Research has found that some soups have antibacterial properties that can help with any illness.
by Tim DitmanOSF Healthcare
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Garrett Scantling tapped as new Illinois assistant track & field coach
A fourth-place finisher at Tokyo 2020, Garrett Scantling joins the Illinois track staff under longtime coach Petros Kyprianou.
CHAMPAIGN - The University of Illinois has added an Olympian to its coaching roster as director of track, field and cross country Petros Kyprianou announced the hiring of Garrett Scantling as an assistant coach Tuesday. Scantling will work closely with Kyprianou, focusing on the jumps and combined events squads.
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DOJ Memo Sparks Outcry as Durbin Demands Epstein File Disclosure
Democrats wanting transparency now is “asinine”, says White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt.
By Greg Bishop .::. Illinois Editor
The Center Square
[Trump] wants to move on from the story.
In a letter to Attorney General Pam Bondi, Durbin called for the files release. “We call upon you to follow the bipartisan directive of the Appropriations Committee and release the Epstein files without delay,” the letter said. “From the lenient plea deal he received in Florida in 2008 to the end of his case with his death in prison in 2019, survivors of his abuse have been denied the full accounting of his crimes and the justice they deserve.” Thursday, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said Democrats wanting transparency now is “asinine.” “The Democrats had control of this building, the White House, for four years, and they didn't do a dang thing when it came to transparency in regards to Jeffrey Epstein and his heinous crimes,” Leavitt said. “[Trump] wants to move on from the story.”
Many believe Epstein did not kill himself
Prominent figures like the U.S. House speaker and the U.S. Senate minority leader have voiced support for releasing the Epstein files. Leavitt said the president stands by the DOJ’s decision that they wouldn't release any of the child sex abuse materials. She was asked about any other releases of court records surrounding the case, even redacted files. “Those are also questions for the judges who have that information under a seal,” Leavitt said. “And that would have to be requested. And a judge would have to approve it. That's out of the president's control.” Epstein died in jail awaiting trial in 2019. While the official conclusion was suicide, many believe Epstein did not kill himself and had high profile clients.
TELL THE SENTINEL WHAT YOU THINK
Members of Congress are calling for the release of the Epstein's files. Give us three reasons why you believe the President Trump should or should not follow through on his campaign promise make the files public?
.::. Here is how and where to sent it
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Democrats push for federal ban on price gouging amid Trump's tariff rollout
Democrats say such protections are needed as President Donald Trump rolls out higher tariffs on foreign nations as part of an effort to overhaul global trade.
Photo: Tung Lam/Pixabay
By Brett Rowland .::. Investigative Reporter
The Center Square
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Democrats proposed similar measures to prevent price gouging.
A group of Democrats reintroduced the Price Gouging Prevention Act "to fight back against the corporate greed enabled by the Trump administration's chaotic tariff policies," they said. The bill would give the FTC and state attorneys general new tools to enforce a federal ban against "grossly excessive price increases." "Donald Trump's reckless tariff policies are giving companies cover to squeeze families and raise prices more than necessary," said U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass. "My bill is an opportunity for Congress to stand up for families by cracking down on price gouging and fighting back against corporate abuse." Ryan Bourne, of the Cato Institute, said the measure was just as bad as it was the first time it was introduced. "This 'anti-price gouging' bill is a reheated version of Elizabeth Warren's earlier misguided proposal. Back then, Democrats found it politically convenient to blame greedy corporations for an inflation overwhelmingly caused by excessive government spending and loose monetary policy," he told The Center Square. "Now, the same politicians are using the price-inflating effects of Donald Trump's tariffs to revive their anti-corporate legislation."
This legislation would compound those problems by turning pricing decisions into legal liabilities.
