It’s a number to celebrate: 3.9 million. That’s the likely number of Americans saved from lung cancer since 1970 with efforts to curb cigarette smoking. Seen another way, this translates to over 76 million years added to people’s lives. It’s truly astounding and doesn’t even include the impact from lower risks of many other cancers and diseases caused by smoking. Looking ahead, these gains will only grow as fewer youth and young adults take up smoking — and
CHICAGO - The Illinois Department of Revenue (IDOR) is reminding senior homeowners of the Senior Citizens Real Estate Tax Deferral Program, which has been expanded thanks to legislation signed by Governor JB Pritzker. Governor JB Pritzker emphasized the importance of this legislation stating, “Our seniors have spent their lives building our communities and strengthening our state, and they deserve stability and peace of mind. This legislation helps ensure that more older Illinoisans ca
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congresswoman Nikki Budzinski (IL-13) announced the introduction of the bipartisan Pharmacists Fight Back Act, which would prohibit large Pharmacy Benefit Managers (PBMs) from artificially inflating drug prices and restricting network access and patient choice in federal healthcare plans. PBMs work as middlemen between manufacturers, insurers, and pharmacies – inflating drug prices at the expense of patients, community pharmacies, and American taxpayers.
CHICAGO – Today, Governor JB Pritzker signed the Northern Illinois Transit Authority (NITA) Act, SB2111, into law, marking a landmark action in modernizing Illinois’ transit system. The law creates a new regional authority to oversee CTA, Metra, and Pace, while delivering significant investments in public transit, capital projects, and tollways across the state—all without raising statewide taxes. The law will redefine how transit operates in Illinois, giving NITA expanded authority
CHICAGO – Attorney General Kwame Raoul, as part of a bipartisan coalition of 35 attorneys general, reached a settlement with automobile manufacturers Hyundai and Kia over their sale of millions of vehicles nationwide that lacked industry-standard, anti-theft technology. This failure resulted in a car theft crisis that continues to threaten public safety. “This settlement will ensure consumers can effectively protect their vehicles from theft while protecting communities in Illinois
SPRINGFIELD – The Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) is accepting grant applications for habitat restoration and preservation in Canadian breeding grounds now through Jan. 4, 2026. Illinois Migratory Waterfowl Stamp funds, generated when hunters purchase Illinois duck stamps, are used to conserve critical wetland and grassland breeding habitat on the Canadian prairies. This is the primary breeding ground of waterfowl that migrate to Illinois and throughout the 14 states
CHICAGO – Attorney General Kwame Raoul announced today that his office, as part of a bipartisan coalition of state attorneys general, joined a lawsuit against Uber Technologies, LLC and Uber USA, LLC (Uber), the operators of the popular rideshare and delivery company over its alleged deceptive and unfair practices in selling Uber One subscription services, which Uber promotes as saving users money on rides and deliveries. The lawsuit, which was previously filed by the Federal Trade Commissio
WASHINGTON – As open enrollment for 2026 individual market health insurance plans is underway and Americans across the country are facing astronomic increases in their monthly premiums for next year, U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) spoke on the Senate floor about the health care affordability crisis, caused by congressional Republicans refusing to extend the Affordable Care Act’s (ACA) enhanced premium tax credits. Last Thursday, Senate Republicans rejected Senate
CHICAGO — Get Covered Illinois announced that Illinois residents now have until December 31 to enroll in health insurance coverage that begins January 1. The extension comes at a crucial moment, as Illinois works to ensure residents maintain access to high-quality coverage amid changes at the federal level. This year marks Get Covered Illinois’ first Open Enrollment Period operating a state-based marketplace independent of the federally run HealthCare.gov. State officials
WASHINGTON – In a speech on the Senate floor today, U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, condemned the antisemitic attack at Bondi Beach in Australia as Hanukkah begins, as well as the shooting at Brown University. “In Skokie, Illinois, just a few miles north of Chicago, is America’s second largest Holocaust Museum. Those who visit see thousands of artifacts from victims and survivors and their families. And there
