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.

Events

No events

Leave a Comment





Latest News Stories

Chicago ranks near bottom in survey of best and worst run cities

Chicago ranks near bottom in survey of best and worst run cities

By Glenn Minnis | The Center Square contributorThe Center Square (The Center Square) – The city of Chicago ranks near the bottom in the new Best & Worst-run cities in...
WATCH: Pritzker to sue ‘immediately’ if Trump sends guard; GOP AG candidate profile

WATCH: Pritzker to sue ‘immediately’ if Trump sends guard; GOP AG candidate profile

By Greg Bishop | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – In today's edition of Illinois in Focus Daily, The Center Square Editor Greg Bishop delivers the latest...
Illinois quick hits: Northwestern president resigns; unemployment claims rise

Illinois quick hits: Northwestern president resigns; unemployment claims rise

By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square U OF I Medicine investigated for antisemitism University of Illinois College of Medicine officials have until Monday, Sept. 8, to produce...
WATCH: Pritzker: Will go to court 'immediately' if Trump deploys National Guard

WATCH: Pritzker: Will go to court ‘immediately’ if Trump deploys National Guard

By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker says he will go to court if President Donald Trump sends the National...
Illinois quick hits: Madigan attempts another appeal; prison mail scanning rules proposed

Illinois quick hits: Madigan attempts another appeal; prison mail scanning rules proposed

By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square Madigan attempts another appeal Former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan is making another attempt to stay out of prison. Madigan filed...
IL US Rep: Failing schools cost billions in 'epidemic' of poor proficiency

IL US Rep: Failing schools cost billions in ‘epidemic’ of poor proficiency

By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – An Illinois congresswoman says students’ failure to learn basic reading and math has major economic consequences. During...
Plaintiffs weigh steps after appeals court upholds transit concealed carry ban

Plaintiffs weigh steps after appeals court upholds transit concealed carry ban

By Greg Bishop | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – Plaintiffs in a case challenging the prohibition of concealed carry on Illinois mass transit are reviewing their...
IL comptroller candidate touts experience, focuses on transparency

IL comptroller candidate touts experience, focuses on transparency

By Greg Bishop | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – A state representative running for Illinois comptroller says she’s got the life, professional and government service experience...
WATCH: Pritzker expects feds soon; appeals court affirms transit concealed carry ban

WATCH: Pritzker expects feds soon; appeals court affirms transit concealed carry ban

By Greg Bishop | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – In today's edition of Illinois in Focus Daily, The Center Square Editor Greg Bishop shares the latest...
Illinois quick hits: Economic conditions show stability; EPA recruitment efforts

Illinois quick hits: Economic conditions show stability; EPA recruitment efforts

By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square Economic conditions show stability The Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago’s National Financial Conditions Index was unchanged at –0.53 in the week...
WATCH: Pritzker focuses on violence intervention; VP won’t confirm deployments

WATCH: Pritzker focuses on violence intervention; VP won’t confirm deployments

By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – Vice President J.D. Vance is not confirming reports shared by Gov. J.B. Pritzker that federal deployments may...
House committee investigating Dem governors for 'illegal alien' Medicaid spending

House committee investigating Dem governors for ‘illegal alien’ Medicaid spending

By Sarah Roderick-Fitch | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – The House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform is launching an investigation into the “impact of the...
Illinois quick hits: House investigating Medicaid for illegal immigrants; transit concealed carry case decided by appeals court

Illinois quick hits: House investigating Medicaid for illegal immigrants; transit concealed carry case decided by appeals court

By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square U.S. House investigating Medicaid for illegal immigrants A U.S. House committee is launching an investigation into Illinois and other states, seeking,...
WATCH: Chicago hearing addresses police workload; resident calls for federal help

WATCH: Chicago hearing addresses police workload; resident calls for federal help

By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – Chicago city council members did not discuss potential federal deployments during a public safety meeting Wednesday, but...
Arrest of Mexican national for 2023 murder called ‘long overdue’ justice

Arrest of Mexican national for 2023 murder called ‘long overdue’ justice

By Catrina Barker | The Center Square contributorThe Center Square (The Center Square) – Authorities confirmed the arrest of Gabriel Calixto in Mexico for the 2023 murder of Emma Shafer...