SPRINGFIELD – The Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) will accept sealed bids this fall for about 40 agricultural lease contracts for the 2027-2031 crop years. The department uses agricultural leases to support wildlife populations and recreational opportunities at sites it owns or manages. The leases promote environmentally sound farming practices that improve soil health, reduce soil erosion, enhance water quality and minimize chemical impacts benefiting wildlife and
EDWARDSVILLE - The City of Edwardsville said Hillsboro Avenue was closed to through traffic early Tuesday, July 7, 2026, after a water main break in the 100 block of the street just outside City Hall. The closure affects Hillsboro Avenue between North Main Street and a point slightly west of Commercial Street, according to Edwardsville city officials. The city said its water crews were working to fix the break. Drivers can still access the parking lot behind the 100 block of North
CHICAGO – Attorney General Kwame Raoul, as part of a coalition of 22 states, urged the United States Trade Representative (USTR) to rescind its plan to continue President Trump’s illegal tariffs. In their comment letter , the attorneys general push back on the USTR’s proposed tariffs on the European Union and 59 other countries after the U.S. Supreme Court ruled against the USTR’s first attempt to impose tariffs in February, and the Court of International Trade
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Combat Veteran and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) joined U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) and eight members of Congress in pressing Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth on the Department of Defense’s (DoD) defunding and deprioritizing of programs that prevent and respond to civilian harm in war. The letter follows a new report by the DoD Inspector General (DoD IG), which found that under Hegseth’s leadership, DoD has put servicemembers and civilians
SPRINGFIELD – The Illinois Department of Transportation today opened a call for locations for a special round of funding available through the Illinois National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Program. Approximately $30 million is available through the program’s fourth round of funding availability. Applications must be received by July 20. A significantly streamlined application process requires only the submission of site location information, including a map, simple schematic
SPRINGFIELD – The Illinois Secretary of State’s office has become the first Illinois state agency to ever receive the national Achievement of Excellence in Procurement (AEP) Award from the National Procurement Institute. This marks a milestone for the office’s ongoing efforts to deliver more efficient, transparent and accountable government for Illinois taxpayers. The Secretary of State’s office was also the only Illinois government agency recognized with the award
EDWARDSVILLE — Edwardsville police made five impaired driving arrests and issued 17 citations for other violations during a recent Fourth of July traffic safety campaign, part of a statewide Illinois effort aimed at removing drunk and drugged drivers from the roads and encouraging seat belt use. The Edwardsville Police Department participated in the holiday enforcement campaign alongside more than 200 other state and local law enforcement agencies across Illinois. The effort combined high-visibilit
A cup of coffee made the same way every morning can feel oddly powerful. It is still just coffee. Yet the grinding, pouring, waiting, and first sip can steady the mind before the day begins. That small scene helps explain why humans enjoy rituals. Rituals are repeated actions that carry meaning. Some are formal, like weddings, funerals, and religious services. Others are personal, like touching a lucky charm before a test or taking the same walk after work. We often think of rituals as old o
On July 7, one of the most significant events in world history took place in 1937, when fighting between Chinese and Japanese forces at the Marco Polo Bridge near Beijing helped trigger the full-scale Second Sino-Japanese War. The clash began as a local military incident, but it quickly grew into a much larger conflict between China and Japan. At the time, it mattered because it opened years of devastating war in East Asia, brought immense civilian suffering, and reshaped regional power. It stil
HIGHLAND, Ill. — With property taxes continuing to be one of the biggest concerns for local homeowners, Madison County Board District 1 candidate Jennifer Korte is inviting residents to attend a free educational seminar designed to help them better understand their property taxes and learn about exemptions they may qualify for. The seminar, "Understanding Your Property Assessments & Exemptions," will be held: Tuesday, July 28: 6:00 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. Highland Knights of Columbus Hal
ALTON – Funding for street resurfacing, parks equipment, and more is moving ahead in Alton. Committee of the Whole members on July 6, 2026 unanimously approved a previously postponed resolution allocating $644,428 in Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funding from the Fiscal Year 2026 budget for certain city-wide projects. The resolution originally called for $300,000 for new sidewalks and restrooms at Hellrung Park, $144,428 for derelict structure demolition and tree removal,
ST. LOUIS COUNTY - St. Louis County Police are investigating an officer-involved shooting that injured two juveniles after officers responded to a large teen gathering Sunday night, July 5, 2026, that drew more than 25 emergency calls and later spilled into the area of Bellefontaine Road and Larimore Road, authorities said. The shooting happened about 10:15 p.m. Sunday, July 5, in the 11000 block of Bellefontaine Road, according to the St. Louis County Police Department. Police said officers
O'FALLON, IL. - State Representative Kevin Schmidt (R-Millstadt) recognized Saddleback Chocolates as his Business of the Month for June. Rep. Schmidt presented owners Maureen and Mike Moore with a certificate from the Illinois House of Representatives recognizing their hard work, entrepreneurial spirit, and commitment to the community. “Maureen and Mike Moore work together to create delicious handmade chocolate assortments using their own Belgian-French-style recipes,” Schmidt said.
