WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee and lead author of the Dream Act, U.S. Senator Alex Padilla (D-CA), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Immigration, and U.S. Senator Mark Kelly (D-AZ) today released the following statement after U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Kristi Noem confirmed that U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has arrested 261 Deferred Action for
by Tom Finan, Executive Director and Co-Founder, Construction Forum Construction Forum’s newly released 2025 Annual Report captures a year when the conversation about our region’s built environment shifted—from long-range planning to immediate response, and from discussion to durable systems. You can read the full report here: 2025 Annual Report. The May 16 EF-3 tornado forced […]
EDWARDSVILLE - The League of Women Voters and the NAACP hosted a candidate forum ahead of the primary election on March 17, 2026. Candidates for Illinois’s 13th Congressional District — Dylan Blaha (D), Jeff Wilson (R), and Joshua Loyd (R) — introduced themselves and shared information about their platforms. Incumbent Nikki Budzinski (D) was unable to attend. Blaha described himself as “a pro-peace U.S. Army veteran and former cancer research scientist” who live
SPRINGFIELD – Illinois State Treasurer Michael Frerichs today hosted a celebration to commemorate Black History Month and honor leaders in the African American community. The event, held at the Illinois State Treasurer’s Office in the Marine Bank Building in downtown Springfield, was an opportunity to reflect on the great achievements of Black leaders. The eight Downstate Illinois honorees included a Springfield dentist, the CEO and President of the Springfield Urban League,
GRANITE CITY - The Granite City Warriors’ season of significant progress ended Wednesday night, Feb. 25, 2026, with a 42-39 loss to the Collinsville Kahoks in regional play, closing a turnaround year that saw Granite City improve to 16-15 after going 9-23 in 2024-25. The basketball boys are Stillwater Senior Living Male Athletes of the Month for Granite City. “Last year, the year before, we graduated nine seniors, and last year, we were 9-23," he said. "So, we’re happy with
The Missouri House passed a bill along party lines Thursday that would remove the expiration date on the state’s restrictions for transgender athletes. In 2023, the General Assembly passed a law that prevents transgender athletes from competing according to their gender identity alongside a ban on gender-affirming care for minors. Democrats in the Senate filibustered […]
ST. CLAIR COUNTY – The Illinois Department of Transportation will hold a public meeting to discuss a study for the proposed improvements on Illinois 177 in Mascoutah. The meeting will be held: Wednesday, March 18 4-7 p.m. Mascoutah High School 1313 W. Main St., Mascoutah The project involves replacing the existing pavement on Illinois 177 in Mascoutah that was originally constructed in 1921 and last rehabilitated in 2002. The project will also evaluate intersection
Two bills gaining momentum from Missouri lawmakers would require drivers convicted of killing a parent while intoxicated to pay child support to the surviving spouse or guardian raising the victim's child or children.
ALTON – 1st MidAmerica Credit Union will award five $1,000 scholarships to area high school seniors in May. Applications are available online here . Applications are due Tuesday, March 31, 2026. Over 130 area youth have benefited from the 1st MidAmerica Credit Union scholarships, which were introduced in 2005. Scholarships may be applied to tuition, fees or other educational expenses. Eligibility Requirements Applicant must be a member of 1st MidAmerica, a primary accountholder an
A new trailer has just dropped for the Billy Idol documentary Billy Idol Should Be Dead, which opened in theaters on Thursday.The film, directed by Jonas Åkerlund, explores the rock star’s…
Bob “Spider” Purcell admits he doesn’t move as fast as he used to. But he’s OK with that. At 96, Purcell is more than content getting in his exercise by swimming laps nearly every morning at the YMCA in Ottawa, Illinois. “I'm a slow swimmer,” says the Ottawa resident and retired high school teacher. “I just freestyle for a half hour, and that's it. It keeps me going in the morning, really. I can feel down or not ready to do anything, but I get in that
I’ll take my joy where I can. And this iteration of the Trump DOJ continues to provide bright bursts of schadenfreude-tinted sunshine. Any competent DOJ can close cases. Any barely competent prosecutor can push a case past a grand jury. Any sufficiently slippery solicitor (mixing in some British for the sheer alliteration of it all) […]
GODFREY – Anderson Healthcare has donated a lead gift of $1,000 to a fundraiser by Mandie Clark, a hospital employee and alumna of Lewis and Clark Community College’s Nursing program. Clark collected donations to start the True North Nursing Scholarship for students at LC. Her fundraising efforts ran in conjunction with an inaugural Galentine’s Day Celebration for the public that was held Saturday, Feb. 7, at Post Commons in Alton. True North Aesthetics Co., founded
EDWARDSVILLE - The League of Women Voters and the NAACP hosted a candidate forum ahead of the primary election on March 17, 2026. A candidate for the Illinois House of Representatives for the 109th District, Zachary Meyer, presented his platform. Incumbent Charlie Meier, a Republican, was unable to attend the forum on Feb. 25, 2026. Meyer, also a Republican, introduced himself and his ideas. Meyer explained that he is an attorney and a professor. He started his own law firm and grew it
ALTON – The Alton Amphitheater seeks to expand its event offerings for 2026 with a new production company and a newly appointed member. At the Feb. 23, 2026 Committee of the Whole meeting , Rob Honke with the Alton Amphitheater Commission announced the group’s plans to partner with a new production company as part of their efforts to revitalize the venue. Honke said the Amphitheater Commission is developing a new long-term strategy, shifting from “auto-pilot” to
EDWARDSVILLE - The League of Women Voters and the NAACP hosted a candidate forum ahead of the primary election on March 17, 2026. Candidates for the Illinois Senate 56th District — Marsie Geldert-Murphey and Kevin Hall — introduced themselves and spoke about their platforms. During the candidate forum on Feb. 25, 2026, Democrats Geldert-Murphey and Hall shared more about their decision to run for Illinois Senate to represent the 56th District. Hall explained that he is a Glen
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