SWANSEA – State Senator Christopher Belt announced the Illinois Workforce Pell, a new program expanding on the federal Pell Grant by allowing eligible students to use grant funding for short-term workforce training programs aligned with in-demand occupations, is now accepting applications. “This is an opportunity to develop unique skills while putting students in line for high-demand jobs,” said Belt (D-Swansea). “The Workforce Pell is a smart investment in Illinois’
If you've gotten a letter about municipal electric aggregation, you're not alone. My office keeps hearing the same questions: Is this a scam? What is this? What am I supposed to do? Electric bills keep climbing, and years of flawed energy policy in Springfield are a big reason why. That's part of why these notices are getting so much attention right now. So let's break down what municipal electric aggregation actually is. It's a program where your city or village negotiates the electricity suppl
CHICAGO – Attorney General Kwame Raoul and a coalition of 24 states won a key ruling today declaring the Trump administration illegally misused its regulatory authority to unlawfully pull billions of dollars in federal funding that Congress had set aside for crucial state programs and services. The decision explained that five words in U.S. Office of Management and Budget (OMB) regulations, referencing situations where a grant “no longer effectuates … agency priorities,”
CHICAGO — After the landmark bipartisan 21st Century Renewing Opportunity in the American Dream (ROAD) to Housing Act became law without President Donald Trump’s signature, U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today visited a Chicago-based modular home developer to discuss how the new law could help supercharge their work building more homes for Illinoisans. During the Senator’s visit with Inherent Homes , Duckworth discussed how this groundbreaking law will help expand acces
SPRINGFIELD - Following the Chicago Tribune’s reporting on the lack of action by House Speaker Emmanuel “Chris” Welch after receiving reports of sexual harassment against former State Representative Harry Benton, State Representative Amy Elik issued the following statement: “Members of the Illinois General Assembly must be held to the highest ethical standards, but under Speaker Chris Welch’s leadership we’ve seen a total lack of accountability. Sexual
CHICAGO – U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, and U.S. Senator Alex Padilla, Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Border Security and Immigration, today sent a letter to Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche and U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Markwayne Mullin urging them to end the improper application of certain civil penalties in the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) to law-abiding
EDWARDSVILLE – Recent national discussions regarding election security and potential vulnerabilities have renewed public interest in how elections are conducted and protected across the country. Regardless of political affiliation, maintaining secure, accurate, and transparent elections should remain a shared priority. As Madison County Clerk, I welcome conversations that encourage continued improvements to election administration. Election security is not a one-time achievement—it
SPRINGFIELD - As temperatures continue to rise across Illinois, pools remain one of the most popular ways for families to cool off and enjoy the summer. Whether you're spending the day at a neighborhood pool, visiting a local aquatic center, or relaxing in your own backyard, it's important to remember that fun in the water comes with responsibility. A moment of distraction can quickly turn into a life-threatening emergency, making constant supervision and safe swimming practices essential.
BELLEVILLE - With the opening of the MetroLink extension to MidAmerica St. Louis Airport set for late summer, the St. Clair County Transit District (SCCTD) is further strengthening its commitment to rider safety and security through a new partnership with the Mascoutah Police Department. At its July 17 board meeting, the SCCTD Board of Trustees approved a memorandum of agreement with the Mascoutah Police Department to provide law enforcement services at the new MidAmerica MetroLink Station,
SPRINGFIELD – The Illinois Department of Transportation is asking the public for their feedback on the state's transportation system and the agency’s performance through the annual Traveler Opinion Survey. Available now through Tuesday, Aug. 11, the survey is available online by clicking https://go.uis.edu/Traveler2026 or visiting idot.illinois.gov . Conducted in partnership with the University of Illinois Springfield, the survey is an opportunity for people who live in Illinois
CHICAGO – Attorney General Kwame Raoul issued the following statement in response to President Trump’s reckless attacks on our nation’s elections. “What we saw tonight was another pathetic attempt to rewrite the past and ignore the will of American voters. Donald Trump’s obsession with an election he lost six years ago does not change the fact that the 2020 election was secure. In fact, it was one of the most secure elections in our nation’s history. More
GREENVILLE - Community members can enjoy a weekend of American rural history and culture at Greenville’s Heritage Days event. On July 24, 25 and 26, 2026, the American Farm Heritage Museum will host their annual Heritage Days at 1395 Museum Avenue in Greenville. From farming demonstrations and tractor pulls to a flea market and military displays, the weekend promises to be a fun chance to engage with farming history. “We are a festival about history,” said Steve Loos
EAST ALTON/WOOD RIVER - East Alton-Wood River High School senior Lilly Bock has been selected by the Riverbend East Rotary Club to participate in the Rotary Youth Exchange program and is scheduled to leave for Italy for her senior year. She has been involved in an ongoing fundraising effort and held a final fundraiser at Rustic Roots on Sunday night, July 19, 2026, with exceptional turnout. Bock will study abroad in Italy for 11 months, during which she will attend school, live with a host
CHICAGO – Attorney General Kwame Raoul today co-led a coalition of 19 attorneys general who moved to intervene in a lawsuit against the U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) and Secretary Pete Hegseth for unlawfully freezing routine reviews of land-based wind energy projects across the country. Federal law requires the DOD to review proposed wind projects for potential national security concerns and work with developers to address any issues. In August 2025, the DOD stopped moving projects
WASHINGTON – During today’s Senate Judiciary Committee hearing, U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, questioned the outside witness panel for the nomination of Todd Blanche, President Trump’s pick to be Attorney General of the United States. Durbin began by offering his condolences to witness Jennifer Bos, a mother from Illinois whose daughter, Megan, went missing and was found dead on the property of an undocumented
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
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