Every year, on the Friday before Labor Day, students, alumni, and fans across the country celebrate College Colors Day, a tradition that began in 2004 thanks to the Collegiate Licensing Company. This year, it falls on Friday, August 29, 2025, and the theme is “Flip the Switch”, encouraging everyone to activate their fan mode and proudly wear the colors of their alma mater or favorite college.

Across Illinois, more than 200 colleges and universities shape the character of their communities, each one steeped in legacy, alive with tradition, and bursting with color. The state’s academic landscape stretches wide: sprawling campuses that fuel innovation, quiet quads that nurture reflection, and every kind of learning environment in between. 

CRIME
The Human Cost of the SAFE-T Act. When Governor J.B. Pritzker signed the SAFE-T Act into law in 2021, he hailed it as a landmark step toward equity and accountability in Illinois’ criminal justice system. But nearly four years later, the fallout from this sweeping legislation has left many Illinoisans asking: who is this law really protecting?

Friday night is reserved for high school football, and from the final Friday in August through Thanksgiving weekend, communities across Illinois celebrate their local teams through the regular season and playoffs. The high school football season provides a snapshot of what tradition means to Illinois cities and towns, and it also encompasses the transition from summer to winter. The football season starts out in sweltering heat in early August across the state, and it finishes in the snow, wind, and cold at the state finals in late November. 

The risk of harm or death from overdose is a struggle that impacts families across Illinois, regardless of zip code, race or background. Synthetic opioids, particularly from fentanyl-laced substances, have been the primary driver of this rise in fatal overdoses. According to the Illinois Department of Public Health, Illinois experienced 3,261 fatal opioid-related drug overdoses in 2022 and 2,855 in 2023. More telling is that since 2013, fatal overdoses from synthetic opioids have increased by 3,341%.

When Governor J.B. Pritzker signed the SAFE-T Act into law in 2021, he hailed it as a landmark step toward equity and accountability in Illinois’ criminal justice system. But nearly four years later, the fallout from this sweeping legislation has left many Illinoisans asking: who is this law really protecting?

The SAFE-T Act—short for Safety, Accountability, Fairness and Equity-Today—eliminated cash bail statewide through the Pretrial Fairness Act. The law allows dangerous individuals to walk free before trial, undermining public safety and justice for victims.

Pet ownership in the U.S. continues to rise, with the latest research showing nearly two-thirds of households owning at least one pet. Dogs are the most popular pet in the nation, followed by cats and fish. National Dog Day has been celebrated since 2004 on August 26, with the main focus being awareness of pet adoption and rescue centers.

Many shelters across the country are full, and others are struggling to meet the needs of the animals. In 2024, nearly three million dogs entered shelters and rescues, with two million adopted and over 300,000 euthanized. Welcoming and loving homes are needed across the country to adopt dogs and other animals. Currently, not enough animals are being adopted to significantly reduce the number in shelters nationwide. Please consider adopting a pet, if you are able, in your area. An expanded list of animal shelters in Illinois is available here.

As the price of everything in Illinois from groceries to utilities seems to be on the rise, a group of House Republican lawmakers have introduced legislation to help working families meet these ever-rising costs.

The bills introduced by this group of legislators, collectively known as the Relief for Working Families legislative package, would encourage entrepreneurship, help tipped employees keep all of their gratuities, and create opportunities for technical skill-building that can lead to high-paying jobs.

ENERGY COST CRISIS
Soaring summer electric bills in much of Illinois. Many customers throughout Illinois have seen their electric bills double this summer. Monthly Illinois electricity bills carry prices that are partly set by supply constraints. After many Illinois coal-burning electricity generating plants closed down in recent years, utility suppliers were forced to look to generating plants in other states to buy their electricity. The price of electric power that crosses state lines is not, however, set by Illinois law.

While working families across Illinois are tightening their belts, Governor JB Pritzker has made sure one group will not be going without this holiday season: his trial lawyer friends. With the signing of Senate Bill 328, now Public Act 104-0352, the Governor delivered a gift-wrapped windfall to politically connected attorneys at the expense of Illinois businesses, taxpayers, and job seekers.

