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Once thought to be wiped out in Missouri, black bears are seeing a renaissance in the state. The Post-Dispatch caught up with a bear biologist to learn more.

Ameren Corp. has completed a $5.5 million project that has added a new electric vehicle charging system at its Downtown West headquarters.

Fatal occupational injuries were down by about 200 last year, representing a rate decline from 3.6 per 100,000 to 3.4. As you can see, occupational deaths declined steadily through 2009 and then abruptly flatlined. There's been no progress since 2010. Here's how everything broke down in 2023: Most of the deaths by violence were during ...continue reading "Workplace deaths were down slightly in 2023"

CHICAGO - Building on a strong team of diverse experts in their fields, Governor JB Pritzker announced the following appointments in his administration. Illinois Health Benefits Exchange Advisory Committee Anusha Thotakura will serve as a Member of the Illinois Health Benefits Exchange Advisory Committee.* Thotakura currently serves as the Director of Illinois Citizen Action, where she successfully led efforts to ban price gouging for generic and off-patent prescription medication. Previously, she served as Special Projects Manager for the Progressive Turnout Project and was a Graduate Civics Fellow with the Blue Haven Initiative. Thotakura earned a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and a Master of Public Policy from Harvard University. Stephanie Altman will serve as a Member of the Illinois Health Benefits Exchange Advisory Committee.* Altman is the Director of Healthcare Justice and Senior Director of Policy at the Shriver Center on Poverty

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ALTON - An Alton man accused of failing to register as a sex offender faces multiple other charges in two Madison County criminal cases. Patrick J. Wooldridge, 45, listed as homeless out of Alton, was charged in one case on Dec. 13, 2024 with violating the Sex Offender Registration Act (a Class 2 felony) and unlawful possession of less than five grams of methamphetamine (a Class 3 felony). In that case, Wolldridge reportedly failed to register as a sex offender with local authorities on a weekly basis as required for homeless individuals under state law. The charging documents note he had previously been convicted of the same offense in Madison County court in 2021. In another case filed on the same day, Wooldridge was charged with one count each of theft and unlawful use of a credit or debit card, both Class 4 felonies. On Nov. 23, 2024, he reportedly stole an individual’s purse wallet and house keys and knowingly used their stolen debit card to obtain merchandise.

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An Illinois man remains in custody after breaking into an ex-girlfriend’s home and attacking her, and later fought with police as they tried to arrest him.

GRANITE CITY - Granite City High School sophomore Landon Harris was recognized by the Board of Education on Dec. 10, 2024, for his impressive achievement in cross country, qualifying for the 2024 IHSA Class 3A Cross Country Championship. Harris secured a time of 15:05.20, making him the 12th-fastest sophomore and earning him a 78th-place finish in the competition. Landon is a Stillwater Senior Living Male Athlete of the Month for the Warriors. This marks the second consecutive year that Harris has qualified for the state cross country meet, demonstrating his consistent performance in the sport. In addition to his cross country success, Harris has also excelled in track and field, having run under 2 minutes in the 800 meters and posting a time of 4:21.97 in the 1600 meters last spring. During the Board meeting, Harris was joined by Granite City High Principal Tim McChristian, GCHS Cross Country Coach Aaron Werths, and GCSD9 Board Vice President Eric Stacy, who all acknowledged

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WOOD RIVER - Sierra Holbrook-Blair, a senior at East Alton-Wood River High School, is being recognized for her contributions to the cheerleading team. Holbrook-Blair, who has transitioned from soccer to cheerleading, credits her success to a supportive environment and a positive mindset. Sierra is a Midwest Members Credit Union Female Athlete of the Month. Holbrook-Blair began her cheerleading journey this year, having previously played soccer, where she served as a captain during her junior year. "I came into this new sport with unease but gained a positive attitude that I could do anything if I just put my mind to it," she said. The welcoming nature of her teammates and coaches, particularly head coach Alison Beachum, helped her adjust to the new atmosphere. In addition to her athletic commitments, Holbrook-Blair is actively involved in various extracurricular activities, including the National Honor Society, Big Sisters, Renaissance, Student Council, Spirit Club, and Senior Mentor.

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There’s usually only one reason government officials use personal email accounts: to dodge FOIA requests. The excuses offered by those caught doing it are never credible. And those who do opt for personal email — especially at the federal level — are putting themselves in peril. There are also practical security reasons for using government […]

One daughter was wrapping Christmas presents inside when it happened. She got out seconds before the house "blew."

