Illinois quick hits: Medicaid coverage for parental home visits; 'Trouble in Toyland' report

Illinois quick hits: Medicaid coverage for parental home visits; ‘Trouble in Toyland’ report

November 24, 2025/
Spread the love

By Jim Talamonti | The Center Square
The Center Square

Medicaid coverage for parental home visits

The Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services has launched new Medicaid coverage of home visiting services for pregnant and parenting customers.

Covered prenatal home visits include health education, blood pressure monitoring, behavioral health screenings, domestic and intimate partner violence education, stress management and more.

IDPH Director Dr. Sameer Vohra said the expanded Medicaid coverage is a critical step in the agency’s mission to improve health outcomes.

‘Trouble in Toyland’ report

The Trouble in Toyland 2025 report is out ahead of the holiday shopping season and it raises concerns around hidden dangers in toys.

The Public Interest Research Group’s Education Fund released the 40th annual report Monday and highlights AI toys with privacy concerns and explicit content, toys with lead from other countries and water beads, something the group says is a longtime threat.

Construction lanes to open

The Illinois Department of Transportation announced Monday that lanes that have been closed for construction will reopen, where possible, for the long Thanksgiving weekend to minimize travel disruption.

Non-emergency closures will be suspended from 3 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 26, to 11:59 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 30.

Community Events

Leave a Comment





Latest News Stories

Texas House passes Congressional redistricting bill after absconding Dems return

Texas House passes Congressional redistricting bill after absconding Dems return

By Bethany BlankleyThe Center Square After House Democrats absconded for more than two weeks in opposition to a Congressional redistricting bill, the Texas House on Wednesday passed the bill by...
Department of Education ends support for political activism

Department of Education ends support for political activism

By Esther WickhamThe Center Square The U.S. Department of Education announced this week it is ending taxpayer-funded programs that supported political activism jobs on college campuses. The Department of Education...
LW SB AUG.2

Lincoln-Way Board Reviews $162 Million Tentative Budget, Projects Deficit Due to Bus Purchase Timing

Article Summary: The Lincoln-Way Community High School District 210 Board of Education reviewed a tentative $162.5 million budget for Fiscal Year 2026, which includes a 5.48% increase in operating expenses...
LW-SB-AUG.2

Lincoln-Way Board Reviews $162 Million Tentative Budget, Projects Deficit Due to Bus Purchase Timing

Article Summary: The Lincoln-Way Community High School District 210 Board of Education reviewed a tentative $162.5 million budget for Fiscal Year 2026, which includes a 5.48% increase in operating expenses...
Illinois trucker warns foreign firms faking logs, dodging rules, risking safety

Illinois trucker warns foreign firms faking logs, dodging rules, risking safety

By Catrina Barker | The Center Square contributorThe Center Square (The Center Square) – After a recent deadly crash in Florida and a crash in Illinois involving semi-trucks, an Illinois...
Illinois law mandates pharmacies to sell needles, sparking safety debate

Illinois law mandates pharmacies to sell needles, sparking safety debate

By Catrina Barker | The Center Square contributorThe Center Square (The Center Square) – The Illinois Governor has signed House Bill 2589, which requires pharmacists to sell sterile hypodermic needles...
Report warns U.S. national debt predicted to pass $53 trillion by 2035

Report warns U.S. national debt predicted to pass $53 trillion by 2035

By Thérèse BoudreauxThe Center Square By fiscal year 2035, the national debt is set to surpass $53 trillion, or 120% of the nation’s Gross Domestic Product, according to a new...
Courts remain firm against unsealing grand jury records from Epstein trial

Courts remain firm against unsealing grand jury records from Epstein trial

By Thérèse BoudreauxThe Center Square A second federal judge has denied the Trump administration’s request to unseal grand jury material from convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein’s 2019 trial. New York-based...
White House TikTok garners 1.3 million views in 24 hours

White House TikTok garners 1.3 million views in 24 hours

By Morgan SweeneyThe Center Square Within 24 hours of its debut, the first video posted to the new White House TikTok account has racked up more than 1.3 million views....
Newsom responds to Bondi's letter on sanctuary policies

Newsom responds to Bondi’s letter on sanctuary policies

By Jamie ParsonsThe Center Square Editor's note: This story has been updated since its initial publication to include additional comments from the U.S. Department of Justice. After California received a...
U.S., NATO military officials discuss Ukraine security guarantees

U.S., NATO military officials discuss Ukraine security guarantees

By Caroline BodaThe Center Square U.S. military leaders met with NATO defense chiefs on Wednesday to iron out details of security protections for Ukraine as part of a potential peace...
Illinois quick hits: Governor bans school fines; Target fires hundreds over fraud

Illinois quick hits: Governor bans school fines; Target fires hundreds over fraud

By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square Governor bans school fines Gov. J.B. Pritzker has signed legislation that bans schools from issuing fines or citations to students for...
Industry advocates: More state regulation will drive insurance rates higher

Industry advocates: More state regulation will drive insurance rates higher

By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – Insurance industry leaders are advising Illinois lawmakers that state regulation of rates will lead to higher costs...
Lawmakers, policy groups react to social media warning suit

Lawmakers, policy groups react to social media warning suit

By Elyse ApelThe Center Square Bill sponsors and public interest groups have been quick to respond to a lawsuit filed last week against Colorado, challenging a new law that would...
From Mexico to Knoxville, five cartel leaders wanted in drugs, weapons conspiracy

From Mexico to Knoxville, five cartel leaders wanted in drugs, weapons conspiracy

By Bethany BlankleyThe Center Square Despite many arguing the border crisis is over because illegal entries at the southwest border have dropped to their lowest level in recorded history, border-related...