WSIU News Morning Update May 28, 2026 in Carbondale, IL
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Transcript
25 segmentsThis is morning edition. I'm Leah Lerner, reporting WSIU News. Democratic Illinois U.S. Senator Dick Durbin returned to the State House where his political career began to give a farewell address to lawmakers. In a speech to a joint session of the state legislature, Dick Durbin reflected on his time as the longest serving U.S. senator in Illinois history. I've had a chance to help so many people. I don't know that I'll ever find anything that has such a dramatic impact on individuals and their opportunities. and rights. He says his legacy starts with 3,000 interns that have come through his office, including lawmakers like state representative Cam Buckner and Senator Mike Simmons. Dick Durbin was first elected to the U.S. Senate in 1996 after serving in the U.S. House for six terms. Paying for college could soon get tougher for many families. New federal student loan rules start on July 1st. Parent Plus loans will
now cap at $20,000 a year and $65,000 total. Some graduate. students will also lose access to certain federal loans. Bill Wozniak with the nonprofit Invest Ed says families are now just realizing how expensive borrowing has become. This is actually the second highest plus loan rate ever. Two years ago was actually just a smidge higher, but this is close to being tied for the most expensive plus loan ever. Wozniak says families should compare rates and fees carefully before borrowing money. Some loans are may cost less than current federal parent plus loans, which now top 9% plus fees. That's not some wonderful really low rate. So we want people to think about that as well.
And now with the caps coming in, that's just another reason to do even more due diligence and do your research to find out what else may be available. That might be a better choice. Federal officials say the new rules could reduce borrowing and lower financial risk. Some collegiate groups warn the tighter loan limits could leave middle income families with fewer options. Illinois lawmakers have passed legislation aimed at helping cancer patients access personalized treatments more quickly. Senate Bill 3509 would expand and clarify insurance coverage for biomarker testing, which helps doctors identify the most effective treatments for cancer and other diseases. Advocates say biomarker testing plays a major role in precision medicine and can help connect patients with targeted treatments sooner.
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