WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today joined U.S. Senators Gary Peters (D-MI), Chuck Schumer (D-NY), Patty Murray (D-WA) and Jeff Merkley (D-OR) along with the entire Senate Democratic caucus in demanding Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Director Russell Vought immediately rescind OMB’s proposed regulation on federal financial assistance. The Senators warned the proposal exceeds OMB’s statutory
FAIRVIEW HEIGHTS – The Illinois Department of Transportation today announced lane closures on Illinois 159 at Interstate 64 in St. Clair County as part of ongoing improvements in the corridor. Beginning at 7 a.m. Monday, July 6, 2026, traffic will be reduced to one lane in each direction between Ludwig Drive to Market Place to allow for bridge construction. The lane restrictions will be in place through early fall 2026. For IDOT District 8 updates, follow us on the social media platform
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee; U.S. Senator Alex Padilla (D-CA), Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Rules and Administration; and U.S. Senators Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) led fourteen of their colleagues in urging the Department of Justice (DOJ) to halt any efforts to compensate January 6 rioters and commit to defending taxpayers in any January 6-related lawsuits. In their
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) joined U.S Senator Patty Murray (D-WA) and their colleagues in writing a letter to Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. blasting his recent decision to terminate nearly all Teen Pregnancy Prevention (TPP) Program grants—and calling on him to immediately reinstate the funding for over 50 grantees nationwide. “We write to express our outrage ove
ST. LOUIS — Acculift Foundation Repair has made the first donation through its quarterly “Lifting Our Communities” giveback initiative, contributing $1,500 to Dogs For Our Brave, a nonprofit that provides professionally trained service dogs at no cost to wounded veterans who have honorably served, the company announced. The donation was made in St. Louis, where Dogs For Our Brave is headquartered. According to the announcement, the funds will support the nonprofit’s
On July 6, 1415, the Czech religious reformer Jan Hus was executed at the Council of Constance, a moment that became one of the most important turning points in late medieval Europe. Hus had criticized corruption in the church and argued that religious authority should be held accountable to scripture and moral conduct. His death mattered immediately because it deepened conflict within the Christian world and helped spark the Hussite Wars in Bohemia. It still matters today because it stands as
Red, white, and blue can signal freedom in one place, warning in another, and ordinary brand marketing somewhere else. The same three colors can stir pride, nostalgia, protest, or skepticism depending on where you see them and who is using them. That is what makes “red, white, and blue” more than a simple color combination. For many people, especially in the United States, the phrase points straight to the national flag. But its meaning is not fixed. It comes from history, tradition,
ALTON - A lightning strike hit an abandoned boat at Alton Marina on the afternoon of Saturday, July 4, 2026, causing its mast to fall onto another derelict vessel, marina operator and general manager Rob Honke said. No one was hurt, and officials’ main concern now is salvage, Honke said. Honke described the incident as “very, very rare and very scary.” “The good news is no one was hurt, and the vessel that was struck was an abandoned derelict vessel slated to be
EDWARDSVILLE - Nolan Pichee led the way with three hits and two RBIs, while Auggie Landuyt came up with two hits and two RBIs, with both players being the catalysts as the Alton Post 126 junior American Legion baseball team came from behind with a nine-run seventh to defeat the Extreme Elite under-16 baseball club 10-7 in the Play 9 tournament Sunday morning at Plummer Park in Edwardsville. The come-from-behind win was their fourth in the last eight games, and they are now 13-9-1 on the season.
