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WASHINGTON, D.C. – Combat Veteran and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL)—a member of the U.S. Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee (SVAC)—and U.S. Senator Susan Collins (R-ME) introduced bipartisan legislation that would eliminate out-of-pocket costs that Veterans are disproportionately forced to pay for preventative health care services they’ve earned through their military service. The Senators’ bipartisan Copay Fairness for Veterans Act would align the

TROY - Madison County Sheriff’s deputies and the Troy Fire Department responded late Sunday to a house fire in Troy where three people were found dead, and another person was hospitalized with significant burn injuries, authorities said. Madison County Sheriff's deputies and firefighters were called at 11:14 p.m. Sunday, April 5, 2026, to the 8000 block of W. Kirsch Road in Troy, Ill., for a structure fire with people reported trapped inside the residence, according to the Madison

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL)—Ranking Member of the Commerce, Science and Transportation (CST) Aviation Subcommittee—today demanded the Trump Administration rescind former Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Kristi Noem’s dangerous policy that allows travelers to keep their shoes on at airport security screening checkpoints even after the DHS Office of Inspector General (OIG) finding that the policy “created a new security vulnerability

When people think about tax relief, they usually think about something they can see: a check, a refund, or a lower bill. But not all tax relief shows up as a check in your mailbox or a deposit in your bank account. Families across Illinois are feeling the strain of rising costs, and they deserve relief, even if it does not always come as money directly into their pockets. Some of the most important bills I file are aimed at reducing costs and preventing waste, saving taxpayer dollars

CHICAGO — State Senator Erica Harriss (56th-Glen Carbon) recently introduced Senate Bill 2097 in the Senate Revenue Committee, a measure aimed at providing financial relief to foster families across Illinois through a new foster care expense tax credit. “Foster families open their homes and their hearts to children who need stability and support,” said Senator Harriss. “This is a simple but practical way we can better support families and recognize the important role

SPRINGFIELD – The Illinois Department of Employment Security (IDES) announced today that the unemployment rate was 4.9 percent in January, up +0.2 percentage point from December, and up +0.2 percentage point from the same month, one year ago, based on data provided by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). The revised December unemployment rate was 4.7 percent. Total nonfarm payrolls increased over-the-month in January, up +18,000 (+0.3%) to 6,166,800, and the largest monthly increase

ALTON – OSF HealthCare is pleased to add a new gastroenterologist provider to its staff to better serve Alton and the surrounding areas. The addition of Tarik Firozi, MD, on April 6, 2026, will strengthen patient care by bringing specialized expertise in diagnosing and treating digestive conditions, leading to faster and more accurate outcomes. Dr. Firozi’s addition ensures continued and expanded access to GI care for patients at OSF Saint Anthony’s Health Center, while further

ST. LOUIS - St. Louis County Police detectives are investigating the fatal shooting of an adult woman Sunday evening, April 5, 2026, in the City of Northwoods, authorities said. Officers with the City of Northwoods Police Department responded at about 5:30 p.m. April 5, 2026, to a call for service for a shooting in the 6900 block of Pine Ridge Drive, police said. Officers found an adult female suffering from life-threatening gunshot injuries, and she was taken to an area hospital,

A rabbit delivering eggs sounds like a joke—until you realize it’s one of the most widely recognized holiday symbols in the world. Easter traditions often feel like they’ve always been there, but many of them are stitched together from different places: early Christian worship, older springtime customs, medieval church rules, and even modern marketing. That mix is exactly why Easter can look so different from one family to the next. Easter: one holiday, several layers of meaning

A single storm can feel like bad luck—canceled plans, soaked shoes, gray skies. Yet the same rain that ruins a picnic can decide whether a harvest succeeds, whether a river runs, or whether a city’s reservoirs stay full. That tension is exactly why rain has become one of the strongest symbols of growth: it’s inconvenient up close, but life-changing over time. Why rain and growth get linked so easily Growth needs more than hope. It needs conditions. Rain is one of the most

