
Economics and energy take center stage in this year’s 13th congressional district campaigns
Representative Nikki Budzinski (D) is seeking a third term in Illinois’ 13th congressional district, which stretches from Champaign-Urbana to East St. Louis. But she faces several challengers from the GOP as well as her own party.

City of Champaign Township appoints Charlene Murray as new supervisor
The City of Champaign Township Board selected Strides Interim Executive Director Charlene Murray for the role. Champaign County Democratic Party Chair Mike Ingram also interviewed for the supervisor position.

The criminal prosecution of Nicolás Maduro is underway. Here’s what to expect
Now that ousted Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro is on U.S. soil, the criminal case against him is in motion.

Maduro says ‘I was captured’ as he pleads not guilty to drug trafficking charges
Maduro and his wife are expected to appear at noon before a judge for a brief, but required, legal proceeding that will likely kick off a prolonged legal fight over whether he can be put on trial in the U.S.

Trump says ‘we are going to run the country now’ after removing Venezuela’s president
President Trump says the United States conducted a strike in Venezuela and captured that country’s president, Nicolás Maduro along with his wife, Cilia Flores.

Justice Department releases more Epstein files and some mention Trump
Congress required the Justice Department to make all files available by last Friday. The department has taken a piecemeal approach to releasing the files, which are expected to contain hundreds of thousands of pages.

Trump gives a partisan prime-time address insisting the economy is stronger than many voters feel
The remarks came as the nation is preparing to settle down to celebrate the holidays, yet Trump was focused more on divisions within the country than a sense of unity.

Republicans defy Speaker Johnson to force House vote on extending ACA subsidies
Four centrist Republicans broke with Speaker Mike Johnson on Wednesday and signed onto a Democratic-led petition that will force a House vote on extending for three years an enhanced pandemic-era subsidy that lowers health insurance costs for millions of Americans.

Petition objection derails campaign for Rep. Eric Sorensen’s primary opponent
Democrat Montez Soliz of Rockford posted on social media that he has been removed from the ballot in the Illinois’ 17th Congressional District race following an objection to his petitions.

University of Illinois student officials worry about losing self-governing power
Student officials at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign say administrators have changed their election rules without their input.

How Illinois’ Democratic U.S. Senate candidates plan to address economic issues
How Illinois’ Democratic U.S. Senate candidates plan to address economic issues

Rep. Sorensen calls for Defense Secretary Hegseth to resign after Pentagon watchdog report
A summary of the inspector general’s report provided to NPR finds that had a foreign adversary intercepted the intelligence discussed in the chat, it would have endangered both U.S. servicemembers and the mission at large.