Bourne said the measure could exacerbate shortages at critical times, such as after a natural disaster. "The results of such a federal law would be disastrous. Capping prices below what people are willing to pay for goods would produce shortages and empty shelves during volatile periods," he said. "Firms today face ever-shifting trade barriers, unpredictable demand conditions, and evolving supply chains – all factors that increase price volatility. This legislation would compound those problems by turning pricing decisions into legal liabilities. Firms fearing prosecution would hesitate to raise prices even when those higher prices accurately reflect genuine scarcity or increased risks. The price controls would thus risk making goods' shortages far more severe and prolonged." Democrats first introduced the measure in 2024, but it failed to advance. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Democrats proposed similar measures to prevent price gouging. The bill would clarify that price gouging is an unfair and deceptive practice under the FTC Act. The measure would allow the FTC and state attorneys general to stop sellers from charging a grossly excessive price, regardless of where the price gouging occurs in a supply chain or distribution network, according to a news release. "Greedy corporations are using the economic turmoil the Trump Administration has created to gouge the American people on everything from groceries to consumer goods," said Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky, D-Ill. "While these large corporations rake in record profits, families in my community and across the country are struggling to put food on the table." The bill would give the FTC an additional $1 billion in funding to do the work. It would establish when price gouging occurs during a significant shift in trade policy. It lists a set of market shocks – including an "abrupt or significant shift in trade policy" – and outlines a standard for a presumptive violation of the price gouging prohibition during such a shock, such as when companies brag about increasing prices, according to Democrats.
Trump administration has worked to dismantle the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau
The measure would also create an affirmative defense for small businesses acting in good faith. Sponsors noted that "small and local businesses sometimes must raise prices in response to crisis-driven increases in their costs because they have little negotiating power with their price-gouging suppliers." That affirmative defense protects small businesses earning less than $100 million from frivolous litigation if they show "legitimate cost increases." The bill would further require public companies to disclose costs and pricing strategies. "During periods of exceptional market shock, the bill requires public companies to transparently disclose and explain changes in their cost of goods sold, gross margins, and pricing strategies in their quarterly SEC filings," according to the sponsors. Warren and Schakowsky face an uphill battle in the Republican-controlled House and Senate. Republicans have been moving in the opposite direction. The Trump administration has worked to dismantle the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, a federal agency created after the 2007-08 financial crisis to establish a single agency responsible for enforcing consumer protection laws. Former Vice President Kamala Harris promised to introduce a federal anti-price-gouging law during the 2024 presidential campaign.
TELL THE SENTINEL WHAT YOU THINK
Do you think a federal anti-price gouging bill is a good idea? Send us a letter telling us why it is or is not.
.::. Here is how and where to sent it
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Worried? Meet your fears head on, here's how to navigate them
When it comes to worry, there’s no shortage of things that keep us up at night – some of it probably has us tossing and turning at times.
Photo: BĀBI/Unsplash
by Paul ArcoOSF Healthcare
Trying to worry less takes time and lots of work.
“I think we can learn that we can get through it, first and foremost,” she emphasizes. “Even if our worries do come true occasionally, we can cope with it. Worry gives us opportunities to learn about how we handle those situations.” Instead of worrying, Pratt says to trust yourself IF something negative does happen. It’s better to remain calm than distressed when trying to solve a potential problem. But if you are having a tough time navigating those worries, there are ways you can calm your nerves. For example, stay off your phone, where you can find news that may be upsetting. Check in with people in your inner circle that you trust and can talk to. Finally, Pratt suggests starting the practice of gratitude. “It helps rewire those negative thoughts and give us more focus on the things that are going well in our lives,” Pratt says. Trying to worry less takes time and lots of work. If you can’t seem to find any relief on your own, Pratt recommends seeking professional help. “If it feels unmanageable, reaching out to someone, whether your doctor for medication management, going to therapy, learning different techniques and just finding something that works.” Ways to worry less Robert Leahy is a psychologist and author of the book “The Worry Cure.” He offers the following tips to cope with worry.
1. Identify productive and unproductive worry
Determine whether worry will help you find solutions to a problem. If yes, write a to-do list with steps to help solve the problem.
2. Track your worries
Write down your unproductive worries throughout the day and dedicate time to thinking about them.
3. Accept uncertainty
Leahy says repeating a worry for 20 minutes (“I may never fall asleep” or “I could lose my job”) lessens its power.
4. Be mindful
Leahy says there are ways to be mindful throughout the day. Work on living in the now by practicing deep breathing. Let your body relax to release the tension.
