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SPRINGFIELD – Memorial Day weekend is the unofficial kickoff to the summer boating season, and the Illinois Department of Natural Resources and Illinois Conservation Police are urging people to wear life jackets anytime they're on the water and to only operate boats while sober. National Safe Boating Week is May 17-23, the week leading up to the Memorial Day holiday weekend, to raise awareness of boating safety. “As the boating season approaches, the Illinois Department of Natural Resources, Office of Law Enforcement, reminds all waterway enthusiasts that safety is a shared responsibility. Every boater plays a vital role in creating a secure and enjoyable environment on the water,” said Office of Law Enforcement Director Jed Whitchurch. “Understanding and adhering to boating regulations such as navigation rules, safety equipment requirements, designated no-wake zones, and staying informed about weather conditions are essential to ensuring positive experiences

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WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congresswoman Nikki Budzinski’s (IL-13) legislation, Improving VA Training for Military Sexual Trauma (MST) Claims Act (H.R. 2201), passed unanimously out of the full House of Representatives. Congresswoman Budzinski led this bipartisan effort with Representatives Young Kim (CA-40), Don Bacon (NE-02), and Chrissy Houlahan (PA-06). The bill now heads to the United States Senate for further consideration. "Today marks a significant victory for veterans who have endured unimaginable trauma. Those who come forward with Military Sexual Trauma claims have already faced tremendous hardship, and seeking support should never add to that pain, said Congresswoman Budzinski. “It has been an honor to work alongside Congresswoman Kim on this bipartisan bill, which ensures the VA’s claims process avoids retraumatizing MST survivors. With unanimous support from the House, we are one step closer to seeing this bill signed into law and delivering the

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A homicide investigation is underway after a man was discovered to have been shot inside his residence by St. Louis Firefighters.

The post UPDATE: Homicide Investigation Underway After North Hampton Fire appeared first on St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department.

CHICAGO – Attorney General Kwame Raoul joined a coalition of 20 other attorneys general in urging the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia to maintain three offices within the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) that are meant to oversee the agency, protect people’s civil rights and help noncitizens with immigration matters. In March, DHS announced plans over Congressional objection to shut down three offices within the agency, the Office for Civil Rights and Civil Liberties (CRCL), the Citizenship and Immigration Services Ombudsman (CIS Ombudsman), and the Office of Immigration Detention Ombudsman (OIDO), that were created by Congress to exercise oversight of various DHS programs. The offices’ sudden closure affects pending complaints and investigations, and DHS did not provide individuals or employers any alternative avenue for redress. “These offices provide essential services employers and residents rely upon. The sudden closures are

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EDWARDSVILLE – The Edwardsville Police Department and Edwardsville Fraternal Order of Police Lodge No. 244 are stepping in to offer a financial boost to a program aimed at providing shoes for area students in need. Officers and other department members recently donated $1,680 to benefit the Sole Purpose program, which is being overseen by Edwardsville Community Unit School District 7 in collaboration with the police department and the Cyclery & Fitness Center in Edwardsville. The donation was contributed by officers and staff participating in the police department’s periodic “no shave” fundraiser. This charitable effort allows participants to pay to get around the department’s “no beard” rule. Previous recipients have included Edwardsville Neighbors, Glen-Ed Pantry, Sleep in Heavenly Peace, Main Street Community Center, Junior Service Club of Edwardsville/Glen Carbon, the Metro East Humane Society and others. Officer Ryan Grimes, who works

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The 43-year-old victim was found just after 3 p.m. in the 4300 block of St. Ferdinand Avenue. He died at the scene.

by Dr. John Gaal Editor’s Note: Each week, Dr. John Gaal, director of worker wellness for the Missouri Works Initiative, a non-profit workforce formed by the Missouri AFL-CIO, collects and comments on news and trends in workforce wellness and life balance. Construction Forum carries the Worker Wellness & Well-Being Blog as a regular feature. The […]

Metro East lawmaker's bill to improve training for VA employees handling sexual trauma cases passes unanimously out of the U.S. House, now heads to the Senate.

