WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), author of the Durbin Amendment and the Credit Card Competition Act , received the National Retail Federation’s (NRF) 2026 Champion of Main Street Award in honor of his leadership to address the high cost of debit and credit card interchange fees and his efforts to curb organized retail crime. “As Americans are struggling with the rising cost of everyday essentials, I’ve made it a priority in Congress
SPRINGFIELD – The Illinois Department of Employment Security (IDES) announced today that the unemployment rate remained at 5.1 percent in June, unchanged from May, and up +0.8 percentage point from the same month, one year ago, based on data provided by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). The revised May unemployment rate was 5.1 percent. Total nonfarm payrolls saw a fourth consecutive over-the-month increase in June, up +1,500 (0.0%) to 6,164,400. The May monthly change in payrolls
CHICAGO – Today, Governor JB Pritzker signed two bills into law to support law enforcement and emergency responders by modernizing recruitment standards to attract qualified deputy sheriffs and by ensuring consistency in traffic enforcement is applied to Scott’s Law violations. “Our state has one of the best police forces in the entire nation, and we’re working to increase their talent pipeline by modernizing hiring practices and enhancing protections for officer-involved
CHICAGO – Attorney General Kwame Raoul led a coalition of 20 state attorneys general in sending a letter to federal banking regulators raising concerns about granting national banking charters to financial technology companies, often referred to as fintechs, without necessary safeguards to protect consumers, investors and the financial system. The attorneys general call on regulators to deny charters to fintechs that have a history of predatory lending or risky practices. In their
JERSEYVILLE – A Bethalto man accused of sexually abusing a child last week remains in custody in Jersey County. Anthony B. Newcome, 25, of Bethalto, was charged in Jersey County court on July 16, 2026 with a Class 2 felony count of aggravated criminal sexual abuse of a victim under 13 years old. On July 14, 2026, Newcome allegedly committed an act of sexual conduct against a minor victim. The victim’s exact age has not been made public as no date of birth was listed for the victim
Taylor Fresh Foods is voluntarily recalling all iceberg lettuce sourced from central Mexico after a multistate Cyclospora outbreak, even as the Food and Drug Administration said Sunday that a lettuce sample previously believed to have tested positive was actually a false positive. The recall includes certain Walmart Marketside-brand iceberg salad and shredded lettuce products with “Best if Used By” dates between July 18 and Aug. 3, 2026, as well as lettuce supplied to restaurants,
A slower walk, a deeper breath, an urge to sit outside a little longer—many people notice these shifts and call it “summer mood,” as if relaxation simply appears out of nowhere. But that calm feeling often has clear causes. It comes from the way light affects the brain, how routines change, what the body expects, and even what we have been taught to associate with this part of the year. Humans often feel more relaxed in summer not because life suddenly becomes easy, but because
A three-minute song can change what people wear, where they gather, what they say, and even how they remember a year. That is the real power of summer music. It is not just background sound for road trips and barbecues. It helps shape moods, habits, trends, and shared memories on a large scale. Certain songs seem to take over public life all at once. They play at beaches, corner stores, family cookouts, gyms, car windows, festivals, and weddings. People who do not even know the artist can still
GRANITE CITY — Tyler Moore, a senior forward for Granite City’s boys basketball team, said a season of hard work and growth helped lead the Warriors to a 16-15 turnaround campaign in 2025-26 after the team finished 9-23 a year earlier. Moore averaged 4.1 points and 1.6 rebounds per game this season, while adding 31 assists and 24 steals. He said he appreciated what the team accomplished during the rebound season. “It was a hard fight,” Moore said. “It was a really
ALTON - Dylan Anderson won the 2026 IHRA Formula 1 Powerboat Series championship Sunday, July 19, 2026, at the Alton Powerboat Nationals on the Mississippi River, securing his first series title after early leader Spencer Love suffered a mechanical failure in the closing stages of the season-deciding final. Anderson, of Anderson Marine and from Nashville, Tennessee, crossed the line 1.47 seconds ahead of Jared Jensen in the Formula 1 final. Chris Rinker finished third. The result ended a ru