5. Reframe your worry
Leahy says reframing how you handle disappointments can help worry. Ask yourself what you have learned from your bad experiences. Make a list of things that make you grateful.
6. Put worries in perspective
Learn from previous worries. If you can’t remember what they were, it might mean they never came true, or you were able to deal with them and move on.
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Pritzker signs executive order to prepare tariff game plans' to protect the state
Illinois governor signs executive order that requires state agencies to draft plans to mitigate effects of the Trump Administration's tariffs last week.
by Ben Szalinski
Capitol News Illinois
Image courtesy Capitol News Illinois
Screenshot of executive order filing with Illinois Secretary of State by Gov. JB Pritzker, who issued his third executive order this year last week. The EO requires certain state agencies to draft plans to respond to federal tariffs.
Order’s requirements
Under Pritzker’s executive order, state agencies must examine the impact of tariffs on certain sectors of the economy or the agency’s operations. The departments of Commerce and Economic Opportunity and Employment Security will evaluate challenges reported by businesses, employment trends since tariffs have been implemented, and industries most affected by tariffs.Pritzker’s executive order was part of actions taken by seven Democratic governors.
The Department of Human Services will evaluate trends in food donations and supply chain challenges for food assistance programs, as well as the purchasing power of food banks and their ability to meet demand. The Department of Transportation and the Capitol Development Board will assess the impact of tariffs on construction costs, and the ability to purchase construction materials and complete projects within their timelines. The Illinois Emergency Management Agency and the Department of Homeland Security will evaluate any impacts to stockpiles and the ability to obtain supplies, including staying prepared for emergencies within budget constraints. Pritzker’s executive order was part of actions taken by seven Democratic governors to understand the impact of tariffs on their states.
Capitol News Illinois is a nonprofit, nonpartisan news service that distributes state government coverage to hundreds of news outlets statewide. It is funded primarily by the Illinois Press Foundation and the Robert R. McCormick Foundation.
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Viewpoint | These mmigrants were supposed to be protected, but Trump's administration came for them anyway
Most Americans still tell pollsters immigration is good for their communities and reject cruel deportations, especially those that separate families, target people without criminal records, or penalize people who came here as young children.
by Emily Rodiguez
OtherWords
In the 19 years my uncle has worked in the healthcare industry, he’s only missed one day — the day his mother, my grandmother, passed away. He would then help plan a funeral he couldn’t attend.
OtherWords
Photo provided
While it’s characterized as temporary, over 200,000 TPS holders have lived here for more than two decades.
Stories like these are all too common. And they could soon get worse. My uncle has what’s called Temporary Protected Status, or TPS. TPS was created by Congress in 1990 to provide work authorization and protection from deportation to individuals from designated countries enduring armed conflict or environmental disasters. Over a million people rely on the program. While it’s characterized as temporary, over 200,000 TPS holders have lived here for more than two decades. They’ve established lives here, yet live with the fear that it could be taken away at any moment. Unfortunately, that moment has arrived. President Trump and Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem have made it clear that they’re coming for TPS. The administration has carelessly terminated or rescinded the legal status of hundreds of thousands of TPS holders, needlessly uprooting their lives. These deported TPS holders are now expected to navigate poverty, instability, violence, and other unsafe conditions in countries many haven’t lived in for decades. Many struggle to reintegrate after their return, and are often targeted by local criminal groups. While the administration slanders TPS holders as criminals, an overwhelming amount of research shows that immigrants actually make our communities safer. They have a nearly 95 percent employment rate and generate over $1.3 billion in federal taxes, contributing to programs like Social Security and Medicare. With a high rate of entrepreneurship, they generate a spending power of more than $8 billion. Their positive impact is undeniable. Yet instead of providing a pathway to citizenship, the Trump administration is systematically phasing out TPS and imposing significant financial hardship on TPS holders and their communities.
I urge you to defend the rights of your neighbors.
