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Supreme Court Strikes Down Ban On Trademarking 'Immoral,' 'Scandalous' Words, Symbols

Updated at 11:06 a.m. ET In a win for advocates of free speech, the Supreme Court struck down a ban on trademarking words and symbols that are "immoral" or "scandalous." The case was brought by clothing designer Erik Brunetti, who sought to trademark the phrase FUCT. The decision paves the way for him to get his brand trademarked. The court, like others, struggled with how to deal with the word — in particular, its pronunciation. Here's how Justice Elena Kagan described it in her majority...

AFSCME Union Ratifies New State Labor Deal

State Of The Artist: There's No Percentage To Be Gained In Being Rude

Rockford Hosts 'Drag Queen Story Hour' Despite Protests

By Sarah Jesmer • 10 hours ago

Rockford is celebrating June as Pride Month for the first time ever this year. The city has held events all month like parties and art exhibitions, and more recently, a 'Drag Queen Story Hour' at the East Branch of the Rockford Public Library.

Saturday's event was attended by families and young kids while a crowd of protestors, supporters, and law enforcement gathered outside.

Perspective: Isolation In The Land Of Plenty

By Bob Evans • 11 hours ago

A booming economy masks underlying crisis, a sickness of our national soul.

Symptoms include suicide rates at a 50-year high, not counting suicide by opioids. Life span projections contract. Polls indicate that Americans, for the first time, do not expect the lives of their children to be happier than theirs. We could continue, but the news of societal depression is itself depressing.

Pritzker Says New Laws Make Illinois 'Firewall' Against Trump On Immigration

By Brian Mackey • Jun 21, 2019

Gov. J.B. Pritzker has signed a series of laws meant to protect immigrants in Illinois. The Democrat says it’s a direct response to the rhetoric and actions of President Donald Trump.

Illinois Supreme Court Sides With Walgreens Over Improper Bottled Water Tax

By Brian Mackey • Jun 21, 2019

The Illinois Supreme Court is letting Walgreens off the hook for improperly collecting a tax on sparkling water.

Pritzker Pushes Participation In 2020 Census

By Mary Hansen • Jun 21, 2019

The U.S. Supreme Court is expected to rule soon on whether the Trump administration can add a citizenship question to the 2020 census. In Illinois, Governor J.B. Pritzker is moving ahead with plans to make sure everyone in the state is counted.

A New Lincoln Bible Unveiled To The Public For The First Time In 150 Years

By Daisy Contreras • Jun 21, 2019

A bible belonging to Abraham Lincoln has been unveiled to the public for the first time in 150 years.

Perspective: The Seat Of Power

By Lonny Cain • Jun 21, 2019

Father’s Day. It’s come and gone. But I’m still thinking about the chair.

Dad’s chair. THE chair.

Winnebago County Health Department Works To Educate Public On Mosquito Prevention

By Christine Hatfield • Jun 20, 2019

Winnebago County’s Health Department is doing its part to try to control the mosquito population.

Last weekend, the department held its fourth free tire drop off event. They collected close to two thousand tires from the community.

Ryan Kerch is the department’s environmental health supervisor. He says tires are more than a nuisance and an environmental pollutant.

Supreme Court: Cross Can Stand On Public Land In Separation Of Church And State Case

By Nina Totenberg • Jun 20, 2019

Updated at 9:04 p.m. ET

The U.S. Supreme Court ruled Thursday that a 40-foot World War I memorial cross can stay on public land at a Maryland intersection.

Opinion: Why War With Iran Is Bad For Trump — And America

By Aaron David Miller • Jun 20, 2019

Aaron David Miller (@aarondmiller2), a distinguished fellow at the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars and a former State Department adviser and Middle East negotiator, is the author of The End of Greatness: Why America Can't Have (and Doesn't Want) Another Great President.

Richard Sokolsky, currently a nonresident senior fellow at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, worked in the State Department for six different administrations and was a member of the secretary of state's Office of Policy Planning from 2005-2015.

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Instagram Advertising: Do You Know It, When You See It?

By Jasmine Garsd • 32 minutes ago

In the photograph, Gretchen Altman is smiling, leaning back casually, a cup of coffee in hand — Hills Bros. Coffee, to be precise. It looks like a candid shot, but if you hit like, leave a comment, and tag a friend, you can get three different blends of brew, for free.