ALTON — Alton Police are investigating a shooting that left one adult woman dead and an adult man critically injured early Monday morning, June 1, 2026, inside a residence in the 3400 block of Milton Drive. The Alton Police Department said it received a 911 call at about 7:57 a.m. June 1, 2026, reporting that two people had been shot inside the home. Officers who responded found both victims suffering from severe injuries, according to police. Personnel from the Alton Fire Department
SPRINGFIELD – I am pleased to see the state legislature conclude their work on time to pass a state budget for the new fiscal year beginning July 1. The Fiscal Year 2027 budget provides for a spending plan of $55.9 billion. It maintains stable funding for state government services and funds key state priorities for needs like K-12 education, MAP grants for college students, social and human services, nursing homes, public safety and Safety Net Hospitals while also acknowledging more could
CHICAGO – Attorney General Kwame Raoul today applauded the General Assembly’s unanimous passage of his legislation to improve state programs serving victims of crime. “This legislation represents a package of reforms that will improve the vital services that support victims of crime on their path toward recovery,” Raoul said. “I remain committed to ensuring that crime victims receive appropriate resources and support, and I thank the members of our SASETA working
SPRINGFIELD–Today, Governor JB Pritzker issued the following statement following the passage of HB5295 to ensure that patient medical records related to safe, legal abortion care in Illinois remain private: “Since the overturning of Roe v. Wade, out-of-state entities have attempted to use every tool available to punish women who have sought abortions. The Reproductive Health Records Privacy Act is the most recent action Illinois is taking to ensure that patients retain full control
SPRINGFIELD – Over 600 Illinoisans rallied at the Illinois State Capitol today for the Illinois Environmental Council’s POWER Act Lobby Day and met with their legislators to urge passage of the POWER Act (SB4016/HB5513). This nation-leading legislation would enact guardrails to protect our water, energy, ratepayers, and frontline communities from data center impacts. Despite the bill’s overwhelming bipartisan popularity and voters' anxiety over data center developments, lawmakers
EDWARDSVILLE – Nominations are once again being accepted for the City’s long-running Green Thumb Awards program, which celebrates eye-catching displays in gardens, yards and landscaped areas in Edwardsville. And this year, the committee behind the awards is encouraging entries that incorporate red, white and blue hues in recognition of America’s 250th birthday. For more than 25 years, the Green Thumb Awards have offered an opportunity to put a spotlight on dazzling yards, gorgeou
SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Christopher Belt passed a measure through the Senate to reduce unfair barriers to employment for people living with disabilities. “Everyone deserves a fair shot at employment,” said Belt (D-Swansea). “Requiring a driver’s license for jobs that do not involve driving unfairly shuts people out of the workforce. This is especially true for people living with disabilities and their families.” The legislation would prohibit employers
SPRINGFIELD — Today, the Illinois General Assembly passed a $55.9 billion state FY27 budget centered on making Illinois more affordable for working families, protecting long-term financial stability, and fulfilling the state’s core obligations. While federal actions and funding cuts keep driving up prices and fueling national economic uncertainty, the FY27 budget prioritizes making housing, education, and health care more affordable and accessible for Illinoisans. Supported
5/29/2026 REMINDER: The closures on Interstate 55/70 in St. Clair County will begin Monday, June 1, for pavement and structure repairs. UPDATED 5/19/2026: The closures on Interstate 55/70 in St. Clair County previously scheduled to begin May 18 have been rescheduled for Monday, June 1, due to weather and anticipated Memorial Day travel. Traffic impacts and project details remain unchanged. MADISON – The Illinois Department of Transportation is continuing multiple coordinated
SPRINGFIELD – Today, Governor JB Pitzker issued the following statement following the passage of the Children's Online Social Media Safety Act to force big tech to implement measures to keep kids safe on social media: “While big tech abandons its responsibility to keep our kids safe online, Illinois has stepped in to force them to. “Any time we send our children off to school or the playground, we take precautions to keep them safe — from strangers, environmental dangers,
