Wednesday, March 12, 2025
The U.S. Department of Education is moving to reduce its staff by nearly 50% through layoffs, buyouts and terminations. The most consequential move came Tuesday when the department announced layoffs affecting over 1,300 workers. This comes as President Donald Trump plans to sign an executive action to “take all necessary steps to facilitate” the closure of the Education Department, according to a draft of the action obtained by several news organizations.
Eleven candidates have applied for the circuit judgeship vacancy created by the retirement of Cynthia M. Raccuglia.
On March 5, 2025, SuperValu, Inc., a grocery store chain that operates in-store pharmacies, was cleared of liability by a Central District of Illinois federal jury—finally quashing whistleblower claims that the company improperly over-billed the government and violated the False Claims Act.
Legislation signed into law last year require the state employees insurance program to cover medically necessary FDA-approved treatments and medications to slow progression of the disease. The law also requires coverage for diagnostic testing for doctors to determine the best treatment or medication starting July 1. Now, lawmakers want to require this coverage for patients on any health insurance plan.
A District 205 school board member who in December won a federal lawsuit against the district she represents is accusing the superintendent of schools of costing the district additional legal fees for failing to settle the case.