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Attorney General Raoul Secures Victory With Nexstar/Tegna Motion

1 month ago
CHICAGO – AttorneyGeneral Kwame Raoul and a coalition of 12 attorneys general today secured a court order granting their motion, finding that Nexstar Media Group Inc. (Nexstar) violated the court’s order requiring it and Tegna Inc. (Tegna) to remain separate. The U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of California found that Nexstar is violating the preliminary injunction by putting current or former Nexstar executives on Tegna’s board of directors. The court also

Gov. Pritzker Signs Landmark Reforms To Strengthen Professional Misconduct Reporting And Patient Protections

1 month ago
CHICAGO — Today, Governor JB Pritzker signed into law a landmark package of reforms strengthening patient protections by establishing for licensed health care professionals, hospitals, and hospital affiliates a duty to report accusations of inappropriate sexual conduct and unjustified intimate conduct to State regulators. With this change, the State will have the ability to swiftly open an investigation into the matter and suspend or take other appropriate action against a license, thereby

Governor Pritzker Signs Legislation Insulating Illinois From Trump Administration's Anti-Environment Agenda

1 month ago
CHICAGO – Governor JB Pritzker signed three bills (HB 5070, SB 3772 and HB 4418) that protect Illinoisans from the legacy of toxic pollution and insulate the state from some of the worst impacts of the Trump administration’s federal environmental policy rollbacks. Environmental and community advocates across the state are celebrating the new laws as a set of historic “firsts” that will result in cleaner air and water and improved public health across the state. “Access

FSIS Issues Public Health Alert For Meat And Poultry Products Containing FDA-Regulated Jalapeños Recalled Due To Possible Salmonella Contamination

1 month ago
WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) is issuing a public health alert for meat and poultry products containing FDA-regulated jalapeños that may be contaminated with Salmonella . FSIS expects additional downstream products will be identified as this ingredient recall progresses. The list of products subject to the public health alert is available here , including information such as the product names, establishment numbers,

Update: Cahokia Heights Fire Department Says Apparatus Not At Fault In Crash

1 month ago
CAHOKIA HEIGHTS - The Cahokia Heights Fire Department said on Monday, Aug. 10, 2026, that based on information available to the Cahokia Heights Fire Department at this time, all indications are that the department’s vehicle was responding appropriately and the collision was not caused by the operation of the fire apparatus on Saturday, Aug. 8, 2026. The accident resulted in an injury to the Cahokia Heights Fire Department member who was operating the fire apparatus and severe damage to th

Bethalto Native Named To Concordia University Wisconsin Spring 2026 Dean's List

1 month ago
MEQUON, Wis. - Each semester, Concordia University Wisconsin recognizes students whose academic achievement reflects their dedication, perseverance and commitment to excellence. Congratulations to the following students who earned honors for the spring semester. Their hard work and pursuit of academic excellence are commendable, and we celebrate this well-deserved accomplishment. HOMETOWN, STATE; NAME, CLASS LEVEL, PROGRAM, HONOR Bethalto, IL August Frankford, Junior, Pharmaceutical Sciences,

The Nature Institute Works to Preserve Native Wildlife in Godfrey

1 month ago
GODFREY - The Nature Institute aims to protect native wildlife, and you can be a part of this mission. Located at 2213 S. Levis Lane in Godfrey, The Nature Institute (TNI) is a nonprofit that offers camps, educational classes, and public walking trails to the community. Outreach Director Ramona Pollard explained that the organization works hard to be good stewards of the environment, and they hope their work encourages others to appreciate and care for nature. “The Nature Institute

How Seasonal Traditions Turn Nature's Slow Shifts Into Shared Rituals

1 month ago
A village can tell that life is changing long before a calendar page does. One house hangs herbs over a doorway. Another lights candles after dark. In a nearby market, certain foods suddenly appear, while others vanish. A family cleans the home more carefully than usual. A town square fills with music, masks, or a parade. These are not random habits. They are signals. Across the world, traditions help people notice and mark seasonal change, turning a gradual shift in the natural world into somethin

Why Simple Meals Often Feel More Satisfying Than Fancy Food

1 month ago
A bowl of rice, a piece of bread with butter, or a plate of eggs can feel more satisfying than a fancy meal with ten ingredients. That may seem odd in a culture that praises variety, choice, and endless food trends. Yet again and again, people return to simple meals—not just because they are cheap or easy, but because they meet deep human needs. Why simple food feels so good Simple meals often do something rich or complicated meals cannot: they calm us. A warm bowl of soup, plain noodles,

What 'Lazy Summer Days' Really Mean in a Culture That Glorifies Busy

1 month ago
“Lazy summer days” sounds simple, but the phrase hides a strange idea: doing less can feel more meaningful than doing more. That is part of why the expression has lasted. It does not only describe free time or a relaxed mood. It points to a specific kind of experience—slow hours, lower pressure, and a brief sense that life does not need to be tightly scheduled. People use the phrase casually, yet it carries ideas about rest, childhood, class, work, memory, and even guilt. T