In addition to deeply slashing programs like SNAP to fund tax benefits for the wealthy, Trump and the GOP’s “Big Beautiful Bill” also adds exorbitant new fees for immigrants with TPS, asylum seekers, and migrants on humanitarian parole. The new law increases initial application fees for TPS holders from $50 to $500 and adds a non-waivable $550 fee for work authorization for first-time applicants — along with a new annual renewal fee of at least $275. My uncle has already paid thousands of dollars in renewal fees during his 20 years as a TPS recipient, saving the money needed from his $16 an hour job to continue to work and provide for his family. Because my uncle loves this country, he’ll pay these predatory fees. But he shouldn’t have to — and neither should anyone else on TPS. Our communities are better because TPS holders are here. Their livelihoods are in jeopardy unless Congress provides them a pathway to citizenship. The American Dream and Promise Act would provide TPS holders — along with DACA recipients and other undocumented youth — a pathway to citizenship, along with the permanent relief and stability they and their families deserve. As the niece of one of the one million-plus TPS holders, I urge you to defend the rights of your neighbors. Now is the time to protect what makes our communities so great.
Emily Rodiguez, a native of Utah, is a recent college graduate who’s pursuing a career in public policy. This op-ed was distributed by OtherWords.org.
Photo of the Day | Rybak finishes prep career with a Class 1A title
Photo: Sentinel/Clark Brooks
Viewpoint |Failing Senator Proxmire’s legacy: U.S. inaction on genocide
"We gather today to bear witness to the past and learn from its awful example, and to make sure that we're not condemned to relive its crimes."
by Terry Hansen
Guest Commentary
From 1967 to 1986, Senator William Proxmire (D-WI) gave 3,211 speeches on the Senate floor, tirelessly urging ratification of the United Nations Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of Crime of Genocide. According to Proxmire:
“This is one senator who believes that ratification is not only patriotic, but also good foreign policy and a moral imperative.”
The U.S. Senate finally ratified the Genocide Convention on February 19, 1986. Subsequently, The Proxmire Act, officially the Genocide Convention Implementation Act of 1987, was signed by President Ronald Reagan on November 4, 1988, making genocide a federal crime.
In his remarks at the signing, Reagan stated: "We gather today to bear witness to the past and learn from its awful example, and to make sure that we're not condemned to relive its crimes."
Guest Commentary
Near-consensus among Holocaust and genocide scholars that Israel is committing genocide in Gaza
Yet tragically, the United States has often failed to fulfill its obligations under this treaty. In her Pulitzer Prize-winning 2002 book, A Problem from Hell: America and the Age of Genocide, diplomat and government official Samantha Power writes: "No U.S. President has ever made genocide prevention a priority, and no U.S. President has ever suffered politically for his indifference to its occurrence. It is thus no coincidence that genocide rages on." Today, there is a near-consensus among Holocaust and genocide scholars that Israel is committing genocide in Gaza. In the words of Jewish Israeli genocide expert Raz Segal: “Can I name someone whose work I respect who does not think it is genocide? No, there is no counterargument that takes into account all the evidence.” Segal cites explicit statements of genocidal intent, mass killing of civilians, deliberately destroying life-sustaining conditions, and the systematic targeting of civilian infrastructure. However, credible evidence of genocide is being met with U.S. denial, UN vetoes, and sanctions against investigators. Our nation is falling short of Senator Proxmire's vision. To fulfill our legal and moral obligations, the United States must lead in defending Palestinians against the crime of genocide.
Terry Hansen is an opinion writer who frequently comments on Gaza, focusing on humanitarian issues, U.S. policy and Israel’s actions in the region. He is a retired educator from Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
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Still running, Unity's Emily Decker continues running career at Ball State University
This fall, one of the Rockets' most-decorated athletes, a medalist in track & field and cross country, plans to continue making strides in athletics and academics at Ball State.
by Dan ChamnessAt one point during the last 18 months, recent Tolono Unity graduate Emily Decker did not know if she wanted to continue her collegiate athletic career in cross country and track and field. But, the Ball State University coaching staff can be very convincing.
Sentinel/Clark Brooks
Photo: Sentinel/Clark Brooks
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St. Joseph-Ogden 2025 football schedule set
IHSA releases 2025 football schedules; SJO eyes another strong season with key games at home. See the Spartans' complete schedule below.
