CHICAGO– Attorney General Kwame Raoul, as part of a coalition of 23 attorneys general, urged the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to reverse a dangerous new policy ending investigations and public reporting of deaths that occur shortly after people are released from ICE custody. In a letter to DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin and Acting ICE Director David Venturella, Attorney General Raoul and the coalition condemn the new policy
SPRINGFIELD – Today, Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (Illinois EPA) Director James Jennings issued the following statement commending Governor JB Pritzker for signing House Bill 5070 into law: “Longstanding environmental protections have repeatedly come under attack by the Trump administration, necessitating action at the state level to ensure Illinois’ environmental regulations remain intact and Illinois residents are protected. I am especially grateful to Representative
SPRINGFIELD – Today, Governor JB Pritzker signed the child care licensing redesign legislation (HB 3595) into law. This bill streamlines the license exemption structure and application requirements to provide consistent licensing decisions and reduce delays. It also helps the Illinois Department of Early Childhood (IDEC) reach another efficiency milestone by updating outdated industry terms in the Act and allowing IDEC to tie background checks to the individual instead of the provider.
CHICAGO – Attorney General Kwame Raoul today recognized Pride Month and highlighted his office’s continued work to defend the rights of all LGBTQ+ Illinoisans against unlawful attacks by the federal government. “As we mark Pride Month, I want to be clear that in Illinois, we protect all individuals’ rights to live as their authentic selves and be free from discrimination each day, no matter who they are or who they love,” Raoul said. “The Trump administration
CHICAGO – Attorney General Kwame Raoul today issued the following statement in response to the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision in Mullin v. Doe. “The Supreme Court’s decision in Mullin v. Doe is disturbing on several levels. As a Haitian-American, for me it is deeply personal and painful. The majority’s opinion concludes that the Secretary of Homeland Security’s determination to terminate Temporary Protected Status (TPS) is not subject to judicial review,
SPRINGFIELD – Legislation spearheaded by Illinois Comptroller Susana A. Mendoza to strengthen regulatory oversight of crematories was signed into law by the Governor today. The measure responds to horrific cases in which crematories mishandled and improperly stored remains, delayed cremations, and failed to maintain accurate records of the deceased—causing unnecessary anguish for families during some of the most difficult moments of their lives. HB 4695 , sponsored by Representative
CHICAGO — Today, Governor JB Pritzker joined legislators and community members ahead of the Chicago Pride Parade to sign into law three bills that will empower more Illinoisans to live authentically and freely, without the fear that their private information will be weaponized against them. These measures prevent out-of-state parties from using medical records stored in Illinois’ prescription monitoring database to punish individuals for receiving lawful, gender-affirming care
SPRINGFIELD – Illinois Conservation Police are investigating a two-vessel crash that occurred on Lake Michigan near Monroe Harbor in Chicago late Thursday. One person, a 26-year-old Chicago woman, has died from injuries suffered in the crash. First responders were summoned to the lake just before midnight for reports of a boat collision with multiple injuries. According to conservation police, a 33-foot cabin cruiser motorboat carrying nine passengers struck a smaller vessel carrying
GLEN CARBON – Girl Scouts of Southern Illinois proudly recognizes Elisabeth Preston from Edwardsville, Illinois for receiving a $5,000 Gold Award Scholarship. The Girl Scouts of the USA Gold Award Scholarship is awarded to one remarkable Girl Scout per council who demonstrated extraordinary leadership and sustainable impact while addressing a national or global issue. Elisabeth’s Girl Scout Gold Award project promoted the exploration of STEAM fields for youth. Elisabeth has a strong
WOOD RIVER/EAST ALTON/ROXANA - The Riverbend East Rotary Club has selected Helmkamp Construction Company as their Business of the Year. Riverbend East Rotary Club Business of the Year Selection Committee Chairperson Glenn Breuklander presents the plaque to Helmkamp Construction representatives Alyssa Spa, Project Manager and Chairperson of the Helmkamp Cares Foundation, and Jen Jackson, Marketing Director. Helmkamp Construction Company is a full service general contractor with self-perform and
