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100 Years Ago: Madison County Historian Dies, Leave Behind Book Still Used Today

5 months 3 weeks ago
ALTON - Wilbur Theodore Norton, three-term postmaster of Alton, Alton Board of Education member, historical researcher and author, and previous owner and editor of the Alton Evening Telegraph, died on January 8, 1925. Wil bur T. Norton was born in Alton on September 10, 1844, to Reverend Augustus T. Norton and Eliza Rogers Norton. Augustus T. Norton served as one of the first pastors of the First Presbyterian Church in Alton from 1839 to 1858 and edited the Presbytery, the newspaper of the Presbyterian Church in Illinois. His book “History of the Presbyterian Church, in the State of Illinois,” published in 1879, is considered “an authoritative work that is the only record of the church in the early days in the state and finds a place in most libraries dealing with history of the church.” There is a copy available at the Hayner Genealogy & Local History Library (call number IR 285 NOR) and a digital copy available online: https://archive.org/details/historyofpresb00nort/

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Illinois EPA Bringing Recycle Coach To All Illinois Communities

5 months 3 weeks ago
SPRINGFIELD - Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (Illinois EPA) Director James Jennings has announced a new partnership with Recycle Coach to provide all Illinois residents in 6,835 units of local government a holistic, locally-tailored, easy to access recycling education platform. In the coming months, Recycle Coach will be engaging counties and municipalities across the state to ensure all Illinois residents are afforded the opportunity to have their community participate in this opportunity. Use of the program will decrease inbound contamination at material recovery facilities in Illinois, increase the amount of material diverted from Illinois landfills, prevent environmental contamination, and ultimately reduce emissions that contribute to climate change. “The Illinois EPA is excited to offer this innovative technology that will provide all Illinois residents with advanced and easily accessible tools to allow them to increase and improve recycling throughout our communities,”

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Illinois Conservation Foundation Accepting Applications for 2025 Conservation Achievement Scholarships

5 months 3 weeks ago
SPRINGFIELD – Applications are now being accepted by the Illinois Conservation Foundation (ICF) for the 2025 Conservation Achievement Scholarship program. The ICF annually awards scholarships to outstanding high school seniors in Illinois who demonstrate effective, voluntary, long-term dedication to the preservation, protection or enhancement of Illinois’ natural resources. Four scholarships of $2,000 each are available for the current school year. One of the scholarships is earmarked for a qualified applicant who is a dependent of a current employee of the Illinois Department of Natural Resources. "The ICF Conservation Achievement Scholarship program rewards high school students interested in conservation stewardship and protecting Illinois’ natural resources,” said Illinois Department of Natural Resources Director Natalie Phelps Finnie. The ICF Conservation Achievement Scholarships have been awarded since 2005. Applicants must be an Illinois resident an

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Attorney General Raoul Recovers Unpaid Overtime Wages For Misclassified Temporary Workers

5 months 3 weeks ago
CHICAGO – Attorney General Kwame Raoul today reached a $320,000 settlement with Veryable Inc. (Veryable), resolving allegations the company misclassified workers who were placed in temporary labor positions via the company’s online platform. “Day and temporary laborers are especially vulnerable to unlawful labor practices that rob them of crucial protections and pay, including a four-hour minimum if they are placed in a job that is canceled when they are not reassigned,” Raoul said. “My office will continue fighting to protect the rights of all Illinois workers, which also levels the playing field for businesses already in compliance with Illinois employment laws.” Raoul’s office conducted an investigation that revealed workers placed through Veryable’s online platform were misclassified as independent contractors and paid at a regular hourly rate of pay without receiving any premiums for overtime hours worked. Workers were also

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Budzinski Celebrates Proposed Rule on 45Z Eligibility for Illinois Farmers

5 months 3 weeks ago
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, Congresswoman Nikki Budzinski (IL-13) issued a statement on the Department of Treasury’s notice of intent to propose regulations on the 45Z Clean Fuels Production Credit and USDA's interim rule for Climate-Smart Agriculture (CSA) practices for crops used as biofuel feedstocks. These rules reflect several of the key requests Budzinski has consistently made to the administration, which are critical for the farmers in her district. "Since coming to Congress, I’ve been proud to fight for local farmers and advance biofuel policy. After consistently working alongside the Biden Administration, growers, and producers throughout this process, those efforts have finally paid off," said Congresswoman Budzinski. "With guidance from the Treasury Department and USDA, we are now on track to ensure that corn and soybean growers in our district can share in the benefits of the 45Z tax credit, alongside our ethanol and biodiesel producers. This means further

