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.

More Stories
Weather Full forecast →
Today Jul 20
Mostly Sunny
86° 60°

Mostly Sunny

💨 15 mph 💧 0%
Data: National Weather Service • Updated Jul 21, 3:40 PM Full Forecast →
Site Sections

Leave a Comment





Latest News Stories

Feds: Chicago is key in trade fraud fight

Feds: Chicago is key in trade fraud fight

By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – Federal officials came to Illinois this week to announce the results of a major crackdown on trade...
Vance says Milwaukee mayor protesting ‘too much’ over election probe

Vance says Milwaukee mayor protesting ‘too much’ over election probe

By Benjamin YountThe Center Square Vice President JD Vance isn’t buying the outrage from Milwaukee’s mayor over the Trump Administration’s investigation into the 2020 election in Milwaukee. "I will say...
Illinois Quick Hits: $63M construction research center completed

Illinois Quick Hits: $63M construction research center completed

By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – State officials have marked the completion of the $63 million Materials Testing and Research Center at Illinois...
Illinois attorney general has paid private attorneys $2 million in recent years

Illinois attorney general has paid private attorneys $2 million in recent years

By Jared Strong | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – Illinois' top state attorney has paid more than $2 million in the past three years to private...
Platner drops campaign for Maine's U.S. Senate seat

Platner drops campaign for Maine’s U.S. Senate seat

By Christen SmithThe Center Square Graham Platner, the controversial Democratic nominee for Maine’s U.S. Senate seat, dropped out of the race Wednesday amid intense scrutiny over new sexual assault allegations...
Hundreds of thousands of acres burn as fires spread in West

Hundreds of thousands of acres burn as fires spread in West

By Liam HibbertThe Center Square Fires across the southwestern U.S. have picked up early this year, with over 400,000 acres burning just between Utah and Colorado. The quick and early...
Feds buy two immigration detention centers for $1.5 billion

Feds buy two immigration detention centers for $1.5 billion

By Chris WoodwardThe Center Square Private prison operator CoreCivic has sold two Southern California immigration detention centers to the federal government for $1.5 billion. Under the deal, the U.S. Department...
Toyota set to construct $3.6 billion expansion in San Antonio

Toyota set to construct $3.6 billion expansion in San Antonio

By Robert MattesonThe Center Square Toyota announced that it will invest in a $3.6 billion expansion at its San Antonio manufacturing campus, creating 2,000 new high-quality jobs. The investment will...
Republicans silent, Democrats irate at Iran ceasefire collapse

Republicans silent, Democrats irate at Iran ceasefire collapse

By Thérèse BoudreauxThe Center Square With military hostilities between the U.S. and Iran resuming only weeks after the nations signed a peace deal, Democrats in Congress are demanding that the...
Chicago aldermen consider election reforms, cost savings

Chicago aldermen consider election reforms, cost savings

By Sean Reed | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – The Chicago City Council is considering new election reforms that supporters say could increase voter access and...
U.S. launches more strikes against Iran

U.S. launches more strikes against Iran

By Andrew RiceThe Center Square The U.S. military is launching more strikes against Iran at the direction of President Donald Trump. U.S. Central Command said the military started launching additional...
Trump calls American military operation in Iran a ‘tremendous military success’

Trump calls American military operation in Iran a ‘tremendous military success’

By Morgan SweeneyThe Center Square President Donald Trump called the American military operation in Iran a “tremendous military success” on Wednesday at a news conference concluding his time at the...
U.S. Energy Department finalizes $3.3B loan to Texas utility

U.S. Energy Department finalizes $3.3B loan to Texas utility

By Alton WallaceThe Center Square The U.S. Department of Energy Wednesday announced it has finalized a $3.26 billion loan to utility AEP Texas, a subsidiary of American Electric Power, or...
Illinois Quick Hits: Chicago breaks ground on $4.7M torture memorial

Illinois Quick Hits: Chicago breaks ground on $4.7M torture memorial

By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – Mayor Brandon Johnson and other Chicago officials have broken ground on a $4.7 million memorial to honor...
Crude oil rises, gas prices may follow

Crude oil rises, gas prices may follow

By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – Illinoisans are bracing for higher prices at the pump after the United States resumed military action against...