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EDWARDSVILLE – Women’s health access and policy were the focus at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville on Monday, March 2, as the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) partnered with State Rep. Katie Stuart to host a community information session highlighting resources and legislative initiatives supporting women across the state. Held in the Morris University Center, the event connected residents with information about state programs and services supporting women’s

SPRINGFIELD, IL — Last night, Congresswoman Nikki Budzinski joined Democratic Party of Illinois Chair Lisa Hernandez to clearly say to voters: mail in your ballot today. The virtual press conference featured Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul, Illinois Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias, Illinois Treasurer Michael Frerichs, Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle, and Illinois Democratic County Chair Association (IDCCA) President Mark Guethle in Chicago, and Adams County Democrats

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Last week, U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) received the Valerie Biden Owens Woman of Power & Purpose Award from the Biden Institute at the University of Delaware. The award recognizes one woman each year whose transformational leadership makes a difference across the country. Photos from the event are available on the Senator’s website . “I’m honored to be recognized by the Biden Institute as a woman whose leadership and service has helped inspire

CHICAGO – Attorney General Kwame Raoul today encouraged voters to know their rights as early voting is underway for the March 17 general primary election. It has been the longstanding practice of the Attorney General’s office to monitor elections in Illinois to ensure that voters’ rights are protected and polling places are accessible. Raoul is urging Illinois voters to make a plan to vote in person or using a drop box to ensure their votes are counted. “On Friday,

WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, along with U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Reverend Raphael Warnock (D-GA), Cory Booker (D-NJ), and Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-DE) introduced a resolution honoring the life and legacy of Reverend Jesse Jackson, Sr. The resolution recognizes his significant leadership during the Civil Rights Movement and his decades of advocacy in pursuit of justice, equality, and human

LEBANON, Ill. – Attorney General Kwame Raoul announced a Lebanon, Illinois man was sentenced to 10 years in prison for 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. Tyson Schmitt, 41, was sentenced today by St. Clair County Circuit Court Judge Jeffrey Watso

SPRINGFIELD – Illinois Treasurer Michael Frerichs today announced that an estimated 250,000 Illinoisans with a disability are now eligible to open ABLE accounts that allow them to save and invest money to improve quality of life without risking federal benefits. The A chieving a B etter L ife E xperience (ABLE) Act Congress passed in 2014 required that people had to have acquired their disability before their 26th birthday. A change in the law effective this year raised the age limit

ST. LOUIS - U.S. District John A. Ross on Tuesday sentenced a felon to 13 ½ years in prison for carjacking a woman in St. Louis in 2024. On Jan. 5, 2024, Deionte Grice approached the woman, who had just parked her 2020 Kia Optima in the 5300 block of Devonshire Avenue in St. Louis. Grice pointed a gun at her, demanded her belongings and took her car, phone and purse. Grice later struck a curb as he drove into Forest Park, disabling the vehicle. He abandoned it and got on a MetroBus.

CHICAGO – Attorney General Kwame Raoul today secured a court order requiring the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to promptly take steps necessary to reverse the termination of the Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities Program (BRIC) and restore billions in funding to communities that rely on it. The decision follows a motion filed by Raoul and a coalition of states to compel FEMA to comply with a previous order issued by the court in December. “I’m

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Eric Schmitt (R-MO) and Michael Bennet (D-CO) marked the committee passage of their bipartisan legislation that would help the United States counter threats from China and address current gaps in NASA’s ability to cooperate with Taiwan’s space efforts, including satellite programs, space exploration initiatives and atmospheric and weather research. After passing the U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation

EDWARDSVILLE - Glen-Ed Pantry has officially begun site preparation for the construction of its new permanent home, marking a significant milestone in the organization’s capital campaign and its long-term commitment to serving individuals and families facing food insecurity throughout the Edwardsville Community Unit School District #7. Following the successful completion of early fundraising goals, the organization has finalized site preparation and infrastructure work, allowing construction