Older adults contribute immeasurably to our communities in a variety of ways. They raised their families, earned a living whether it be by starting a business or pursuing their dreams in one or more career pathways, coached their kids’ sports teams and volunteered in one or more civic, charitable, or faith-based causes. They donated their time, their income, and their individual talents to lift up and enrich the lives of their neighbors and families. Now, they should be able to afford to enjoy their retirement years in Illinois – close to family and celebrating life’s next milestones in the community they call home.

Illinois House Republicans are working to protect seniors’ financial security, health, and independence. Whether you hail from Chicago, the suburbs, one of our bustling Downstate cities, or beautiful rural Illinois, House Republicans believe state government should make life more affordable for you.

Illinois has small-town charm that can be found in villages across the state, but one village has been a destination for everyone who wants to experience the Amish culture and lifestyle. Arthur is a village in Douglas and Moultrie counties in Illinois and is home to the largest and oldest Amish community in the state. The friendly atmosphere welcomes hundreds of thousands of visitors every year and has one motto: "You're a stranger only once." On September 2, 1873, Michael H. Warren entered the plat for the original town that would become Arthur, Illinois. This unique village is a popular destination for anyone seeking traditional Amish lifestyle and customs.

For many Illinois families, the excitement of a new school year comes with a challenge: managing the ever-high cost of back-to-school expenses. From tuition and activity fees to supplies and clothing, the price of getting the kids off to school can add up quickly. Luckily, there are many savvy ways to ease the financial burden, starting with some planning and by taking advantage of a useful Illinois tax credit.

Democrats in Springfield passed a $55.2 billion state budget for Fiscal Year 2026, the largest in Illinois history, this spring. Even though the state took in its largest revenue haul ever, Democrats still raised taxes by nearly $1 billion to fund their tax-and-spend agenda. Those tax hikes added more costs for consumers to cellphones, nicotine products, short-term rentals like Airbnb, and sports betting through apps like DraftKings.

Instead of shoring up funding for long-term programs, Democrats' tax hikes instead helped them fund more pet projects for themselves. So, it should come as no surprise that before the FY 2026 state budget was even signed, and since, Democrats have been proposing all manner of additional tax hikes to fill the gap for core services they have repeatedly failed to adequately fund.

CORRUPTION
Judge denies Madigan’s request to avoid reporting to prison. The convicted former Speaker of the Illinois House Michael J. Madigan has been ordered to report to prison by October 13, 2025, to begin serving a 7.5-year sentence for bribery and conspiracy. After a landmark trial, Madigan, the longtime head of the Illinois Democratic Party was convicted on ten separate counts of federal criminal offenses. Madigan was sentenced in June 2025. After his sentencing, Madigan filed appeals to strike down all his convictions. These appeals have now entered the federal court process.

More than a century before the Massachusetts minutemen took up arms at Lexington and Concord, America had a tradition of citizen-soldiers who were prepared to defend their homes and protect their communities.

Illinois was no different. In the early 1700s Illinois was held by the King of France, who issued a charter in 1718 creating a force of local militiamen to secure trading routes through his colony. Illinois militiamen joined George Rogers Clark in seizing Kaskaskia from the British during the Revolutionary War in 1779.

Photo Credit: Illinois Office of Tourism | Enjoy Illinois

As Illinoisans and visitors from around the country gather in Springfield for the State Fair, supermajority Democrats will take the stage and spotlight on Wednesday. And while Democrats will tout all of their ‘successes’ and rant and rave about the federal government, the smoke screen they create will attempt to hide all of their failures. But those failures continue to mount, and they are being noticed by Illinois families who are tired of bad policies, sky-high taxes, and a struggling economy offering little hope for the future.

The month of August marks the start of the back-to-school season for many families, with over 2.2 million students aged K-12 attending school in Illinois. Approximately 40% of those students take the bus to get to and from school. According to the Illinois State Police, the most dangerous part of the school bus ride is picking up and dropping students off at the bus stop, accounting for most school bus accidents.

