* Sun-Times…

Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul on Monday sued the Trump administration for the third time over its latest efforts to impose tariffs, as part of a coalition of 23 state attorneys general.

The lawsuit challenges the Trump administration’s decision last month to increase tariffs again.

“For the third time, I stand with my colleagues across the country to fight the Trump administration’s illegal tariffs. And we will continue this fight as long as the administration attempts to force its tariffs upon American consumers and businesses,” Raoul said in a news release.

The U.S. last month imposed taxes of 10% to 12.5% on imports from 60 countries, accounting for 99% of U.S. imports, charging that they have inadequately enforced bans on goods produced by forced labor.

Bloomberg…

The states allege the administration is improperly invoking provisions of the trade law and that the new duties are operating “as an implementation of the president’s broad tariff policy rather than the kind of tailored measure authorized under Section 301.”

Trump is rebuilding a tariff wall that was struck down in February when the Supreme Court ruled his global levies, issued under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, or IEEPA, were illegal.

The president then imposed 10% global tariffs, under Section 122 of the Trade Act. Those were ruled illegal by a trade court, but they were allowed to stay in effect during an appeal. The Section 122 tariffs expired last month.

Section 301 allows the US Trade Representative, under the direction of the president, to impose tariffs in response to other nations’ trade measures it deems discriminatory to American businesses or in violation of US rights under international trade agreements.

* Press release…

Attorney General Kwame Raoul, as part of a coalition of 23 attorneys general, today filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration over unlawful policy changes that would give the administration broad access to the sensitive private information of millions of families receiving Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) benefits. These changes would see the administration using and sharing this data to advance its political goals in ways well beyond what Congress intended.

Raoul and the coalition argue in their lawsuit that the attempt to share millions of people’s data and implement new monitoring of states’ TANF programs violates the law and is a blatant and pretextual effort to politically target those who are lawfully receiving critical TANF benefits.

“Temporary Assistance for Needy Families benefits are intended to support Illinois’ most vulnerable residents by providing essential assistance during a time of need,” Raoul said. “However, this new policy change targets individuals who rely on those benefits and allows for the illegal sharing of their personal and private information across federal government agencies without limitations. I am filing this lawsuit today with my colleagues because this policy violates the law and attacks the privacy of millions of families across the country.” […]

As Raoul and the attorneys general assert in their lawsuit, TANF is one of the largest sources of direct assistance to low-income families and a crucial part of states’ efforts to fight poverty. Illinois receives approximately $583 million annually in TANF funding and provides over 65,000 Illinois residents with crucial temporary financial assistance.

The Hill…

TANF, created in 1996 as an overhaul of federal anti-poverty programs, provides billions of dollars each year to states to assist low-income families with children. States have flexibility in distributing the grants.

The lawsuit challenges a June 23 legal notice that expands how the federal government can use TANF data.

The states described it as an “extravagant claims of authority” and a “gross breach of personal privacy” that could allow immigration authorities access to Social Security numbers and other sensitive information. They argued it violates multiple laws that limit how the government can share personal data.

* More…

* Press release | AG Raoul announces settlement with makers of Posh e-cigarettes: The settlement requires the defendants to pay $20 million that will allow for the continued enforcement of state law protecting Illinoisans, including against illicit vaping entities. In addition, the entities are prohibited from selling, distributing or advertising Posh e-cigarettes in Illinois unless and until their products obtain a marketing-granted order from the FDA. Every new tobacco product, including e-cigarettes, must receive an order from the FDA authorizing its marketing and sale in the U.S.

* Daily Herald | Shuttered Mount Prospect animal feed plant to pay $185K to resolve suit brought by state AG: Prestige Feed Products LLC, which operated at 431 N. Lakeview Court from 2019 until the end of 2025, is required to pay $185,000 in civil penalties, under the decree. “Residents in the community surrounding Prestige should be able to enjoy their lives and homes without having to endure the foul odors coming from the company’s operations,” Raoul said in a statement. “I will continue to protect all Illinois communities and hold companies accountable when violations of our environmental laws occur.”

* Capitol News Illinois | Federal judge denies Trump administration access to Illinois voter data: A federal judge ruled late Friday that Illinois is not required to hand over its complete, unredacted voter registration data, including sensitive personal information, to the Trump administration. In a 14-page opinion, Judge Colleen Lawless reached the same conclusion as judges in 18 other federal districts and one appellate circuit who have ruled in nearly identical cases. She found that the Civil Rights Act of 1960 does not give the U.S. attorney general “general auditing power” to demand voter data.