Photo: Sentinel/Clark Brooks
ST. JOSEPH - The Illinois High School Association (IHSA) released the 2025 Illinois high school football schedules today for the upcoming fall season. This year's playoff pairings will be broadcast on Saturday, October 25. All eight classes will return to Hancock Stadium at Illinois State University in Normal. The Class 1A-4A title games will be played on November 28, and the Class 5A-8A games will follow a day later on November 29. St. Joseph-Ogden is poised to repeat their undefeated 2024 Illini Prairie Conference run, opening their season on the road at Prairie Central behind senior signal caller Kodey McKinney, who scored once and threw four touchdown passes in last year's 49-20 victory in Week 3. The Spartans play their first home game on September 5 against Paxton-Buckley-Loda. SJO rolled off two touchdowns in the first three quarters of last October's season finale. Returning senior Wyatt Wertz rushed for 152 yards, scoring three of the team's six touchdowns. Two home games St. Joseph-Ogden football fans won't want to miss are against Unity and last year's Class 3A runner-up, Monticello. The Rockets will travel to Dick Duval Field for the first time since 1994 under a new head coach, former assistant Tony Reetz. With 21 years of experience under the legendary Scott Hamilton, the stage is set for the storied rivalry between the two programs after the Spartans claimed bragging rights in a 24-21 nail-biter in Week 2. The two teams met again for a second-round playoff game, with Unity prevailing 35-7. Monticello has a bone to pick with SJO, who ran up a 20-0 lead in the first quarter of last year's conference opener, leading to a 40-28 loss on their newly renovated field. The Sages, who will be without last year's seniors Ike Young and Carter Foran, won't be pushovers with possibly 14 battle-tested seniors who saw action in last year's state championship game against Montini. In addition to the road opener against the Hawks, St. Joseph-Ogden will play four additional away contests, traveling to Chillicothe to face IVC, Rantoul, Bloomington, and for a program-first meeting against the Seneca Irish.
2025 St. Joseph-Ogden Football Schedule
- Aug 29 - 7:00 A Prairie Central
- Sep 05 - 7:00 H Paxton-Buckley-Loda
- Sep 12 - 7:00 A Illinois Valley Central
- Sep 19 - 7:00 H Unity
- Sep 26 - 7:00 A Rantoul
- Oct 03 - 7:00 H Monticello
- Oct 10 - 7:00 A Bloomington Central Catholic
- Oct 17 - 7:00 A Seneca
- Oct 24 - 7:00 H Pontiac
Click image to download the 2024 schedule
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WIU campus loses ROTC program in Army restructuring
Military_Material/PIXABAY
The Army plans to reduce its ROTC scholarship budget and consolidate smaller programs. Here is how it affects cadets on campuses across Illinois.
SNS - The U.S. Army has announced a significant overhaul of its Senior Reserve Officers' Training Corps (ROTC) program, an initiative known as “ROTC Reset,” aimed at modernizing officer production while addressing long-term budget pressures and demographic shifts. The restructuring will consolidate ROTC host schools, reduce command brigades from eight to six, and reclassify or close underperforming programs. At the heart of the restructuring lies a potential $100 million cut to the ROTC scholarship program over the next four years. Though still under review, internal projections suggest this reduction could impact roughly 2,000 scholarships, a move that would hit college-bound cadets hard. While the number of cadets trained annually—approximately 18,000—will remain unchanged, the Army is shifting toward a more centralized and cost-efficient model designed to eliminate redundancies and better align resources with commissioning needs. Army ROTC college scholarships, which cover full tuition and provide monthly stipends, have historically served as one of the Army’s most powerful tools to attract and commission young officers. With around 3,000 scholarships awarded annually, the program has been one of the largest merit-based financial aid sources in the country. Army officials maintain that no final decisions have been made, but critics warn that decreased scholarship support could hinder recruitment and long-term readiness. The effects of the reset are will be felt in Illinois, where Western Illinois University was notified its ROTC program close next May. The school, which currently enrolls 44 cadets, is one of ten nationwide selected for full deactivation. Additionally, Northern Illinois University and Loyola University will see their ROTC programs downgraded to extension units, meaning training will continue on campus, but administrative oversight will shift to another host institution. The restructuring also affects cadets at Bradley University in Peoria, as well as the University of Chicago and Chicago State University. They will no longer host cadre members on campus, but cadets will have options to continue in an Army ROTC program by receiving training and education at a nearby approved campus. ROTC programs at Eastern Illinois University, Illinois State, and the University of Illinois are not affected in the cost-cutting measures. Cadet Command officials have stated that current cadets at all affected institutions will be able to complete their commissioning requirements, and no immediate cuts to training quality or capacity are anticipated. However, the realignment reflects the Army’s intent to adapt to falling college enrollments in the Midwest and Northeast, and to prioritize investment in regions with stronger cadet output and enrollment trends. Below is a list of the ROTC units that will be deactivated around the country and other planned restructuring efforts by the Army.