SPRINGFIELD – Over-the-year, total nonfarm jobs increased in 2 metropolitan areas, leading to a new record number of jobs for Chicago and six consecutive months of year-over-year growth in Lake County, with 10 metro areas experiencing a year-over-year decrease. The unemployment rate increased in all 12 metro areas for the year ending May 2026, according to data released today by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) and the Illinois Department of Employment Security (DES). “The
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL)—Ranking Member of the U.S. Senate Commerce Subcommittee (CST) on Aviation, Space and Innovation—joined U.S. Senator Mark Kelly (D-AZ) and a bipartisan, bicameral group of Congressional colleagues in introducing the Artemis II Congressional Gold Medal Act to honor the four crewmembers of the historic Artemis II mission around the Moon. On April 1st, 2026, NASA astronauts Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch, and Canadian
NOTRE DAME, Ind. - The following students have been named to the Saint Mary's College Dean's List for the Spring 2026 semester: Jerseyville, IL, 62052 - Addison Pranger To earn this academic honor at Saint Mary's, a student must achieve a grade point average (GPA) of at least 3.6 on a 4.0 scale, have a minimum of 12 graded credit hours, no incompletes, and no grades lower than a C. About Saint Mary's College Saint Mary's College, located in Notre Dame, IN, is recognized as both a visionar
“Endless summer” sounds carefree, but it is really a powerful idea about holding on to a feeling that life rarely lets stay still. The phrase shows up in songs, travel ads, fashion, films, and everyday talk. People use it to describe beach trips, youth, freedom, and even a certain state of mind. But “endless summer” is not just about warm days or ocean views. It points to something deeper: the wish to keep joy, possibility, and lightness from slipping away. That is why
A song can feel louder, warmer, and more memorable when it is heard under an open sky. The strange part is that the music itself may not be better. The same band, the same set list, and the same speakers can create a very different experience outdoors. That difference says a lot about how human attention, emotion, and social behavior work. More than just sound People often talk about outdoor music as if it is only about volume or atmosphere. But the appeal runs deeper. Music heard outside doe
On June 29, 1613, London’s Globe Theatre burned down during a performance of Shakespeare’s Henry VIII . At the time, the fire was a shocking loss for one of the most famous playhouses in England and a center of popular entertainment. A cannon effect used in the show apparently sent burning material onto the thatched roof, and the building was quickly destroyed. The event mattered then because the Globe was closely tied to the theatrical world of William Shakespeare and his company.
Mrs. Daisy Creswick Rice, inspector of hygiene for the Alton schools, published her 1925/1926 school year annual report in June 1926, and an article in the Alton Evening Telegraph on June 28, 1926 summarized the findings. There were 1,032 cases of measles,125 cases of scarlet fever, and 26 cases of smallpox reported during the school year. There were also six cases of diphtheria, seven cases of whooping cough, 51 cases of mumps, and 46 cases of chickenpox. A free dental clinic inside
On June 28, 1914, the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria-Hungary in Sarajevo set off the chain of events that led to the First World War. The killing itself involved a local nationalist struggle in the Balkans, but its consequences quickly spread far beyond the region. Europe’s great powers were tied together by alliances, military plans, and deep political rivalries, so a crisis that might once have stayed limited became a continent-wide war within weeks. It mattered
CHICAGO — Today, Governor JB Pritzker announced the departure of Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) Director Natalie Phelps Finnie. Having overseen a period of growth and reinvestment in the agency, Finnie will depart at the end of the month. “Director Finnie has led the Illinois Department of Natural Resources with a vision for the state that prioritizes people by protecting and preserving spaces that are rich in history, opportunity, and beauty,” said Governor
WASHINGTON, D.C. — In the wake of the Trump Administration’s latest attack against the disability community, U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) and Senate Committee on the Judiciary Ranking Member Dick Durbin (D-IL) led Senate Democrats today in introducing a resolution that would protect disability rights and uphold the true promise of the Supreme Court’s landmark Olmstead decision—a ruling that has protected Americans
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