free markets

By Andrew RiceThe Center Square In the wake of Zohran Mamdani’s rise to become the mayor of New York City, researchers and policy analysts are slamming his policies and calling...

Estimated power demand will outstrip supply by 2032

By Lauren Jessop | The Center Square contributorThe Center Square (The Center Square) – The impact on electricity demand from a growing number of data centers is a recurring point...

WATCH: Justice Kennedy talks about ‘Life, Law & Liberty’

By Dave MasonThe Center Square It’s important to understand what the framers of the U.S. Constitution wrote and intended, but the U.S. Supreme Court’s work goes beyond that, according to...

WA congressman urges Senate to confirm Trump DOJ nominee ahead of Dec. 4 deadline

By Tim ClouserThe Center Square U.S. Rep. Michael Baumgartner, R-Wash., sent a letter on Wednesday urging the Senate to confirm Pete Serrano as U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of...

Judge who blocked Trump was major Democrat player as trial lawyer

By Daniel Fisher | Legal NewslineThe Center Square The federal judge who ordered President Trump to continue paying food-stamp benefits owes his fortune to cigarettes and Democratic political ties forged...

Arizona recommends measles vaccine during outbreak

By Chris WoodwardThe Center Square Arizona is recommending vaccinations to combat the state's worst measles outbreak since the 1990s. The latest update this week showed the state has 111 cases...

Govt. shutdown leads to over 800 flights cancelled, number growing

By Thérèse BoudreauxThe Center Square As the government shutdown drags into its 38th day and forced flight reductions begin taking effect, the number of daily flight cancellations Americans are experiencing...

« Previous
1
…
74
75
76
77
78
…
134
Next »