CHICAGO – Attorney General Kwame Raoul today co-led a coalition of 24 states in opposing a proposal from the Trump administration that would put the retirement savings of millions of Americans at risk. In their comment letter submitted to the U.S. Department of Labor today, the coalition argues that the department’s proposed rule would harm workers and retirees by increasing their exposure to risky, volatile alternative assets, such as cryptocurrency and private credit,
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. - Lashana Webb of Jerseyville, IL, was recently named to the Dean's List of Lincoln University in Jefferson City, Missouri, for the Spring 2026 semester. The Lincoln University of Missouri Dean's List comprises full-time undergraduate students earning a minimum term GPA of 3.00, excluding grades in courses that do not carry credit toward graduation. Lincoln University of Missouri is a historically Black, 1890 land-grant, public university that provides excellent educational
SPRINGFIELD, IL. - Gov. JB Pritzker said he plans to sign legislation approved Sunday by Illinois lawmakers that would prohibit students from using cellphones during school hours, backing a statewide “bell-to-bell” policy that supporters said is intended to keep students engaged in class and improve academic outcomes. In statements issued after the passage of Senate Bill 2427, Pritzker and the bill’s sponsor, State Sen. Cristina Castro, said the measure would require schoo
On May 31, 1578, King Henry III of France laid the first stone of the Pont Neuf in Paris, a bridge that became far more than a piece of stonework. At the time, Paris needed a stronger connection across the Seine, but the project also reflected a bigger shift in European cities: governments were investing in public spaces that helped trade, travel, and daily life. The Pont Neuf, whose name means “New Bridge,” was unusual because it was built without houses crowding its sides, leaving
Freedom can feel as simple as leaving the house without checking a schedule. That feeling helps explain why summer often seems more open, lighter, and easier to breathe in. People talk about it as if it were obvious: school is out, vacations happen, daylight stretches longer, and moods lift. But the deeper reason is not just heat or holidays. Summer feels freeing because it changes how we use time, how we move through public space, and how much permission we give ourselves to relax. Even when
On June 1, one of the most far-reaching events in world history took place in 1792, when Kentucky became the 15th state of the United States. At the time, this was more than a local political change. It showed how quickly the young republic was expanding westward across the Appalachian Mountains and how new systems of government were being extended into frontier regions. That expansion shaped trade, settlement, relations with Native peoples, and the future balance of power within the United States
SPRINGFIELD – After meeting with a local student who can no longer take her service animal to school due to claims of harassment from other students, State Senator Doris Turner led a resolution to encourage the review of school policies, ensuring they align with laws regarding service animal access. “Service animals offer critical assistance for individuals – helping to enhance independence and safety – and when students are in need of this specific accommodation
SPRINGFIELD, IL – State Senator Erica Harriss (R-Glen Carbon) and State Representative Amy Elik (R-Alton) jointly passed five bills through the House and Senate. The various bills now head to the Governor’s desk for his signature. The Metro East legislative duo worked together to pass legislation to cut red tape for local government, make fire hydrants more accessible, support sickle cell disease awareness, clarify reporting requirements in nursing homes and improve visibility
CHICAGO – Today, the Illinois Housing Development Authority (IHDA) released its 2024 & 2025 Biennial Report , providing a comprehensive overview of the agency’s investments and impact throughout Illinois. Titled “Building Together,” the report highlights IHDA’s role as one of the state’s leading drivers of economic and community development during a period marked by rising housing costs and increasing demand for affordable homes. “Illinois is proudly
SINGAPORE – Today, combat Veteran and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL)—a member of both the U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC) and U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee (SFRC)—and U.S. Senator Pete Ricketts (R-NE) are leading a bipartisan Congressional Delegation to Singapore to the International Institute for Strategic Studies’ Shangri-La Dialogue for the second year to reaffirm the United States’ strong bipartisan commitment to our partners
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