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Person struck by vehicle in north St. Louis County

5 months 3 weeks ago
ST. LOUIS COUNTY, Mo. - A 58-year-old St. Peters man was left seriously injured after being struck by a vehicle in Berkeley on Friday morning. According to the Missouri State Highway Patrol (MSHP), the accident occurred a little before 6 a.m. on southbound James S. McDonnell Boulevard, south of Banshee Road, involving a Chevrolet Colorado. [...]
Nick Gladney

Immigration advocates prep for Trump mass deportations, vow legal challenges

5 months 3 weeks ago
WASHINGTON — As President-Elect Donald Trump is set to be sworn in for a second term next week, immigration advocates said Thursday they are prepared to combat the incoming president’s campaign promise of enacting mass deportations of undocumented people. Additionally, those immigration advocacy groups are ready for an onslaught of executive orders and a return […]
Ariana Figueroa

Trump nominee for Treasury opposes higher taxes on billionaires, decries federal spending

5 months 3 weeks ago
WASHINGTON — President-elect Donald Trump’s choice for Treasury secretary appeared on track for Senate confirmation after a wide-ranging hearing Thursday that included substantial debate on tax policy and how tariffs would affect everyday Americans. Scott Bessent, a hedge fund manager whom Trump announced as his pick in November, repeatedly deferred to the incoming president’s policies during […]
Jennifer Shutt

New rules target middlemen in Missouri cannabis industry to prevent ‘predatory’ practices

5 months 3 weeks ago
Missouri cannabis consultant John Payne appeared on 329 social-equity license applications last year as the designated contact — the person who handles all communications with state regulators. Amanda Kilroe, an attorney with the Michigan-based group CannaZoned, was listed on another 94.  Arizona-based cannabis investor Michael Halow is associated with at least a dozen designated contacts […]
Rebecca Rivas

The Importance of Mental Health Awareness in Today's Society

5 months 3 weeks ago
Mental health awareness has gained significant traction in recent years, yet it remains a complex and often misunderstood subject. As society continues to evolve, the need to prioritize mental well-being has become increasingly apparent. This article explores the importance of mental health awareness, the stigma surrounding mental illness, the role of education and advocacy, and practical ways individuals can contribute to a more supportive atmosphere. Understanding Mental Health Mental health refers to a person's emotional, psychological, and social well-being. It affects how we think, feel, and act, influencing our ability to handle stress, relate to others, and make choices. Mental health issues can manifest in various forms, such as anxiety disorders, depression, bipolar disorder, and schizophrenia, among others. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), approximately 1 in 4 individuals will experience a mental health issue at some point in their lives, underscoring the

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This Day in History on January 17: Great Hanshin Earthquake Strikes Japan

5 months 3 weeks ago
Welcome to January 17, a day that has witnessed remarkable events throughout history, shaping the course of nations and cultures across the globe. One of the most significant events in modern history took place on January 17, 1995, when the Great Hanshin Earthquake struck the city of Kobe, Japan. This devastating earthquake registered a magnitude of 7.2 and resulted in the loss of over 6,000 lives, making it one of the deadliest earthquakes in Japan's history. The earthquake caused widespread destruction, leaving hundreds of thousands homeless and prompting a massive emergency response from both the Japanese government and international aid organizations. The event highlighted Japan's vulnerability to natural disasters and led to significant changes in building codes and disaster preparedness protocols, ultimately aiming to mitigate the impact of future earthquakes. In 1945, on this day, the Allied forces launched the Vistula-Oder Offensive during World War II. This major military

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Hawley and Warren team up against Pharmacy Benefit Managers

5 months 3 weeks ago
KSNF/KODE — A Missouri lawmaker is putting the high price of medication under the microscope. "My biggest issue is these PBMs, and what they're supposed to do is they're supposed to get discounts from big pharma on drugs and pass those along to people at local pharmacies," said US Sen. Josh Hawley, R. But Senator [...]
Gretchen Bolander