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Federal Reserve hikes key rate for 1st time in 3 years, defying Trump demands for a cut

1 day 13 hours ago
WASHINGTON (AP) β€” The Federal Reserve raised its benchmark interest rate Wednesday for the first time since 2023 in an effort to quell stubbornly high inflation, and the central bank signaled another rate hike could occur later this year. The quarter-point increase lifts the Fed’s key rate to about 3.9% and, over time, could result [...]
CHRISTOPHER RUGABER, Associated Press

Local Tourism Economic Impact Climbs to Nearly $1.5 Billion in Southwest Illinois

1 day 14 hours ago
ALTON - Tourism continues to strengthen the southwest Illinois economy in 2025, generating nearly $1.48 billion in total economic impact – a $79 million year over year increase – in the six county Great Rivers & Routes region, according to newly released tourism economic impact data. The tourism economy in Madison, Macoupin, Greene, Jersey, Calhoun and Montgomery counties grew from approximately $1.4 billion in 2024 to $1.479 billion in 2025, while supporting 9,823 jobs, generating

Gov. Pritzker Highlights Illinois Commission's Record On ICE Abuses

1 day 14 hours ago
CHICAGO — One year ago, Donald Trump released violence throughout Illinois as a part of Operation Midway Blitz. Governor JB Pritzker has fought every day since to ensure that the federal agents who subjected Illinoisans to violent, unlawful treatment face accountability. In October 2025, Gov. Pritzker established the Illinois Accountability Commission to collect evidence from ICE and CBP’s attacks during Operation Midway Blitz and form a record of their abuses. Following

20 Illinois Students Win Statewide Summer Reading Challenge, Including First Pitch At Cubs Game

1 day 14 hours ago
SPRINGFIELD – Secretary of State and State Librarian Alexi Giannoulias today announced 20 young readers from across Illinois as the inaugural winners of Illinois Reads Together, a statewide summer reading challenge launched by the Illinois Literacy Foundation and the Chicago Cubs. Among the winners, Bailey Quincer, 17, of Malta, was selected to throw out the ceremonial first pitch before today’s Chicago Cubs game against the Atlanta Braves at Wrigley Field. The remaining 19 winners

Duckworth-Blackburn Bipartisan Bill To Improve Emergency Communication Technology That Could Help Save Lives Passes Committee

1 day 14 hours ago
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, the U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation (CST) passed bipartisan legislation led by U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) that would improve emergency communication technology that could help save lives. The bipartisan ITS Codification Act would codify the Institute for Telecommunication Sciences (ITS), which currently serves as the research and engineering laboratory at the National Telecommunications and Information

Budzinski, Tonko, Heinrich Introduce Legislation to Ensure Federal Energy Investments Create Good-Paying Union Jobs, Benefit Workers and Communities

1 day 14 hours ago
WASHINGTON, DC — Today, U.S. Representatives Nikki Budzinski (IL-13) and Paul Tonko (NY-21) introduced the Good Energy Jobs Act , legislation that ensures federal investments in America’s energy future create good-paying union jobs, strengthen domestic manufacturing, and deliver meaningful benefits to the communities where projects are built. The Good Energy Jobs Act would codify labor and community-benefit standards that the Department of Energy (DOE) has used as conditions for

New Family Medicine Physician Expands Access To Care In Troy

1 day 14 hours ago
TROY, Ill. — HSHS Medical Group welcomes Lexi Kremer-Callahan, MD, a family medicine physician, to HSHS Medical Family Medicine-Troy at 7342 State Rt. 162 in Troy, Illinois. Dr. Kremer-Callahan is a primary care physician specializing in family medicine, caring for patients of all ages. Her scope of practice includes well-child visits, preventive screenings, chronic disease management, women's health and pediatrics. She chose family medicine for the wide variety of care it offers and the

Illinois DCFS, Save Abandoned Babies Foundation Launch Campaign To Connect Parents With Baby Safe Haven Law Information

1 day 14 hours ago
CHICAGO – The Illinois Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) and the Save Abandoned Babies Foundation today announced the launch of a new campaign designed to immediately connect the public to lifesaving information about the Illinois Newborn Infant Protection Act , commonly referred to as the Baby Safe Haven Law. This critical law provides parents in crisis with a safe, anonymous and legal alternative to infant abandonment. Under the law, a parent may hand an unharmed newborn,

Jerseyville Library Fundraisers Aim To Boost Materials

1 day 14 hours ago
JERSEYVILLE - The Friends of the Jerseyville Public Library is holding two fall fundraisers in Jerseyville, including an afghan basket raffle ending Oct. 21, 2026, and a book sale Oct. 8-10, 2026, to raise money for library materials and programming. Raffle tickets are available at the Jerseyville Public Library or from Friends members. Tickets cost $1 each or six for $5, with sales continuing until the drawing at 5 p.m. Oct. 21. The basket features a hand-knit, chunky chenille afghan crafted