TOKYO, JAPAN – U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL)—a member of the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee (SFRC)—arrived in Japan on a Congressional delegation (CODEL) she arranged to continue her efforts meeting with high-level business leaders and government officials and promoting Illinois abroad. During her official trip, Duckworth plans to meet with businesses and convened leaders in quantum and technology to shore up previous trade commitments and reassure the international
SPRINGFIELD – At the close of fiscal year 2026 on June 30, Illinois Comptroller Susana A. Mendoza reports another successful year in paying the state’s bills in a timely manner while the state’s Rainy Day Fund balance has again increased to new records. For the fifth consecutive time ending a state fiscal year, the Illinois Office of Comptroller (IOC) released all pending bills from the state’s General Revenue Fund (GRF), while reporting an end-of-year GRF cash balance
Most of us have been touched by cancer in some way. Maybe we have friends or family who’ve been diagnosed, or maybe you’re one of the 18 million people in the U.S. living as a cancer survivor. Given cancer’s seriousness, its extent can certainly feel concerning, especially as the number of cancer survivors is expected to grow to over 22 million within the next 10 years. But there is actually some good news to go along with these large numbers. “Yes, part of this growth
SPRINGFIELD — On Thursday, July 9, Congresswoman Nikki Budzinski (IL-13) will host her third Workforce Development Summit at Richland Community College, bringing together educators, employers, and community leaders to discuss how career and technical education (CTE) can strengthen the agricultural workforce. The summit builds on Budzinski's previous workforce development events, which focused on strengthening partnerships with Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) organizations
EAST ST. LOUIS – The Illinois Department of Transportation today announced that northbound Interstate 55 will be reduced to one lane between the I-55/I-64 split and Exchange Avenue in St. Clair County from Tuesday, July 7, through Thursday, July 9, 2026, weather permitting, for bridge maintenance. The lane closures will be in effect from 6 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. each day. Motorists should expect long delays and are encouraged to use alternate routes during this closure. Drivers are urged t
GODFREY - Vitality Women’s Clinic recently partnered with Party on Broadway to provide an art therapy experience to local mothers. Vitality is a pro-life, faith-based pregnancy center that works with pregnant people and new parents. Executive Director Jackie Duty explained that the organization recently received an art grant that allowed them to partner with a local painting studio to offer the art therapy experience. “It’s just amazing to see these women come alive in
July is celebrated as National Ice Cream Month, making it the perfect time for families to slow down, cool off and enjoy sweet summertime traditions together. Declared by former President Ronald Reagan in 1984, National Ice Cream Month highlights one of America’s favorite desserts while encouraging families to gather and create lasting memories around the table. From neighborhood ice cream shops to homemade milkshakes blended in the kitchen, frozen treats have long been tied to summer vacations
ALTON - Thousands of people gathered in Downtown Alton on Friday night, July 3, 2026, for the city’s annual fireworks display, an event officials said was expanded for the nation’s 250th anniversary celebration despite hot weather. The Annual Alton Fireworks display was part of a three-day local observance in the city tied to the country’s 250th anniversary, with the riverfront fireworks serving as a major draw for the community. Mayor David Goins said the city added “a
SPRINGFIELD – The Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) is asking hunters, landowners, outdoor enthusiasts, conservation professionals, and other members of the public to help monitor wild turkey reproduction by reporting wild turkey sightings this summer through the Illinois Wild Turkey Survey . Participants can report wild turkey sightings, including the number of adult females, young turkeys or poults, adult males, and birds of unknown age or sex. These reports help IDNR
SPRINGFIELD – Illinois state historic sites in downtown Springfield will celebrate Independence Day on Friday, July 4, 2026 with free activities, including art, history programs, hands-on crafts and special tours. Visitors can explore the Noir 6 art exhibition at the Old State Capitol State Historic Site. The free exhibit features artwork by 26 Black artists exploring the Black experience of the past and hopes for the future. Children ages 5-15 can create tie-dye T-shirts on the north
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and U.S. Representative Jonathan Jackson (D-IL-01) reintroduced bicameral legislation to help reduce gun violence in Illinois and across the country. The Blair Holt Firearm Licensing and Record of Sale Act , which Duckworth has been pushing for since 2018, would prohibit the unlicensed ownership and transfer of firearms and direct the U.S. Attorney General to establish and maintain a federal record of sale system and conduct fingerprint-based
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