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“Free” Surveillance Tech Still Comes At A High And Dangerous Cost

1 day 10 hours ago
Surveillance technology vendors, federal agencies, and wealthy private donors have long helped provide local law enforcement “free” access to surveillance equipment that bypasses local oversight. The result is predictable: serious accountability gaps and data pipelines to other entities, including Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), that expose millions of people to harm. The cost of “free” surveillance tools — […]
Beryl Lipton and Sarah Hamid

Anatomy of an avalanche

1 day 10 hours ago
One of the deadliest avalanches in modern California history occurred in the Castle Peak backcountry area north of Lake Tahoe, after more than three feet of snow and wind gusts up to 60 miles per hour created unstable, drifting snow.
Haley Fitzpatrick

Belleville Man Pleads Guilty to Assault at Gateway Arch

1 day 11 hours ago
ST. LOUIS - A Belleville man admitted in federal court on Wednesday, Feb. 18, 2026, to choking and assaulting a woman on the grounds of Gateway Arch National Park, according to a plea agreement detailing an incident that began during an argument in Belleville, Illinois, and ended on a service road in St. Louis. Darrion Lamont Evans, 20, of Belleville, pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court in St. Louis to one count of assault by strangulation and two counts of interstate domestic violence. In

Senator Harriss Statement on Pritzker's State Budget Address  

1 day 11 hours ago
SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Erica Harriss (56th-Glen Carbon) released the following statement after Governor Pritzker’s State of the State and Budget Address: “As a working parent in a family of five, I know affordability is not a slogan. It is about whether families can pay their bills, plan for the future, and feel secure in their homes. The same is true for seniors living on fixed incomes. Right now, too many Illinoisans are watching property taxes, utility bills,

Wood River Finalizes Land Sale For 'Hollywood River' Film Studios

1 day 12 hours ago
WOOD RIVER – Wood River will soon be home to a new hub for esports and film production. At their Feb. 17, 2026 meeting , City Council members voted unanimously to authorize the sale of city-owned surplus real estate to WR Farm Investments LLC, the company behind the purchase and development of Hollywood River Studios . Also approved was a redevelopment agreement for a related TIF project between the city and WR Farm Investments LLC. The company has agreed to pay $1 million to purchase

Sen. Belt, Others Issue Reactions To Pritzker's Proposed Budget

1 day 12 hours ago
Belt reacts to FY 27 budget proposal SPRINGFIELD – After hearing the governor’s budget proposal for Fiscal Year 2027, State Senator Christopher Belt (D-Swansea) released the following statement: “Even though the federal government has put funding for many Illinois programs on the chopping block, Illinois families and small businesses cannot afford any new taxes. Democrats and Republicans have to work together over the next several months to pass a balanced budget, because

Gov. Pritzker Proposes Another Budget

1 day 12 hours ago
SPRINGFIELD – Today, Governor JB Pritzker unveiled his eighth balanced budget proposal — a fiscally responsible plan centered on making Illinois more affordable for working families while protecting the state’s long-term financial stability. At a time when families are facing higher costs driven by national economic uncertainty, the FY27 budget prioritizes affordability without raising taxes on working people. The Governor’s budget builds on seven years of restored