News Local/State
U.S. Representative Rodney Davis of Illinois' 13th District says he hopes a new version of the Blue Water Navy Vietnam Veterans Act makes to the president’s desk this year. The measure would restore easy access to Agent Orange disability benefits for tens of thousands of Navy veterans who served on coastal waters in the Vietnam War.
News Local/State
Nearly 1 in 8 Americans don’t have enough food because of lack of money or other resources, according to 2017 data from the U.S. Department of Agriculture. A University of Illinois professor said he’s hopeful a new million-dollar grant from the Foundation for Food and Agriculture Research will lead to a better understanding of how to reduce food insecurity nationwide.
News Local/State
Around 150,000 children have an allergy to sesame, a study from Northwestern University shows. A proposal at the Illinois Statehouse could help parents and children avoid foods with the ingredient.
News Local/State
Illinois Newsroom has been covering the struggle to find affordable housing around the state. The lack of funding to build housing for people with low-incomes is one challenge. But city governments can influence where and how housing is built through their zoning rules.
News Local/State
More colleges are beginning to offer classes in growing and handling marijuana as demand for such skills from growers and dispensaries increases.
News Local/State
Gov. J.B. Pritzker predicts growth in wind-energy development after signing a law streamlining zoning rules.
News Local/State
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s recently released 2017 Census of Agriculture data show the amount of land in the largest federal conservation programs has decreased nationwide and in many Midwest and Plains states. But that doesn’t mean farmers are ignoring soil health, nutrient runoff or erosion problems.
News Local/State
Politicians spearheading the effort to legalize recreational marijuana say revenue isn't the driving force. It's about promoting criminal and social justice for people of color who have been unfairly targeted by the war on drugs.
News Local/State
There are roughly 200 college in prison programs nationwide, including in Illinois, and there's debate over whether they make a difference.
News Local/State
Joe Petry, a clinical professor of economics who once ran for mayor of Champaign, has been placed on administrative leave by the University of Illinois, pending results of an investigation.
