Illinois quick hits: Raoul joins SNAP benefits lawsuit; disaster declaration denial appealed

By Jim Talamonti | The Center Square
The Center Square

Raoul joins SNAP benefits lawsuit

Attorney General Kwame Raoul today joined a coalition of 26 attorneys general and governors in filing a lawsuit against the U.S. Department of Agriculture for suspending the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.

Raoul and the coalition argue that the agency has access to billions of dollars in SNAP-specific contingency funds appropriated by Congress for use during events like government shutdowns.

The coalition says the USDA has funded other programs with emergency funds during the shutdown but has refused to fund SNAP.

Disaster declaration denial appealed

The state of Illinois and Cook County are appealing a recent denial of a Presidential Disaster Declaration requested by Gov. J.B. Pritzker.

The request was to seek federal assistance for severe flooding across the state in July and August.

As part of the appeal process, additional assessments will be conducted next week.

Turkey harvest numbers

Turkey hunters in Illinois harvested 255 wild turkeys during the 2025 fall firearm season Oct. 18-26, compared to 294 harvested last year.

Fall firearm turkey hunting was open in 56 of Illinois’ 102 counties.

The harvest leaders this year were Jefferson and Jo Daviess counties, with 16 turkeys each.

The record harvest was set in 2005 when 1,218 birds were harvested.