Maybe he was involved in a high - level diplomatic meeting as part of a Senate delegation. His interactions with foreign officials and the topics discussed, such as trade relations or international security cooperation, could be a top - story - worthy event.
Another possible top story could be his participation in bipartisan discussions. In today's political climate, when senators from different parties come together to work on an issue, it's newsworthy. If Durbin was part of such a group and they achieved some sort of agreement or made progress on an issue, it would be a big story.
Well, if he recently made a significant speech in the Senate about a particular policy matter like climate change legislation, that would be a top story. His speech could outline his position, proposed solutions, and how he plans to gain support for it.