Illinois has various laws surrounding school bus safety that applies to all drivers, working to keep students traveling on buses or to bus stops safe.

Illinois families are being asked to dig deeper into their pockets and House Republicans say enough is enough!

This spring, Democrats in Springfield passed a $55.2 billion state budget for Fiscal Year 2026, the largest in Illinois history. To pay for it, they leaned on over $1 billion in new taxes and fund sweeps and paused statutory transfers.

“Tax-and-spend Democrats are thriving in Illinois,” said House Minority Leader Tony McCombie. “But their success is coming at a steep cost to working families who are already stretched to the limit.”

CORRUPTION
Final “ComEd Four” Convict Sentenced to Prison. A federal judge sentenced the last of the “ComEd Four” convicts to a one-year prison sentence this week for his involvement in the Mike Madigan bribery scheme that ensnared multiple lobbyists and politicians.

Longtime ComEd lobbyist and ex-City Club of Chicago head Jay Doherty will serve one year and a day in prison for his crimes. 

Each year on August 7, Americans pause to honor the brave men and women who have been wounded or killed in combat while serving in the U.S. Armed Forces. Known as Purple Heart Day, this solemn occasion recognizes recipients of the Purple Heart Medal, the nation’s oldest military decoration still awarded.

The origins of the Purple Heart trace back to August 7, 1782, when General George Washington created the Badge of Military Merit to honor “singularly meritorious action” among enlisted soldiers. Though only three were awarded during the Revolutionary War, the badge laid the foundation for what would become the Purple Heart.

As families across Illinois prepare for the upcoming school year, the rising cost of school supplies is weighing heavily on household budgets. While other states are stepping up to ease the burden through back-to-school sales tax holidays, Illinois families are still waiting for relief.

State Representative Jennifer Sanalitro (R-Hanover Park) is fighting to change that with her legislation, HB1905, which would create a 7-day sales tax holiday on essential school supplies during the first week of August each year. The bill would provide real savings on items like backpacks, notebooks, calculators, pencils, and more—putting money back into the pockets of hardworking Illinois families.

On Tuesday, August 5, thousands of residents across Illinois from small towns to big cities,are gearing up to participate in National Night Out, a nationwide campaign dedicated to fostering trust between communities and law enforcement. What started as a modest initiative in 1984 has grown into a cornerstone of public safety outreach, with millions of Americans now taking part. The first National Night Out, launched by Matt Peskin and the National Association of Town Watch, encouraged people to turn on porch lights and spend time outside with their neighbors. That simple act has since evolved into coordinated events featuring cookouts, concerts, emergency vehicle tours, and more.

Each year on August 4th, we celebrate the birthday of the U.S. Coast Guard—one of the nation's five armed services. The Coast Guard is tasked with protecting Illinois' shores, enforcing US maritime law, and responding to accidents and disasters. The maritime service was founded in 1790. The Coast Guard has served on American waterways over two centuries. As we commemorate its founding, we pause to reflect on the courage, discipline, and selflessness of the men and women who serve under its banner.

While Illinois may be far from any ocean coastline, the state still feels the impact of the Coast Guard’s mission. With locations in Chicago, Downer's Grove, Wilmette, Willowbrook, and Waukegan, the Coast Guard monitors and supports boating activity and special events like the Navy Pier fireworks. The Waukegan Air Facility offers quick airborne response to emergencies during peak summer months.

DCFS
Reps. Weber, La Ha, and Reick Demand Accountability Following Repeated DCFS Failures. At a press conference this week, State Representatives Tom Weber, Nicole La Ha, and Steve Reick called for urgent reforms to the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS). Findings from the Illinois Auditor General’s July 2025 compliance report revealed 34 violations at DCFS, 29 of which were repeat failures. Also, the death of 18-year-old Mackenzi Felmlee in a foster home in Fairview Heights has raised serious concerns about accountability within the Department of Children and Family Services.