CHICAGO – The Trump administration just admitted in a federal court filing to canceling federal grants to states solely because they did not vote for Donald Trump in 2024. In 2025, the Trump administration canceled $583 million in federal grant funding intended for Illinois organizations that would have gone toward lowering energy costs, strengthening grid reliability, and creating energy jobs. This is a politically motivated attack on Illinois working families already struggling
A fair can turn a parking lot into a place people talk about for years. Add music, bright lights, food stands, and a crowd moving with the same excited energy, and even ordinary space starts to feel special. That shift helps explain why humans love fairs and festivals. These events are not just about rides, concerts, parades, or holiday traditions. They give people something many parts of daily life do not: shared excitement. For a few hours or days, normal routines loosen. Strangers stand shoulde
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Representative Jan Schakowsky (D-IL-09) today reintroduced bicameral legislation to reduce housing accessibility barriers and improve mobility for people with disabilities. The Eleanor Smith Inclusive Home Design Act would require all newly constructed single-family homes, townhouses and multi-level dwelling units built with federal funding include at least one accessible (or “zero step”) entrance into the home,
SPRINGFIELD – Legislation sponsored by State Senator Erica Harriss (56th-Glen Carbon) and State Representative Amy Elik (111th-Alton) to modernize how local taxing districts file budget documents was signed into law Friday. "When local governments spend your tax dollars, you deserve a system that's efficient and accountable,” said Senator Harriss. “This law gives local taxing districts a modern option for filing their budgets to cut down on paperwork delays and create a clear,
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth and Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin joined U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) in reintroducing the Disclosure of Tax Havens and Offshoring Act , legislation to provide transparency around corporations’ use of tax havens and incentives to jobs. This offshore bill would require public companies to disclose their financial reporting on a country-by-country basis. Ensuring public access to this information would both provide investors
CHICAGO – Governor JB Pritzker and the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) announced today that Ability Engineering Technology, Inc. (AET) will expand and modernize its Illinois operations through a two-location investment, in South Holland and in Chicago at the Illinois Quantum and Microelectronics Park ( IQMP ), strengthening the state's manufacturing supply chain and supporting its growing quantum ecosystem. “I’m proud that Ability Engineering Technolog
A warm drink, a clean bed, a song you love, five quiet minutes alone—these small things can lift a person’s mood more reliably than many expensive treats. That may seem odd in a culture that often celebrates bigger, faster, and more dramatic rewards. Yet simple pleasures keep their power. They cut through stress, ground us in the present, and remind us that satisfaction does not always need a grand event. Why small pleasures matter so much Human beings are built to notice comfort,
On July 27, 1953, fighting in the Korean War was halted by the signing of the Korean Armistice Agreement. After three years of war, immense destruction, and millions of military and civilian deaths, the agreement stopped open combat between North Korean, Chinese, and United Nations forces led by the United States. It did not create a formal peace treaty, but it drew a ceasefire line near the 38th parallel and established the Demilitarized Zone, or DMZ, that still divides the Korean Peninsula
PONTOON BEACH, Ill. — A 34-year-old man died after being shot multiple times early Saturday in the 4000 block of Pontoon Road, and the Major Case Squad of Greater St. Louis has been asked to assist in the investigation, authorities said. Pontoon Beach police responded at about 3:11 a.m. Saturday, July 26, 2026, to a report of shots fired, according to the information released. Officers determined that the man had been shot multiple times. The victim was taken to a St. Louis-area hospital,
ALTON — Alton police are investigating a fatal shooting that left a 21-year-old Alton man dead Friday night in the 200 block of West Delmar Avenue. Officers responded at about 10:08 p.m. Friday, July 24, 2026, after receiving a 911 call reporting a possible shooting victim, according to the Alton Police Department. When officers arrived, they found Terrance R. Johnson suffering from multiple apparent gunshot wounds. Police said officers began life-saving measures until Alton Fire Department
