Illinois lawmakers hold first hearing on medically-assisted suicide bill
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WTVO) — Illinois state lawmakers held a first hearing Friday to consider an assisted suicide bill.
The 'End of Life Options Act' would provide prescriptions to terminally ill patients who want to pass away peacefully.
A poll taken two years ago showed that 7 out of 10 Illinois voters supported medical aid in dying legislation.
The Illinois Senate Executive Committee is hearing testimony from a terminally ill woman and a mother whose son died after utilizing a similar law in California.
The bill is modeled after laws in authorized jurisdictions, including Oregon, which established a similar law 28 years ago.
The Illinois legislation could come up for consideration in the General Assembly in the spring.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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Politico
5 hours ago
- Politico
Welch on transit, energy, da Bears
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Yahoo
7 hours ago
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An appreciation: Jerrauld C. Jones
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Yahoo
9 hours ago
- Yahoo
Food banks seek state assistance
HIGH POINT — Food banks in North Carolina, including the one that serves the High Point area, are seeking extra funding from the N.C. General Assembly for the coming fiscal year to cope with greater demand for services and the loss of federal dollars. The food banks want to maintain the $6.1 million that was provided in the current state budget and receive an additional $3 million related to outreach from the impact of Tropical Storm Helene. The state House and Senate are negotiating over a final state budget after different plans were passed by each chamber. 'In light of the current environment and historic numbers of individuals seeking assistance, the food banks requested additional funds for the upcoming year,' Second Harvest Food Bank of Northwest N.C. said in a statement to The High Point Enterprise. The state's food banks say that they face pressures of greater demand from people in need and a possible increase in requests for assistance if food stamp benefits are cut in the new federal budget being worked out by Congress, as the House has proposed. The food banks also lost some federal funding when the U.S. Department of Agriculture announced in March that it was cutting $11 million that food banks in North Carolina had expected to receive through the Local Food Purchase Assistance Program. The money was used by food banks to purchase food from local farmers. Second Harvest lost $2 million. The General Assembly has a history of supporting state food banks. The six Feeding America-affiliated food banks in North Carolina — along with Feeding the Carolinas, their state association that serves both Carolinas — have received grants from the state of North Carolina for the past 30 years, according to Second Harvest. Second Harvest serves a network of 500 food assistance programs in an 18-county region, including 17 agencies serving the High Point and Jamestown areas. The food bank's local partners involve 19 food pantries, four shelters and three soup kitchens. On average, local partners rely on Second Harvest for 80% of the food they provide to people in need, the food bank reports. For the new fiscal year starting July 1, Second Harvest is projecting its network will distribute nearly 40 million meals.
