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

Reshoring manufacturing will take a more skilled workforce, small manufacturers say

Reshoring manufacturing will take a more skilled workforce, small manufacturers say

By Morgan SweeneyThe Center Square The federal government should help American businesses access highly skilled workers, continue to cut burdensome regulations and perhaps alter some of its tariff policies to...
WATCH: Feds take steps to dismantle ED, states respond

WATCH: Feds take steps to dismantle ED, states respond

By Esther WickhamThe Center Square Since the Trump administration’s moves to dismantle the U.S. Department of Education, it has prompted a wide range of reactions from state education leaders nationwide....
Inflation-adjusted teacher salaries drop despite record spending on public education

Inflation-adjusted teacher salaries drop despite record spending on public education

By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – A new report says structural problems have led to record-high spending on public education in Illinois and...
State officials race clock amid legal changes to gerrymandered maps

State officials race clock amid legal changes to gerrymandered maps

By Brett RowlandThe Center Square States looking to pad partisan advantage by redrawing political maps ahead of the 2026 midterms face mounting legal challenges and a fresh race against the...
Illinois quick hits: CDC's autism and vaccines website criticized by IDPH

Illinois quick hits: CDC’s autism and vaccines website criticized by IDPH

By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square CDC's autism and vaccines website criticized The Illinois Department of Public Health is criticizing the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and...
Federal judge orders halt to National Guard deployment in DC

Federal judge orders halt to National Guard deployment in DC

By Andrew RiceThe Center Square A federal judge in the District of Columbia ordered the Trump administration to end its deployment of the National Guard in the nation's capital. Judge...
Consumer group files amicus brief on behalf of NRA’s petition to Supreme Court

Consumer group files amicus brief on behalf of NRA’s petition to Supreme Court

By Tate MillerThe Center Square Consumers’ Research says consumers must be protected from government officials who abuse their power as it filed an amicus brief in support of the National...
Report links Minnesota welfare fraud to terrorist funding

Report links Minnesota welfare fraud to terrorist funding

By Elyse ApelThe Center Square New reports allege that millions of taxpayer dollars have been fraudulently stolen from the Minnesota welfare system and then sent to the Somali-based terror group...
White House denies Trump wants to execute 'seditious' Dem lawmakers

White House denies Trump wants to execute ‘seditious’ Dem lawmakers

By Thérèse BoudreauxThe Center Square Despite several social media posts that seem to suggest the contrary, President Donald Trump does not want to execute Democratic members of Congress for “seditious...
IL GOP U.S. Senate candidate says state needs balanced representation

IL GOP U.S. Senate candidate says state needs balanced representation

By Greg Bishop | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – Despite having to push through a potentially crowded primary field, Republican U.S. Senate candidate Don Tracy says...
Wheat price drop brings notable Thanksgiving savings for Illinois families

Wheat price drop brings notable Thanksgiving savings for Illinois families

By Catrina Barker | The Center Square contributorThe Center Square (The Center Square) – Illinois families will see some relief at the Thanksgiving table this year, with the average cost...
Illinois lawmaker calls FDA hormone therapy reversal ‘overdue’

Illinois lawmaker calls FDA hormone therapy reversal ‘overdue’

By Catrina Barker | The Center Square contributorThe Center Square (The Center Square) – An Illinois lawmaker and practicing physician weighs said U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F....
September jobs report adds 119,000, steady unemployment

September jobs report adds 119,000, steady unemployment

By Andrew RiceThe Center Square The delayed release of a September report on the labor market appeared to defy expectations. The report showed employers added 119,000 jobs in September, a...
Indicted Florida congresswoman leaves committee leadership post

Indicted Florida congresswoman leaves committee leadership post

By Merrilee GasserThe Center Square U.S. Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick of Florida, indicted on charges of stealing $5 million in federal disaster funds and using some of it for her campaign,...
Existing home sales up 1.2% in October

Existing home sales up 1.2% in October

By Brett RowlandThe Center Square Sales of existing homes climbed 1.2% in October, according to a report released Thursday by the National Association of Realtors. The 1.2% increase in existing-home...