On July 19, 1870, France declared war on Prussia, setting off the Franco-Prussian War, the most consequential event tied to this date in modern global history. At the time, the conflict grew out of rising rivalry in Europe and disputes over who would shape the continent’s balance of power. What followed was a short but deeply important war that led to the defeat of France, the fall of Emperor Napoleon III, and the unification of Germany under Prussian leadership. Its effects lasted far
MADISON – The Illinois Department of Transportation today announced that lane closures on Illinois 203 from the Madison County line to Ohio Street will begin Monday, July 20, weather permitting, to accommodate construction of temporary crossovers as part of the first phase of a $13.8 million bridge replacement project. One lane will remain open in each direction during this phase of construction. The lane configuration is expected to remain in place through the end of August, weather
SPRINGFIELD - Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias highlighted landmark auto insurance reform legislation that would, for the first time, give Illinois regulators the authority to review and challenge excessive insurance rate increases while strengthening oversight of insurance companies and delivering long-overdue transparency, accountability and consumer protections for Illinois drivers. Senate Bill 714, which is awaiting the Governor’s signature, is the culmination of a four-year
EDWARDSVILLE - Liang Cheng, PhD, is the next dean of the SIUE School of Engineering. His tenure begins Wednesday, Aug. 19. Cheng will also serve as a professor of computer science, with a courtesy appointment in electrical and computer engineering. Cheng joins SIUE from the University of Toledo, where he serves as department chair and professor of electrical engineering and computer science. His academic and research experience includes cyber-physical systems, artificial intelligence, interdisciplinary
ALTON/EAST ALTON/GRANITE CITY - The world’s largest steam locomotive, Union Pacific’s Big Boy No. 4014, passed through Alton at 2:34 p.m. Saturday, July 18, 2026, on its way to St. Louis, where it is scheduled to be on display Sunday, July 19, 2026, at Union Station with free public viewing from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. The locomotive also rolled through Godfrey, East Alton, Piasa, Granite City and other area communities, drawing crowds of railfans. Big Boy No. 4014 is traveling as
On July 18, one of the most consequential events in global history took place in 64 CE, when the Great Fire of Rome began. The blaze spread through much of the city for days, destroying homes, markets, temples, and public buildings in the center of the Roman Empire. At the time, the fire mattered because Rome was not just a capital city but the political, economic, and cultural heart of a vast state. Its destruction disrupted daily life, weakened confidence in the emperor Nero, and led to major
EDWARDSVILLE - The Madison County Regional Office of Education has recognized 11 students as the first recipients of the Alma Irene Aitch Scholarship, a new $1,000 award for Madison County students, during a recent ceremony in Madison County, Illinois. Announced July 17, 2026, the scholarship recipients were selected from more than 50 applicants based on applications detailing their high school careers and future plans. The scholarship is open to Madison County high school seniors who plan
MADISON COUNTY - Motorists traveling west on Interstate 270 in Madison County will face lane closures this weekend as the Illinois Department of Transportation begins road construction between Illinois 3 and the Mississippi River. The department announced today that westbound I-270 traffic will be reduced to one lane beginning at 6 a.m. Saturday, July 18, weather permitting. All westbound lanes are expected to reopen by 6 p.m. Sunday, July 19. The closures will affect the stretch of westbound
CHICAGO – Today, Governor JB Pritzker signed the Certificate of Innocence Act (HB 3663), an important stride in criminal justice reform and accountability to those who are wrongfully convicted and imprisoned. HB 3663 amends the Court of Claims Act, which allows those who have been unjustly incarcerated to bring a claim for time served in prison and receive financial compensation from the State. As part of Governor Pritzker’s FY27 Budget, HB 3663 increases the maximum award
EDWARDSVILLE - Southern Illinois University Edwardsville will hold a memorial service honoring pianist Ruth Slenczynska Kerr at 3 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 30, 2026, in the Dunham Hall Theater at Katherine Dunham Hall, 50 Hairpin Drive, Edwardsville, Illinois. The service will feature recorded performances, interview excerpts and photos of Slenczynska Kerr, along with comments from speakers including Leonard Slatkin, former St. Louis and Detroit Symphony Orchestra conductor laureate and current music
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