This Day in History: Japan's Surrender Signal and Other Milestones

1 month ago
On August 10, 1945, Japan signaled its willingness to accept surrender terms that would lead to the end of the Second World War. Coming just days after the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki and after the Soviet Union entered the war against Japan, this was one of the most important turning points ever linked to this date. At the time, it marked the beginning of the end of a global conflict that had caused destruction on a scale few had imagined. It still matters today because it reshaped

Global Aerospace Summit 2026 Announces Speaker Lineup for St. Louis-Area Event

1 month ago
EDWARDSVILLE – The Global Aerospace Summit will return to the St. Louis region August 19–20, 2026, with a lineup of speakers and panels that builds on the success of the inaugural conference last year. The event brings together aerospace manufacturers, suppliers, government leaders, educators and workforce partners for a two-day program focused on advancing innovation and strengthening the industry’s future. Hosted by the Leadership Council Southwestern Illinois, Madison County

Region Faces Four Days Of Dangerous Heat

1 month ago
Warmer weather is expected to push heat index values to around 105 degrees across the region today, prompting an Extreme Heat Warning from Sunday afternoon, Aug. 9, 2026, through Wednesday, Aug. 12, 2026, according to the National Weather Service in St. Louis. High temperatures are forecast in the mid-90s today. The warning comes as heat index values are expected to remain at levels that meet excessive heat criteria, the weather service said. The National Weather Service in St. Louis says a

Firefighter Injured After Cahokia Heights Apparatus Overturns On Route 3

1 month ago
CAHOKIA HEIGHTS — A Cahokia Heights Fire Department apparatus rolled over Saturday afternoon, Aug. 8, 2026, after it was struck in a three-vehicle crash on Illinois Route 3 while responding to another crash, injuring one firefighter and sending all parties involved to area hospitals, the department said. The crash occurred at 1:10 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 8, 2026, as the fire apparatus was traveling southbound on Illinois Route 3. Based on preliminary information, two vehicles traveling northbound

This Day in History: Nagasaki Bombing, Caesar's Victory and Singapore's Independence Mark Aug. 9

1 month ago
On August 9, one of the most consequential events in modern history took place in 1945, when the United States dropped an atomic bomb on Nagasaki, Japan, during the final days of the Second World War. The bombing killed tens of thousands of people, many immediately and many more later from injuries and radiation exposure. At the time, it was part of a fast-moving effort to force Japan’s surrender and bring the war to an end. It still matters today because it shaped the close of World War

Pritzker Names Nicole Bateman to Central Illinois Economic Development Authority

1 month ago
SPRINGFIELD – Building on a strong team of diverse experts in their fields, Governor JB Pritzker announced the following appointment in his administration : Central Illinois Economic Development Authority Nicole Bateman will serve as a Member of the Central Illinois Economic Development Authority.* Bateman currently serves as President of the Economic Development Corporation of Decatur and Macon County as well as Chief Strategy Officer of the Illinois Fermentation and Agriculture

Giannoulias Launches Disability Parking Placard Pilot As New Law Expands Access for Caregivers

1 month ago
SPRINGFIELD – Illinois Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias has launched a pilot program to make disability parking placards easier to obtain as a newly signed law expands accessible parking relief for families caring for children and individuals with disabilities. The law allows the Secretary of State’s office to issue meter-exempt disability parking placards to legal guardians who transport individuals with disabilities who are incapable of driving. To support the new law and improve

Belt's Suicide Prevention Measure Signed Into Law

1 month ago
SPRINGFIELD – Legislation championed by State Senator Christopher Belt to expand access to mental health resources and strengthen suicide prevention efforts has been signed into law. “Too many families have experienced the heartbreak of losing a loved one to suicide,” said Belt (D-Swansea). “This will help ensure people know where to turn during a crisis and give our communities additional tools to bolster suicide prevention efforts.” The new law will increase awareness

Glen-Ed Pantry Sets Record With 11,350 Meals Delivered to Local Kids This Summer 

1 month ago
EDWARDSVILLE — Glen-Ed Pantry has provided a record 11,350 meals to local children this summer through its Brown Bag Buddies program. This is its highest total yet as the organization also outfits students for the new school year and starts construction on a larger facility to keep pace with growing demand. Each Monday morning throughout the summer, volunteers distributed five breakfasts and five lunches to every participating child at Glen-Ed Pantry, Hamel Elementary School, Worden Elementary

Granite City Man Charged After Damaging Police Car With Axe

1 month ago
GRANITE CITY – A man from Granite City faces felonies in Madison County after allegedly using an axe to threaten others before striking and damaging an occupied police vehicle. Patrick A. Holt, 21, of Granite City, was charged on Aug. 7, 2026 with one count each of criminal damage to government supported property (a Class 3 felony), aggravated assault of a peace officer, and criminal damage to property (both Class 4 felonies). Holt allegedly approached an occupied Granite City Police vehicle