These institutions will no longer have an affiliation with Army ROTC.
- California Polytechnic State University - San Luis Obispo (Calif.)
- University of Northern Iowa (Iowa)
- Western Illinois University (Ill.)
- Truman State University (Mo.)
- Elizabeth City State University (N.C.)
- Saint Augustine's University (N.C.)
- Clarkson University (N.Y.)
- John Carroll University (Ohio)
- University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh (Wis.)
- West Virginia State University (W.Va.)
List of Host Units Reclassifying to Extension Units
These institutions will retain cadre members on their campus and Cadets will continue receiving training and education there, but the program will merge administrative and logistical support with a retained host unit.- Auburn University at Montgomery (Ala.)
- Tuskegee University (Ala.)
- University of South Alabama (Ala.)
- University of Arkansas Pine Bluff (Ark.)
- California State University - San Bernardino (Calif.)
- Howard University (District of Columbia)
- Augusta University (Ga.)
- University of Idaho (Idaho)
- Loyola University - Chicago (Ill.)
- Northern Illinois University (Ill.)
- Tulane University (La.)
- Northeastern University (Mass.)
- Loyola University - Maryland (Md.)
- Lincoln University (Mo.)
- Alcorn State University (Miss.)
- Duke University (N.C.)
- Wake Forest University (N.C.)
- University of North Dakota (N.D.)
- Seton Hall University (N.J.)
- St. John's University (N.Y.)
- University of Akron (Ohio)
- University of Toledo (Ohio)
- Xavier University (Ohio)
- Commonwealth University - Lock Haven (Pa.)
- Dickinson College (Pa.)
- Drexel University (Pa.)
- Slippery Rock University (Pa.)
- Providence College (R.I.)
- Furman University (S.C.)
- Wofford College (S.C.)
- Tennessee Technological University (Tenn.)
- University of Memphis (Tenn.)
- Prairie View A&M University (Texas)
- St. Mary’s University (Texas)
- Stephen F Austin State University (Texas)
- Hampton University (Va.)
- Norfolk State University (Va.)
- Eastern Washington University (Wash.)
- University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point (Wis.)
- Marshall University (W.Va.)
Hosts Reclassifying to Crosstown relationships
These institutions will no longer host cadre members on their campuses, but Cadets will have options to continue an Army ROTC program while receiving training and education at a nearby campus.- Southern University and A&M College (La.)
- Eastern Michigan University (Mich.)
- Niagara University (N.Y.)
- Central State University (Ohio)
- University of Richmond (Va.)
- Carson-Newman University (Tenn.)
Extension Units being inactivated
These institutions will no longer have an affiliation with Army ROTC.- University of California at Merced (Calif.)
- Buena Vista University (Iowa)
- University of Dubuque (Iowa)
- Idaho State University (Idaho)
- University of Nebraska - Kearney (Neb.)
- Millersville University (Pa.)
- Pennsylvania Western University - Clarion (Pa.)
- Texas A&M International University (Texas)
- St. Norbert College (Wis.)
