a Better Bubble™

Aggregator

Missouri governor to sign porn site age verification bill

15 hours 32 minutes ago
Gov. Mike Kehoe has announced he will sign legislation Thursday requiring pornography websites to verify that users are adults before allowing them to access sexually explicit content. The bill, which will take effect Aug. 28, applies to commercial websites and social media platforms that knowingly and intentionally publish or distribute content in Missouri if more […]
Jason Hancock

Shipman Fourth Of July Celebration Delivers Another Standout Night Of Fireworks

15 hours 51 minutes ago
SHIPMAN — The Shipman, Illinois, Independence Day celebration featuring the community’s primary local fireworks show was held Friday, July 3, 2026, at Shipman Lake, drawing a significant crowd for an annual event that organizers said was once again successful. Hosted by the Shipman Firefighters Association and the Shipman Fire Department, the celebration included food, drinks, and festivities, along with a dramatic fireworks display that lasted about 20 minutes. The annual event

St. Clair County Celebrates Opening of 4.5-Mile MetroBike Link Trail

15 hours 52 minutes ago
SHILOH - Representatives of the St. Clair County Transit District (SCCTD) recently joined local officials, stakeholders and nearly 100 cyclists to celebrate the grand opening of a new $6 million, 4.5-mile extension of the MetroBikeLink Trail. This milestone marks the completion of the first of three parts of the MetroLink Expansion Project to MidAmerica St. Louis Airport, with associated roadway improvements opening in the coming weeks and the MetroLink extension anticipated to begin service

Bethalto Retiree Finds Fitness and Purpose Through Wildlife Photography

16 hours 7 minutes ago
RIVERBEND - Bethalto native LeRoy Taynor didn’t intend to become a wildlife photographer, but he has discovered a new passion. Taynor explained that he was “always the one behind the camera” when his sons were growing up. When he retired in 2024, he bought a camera and started taking photos of the birds he saw in his backyard. But he wanted to be more active, which led to him walking along the river — and his photos have turned out to be even better than he could hav

New Law Expands Optional Use Of Cameras In Long-Term Care Facilities

16 hours 10 minutes ago
SPRINGFIELD – Gov. JB Pritzker has signed a measure allowing residents of assisted living and shared housing establishments to exercise the right to use electronic monitoring, meant to enhance transparency and resident safety. A similar law allowing cameras in residents’ rooms in nursing homes has existed in Illinois since 2016. “This new law allows assisted living residents to install a video and/or audio recording device in their room, allowing added peace of mind for

IDNR To Accept Bids For Agriculture Leases At State Sites

16 hours 20 minutes ago
SPRINGFIELD – The Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) will accept sealed bids this fall for about 40 agricultural lease contracts for the 2027-2031 crop years. The department uses agricultural leases to support wildlife populations and recreational opportunities at sites it owns or manages. The leases promote environmentally sound farming practices that improve soil health, reduce soil erosion, enhance water quality and minimize chemical impacts benefiting wildlife and

Water Main Break Closes Part Of Hillsboro Avenue

16 hours 22 minutes ago
EDWARDSVILLE - The City of Edwardsville said Hillsboro Avenue was closed to through traffic early Tuesday, July 7, 2026, after a water main break in the 100 block of the street just outside City Hall. The closure affects Hillsboro Avenue between North Main Street and a point slightly west of Commercial Street, according to Edwardsville city officials. The city said its water crews were working to fix the break. Drivers can still access the parking lot behind the 100 block of North

Attorney General Raoul Urges U.S. Trade Representative To Stop Hitting American Consumers And Businesses With Illegal Tariffs

16 hours 22 minutes ago
CHICAGO – Attorney General Kwame Raoul, as part of a coalition of 22 states, urged the United States Trade Representative (USTR) to rescind its plan to continue President Trump’s illegal tariffs. In their comment letter , the attorneys general push back on the USTR’s proposed tariffs on the European Union and 59 other countries after the U.S. Supreme Court ruled against the USTR’s first attempt to impose tariffs in February, and the Court of International Trade

Duckworth, Warren Press Hegseth Over Pentagon Rollback of Civilian Protection Programs

16 hours 25 minutes ago
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Combat Veteran and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) joined U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) and eight members of Congress in pressing Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth on the Department of Defense’s (DoD) defunding and deprioritizing of programs that prevent and respond to civilian harm in war. The letter follows a new report by the DoD Inspector General (DoD IG), which found that under Hegseth’s leadership, DoD has put servicemembers and civilians

IDOT Opens $30 Million Round for EV Charging Station Funding

16 hours 28 minutes ago
SPRINGFIELD – The Illinois Department of Transportation today opened a call for locations for a special round of funding available through the Illinois National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Program. Approximately $30 million is available through the program’s fourth round of funding availability. Applications must be received by July 20. A significantly streamlined application process requires only the submission of site location information, including a map, simple schematic

Illinois Secretary of State's Office Earns National Recognition for Excellence

16 hours 32 minutes ago
SPRINGFIELD – The Illinois Secretary of State’s office has become the first Illinois state agency to ever receive the national Achievement of Excellence in Procurement (AEP) Award from the National Procurement Institute. This marks a milestone for the office’s ongoing efforts to deliver more efficient, transparent and accountable government for Illinois taxpayers. The Secretary of State’s office was also the only Illinois government agency recognized with the award

Edwardsville Police Report Five Impaired Driving Arrests During Fourth of July Campaign

16 hours 36 minutes ago
EDWARDSVILLE — Edwardsville police made five impaired driving arrests and issued 17 citations for other violations during a recent Fourth of July traffic safety campaign, part of a statewide Illinois effort aimed at removing drunk and drugged drivers from the roads and encouraging seat belt use. The Edwardsville Police Department participated in the holiday enforcement campaign alongside more than 200 other state and local law enforcement agencies across Illinois. The effort combined high-visibilit