Federal:
The confirmation hearing for Carla Hayden, President Obama’s nominee for the open Librarian of Congress position, was held on April 20th. Multiple senators spoke on her behalf and Hayden testified to her qualifications and experiences. You can view the full event on C-SPAN and you can read more about the confirmation process at the District Dispatch.
State:
State legislators came together to pass stop-gap funding for public colleges and universities in Illinois last week. The $600 million will go towards keeping multiple institutions afloat through the summer. However, many schools have released statements explaining that the funding is only a bandage and will likely not prevent planned cuts. Also, the funding does not signify a long-term commitment to higher education funding. Social services and other state-funded initiatives and agencies are still hurting, as a budget still has not been passed. For more information see the Chicago Tribune and a statement from the University of Illinois.