CHICAGO – Attorney General Kwame Raoul charged an Effingham, Illinois man with possessing child sexual abuse material. The case is part of Raoul’s ongoing work, in collaboration with federal law enforcement agencies and local law enforcement officials throughout Illinois, to apprehend offenders who download and trade child sexual abuse material online. The Attorney General’s office charged Travis J. Gillespie, 54, in Effingham County Circuit Court with two Class 1 counts of
EAST ALTON - A new studio space is coming to East Alton with a grand opening this weekend, and owner Chelsea Ricketts can’t wait to change the culture of the beauty industry one artist at a time. From 12–3:30 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 12, 2026, in Eastgate Plaza in East Alton, Ricketts will introduce TBD Studios, a new spot where beauty artists and photographers can rent out studio space and build their clientele. The grand opening will feature a vendor fair, music, treats and other
CHICAGO – Today, Governor JB Pritzker and the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) announced $11.4 million in funding for 23 organizations across Illinois as part of the Job Training and Economic Development Program (JTED) to expand workforce training, career pathways, and support services for Illinoisans facing barriers to employment. Through the Job Training and Economic Development Program (JTED), the funding will help connect workers with the skills and
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL)—Ranking Member of the U.S. Senate Commerce Subcommittee on Aviation—and U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today demanded that FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford immediately hand over the Congressionally-authorized pay raise to the air traffic controller (ATC) workforce that he has held hostage for four months and counting. Despite a 3.8% raise for ATCs being approved by Congress and then signed into law by President
A whistleblower report delivered to the DHS Office of the Inspector General makes it clear ICE is willing to hire pretty much anyone who applies for the job. Keeping up appearances (and by “appearances,” I mean constantly pushing for 1,500-3,000 arrests per day) is tough when you don’t have the warm bodies to do all […]
CASEYVILLE, Ill. – With children spending more time online and new apps and social media trends constantly emerging, State Senator Erica Harriss (56th-Glen Carbon) is bringing together law enforcement and online safety experts to help parents better understand the risks their children may be facing. “Kids are growing up online and in a digital world that looks very different from the one many of us grew up in,” said Senator Harriss. “As a parent, I know how difficult it
SWANSEA – To expand the 57th District’s talent pipeline and boost diversity in Illinois’ construction and building trades, State Senator Christopher Belt is encouraging local community-based organizations to apply for the latest round of funding through the Illinois Works Pre-Apprenticeship Program. “We have a diverse group of hard-working people here in the Metro East that will directly benefit from this program,” said Belt (D-Swansea). “Participants will hav
ST. LOUIS — The American Red Cross urges people not to wait to make a lifesaving impact this fall by scheduling a blood or platelet donation appointment in September. The blood supply remains vulnerable after recovering from critically low levels during a summer blood shortage, and now is the time for donors of all blood types to help patients who count on blood products for care. Reserve a spot to give now. Visit RedCrossBlood.org , call 1-800-RED CROSS or use the Red Cross Blood Donor
Officials in Page, Arizona, a small city near the Glen Canyon Dam, passed a land sale agreement last fall that establishes a framework for future construction of a data center. The sale of the 500-acre parcel about a mile away from the Colorado River’s Horseshoe Bend — one of the most visited natural landmarks in the Glen Canyon […]
CHICAGO – Today, Governor JB Pritzker and the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) announced record-breakinggrowth across Illinois’ tourism industry in 2025. The state welcomed 115 million domestic and international visitors in 2025 – an increase from 2024. "Illinois continues to attract visitors from across the country and around the world, delivering economic benefits that reach communities in every corner of our state,” said Governor JB Pritzker
EAST ST. LOUIS – The Illinois Department of Transportation today announced the Martin Luther King Bridge will be reduced to one lane eastbound and completely closed westbound beginning Wednesday, Sept. 9, weather permitting, for bridge maintenance. The eastbound lane closure and westbound full closure will be limited to off-peak hours. All lanes will be open during peak hours from 6 a.m. to 9 a.m. westbound and 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. eastbound. The closures will be in place Sept. 9-11, weather
COLUMBIA, Mo. - Columbia College recently announced its dean's list for the Summer 2026 Semester (May-August 2026). To be named to the dean's list, a student must have completed 12 undergraduate credit hours in a 16-week period and achieved a minimum GPA of 3.5 on a 4.0-point scale. Students from the area who received this honor include: Alton Cierra Johnson Edwardsville Kimberly Eichelberger Founded in 1851 in Columbia, Missouri, Columbia College has been helping students advance their
When Kelli Knapp went to vote during the Aug. 4 primary, she was surprised to find a long line of people waiting outside Hawthorn Hill Elementary School in Lee’s Summit. Her husband, who was ahead of her in line, texted her after about 20 minutes of waiting that the poll workers had run out of […]
CHICAGO – Attorney General Kwame Raoul today filed a lawsuit against ABC Plumbing , Heating, Cooling & Electric, Inc. (ABC) for its deceptive business practices that mislead consumers, most often senior citizens, to sign a contract for home repair work at inflated prices by unlicensed technicians while they also unknowingly waive their statutory rights to cancel the contract. “ABC Plumbing, Heating, Cooling & Electric’s deceptive business practices are not only illegal but
Prosecutors have charged three individuals who police say were arrested in "reckless driving" incidents over the weekend, including one who reportedly injured two people in a crash that followed a police pursuit.
EDWARDSVILLE – SIUE, the College of Arts and Sciences and the University Museum proudly announces the University Museum has been awarded a federal grant for $200,427 from the Institute for Museum and Library Services to work on Stage IV of the Museum Collections Inventory Project! Executive Curator for SIUE's University Museum, Erin Vigneau-Dimick, served as the sole grant writer for the University Museum. The federal Institute for Museum and Library Services offers multiple annual grant
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