HIGHLAND — Incoming Edwardsville High School senior Aleigha Fazio, 17, of Edwardsville, was crowned the 2026 Miss Madison County Fair Queen on July 25, 2026, in Highland. Fazio succeeds retiring 2025 fair queen Shayden Hogg. Fazio competed in the 16-21 age category. Aleigha is a 5-foot-6 running back/defensive back for the Tigers and has been preparing for the upcoming 2026 fall season. Other Miss Madison County Fair Queen participants were as follows: Pocahontas ' Emma Jackson. Alton&rsquo
GRANITE CITY – A Granite City man who allegedly tried to kill an elderly victim by swerving off the road to strike them with his vehicle remains jailed on multiple charges. 64-year-old Tony S. Accardi of Granite City was charged on July 15, 2026 with a Class X felony count of attempted first degree murder, two counts of aggravated battery including a Class 2 and Class 3 felony, and a Class A misdemeanor count of fleeing or attempting to elude a peace officer. Accardi allegedly struck
CAHOKIA HEIGHTS - A 16-year-old was shot multiple times and pronounced dead Saturday night, July 25, 2026, in Cahokia Heights, Illinois, prompting the activation of the Major Case Squad of Greater St. Louis, authorities said. The Cahokia Heights Police Department responded at about 7:57 p.m. Saturday, July 25, 2026, to the 1100 block of Camp Jackson Road for a report of a shooting, according to Alton Police Lt. Andrew Pierson, public information officer for the Major Case Squad of Greater St.
On July 26, one of the most far-reaching events in modern global history is the 1945 Potsdam Declaration, when the United States, the United Kingdom, and China called on Japan to surrender and outlined the terms that would shape the end of the Second World War in Asia. Issued near the close of a conflict that had already caused immense destruction across continents, the declaration mattered because it set out the political framework for ending the war and warned of “prompt and utter destruction”
The clearest major turning point tied directly to July 25 is the 1943 fall of Benito Mussolini in Italy during World War II. That day mattered immediately because it signaled the collapse of one of Europe’s main Fascist governments at a critical moment in the war. It still matters because it showed how military defeat, public strain, and political division can quickly unravel even a powerful dictatorship. By mid-1943, Italy had suffered years of war losses, economic hardship, and growing
ALTON - Alton Community Unit School District #11 families are reminded to stop by the in-person registration next week to ensure their students are ready for the school year. All families must attend in-person to register their children for the 2026–2027 school year. Registration will take place in the gymnasium at Alton High School. Caregivers are asked to bring a photo ID and other necessary documents. From 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Tuesday, July 28, 2026, families with last names starting
EAST ALTON — The East Alton Police Department has added Officer Andrew Heil-Watson as its newest member, with the department saying he officially joined on July 13, 2026, after being ceremonially pinned at the July 7, 2026, Village Board meeting. The department announced Heil-Watson’s addition and said he is a 2022 graduate of Roxana High School. The East Alton Police Department welcomed Heil-Watson to its team. “He is excited to serve the East Alton community and is committed
SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Christopher Belt led a new law that will protect consumers from being charged fees when service providers fail to give adequate notice before arriving at a residence. “I don’t think that people should be left holding the bag if a company failed to communicate with them,” said Belt (D-Swansea). “If a service provider fails to follow the rules and shows up without proper notice, we shouldn’t be stuck paying extra fees.” Senat
Don’t sleep on the cancer prevention benefits of a healthy breakfast. Whether it’s oatmeal, whole-wheat toast, berries in Greek yogurt or other healthy combinations — starting the morning with simple, whole foods is a great way to help lower the risk of cancer while also energizing your day and boosting your overall health. Try to steer away from refined and processed foods like pastries, white bread, sugary cereals, sausage and bacon. These are popular choices, but they can
EAST ST. LOUIS — East St. Louis School District 189, in its ongoing commitment to student welfare, is proud to announce a significant partnership with Gaggle ReachOut, launching a 24/7 crisis line dedicated to providing immediate support and counseling for students in need. This innovative service offers both a phone line and a chat feature, ensuring accessible, round-the-clock assistance. Phone / Text: 618-228-3622 The Gaggle ReachOut crisis line is more than just a helpline; it’s
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