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Attorney General Raoul Defends Temporary Protected Status For Immigrants From Honduras, Nepal, Nicaragua

5 months ago
CHICAGO – Attorney General Kwame Raoul joined a coalition of 15 attorneys general opposing the Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) unlawful and baseless attempt to strip temporary protected status (TPS) from Honduran, Nepali and Nicaraguan immigrants. The TPS program is a critical humanitarian lifeline established by Congress in 1990 that protects immigrants from being returned to countries that have been deemed unsafe, allowing them to work and build a life in the United States. In an amicus brief filed in National TPS Alliance v. Noem, Raoul and the coalition highlight the devastating economic and humanitarian consequences of ending these TPS protections and urge the court to postpone the proposed actions. “People with temporary protected status have fled trauma and extreme hardship and are now working and contributing to their communities across the country,” Raoul said. “I am proud to join my fellow attorneys general in asking the court to preserve

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Gov. Pritzker Announces Global Seating Supplier Adient to Locate Facility in Normal, Bringing Jobs and Investment to the Central Region

5 months ago
NORMAL - Governor JB Pritzker, the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) and Adient, a global leader in automotive seating, today announced the company will establish a facility in Normal to assemble seat components for Rivian products. Adient plans to make a capital investment of more than $8 million with support from the Reimagining Energy and Vehicles in Illinois (REV Illinois) program, which will enable the company to establish its operations and create 75 new full-time jobs. “With more EV suppliers calling Illinois home due to our unmatched workforce, infrastructure and competitive incentives, we are growing our reputation as a global leader in the electric vehicle sector,” said Governor JB Pritzker. “Adient’s new facility in Normal is a critical investment in our state’s growing EV ecosystem and supply chain. With yet another global company choosing to locate in Illinois, we’re creating more jobs, opportunities and

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Man Apprehended In Jersey County Following Stolen Camper Investigation

5 months ago
JERSEY COUNTY - A man who fled from police during an investigation at Pere Marquette State Park on Sunday, July 20, 2025, has been captured and is now in custody at the Jersey County Jail, authorities said. The incident began around 8 a.m. Sunday, July 20, 2025, when a Jersey County sheriff’s deputy encountered a man on a bicycle near a black Ford F-150 pickup truck parked off Scenic Drive inside the state park. The deputy learned the truck and an attached camper had been reported stolen from Missouri. When approached, the man fled on foot into the nearby woods. Law enforcement officials launched a search of the area and later posted the suspect’s photo and description on the Jersey County Sheriff’s Office Facebook page, urging the public to remain vigilant. The suspect, described as a man in his late 20s, approximately 5 feet 7 inches tall and weighing about 250 pounds, with brown hair and blue eyes, was considered dangerous. Several hours after the initial encounter,

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Gov. Pritzker Joins Governors to Take Collective Action

5 months ago
CHICAGO - This week, Governor Pritzker joined Governors across America to take collective action as he continues standing up for Illinoisans as the Trump Administration imposes disastrous tariffs, drives up costs, and attacks education and health care. Whether it’s education, electricity, or groceries, Governor Pritzker is focused on improving affordability and access for all Illinoisans. Fighting Trump’s Tariff Taxes On Monday, Governor Pritzker signed an executive order directing state agencies to address the effects of Trump’s sweeping tariffs on Illinois families and businesses. Governor Pritzker joined six other governors across America taking action to push back against these tariffs that tax working families. The Trump Administration’s trade policy will not only increase the costs of everyday goods such as groceries and gas, but also deepen existing economic uncertainty for businesses, disrupt supply chains, and threaten the jobs of Illinois workers.

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The Man Behind the Art: Alton's Kooliverse Shares Inspiration, Goals, and Process

5 months ago
ALTON - Most of the community knows him as Kooliverse, but the man behind the name has a simple goal: to continue creating art by any means necessary. Michael Snider moved to Alton 23 years ago and quickly developed a reputation as a unique artist in the region. He has over 80 pieces in The Conservatory in Alton, recently finished a self-portrait made out of 32,000 postage stamps, and plans to create a giant Miles Davis tribute out of 1,000 donated trumpets. He’s always looking ahead to the next piece of art he can create. “I’m highly driven. I want to put out world-class art. I try to do the best work I possibly can. Is there any polite way to say you want to be rich and famous?” Snider laughed. “There’s not. But you know what? I want to make unbelievably wondrous pieces of art, and I want to be able to have enough money to make another piece of wondrous art.” Growing up, Snider was always interested in art. When he moved to Alton,

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Venice Police Charge St. Louis Woman With Weapon, Vehicle Offenses

5 months ago
VENICE, Ill. – A local woman faces multiple criminal charges after carrying a loaded firearm in a car with no registration, driving on a suspended license, and more. Queen A. J. Walker, 27, of St. Louis, was charged on July 9, 2025 with a Class 4 felony count of aggravated unlawful use of a loaded weapon, Class A misdemeanor counts of driving on a suspended license and offenses relating to possession of titles and registration, as well as a petty offense of unlawfully operating a vehicle without valid registration. Walker allegedly carried a SCCY 9mm pistol in a vehicle which was uncased, loaded, and immediately accessible. She had no valid Firearm Owner’s Identification (FOID) card at the time of the offense. Walker also reportedly drove a white Ford Fusion on Illinois Route 3 and Broadway in Venice while her driver’s license was suspended. She is additionally accused of attaching a Missouri license plate to the car which was not authorized for use on the vehicle,

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U.S. Attorney's Office and Local Agencies Collaborate for National Night Out In East St. Louis

5 months ago
EAST ST. LOUIS — The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Illinois, along with law enforcement agencies and community partners, will host a National Night Out event aimed at strengthening relationships between residents and police. The free event is scheduled for Tuesday, Aug. 5, from 5 to 7:30 p.m. at 8206 State St. in East St. Louis. It will feature activities for attendees of all ages, including competitive games, police demonstrations, and a live DJ. Community partners will also distribute school supplies to students and provide food for families. The event is open to all East St. Louis residents. Organizations involved in hosting the event include Ameren Illinois, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), Catholic Urban Programs, the City of East St. Louis, Community Development Sustainable Solutions, Community Life Line, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the East St. Louis Police Department, the FBI Springfield Field

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Detainee Samuel Hayes Jr. Dies Following Jail Altercation

5 months ago
ST. LOUIS — A 31-year-old detainee died Saturday night, July 19, 2025, following an altercation at the City Justice Center, prompting an investigation by St. Louis police and statements from city officials emphasizing accountability and jail reform. Samuel Hayes Jr. was involved in a fight with another detainee in a shared cell around 8:20 p.m., according to St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department spokesman Mitch McCoy. After the confrontation, Hayes reportedly did not comply with jail staff directives and was placed in a restraint chair. He was found unresponsive at approximately 10 p.m. and was transported to a local hospital, where he was pronounced dead. The Justice Center notified police of the in-custody death at 11:35 p.m. Saturday. The Force Investigation Unit of the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department is currently investigating the circumstances surrounding the incident. St. Louis Mayor Cara Spencer, who was informed of Hayes’ death Sunday, expressed condolences

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