A doctor once wrote a prescription that didn’t list pills, syrups, or bed rest. It simply said: “Watch a comedy.” That idea can sound like a modern wellness trend, the kind you’d see on a poster in a waiting room. But the belief that laughter can heal is much older—and more complicated—than most people expect. Across centuries, laughter has been praised as a way to steady the heart, calm the mind, and even help the body recover. It has also been treated with

An egg is already a near-perfect design: smooth, strong, and neatly sealed. So why do humans insist on painting it, waxing it, carving it, beading it, and wrapping it in gold? The answer isn’t just “because it looks nice.” Egg decoration sits at the intersection of meaning and play. It turns an everyday object into a message—about luck, life, identity, love, and belonging. Across many cultures, the egg becomes a small canvas that can carry big ideas, whether it’s

On April 6, 1994, a plane carrying Rwandan President Juvénal Habyarimana and Burundian President Cyprien Ntaryamira was shot down as it approached Kigali, Rwanda. Within hours, coordinated killings began, and in the weeks that followed, the Rwandan genocide took the lives of an estimated 800,000 people, mostly Tutsi, along with many Hutu who opposed the violence. The crash mattered immediately because it shattered a fragile political balance and was used as a trigger for mass murder. I

GRAFTON - The Grafton Ferry will open Friday, April 10, 2026, with expanded hours and year-round service between St. Charles County and the City of Grafton, IL. An official ribbon-cutting ceremony will be held on the Grafton Ferry landing at 10 a.m., Friday, April 10. The ferry will open at 5 a.m. to service commuter traffic and early bird travelers. The ribbon cutting will include a short speech and a special surprise for the first 15 ferry passengers to cross the river following the ribbon

HARDIN - The Calhoun County Sheriff’s Office said a 37-year-old man from Richland, Washington, was arrested late March 30, 2026, after investigators received information that an adult male was attempting to solicit a 13-year-old child in Hardin. Orlin Guevara-Ulloa was arrested at 11:32 p.m. on March 30 following a traffic stop on South Park St. near French St. in Hardin, according to the Calhoun Sheriff’s office. Calhoun Sheriff Zach Hardin and Pike County Chief Deputy Zack Orr

TROY - The Troy Fire Department responded to a structure fire late Sunday, April 5, 2026, in the area of West Kirsch Road and Springvalley Road after multiple neighbors called 911 to report a loud explosion and visible flames and smoke. Firefighters arrived just after 11 p.m. Sunday and found a house fully involved. Crews located one victim with burns. The person was taken to an area hospital and later transported to St. Louis by medical helicopter. Firefighters worked to bring the fire under

GRANITE CITY, Ill. — The Granite City Fire Department responded Sunday evening, April 5, 2026, to a structure fire in the 1400 block of 25th Street, where firefighters found an abandoned house burning and brought the fire under control. A neighbor said a homeless person would sometimes sleep in the house, but firefighters did not locate anyone inside. No injuries were reported. The cause of the fire was under investigation.

On April 5, 1722, Dutch navigator Jacob Roggeveen sighted a remote, triangular island in the southeastern Pacific—Rapa Nui, known to Europeans as Easter Island. The encounter mattered because it pulled one of the world’s most isolated inhabited places into the growing web of global sea travel and imperial competition. For Europeans, it expanded maps and ambitions across the Pacific. For the Rapa Nui people, it marked the start of a long, uneven relationship with outsiders that would

SPRINGFIELD – For the third year, the Illinois Department of Health (IDPH) will recognize “30 Days of Public Health” throughout the month of April. The initiative is designed to raise awareness of the role public health plays in keeping all Illinois communities healthy and safe. The April observance expands National Public Health Week into a month-long effort and coincides with National Minority Health Month, highlighting the importance of advancing health equity and showcasing

GODFREY - Vitality Women’s Clinic will host their annual fundraising dinner next weekend, but their work continues all year long. On Friday, April 10, 2026, community members can attend the banquet at Lewis and Clark Community College to raise money for Vitality. Executive Director Jackie Duty and Patient Services Coordinator Stephanie Stupperich shared that Vitality aims to help individuals experiencing unplanned pregnancies make the choice that is right for them. “Fear of