Extension Units Reclassifying to Crosstown relationships
These institutions will no longer host cadre members on their campuses, but Cadets will have options to continue in an Army ROTC program while receiving training and education at a nearby campus.- California State University - Los Angeles (Calif.)
- University of California – San Diego (Calif.)
- University of Northern Colorado (Colo.)
- University of Miami (Fla.)
- Georgia Southern (Armstrong Campus) (Ga.)
- Northwest Nazarene University (Idaho)
- Bradley University (Ill.)
- University of Chicago (Ill.)
- Chicago State University (Ill.)
- Indiana University Northwest (Ind.)
- Hood College (Md.)
- Winona State University (Minn.)
- Lindenwood University (Mo.)
- Davidson College (N.C.)
- Interamerican University (Metro San Juan) (Puerto Rico)
- Western Oregon University (Ore.)
- Tennessee State University (Tenn.)
- Texas A&M University San Antonio (Texas)
- Longwood University (Va.)
LIST SOURCE: US Army
10 ways the GOP budget will make life worse for Americans
For the first time, states will have to take on a significant share of funding SNAP. New work requirements for SNAP will have little effect on employment, but will cause more children to go hungry.
Photo: Use at your Ease/Pixabay
Hundreds of thousands of lawfully present immigrants, including children, will lose access to Medicaid
by Sarah Anderson and Lindsay Koshgarian
OtherWords
The GOP’s “One Big Beautiful Bill,” which narrowly passed Congress and was recently signed by President Trump, represents the largest transfer of wealth from the poor to the rich since chattel slavery.
Here are just 10 of the worst things about it.
OtherWords
1. It’s going to kill people.
Cuts to Medicaid and the Affordable Care Act, combined with new administrative hurdles, could result in an estimated 51,000 preventable deaths per year. The new law and other actions by the Trump administration will strip health insurance from 17 million people.2. It will be an apocalypse for rural hospitals.
The budget restricts the provider taxes that many states use to fund Medicaid. The threat is particularly severe for rural hospitals, which rely heavily on Medicaid revenue. More than 700 rural hospitals are already at risk of closure — and at least 338 are at increased risk due to changes in this budget.3. It takes food from the mouths of hungry people.
New work requirements for SNAP benefits will take food assistance from millions, including children and veterans. As with Medicaid, new work requirements for SNAP will have little effect on employment, but will cause more children to go hungry.4. It squeezes states on SNAP.
For the first time, states will have to take on a significant share of funding SNAP. This unprecedented shift will likely lead many states to cut enrollees or even terminate food aid altogether.5. It bars lawfully present immigrants from aid.
Hundreds of thousands of lawfully present immigrants, including children, will lose access to Medicaid, the Children’ s Health Insurance Program, Medicare, ACA tax credits, and SNAP benefits. And 2.6 million U.S. citizen children who live with only an undocumented adult are expected to lose their Child Tax Credit.6. It terrorizes immigrant families.
The GOP budget provides $170 billion to arrest, detain, deport, and wall off migrants. That includes $45 billion for new immigration detention centers, including family detention facilities — a vast increase that will primarily benefit private companies contracted to build and run them.7. It takes from the poor to give to the rich.
The bill’s tax policies will overwhelmingly benefit the wealthiest households. A Yale analysis of the bill’s combined tax and spending policies finds that the poorest 20 percent of households will suffer a net income loss of $700 per year on average, while the top 1 percent will get a $30,000 increase.8. Corporations will take the spoils for themselves.
The budget keeps the corporate tax rate at 21 percent, a drastic reduction from the 35 percent rate from before the first Trump tax cuts in 2018 — despite the fact that ordinary workers have not benefited from this rate reduction.9. It rewards polluters while raising energy costs.
The budget also includes more than $1 billion in new tax breaks and subsidies for the fossil fuel industry, accelerating climate change while costing taxpayers. It also allows oil and gas companies to avoid paying fees for polluting methane leaks, a major cause of climate change. Meanwhile, cuts to clean energy subsidies could raise household energy bills by $415 a year over the next decade.