BETHALTO - Adam Ogden, a standout player for the Civic Memorial boys basketball team, recently achieved a significant milestone by scoring his 1,000th career point. The accomplishment took place during the Roxana Tournament. Ogden's achievement was celebrated during a recent Eagles home game, where he was presented with a commemorative basketball. Ogden is a Tom Lane Male Athlete of the Month for the Eagles. Coach Lee Green praised Ogden's dedication to the sport, stating, "No one else better deserves it. He puts so much time in on his own, playing with his select AAU travel team, always in the gym shooting, and always with CM. He does so much on his own." Ogden's commitment to basketball extends beyond high school; he has expressed interest in pursuing a collegiate education while continuing to play the sport. According to Coach Green, Ogden is a "very intelligent kid" with a strong SAT score, and he is considering several universities for his future. In addition to basketball,

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WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL)—a member of the U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation (CST) and author of the All Stations Accessibility Program (ASAP) Act —celebrated the United States Senate voting by voice vote to confirm David Capozzi to serve on Amtrak’s Board of Directors as the Boards’ designated disability advocate—a seat created by a provision Duckworth authored and successfully included in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. On Amtrak’s Board, Capozzi will help ensure senior Amtrak leadership hears the voices of individuals with disabilities who have demonstrated histories or experience with accessibility, mobility and inclusive transportation in passenger rail or commuter rail. “I worked hard to create this position on Amtrak’s Board of Directors because it is important that the disability community is represented at the table, and I’m proud that the Senate confirmed David

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CHICAGO - Attorney General Kwame Raoul led a coalition of 22 attorneys general in filing an amicus brief supporting the federal government’s actions to increase the minimum wage for employees of certain federal contractors. In April 2021, President Biden issued an executive order increasing the minimum wage for these workers to $15 and directing the U.S. Department of Labor to implement subsequent annual raises to reflect changes in the cost of living. Raoul and the coalition submitted the amicus brief in Nebraska v. Su, a case challenging the increase in minimum wage for federal contract workers. “Employees of federal contractors have a right to fair wages that allow them to provide for themselves and their families,” Raoul said. “We all benefit when workers in our states earn decent living wages, and I will continue to advocate for the rights of all workers to receive fair compensation for the work they do – particularly when they are working on behalf

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SPRINGFIELD - The Illinois Department of Labor (IDOL) has created a new Informal Resolution and Mediation Unit, which will help workers and employers resolve straightforward claims before they reach an administrative hearing or litigation. By bringing parties together to resolve their disputes, informal resolution and mediation processes can resolve claims more quickly and efficiently, saving time, resources, and money for everyone involved. “The Informal Resolution and Mediation Unit is not only beneficial for workers and employers, it also allows IDOL to prioritize enforcement resources on complex, strategic, or high-impact investigations,” said Illinois Department of Labor Director Jane Flanagan. The Unit currently has two primary functions: A pilot project for proactive resolution of single employee, low-dollar wage claims; and Administration of the new Illinois Freelance Worker Protection Act. As the Unit grows and evaluates outcomes from the pilot project,

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Sunrise over the Danube near Regensburg.

The Rolling Stones' Keith Richards is one of the many artists who have recorded a cover of Chuck Berry’s classic holiday song “Run Rudolph Run,” and now he’s sharing why he chose…

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The new year is just around the corner and new Illinois laws will be going into effect alongside it. From caps on prescription costs to digital driver's licenses, here's a look at some of the notable changes Illinoisans will feel come Jan. 1, 2025. What will be the new minimum wage in Illinois? Workers making minimum wage in Illinois will see an increase on their checks starting Jan. 1. Wages for hourly workers will increase from $14 to $15. Tipped workers will see an increase to $9 from their…

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Todd Young (R-IN), Roger Marshall (R-KS) and Maggie Hassan (D-NH) applauded Senate passage of their bipartisan legislation to provide Veterans with service-connected disabilities with expedited screening under the Transportation Security Administration’s (TSA) PreCheck program. While TSA PreCheck is already offered to active duty, Reserves and National Guard servicemembers at no cost, the Veterans Expedited TSA Screening (VETS) Safe Travel Act would expand this program to include Veterans who are amputees, paralyzed or blind who often experience challenges when passing through airport security. The bill passed the House of Representatives by unanimous consent earlier this month and now heads to the President’s desk to be signed into law. “Millions of Veterans have sacrificed a great deal in service to our nation and returned home with service-connected disabilities—for those of us who rely on prosthetic

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