ST. LOUIS — This March, the American Red Cross urges donors to help donors to help the national blood supply recover following a severe shortage and empower their health by making an appointment to give blood or platelets. Donors of all blood types remain critical to keeping momentum up and the blood supply steady headed into spring. Some parts of the nation are still clearing snow, but the threat of severe spring weather?is already growing. Now is the time to book a blood or platelet

FAIRVIEW HEIGHTS — Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul announced that James Scherer, a 32-year-old Fairview Heights man, was sentenced today to 15 years in prison after pleading guilty to two counts of dissemination of child sexual abuse material, part of Raoul’s ongoing work with federal and local law enforcement to apprehend offenders who download and trade such material online. Scherer was sentenced by St. Clair County Circuit Court Judge Jeffery Watson. The two convictions are

BUNKER HILL — Bunker Hill Fire Department Co. 1 responded at 3 p.m. Friday, March 6, 2026, to a reported serious residential structure fire within the city limits of Bunker Hill, where first arriving units encountered heavy smoke and fire coming from the residence. No injuries were reported. The department said it was dispatched to the scene at 3 p.m. and that crews found active fire conditions upon arrival. The cause of the fire was not provided. Bunker Hill Fire Department

BUNKER HILL - Austin McClusky of Bunker Hill, Illinois, his fiancée, and their three children lost their home and belongings in a house fire on March 6, 2026 , prompting a fundraising campaign organized by Kristin Dailey to help the family find temporary housing and replace essential items. “Austin McClusky, his fiancée, and their three children are facing an unimaginable challenge after a devastating house fire in Bunker Hill, Illinois, on March 6th,” Dailey said

JERSEYVILLE — Students from Jersey Community High School brought home top marks and three “Best of the Day” awards after competing in the Illinois High School Association Solo and Ensemble contest this past weekend, according to Jersey Community Unit School District No. 100. The district said JCHS Fine Arts had 24 total entries at the event, including 14 instrumental and 10 vocal. JCHS received four Excellent ratings and 23 Superior ratings. The district said Jersey

ALTON - Alton Fire Department Chief Jesse L. Jemison Jr. marked 33 years with the department on March 3, 2026, a milestone the department recognized in a statement shared by the Alton Fire Department, the City of Alton, Illinois, and Alton Firefighters Local 1255. Jemison began his career on March 3, 1993. The department said he “has grown through the ranks, gaining experience, perspective, and a deep understanding of the fire service along the way,” and that he has taken on “increasing

JEFFERSON CITY, MO. — Former St. Louis lawyer and former Missouri House Speaker John J. Diehl Jr. was sentenced Monday in federal court in St. Louis to 21 months in prison and fined $50,000 after pleading guilty to wire fraud for misusing $379,900 in federal COVID-19 relief loans intended to help small businesses during the pandemic. U.S. District Judge Sarah E. Pitlyk imposed the sentence. Diehl, 60, has already repaid the loan money. Diehl applied for an Economic Injury Disaster Loan,

SPRINGFIELD, IL — Today, U.S. Representatives Nikki Budzinski (IL-13), Mike Bost (IL-15), Wesley Bell (MO-01), and Ann Wagner (MO-02) introduced bipartisan legislation to expand the boundaries of Gateway Arch National Park. Specifically, the legislation would expand the park’s authorized boundary to allow the National Park Service to extend the park into Malcolm Martin Park and neighboring vacant parcels in East St. Louis, Illinois. “Since arriving in Congress, fighting

SPRINGFIELD, IL, - Madison County has been issued a final property assessment equalization factor of 1.0000, according to David Harris, director of the Illinois Department of Revenue (IDOR). The property assessment equalization factor, often called the "multiplier," is the method used to achieve uniform property assessments among counties, as required by law. This equalization is particularly important because some of the state's 6,600 local taxing districts overlap into two or more counties