NEW ATHENS — State Rep. Kevin Schmidt, R-Millstadt, is hosting a free shred event and canned food drive from 9 to 11 a.m. Saturday, July 11, at the Bullpen Parking Lot, 101 N. Van Buren St. in New Athens, and is encouraging constituents to bring nonperishable food items for a local pantry. Schmidt said the event will offer on-site paper shredding and collection of nonperishable food donations. “Shredding documents that contain personal information gives people peace of mind and
GRANITE CITY – Revity Credit Union employees came together to raise $1,450 for the National Children's Cancer Society (NCCS) through their ongoing Jeans for Generations program. Revity Credit Union’s Jeans for Generations program reflects the credit union philosophy of People Helping People, empowering employees to support organizations that make a meaningful impact in the lives of others. Each month, Revity employees contribute donations to a selected charity and, in return, enjoy
When you think about peanuts, it’s easy to look back to your childhood when so many grew up eating peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. Or when we devoured a sleeve of peanut butter cookies after school. But there were also kids who couldn’t partake because they had a peanut allergy. “Having a peanut allergy, or really any food allergies, can be difficult for school-aged children,” says Alissa Bartel, APRN, a nurse practitioner with OSF HealthCare. “Sometimes you
EDWARDSVILLE - The Edwardsville Municipal Band continues its summer season with a free concert on Thursday, July 9 at 7:30 p.m. at the Cleaon Etzkorn Bandstand in City Park. This week’s performance, titled “A Musical Potpourri,” features a program selected entirely by the band members themselves. From personal favorites to longtime staples, this mix directly reflects the unique range, diverse tastes, and musical interests of the band. The program features a blend of concert
TROY - The Troy/Maryville/St. Jacob/Marine Chamber of Commerce, the City of Troy, Jarvis Township and Ramert Insurance will host the second annual National Night Out from 6 to 8 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 4, at Tri-Township Park in Troy, organizers announced. The event is intended to honor local first responders and bring the community together for what organizers described as a fun, family-friendly evening. Attendees will be able to meet local first responders, tour emergency vehicles and other specialty
TAIPEI, TAIWAN – Today, U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL)—a member of the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee (SFRC)—traveled to Taiwan, the first Senator to do so after the disastrous Trump-Xi summit. After Donald Trump kowtowed to President of the People’s Republic of China (PRC) Xi Jinping and waffled on delivering a critical bipartisan arms package to Taiwan, the Senator plans to meet with Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te, Vice President Hsiao Bi-khim and
ALTON - The Alton Municipal Band has reached the halfway point of its summer season, after concluding a successful run of patriotic concerts celebrating the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence. The band, which performs every Thursday and Sunday in June and July, will perform three more weeks of concerts in the parks this summer. On Thursday, July 9th and Sunday, July 12th, Riverbend favorites The Warehouse Project will perform alongside the municipal band at Riverview
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