Judith Ruiz-Branch, Illinois News Connection

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Illinois

Illinois News Connection

‘New Illinois’ movement grows amid skepticism

Organizers pushing for a new, independent state within Illinois said they are prepared to play the long game to conquer the urban-rural divide. The movement of counties wanting to break off into a new territory is growing. G. H. Merritt, chairman of the board of the nonprofit New Illinois, said it is fundamentally about representation in government, not partisan politics. Merritt pointed out rural communities often feel forgotten and it is a phenomenon transcending party affiliation. "The government is passing things […]

todayJuly 14, 2026 70

Illinois

Illinois News Connection

Illinois ranks high in child welfare, poor outcomes rise

(Illinois News Connection/Public News Service) -- Illinois is doing better than most states in supporting youth well-being, according to a new report, but local leaders said declines in education and health outcomes still demand attention. The 2026 Kids Count Data Book from the Annie E. Casey Foundation looked at how children and families are faring across four areas. Illinois’ strongest rankings are in education and health but academic outcomes remain worse than pre-pandemic levels. Loukisha Pennix, chief youth and family potential officer for YWCA […]

todayJune 8, 2026 41 2

Illinois childcare crisis

Illinois News Connection

Rural Illinois hit hardest by childcare crisis

(Public News Service/Illinois News Connection) -- A new analysis shows that nearly half of young children in the U.S. live in childcare deserts. That number is even higher in Illinois, where the majority of counties lack adequate licensed providers for children under age five. In 2023, licensed providers could serve only about 31 percent of Illinois children in that same age range. The Center for American Progress says the problem is particularly dire in smaller communities, creating a stark urban-rural […]

todayMay 19, 2026 174 2

maternity care

Illinois News Connection

Billing shift won’t solve maternity care deserts in Illinois

(Illinois News Connection/Public News Service) A health-care expert in Illinois questions whether changes to the way doctors report and bill for pregnancy-related services will expand access to maternal care. The American Medical Association is shifting from a global payment system to itemized billing for prenatal and delivery services. Charles James, president of North American Health Care Management Services, said the update is needed to modernize standards. He said he hoped it would improve access to pregnancy services for families, but added it misses […]

todayMarch 12, 2026 95

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