Photo: Dariusz Sankowski/Pixabay
10. It funds war and enriches war profiteers.
The bill gives the Pentagon a $150 billion boost, bringing overall Pentagon spending to over $1 trillion — a record high. That includes $25 billion for the “Golden Dome,” a missile defense system that’s economically and physically impossible but would enrich wealthy Pentagon contractors like Elon Musk. Instead, Congress should harness America’s abundant wealth to create a moral economy that works for all of us. By fairly taxing the wealthy and big corporations, reducing our bloated military budget, and de-militarizing immigration policy, we could free up more than enough public funds to ensure we can all survive and thrive. We have no excuse for not investing our national resources in ways that reflect our Constitutional values: to establish justice, domestic tranquility, real security, and the general welfare for all.
Sarah Anderson directs the Global Economy Project at the Institute for Policy Studies. Lindsay Koshgarian directs the IPS National Priorities Project. They produced a longer version of this analysis for Repairers of the Breach. This version was distributed by OtherWords.org.
Pritzker seeks more regulatory authority over homeowners insurance business
The Consumer Federation of America describes Illinois’ current regulatory environment as “toothless” and ranks the state second in the nation for having the fastest-rising insurance premiums in the country.
Photo: CNI file photo
State Farm homeowner premiums will rise by roughly 27% in Illinois, prompting calls for greater regulation by residents around the state.
by Peter Hancock
Capitol News Illinois
Current regulations
Although Pritzker was not specific about what kind of increased regulatory authority he wants lawmakers to consider, some consumer advocates have called for giving the state Department of Insurance broad authority to review, modify or even reject proposed rate hikes. Under current state law, companies are required to file their rates with the Department of Insurance, and the agency can review consumer complaints to determine whether the rates being charged are consistent with those filings. The department also has the authority to conduct examinations to determine whether a company is paying out claims in a timely manner. It can also conduct examinations into a company’s financial condition and solvency. But currently, according to the agency, Illinois is the only state in the country that does not prohibit rates from being “inadequate, excessive or unfairly discriminatory,” which means it has no authority to reject a rate filing on those grounds. Douglas Heller, director of insurance for the Washington-based Consumer Federation of America, described Illinois’ law as “among the most toothless in the nation.” “Almost every state in the country has a law that says for auto, home and most other lines of insurance as well, rates cannot be excessive,” he said in an interview. “Now, it doesn't mean that the regulators around the country do a great job or even have the tools to enforce that very strictly … but Illinois doesn't even have the language that prohibits excessive rates for homeowners insurance companies.” In April, CFA issued a report that said from 2021 to 2024, Illinois ranked second in the nation for having the greatest increases in homeowners insurance premiums. Average premiums in Illinois rose 50% over that period, more than any other state except Utah, where rates went up 59%.
Reasons for rate hikes
In his statement, Pritzker accused State Farm of raising rates in Illinois to cover losses the company has suffered in other high-risk states like Florida. “These increases are predicated on catastrophe loss numbers that are entirely inconsistent with the Illinois Department of Insurance’s own analysis — indicating that State Farm is shifting out-of-state costs onto the homeowners of our state,” he said. “Hard-working Illinoisans should not be paying more to protect beach houses in Florida.” But State Farm strongly denied that suggestion, saying the increases were directly related to the cost of weather-related disasters in Illinois. “For example, last year in the state of Illinois alone, we paid out more than $638 million in hail damage claims,” State Farm spokeswoman Gina Morss-Fischer said in an interview. “That was just in Illinois, and it was second only to the state of Texas. And this is the kind of thing that we've started to see more frequently. “And of course, we're also seeing the increase in replacement costs, longer waits for replacement materials. And these are all things that contribute to the need to make this difficult business decision,” she said.
Capitol News Illinois is a nonprofit, nonpartisan news service that distributes state government coverage to hundreds of news outlets statewide. It is funded primarily by the Illinois Press Foundation and the Robert R. McCormick Foundation.
School districts serving immigrants in Illinois work to keep under the radar
The Supreme Court ruling in the 1982 case Plyler v. Doe determined all children in the U.S. have the right to a public education, regardless of immigration status.
Photo: CDC/Unsplash
by Judith Ruiz-BranchIllinois News Connection
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