Illinois has enacted nearly 300 new laws starting in 2026, including the elimination of the statewide grocery tax, designating soybeans as the state bean, expanding AI regulation in employment, allowing U.S. flags on courthouses, and increasing transparency in government advertising and college costs, among other measures.
Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito explained that an upside-down U.S. flag at his house was due to a disagreement between his wife and a neighbor, who has now spoken out about the incident.
Supporters of Donald Trump are displaying the US flag upside down, a signal of distress, to protest his conviction in a hush money trial. Prominent figures like Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene and Michael Flynn have shared images of inverted flags on social media, and the trend is spreading across the country. The act has drawn renewed scrutiny and debate over respect for the flag, as outlined in US code.