August 7, 2025/

Illinois quick hits: Cook County declares flood disaster; opt-out forms promoted; State Fair begins

Spread the love

By Jim Talamonti | The Center Square
The Center Square

Cook County, Chicago declare flood disaster

Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson and Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle have issued respective disaster proclamations for flooding that took place July 25-28.

According to resident survey information, 111 residences were considered to be destroyed and 544 homes had major damage.

City and county agencies are working to determine if the jurisdictions could qualify for federal assistance.

Opt-out forms promoted

After Gov. J.B. Pritzker signed legislation to implement universal mental health screenings in public schools, the Illinois Family Institute is encouraging parents to opt out of programs and agendas which they said could be harmful to children.

The group said Christian parents should be especially alert to the assessment of their children’s well-being through the lens of secular ideologies.

The institute offers links to various opt-out forms on its website.

State Fair begins

The Illinois State Fair is underway in Springfield.

Thursday’s events include harness racing, $3 carnival rides and the Twilight Parade at 5:30 p.m.

The fair runs through Aug. 17.

Leave a Comment





Latest News Stories

Lawmakers react to U.S. Supreme Court's ruling on Prop. 50

Lawmakers react to U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling on Prop. 50

By Madeline ShannonThe Center Square California lawmakers on both sides of the aisle are responding to the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision on Wednesday to not hear an appeal challenging the...

WATCH: Senators slam fraud, call for welfare scrutiny in Minnesota

By Andrew RiceThe Center Square U.S. Senators on Wednesday called for more scrutiny over welfare payments and railed against allegations of fraud in Minnesota and across the country. The senators...
Nurses demand inclusion in professional degree definition

Nurses demand inclusion in professional degree definition

By Esther WickhamThe Center Square The American Nurses Association is urging the public to call for nurses to be added back into the definition of “professional degrees” after the Trump...
Early voting starts Thursday in most Illinois jurisdictions

Early voting starts Thursday in most Illinois jurisdictions

By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – Early voting is scheduled to begin Thursday in most Illinois jurisdictions for the state’s Democratic and Republican...
Trump tells Iranian leaders they 'should be very worried'

Trump tells Iranian leaders they ‘should be very worried’

By Sarah Roderick-FitchThe Center Square Iran’s leadership “should be very worried,” President Donald Trump warned Wednesday amid conflicting reports that talks between the U.S. and the Islamic Republic had been...
Illinois Quick Hits: Group files FOIA lawsuit vs. Pritzker

Illinois Quick Hits: Group files FOIA lawsuit vs. Pritzker

By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – Judicial Watch has filed a Freedom of Information Act lawsuit against Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker. The suit...
First lady meets with former Oct. 7 hostages

First lady meets with former Oct. 7 hostages

By Sarah Roderick-FitchThe Center Square American citizen and Chapel Hill, N.C. native, Keith Siegel and his wife Aviva focused their meeting with First Lady Melania Trump on hope and a...
U.S. regulator licenses deepwater port in Gulf for oil exports

U.S. regulator licenses deepwater port in Gulf for oil exports

By Alton WallaceThe Center Square Texas GulfLink has received a license to build and operate a deepwater port in the Gulf of America, marking the first such approval in the...
Supreme Court declines challenge to California's congressional map

Supreme Court declines challenge to California’s congressional map

By Andrew RiceThe Center Square The U.S. Supreme Court declined to hear a challenge to California's redistricting bid that would add more Democrat-majority districts in the state. In November, California...

Candidate: $243 million in unlawful spending is example of ‘Preckwinkle’s mismanagement’

By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – A candidate for Cook County board president says county spending of $243 million in violation of Illinois’...
Tillis probes ICE practices after calling Noem a 'sycophant'

Tillis probes ICE practices after calling Noem a ‘sycophant’

By Brett RowlandThe Center Square A Republican Senator wants answers about reports of U.S. citizens being detained as part of President Donald Trump's widespread immigration enforcement campaign. Sen. Thom Tillis,...
GOP lawmakers urge Thune to tweak filibuster rules to pass voter ID bill

GOP lawmakers urge Thune to tweak filibuster rules to pass voter ID bill

By Thérèse BoudreauxThe Center Square Dozens of Republicans are demanding that the U.S. Senate take up House-passed legislation implementing election security reforms – and they’re willing to restructure filibuster rules...
Illinois housing crunch sees prices rising, units dwindling

Illinois housing crunch sees prices rising, units dwindling

By Glenn Minnis | The Center Square contributorThe Center Square (The Center Square) – With Illinois facing a housing shortage fueled by dwindling availability and rising prices, Illinois Policy Institute...
700 federal agents to leave Minnesota, Homan says

700 federal agents to leave Minnesota, Homan says

By Andrew RiceThe Center Square The Trump administration will remove 700 federal agents who are assisting immigration enforcement measures in Minnesota, White House Border Czar Tom Homan said Wednesday. Homan...
New York, New Jersey sue feds over Hudson Tunnel funding cuts

New York, New Jersey sue feds over Hudson Tunnel funding cuts

By Christen SmithThe Center Square New York and New Jersey are taking the Trump administration to court over its move to "illegally" claw back $15 billion in federal funding for...