Journey back Inside The Blanket Fort as we delve into a new group of books to celebrate the new year from SIU Press!

Illinois and 11 other states sued the Trump administration over its move to withhold potentially hundreds of billions of dollars in grant funding from states that refuse to comply with the Trump administration’s definitions of sex and gender. President Donald Trump, on the first day of his second term, issued an executive order instructing federal agencies to recognize only a person’s sex assigned at birth.

The Illinois State Board of Education voted to approve a budget request for the upcoming fiscal year that calls for only a minimal increase in K-12 education spending, a reflection of the state’s tightening fiscal condition. Overall, the $10.9 billion request would be a slight decrease from the current budget of just over $11 billion.

Radon test kits are discounted for residents in Illinois.

U.S. Rep. Mike Bost’s lawsuit challenging Illinois’ election laws can proceed because he is a candidate for office, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled on Wednesday. Bost was challenging a ruling in lower courts that he lacked legal standing to sue the state over its mail-in ballot policy.

Some of Illinois’ top Democrats say they’re open to considering targeted changes to Illinois’ controversial SAFE-T Act this spring if a forthcoming judicial report says they’re needed. Both Gov. JB Pritzker and House Speaker Emanuel “Chris” Welch, D-Hillside, say the changes would be narrow despite Republicans’ desire to see the law drastically overhauled.

During a visit to Bloomington-Normal on Tuesday, Gov. JB Pritzker said he supports changing how state colleges and universities are funded, but wouldn't commit to releasing discretionary funds held back last fall.

Participants must have successfully completed an approved hunter safety course and have a valid hunting license.