SPRINGFIELD — In a decisive move to address a looming financial crisis in the state’s transportation network, Illinois lawmakers approved a new $1.5 billion public transit funding bill in the early hours of Friday morning. The legislation, passed during the final moments of the veto session, aims to secure the future of Chicago’s major transit systems and prevent what officials described as a potential “fiscal cliff.” The new measure, which avoids the more controversial st

WASHINGTON — Thousands of District residents could soon lose critical dental and vision benefits as Washington, D.C. prepares to overhaul its Medicaid program starting January 1, 2026. The city’s decision to reduce Medicaid eligibility and transition many enrollees into a new system known as the Healthy DC Plan has sparked deep concern among healthcare providers and community advocates. The upcoming changes follow a decision to lower the income threshold for Medicaid eligibility

With Governor Gavin Newsom signing Senate Bill 63, known as the Connect Bay Area Transit Act, a major regional push to secure the future of public transportation in Northern California has officially begun. The bill, signed on October 13, authorizes a voter initiative for a 14-year regional sales tax measure that would appear on the November 2026 ballot. The proposal seeks to generate billions in funding to sustain and expand Bay Area transit networks, including BART, Caltrain, and the Valley

New Delhi: India’s Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has clarified that the American sanctions imposed on Iran will not affect the Chabahar Port project, a critical component of India’s regional connectivity and trade strategy. The confirmation underscores New Delhi’s commitment to maintaining strategic investments in the port, even as it continues its dialogue with the United States on broader trade and diplomatic issues. The Chabahar Port, located on Iran’s southeastern c

More than 140,000 Central Texans are expected to lose access to their Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits as the government shutdown continues. With funding for the program now exhausted, officials have confirmed that no payments will be issued for the month of November. The loss of this essential aid will leave thousands of families across the region struggling to afford basic groceries and necessities, pushing many to seek emergency food assistance. According t

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — California has joined several other states in filing a lawsuit against the Trump administration, accusing it of unlawfully refusing to provide federal food assistance benefits during the ongoing government shutdown. Governor Gavin Newsom and Attorney General Rob Bonta announced the legal action Tuesday, stating that the decision by the administration to withhold funds under the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, will leave millions of residents without

Millions of student loan borrowers in the United States are once again eligible for debt forgiveness following the reinstatement of two major federal repayment programs. The Department of Education has announced that it will resume canceling the debts of qualified borrowers enrolled in the Income Contingent Repayment (ICR) and Pay As You Earn (PAYE) plans. This decision restores a critical form of relief for many borrowers who rely on income-driven repayment systems to manage their student loan

California Governor Gavin Newsom has signed a significant package of new laws crafted by Silicon Valley legislators, focusing on improving transparency in law enforcement, strengthening labor rights, and increasing wildfire resilience across the state. The legislative actions, finalized earlier this month, mark another step in the state’s ongoing efforts to modernize government accountability and strengthen protections for both workers and communities. Most of the new laws will take effect on

The U.S. Department of Agriculture has announced that federal food assistance under the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) will not be distributed beginning November 1, as the federal government shutdown extends with no resolution in sight. The announcement intensifies concerns across the country as millions of Americans who rely on SNAP face the prospect of losing their primary means of purchasing food. According to the USDA’s notice, the agency will not tap into th

Maryland’s governor has warned that hundreds of thousands of residents could soon lose access to food assistance because the federal government has refused to release Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) funds. He said that an official communication from Washington ordered the state not to issue new benefits beginning November 1, potentially leaving 680,000 residents, including nearly 270,000 children, without the support they need to eat. Speaking from Annapolis, the go

The much-anticipated inaugural Texas Capital Air Show in San Marcos, Texas, has been officially canceled due to the ongoing government shutdown, which forced the withdrawal of military participation. The event, originally scheduled for November 1 and 2 at the San Marcos Regional Airport, was designed to raise funds for suicide prevention and mental health support for veterans and first responders. Organizers of the show expressed deep disappointment over the cancellation but emphasi

The Grapevine-Colleyville Independent School District (GCISD) in Texas is evaluating the potential closure of multiple elementary schools as it grapples with a significant budget shortfall and a steady decline in student enrollment. District officials confirmed that two to three schools could be affected, triggering concern among parents and community members who fear their neighborhood schools may soon be shuttered. According to GCISD, the discussion is still in the early stages, a

United States President Donald Trump has once again defended his administration’s tariff policies, claiming that the strategy has played a major role in strengthening the U.S. economy and boosting the stock market. Since returning to office for his second term, Trump has emphasized a renewed focus on economic nationalism, arguing that countries trading with the United States must pay tariffs determined by the government to protect American interests. In his latest remarks, Trump a

The Federal Emergency Management Agency has again denied Maryland’s request for federal disaster relief following the devastating floods that struck Allegany and Garrett counties in May. The decision, which also rejected an appeal filed by Governor Wes Moore, leaves residents and local governments in the state’s western panhandle without anticipated federal recovery funding. The flooding caused extensive damage to homes, roads, and public infrastructure, prompting state and loca

In a significant policy reversal, U.S. President Donald Trump has imposed sweeping sanctions on Russia’s two largest oil producers, Rosneft and Lukoil, marking one of the most consequential economic measures against Moscow since the escalation of the war in Ukraine. The decision immediately triggered a 5% surge in global oil prices and prompted India, one of Russia’s biggest energy buyers, to reconsider its import strategy. The sanctions, announced on Wednesday, target companies

WASHINGTON – President Donald Trump has threatened to withdraw federal funding from the multibillion-dollar Gateway Rail Project, a major infrastructure initiative designed to modernize and expand the rail connection between New Jersey and New York. The project, considered one of the most critical transportation undertakings in the United States, aims to replace aging tunnels under the Hudson River that carry hundreds of thousands of passengers daily along the Northeast Corridor. Trump’s

It has been more than two weeks since the rollout of GST 2.0 on September 22, but a nationwide consumer survey indicates that the expected benefits of lower taxes are not being fully passed on to buyers. The reform, which aimed to make a wide range of goods and services more affordable, appears to have produced uneven results across product categories, with automobiles emerging as the only sector showing substantial price reductions. According to a large-scale survey conducted acros

The United States federal government has entered a shutdown after lawmakers in Congress failed to agree on a funding plan before the latest deadline. The deadlock has forced thousands of federal employees across the nation, including those in New Jersey, to either stop work or continue essential duties without pay. While citizens brace for delays in federal services and economic uncertainty, the focus has now shifted to elected representatives and whether they will personally share the burden

San Jose officials have approved a landmark labor agreement that will provide city police officers with a 15.7 percent pay raise spread out through 2029, a move aimed at strengthening recruitment and addressing ongoing staffing shortages. The unanimous decision by the city council ensures that officers under the new contract will receive significant wage increases over the next three years, with the financial impact to taxpayers estimated at about $46 million in raises alone, not including long-

Austin Independent School District has unveiled a sweeping consolidation and boundary change proposal that could reshape public education in the city for years to come. Facing persistent enrollment decline, a multimillion-dollar budget shortfall, and accountability requirements, district leaders have laid out a plan that includes closing 13 schools, redrawing boundaries across nearly every campus, and repurposing several facilities to new academic programs. The plan, released Friday, immediately