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Last week, Congresswoman Nikki Budzinski (D-IL), alongside House Veterans Affairs Committee Ranking Member Mark Takano (D-CA), Senate Veterans Affairs Committee Ranking Member Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) and Congressman Chris Pappas (D-NH) sent a third letter to Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Secretary Doug Collins urging him to address VA’s failure to pay required education benefits on time to over 75,000 veterans and their families and survivors. "These paymen
GODFREY – Alton Elite Jiu-Jitsu has been chosen as the December 2025 Small Business of the Month by the RiverBend Growth Association. Owned by Adam Marburger, the honoree has undergone a recent rebranding, transitioning from its former identity as Alton Martial Arts & Fitness. Located at 2716 Corner Court in Alton, Marburger opened operations eight years ago and has five employees today. A lifelong martial artist and local businessperson, Marburger had a longtime dream and turned it
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today spoke out against the Trump Administration’s dangerous cuts to medical research. In his remarks, Durbin stressed that the President’s decision to cut medical research funding at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) will set back medical advancement by decades by disrupting research into cancer, brain diseases, mental health, drug development, and more. Durbin began his speech by recalling his firs
HIGHLAND - Highland CUSD No. 5 has named Brooke Krey as the next principal of Highland Elementary School, effective July 1, 2026. The announcement was made during the school board meeting on Dec. 15, 2025. Krey will succeed Lori Miscik, who is retiring after 36 years of service, including 18 years as principal of Highland Elementary School. Superintendent Mike Sutton highlighted Krey’s extensive administrative experience, noting she has served as an assistant principal, associate principal,
COLLINSVILLE – The Collinsville Community Unit School District #10 Board of Education appointed Human Resources Director Kevin E. Robinson to become assistant superintendent beginning July 1, 2026. Robinson’s new duties will be in addition to his human resources responsibilities. The assistant superintendent role will be vacant at the end of the 2025-26 school year due to the retirement of the current assistant superintendent and student services director, Bradley Hyre. Robinson i
EDWARDSVILLE – Local authorities have charged three Riverbend residents with home repair fraud, wire fraud, and deceptive practices in separate felony cases. Michael L. Wilson Jr., 42, of Collinsville, was charged on Dec. 10 2025 with one count each of theft (a Class 3 felony) and aggravated home repair fraud in an amount exceeding $500 against a victim 60 years of age or older (a Class 2 felony). Wilson allegedly knowingly entering into a $12,150 agreement with an elderly Maryville residen
ALTON - The Alton School District music program had a strong representation at the Illinois Music Educators Association District 6 Festivals held recently at Belleville East and Belleville West high schools. Below are Alton members who excelled at the Illinois Music Educators District 6 Festival. Gabe Alexander, ILMEA District 6 Junior Band Quinn Halliday, ILMEA District 6 Senior Jazz Band II and Erick Humphrey, ILMEA District 6 Senior Jazz Band III. Preston Watson, ILMEA District 6 Senior
CASEYVILLE - Robin Plantz has turned a difficult situation into a chance to help others. On Christmas Eve, Plantz will distribute 150 stockings and backpacks to unhoused community members across the Riverbend region. Named Cloudia’s Christmas after Plantz’s mother, the tenth annual distribution event honors Cloudia, who Plantz last saw on Christmas night in 1994. Cloudia is homeless and considered missing. “Since Christmas was the last time I saw my mom, I pay tribute
EDWARDSVILLE — Employees and officials at the Madison County Courthouse, along with a private firm, recently joined forces to brighten the holiday season for local families through the Angel Tree program. Associate and Circuit Judges, Criminal Justice Center Circuit Clerks, judicial assistants, court reporters, Assistant State’s Attorneys and staff, sheriff’s deputies, and representatives from the private firm Buckley and Buckley collaborated to complete 50 Angel Tree gift packages
HARDIN - On Dec. 1, 2025, Sheriff Heffington issued several awards to honor Deputies from the Calhoun County Sheriff’s Office and Illinois Conservation Police, and to show his appreciation. Sheriff Bill Heffington is honored to have the staff that he does and is very proud of them for all they do for Calhoun County. Chief Deputy Zach Hardin received a letter of recognition and the Sheriff’s Achievement Award for his achievements through six years of service to Calhoun County,
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