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

WATCH: IL Republican pushes for TX quorum rules that Pritzker hails as ‘hero’ move

WATCH: IL Republican pushes for TX quorum rules that Pritzker hails as ‘hero’ move

By Greg Bishop | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – While Gov. J.B. Pritzker jokes on national TV that Illinois’ congressional maps were drawn by kindergartners, a...
Frankfort Meeting 8.4.25

Frankfort to Implement 1% Grocery Tax, Replacing State Levy to Preserve Revenue

FRANKFORT – Frankfort residents will see no change at the grocery checkout line, but the village will preserve a key revenue stream after the Village Board approved an ordinance Monday...
frankfort village hall graphic logo.1

Frankfort to Sell Vacant Downtown Property Valued at $325,000 for Commercial Redevelopment

FRANKFORT – The Village of Frankfort is officially putting a prime piece of vacant, village-owned land in its historic downtown up for sale, aiming to spur immediate commercial redevelopment. The...
frankfort village hall graphic logo.8

New Sushi Restaurant ‘The Orange Hat’ Approved for Frankfort

FRANKFORT – A new full-service sushi restaurant, The Orange Hat, is set to open in the Hickory Creek Market Place after the Village Board approved a special use permit for...
frankfort village hall graphic logo.7

Village Board Approves Zoning Variances for New Custom Home on Bowen Street

FRANKFORT – The Frankfort Village Board on Monday approved two zoning variances for a new custom home at 50 E. Bowen Street, allowing the builder to use non-masonry siding and...
Meeting-Briefs

Meeting Summary: Frankfort Village Board for August 4, 2025

The Frankfort Village Board met on Monday, August 4, 2025, to address several key ordinances and conduct village business. The board approved a measure to replace the state's expiring 1%...
Fire-Ambulance-Rescue-Logo

Indiana Woman Identified as Victim in Fatal Wilmington-Peotone Road Crash

The Will County Coroner’s Office has officially identified the woman killed in Tuesday’s fatal crash on Wilmington-Peotone Road as 70-year-old Judith L. Stirm of Delphi, Indiana. In a statement, Coroner...
Frankfort-Police-Rescue

Multiple Agencies Rescue Person in Mental Health Crisis from Frankfort Pond

A person experiencing a mental health crisis was safely rescued from a pond near 80th Avenue in Lakeview Estates on Wednesday after a coordinated response by multiple emergency agencies. Frankfort...
Green-Garden-Logo.WP

Green Garden Township Forges Ahead with New Town Hall Plan, Faces Budget and Neighbor Concerns

The Green Garden Township Board is advancing an ambitious plan to build a new, larger town hall and community center on a six-acre parcel south of its current location, a...
Meeting-7.28.25

IT Consultant Urges Green Garden Township to Adopt Modern Cybersecurity Measures

Green Garden Township’s digital infrastructure is vulnerable to cybercrime and requires an immediate overhaul, including adopting a modern, secure email system and multifactor authentication, an IT consultant told the board...
Meeting-Briefs

Meeting Summary and Briefs: Frankfort Township Board for June 9, 2025

The Frankfort Township Board on Monday, June 9, 2025, approved its primary financial documents for the upcoming fiscal year, passing separate and balanced budget appropriation ordinances for the township and...
Sanchez

Sanchez Family Unveils Major Redevelopment Plan for Monee Industrial Property

Article Summary: Developer Luis Sanchez, a key figure in Monee's commercial growth for two decades, presented a plan to revitalize an industrial property on Industrial Drive. The project, which includes...
Screenshot-2025-08-13-at-2.15.28-PM

Monee Approves Over $566,000 Payment for New Public Works Facility Nearing Completion

Article Summary: The Monee Village Board approved a payment of $566,134.16 for the ongoing construction of its new Public Works building. Officials reported the project is on track for a...
Screenshot-2025-08-13-at-2.11.44-PM

Sheepdog Firearms Gets Green Light for Special Use Permit in Monee

Article Summary: Sheepdog Firearms received final approval from the Monee Village Board for a special use permit to operate a retail and firearms range facility at 25812 S. Sunset Drive....
Wintrust-Crossroads-Sports-Complex

New Lenox Prepares for Grand Opening of Wintrust Crossroads Sports Complex

NEW LENOX – After months of anticipation and intensive work, the New Lenox Community Park District is making final preparations for the grand opening of its flagship Wintrust Crossroads Sports...