Ahead of their Run for Your Lives tour, Iron Maiden is asking you to put your phones away.The metal icons have posted a statement asking fans "not to excessively film…

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A Troy, Missouri police officer is being hailed as a hero after rescuing a man from a burning car over the weekend, likely saving his life.

WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) delivered a speech on the Senate floor exposing congressional Republicans’ reconciliation bill for what it truly is – legislation that will pay for tax breaks for billionaires at the expense of 13.7 million Americans’ health care coverage. In his remarks, Durbin reiterated that Republicans’ “one, big, beautiful bill” will further push the American Dream out of reach for working families. “Let me tell you a story. It’s one of the oldest in our country. It’s the story of the American Dream. It’s one of perseverance, where anyone, regardless of their background or circumstances, can achieve success and upward mobility through hard work and determination. It means a job that pays a fair wage, a school that prepares our kids for a better life, a doctor who sees you when you are sick, and a roof over your head at night,” Durbin began. “ dismantles

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For years, the DHS has been expanding its intrusive surveillance of anyone attempting to enter this country. (It has also expanded this to include people leaving the country.) The current onboarding procedure for US entry includes demands for account passwords and deep dives into devices carried by migrants, visitors, asylum seekers, and anyone else CBP […]

From the front, Arkansas Fried Chicken looks mostly unharmed, but the EF3 tornado that ripped through the neighborhood Friday afternoon took off much of its roof.

EAST ST. LOUIS/O'FALLON, IL. — Andrew P. Blassie, the former executive vice president of the Bank of O’Fallon, pleaded guilty Monday in federal court to charges of bank fraud and interstate transportation of funds obtained by fraud after admitting to a scheme that swindled nearly $2 million from the bank. The 69-year-old St. Louis resident acknowledged using a check kiting scheme between September 2023 and September 2024 to falsely inflate his personal checking account balance at the Bank of O’Fallon by depositing checks he knew were backed by non-sufficient funds from accounts at other financial institutions. The indictment states Blassie defrauded the bank of $1,972,887.67 and used the inflated funds to pay for nearly $2.7 million in personal expenses. Blassie also persuaded a couple from Lebanon, Illinois, to invest $489,000 of their retirement savings between August 2022 and September 2024 by issuing promissory notes promising interest payments. He used proceeds

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PONTOON BEACH — With summer just around the corner, Madison County Transit (MCT) is excited to announce the return of the MCT Summer Youth Pass for 2025. This free pass is available to all Madison County students, ages 18 and under, and provides unlimited rides on MCT’s fixed-route buses from Memorial Day through Labor Day. “For more than 15 years, the MCT Summer Youth Pass has helped local students get where they need to go—safely and independently,” said SJ Morrison, MCT Managing Director. “Thanks to the continued support of the MCT Board of Trustees, students across Madison County can enjoy free, reliable transportation to summer jobs, classes, parks, pools, libraries, and more—all while gaining confidence and independence.” Since launching in 2008, the Summer Youth Pass program accounts for over half a million student boardings, providing a valuable transportation resource for families each summer. This year, MCT has distributed

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Amber Rai, 68, was hit by a Jeep at about 10:30 a.m. May 12 at Gravois and Spring avenues, police said.

TROY - Daniel Winfield of Triad High School achieved a perfect score of 36 on the ACT, the school announced recently. Triad High School officials expressed pride in Winfield’s achievement and anticipation for the opportunities that may follow. "Only a fraction of our students ever achieve a perfect 36 on the ACT, and we couldn't be more proud of Daniel," said Triad High School administration. "We are excited to see what opportunities lie ahead for Daniel." The ACT is an entrance exam used by most colleges and universities to make admissions decisions. It is a multiple-choice, pencil-and-paper test administered by ACT, Inc. The purpose of the ACT test is to measure a high school student's readiness for college, and provide colleges with one common data point that can be used to compare all applicants. The categories broken out of the ACT are English, Math, Reading, Science and Writing (optional).

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From Leader Publications:  Eureka High School’s metal shop was recently transformed from an area used for storage to a place for students to gain hands-on experience with industry-standard welding tools. Students and industrial technology teacher Benjamin Ferrell showed off the new space during an open house on May 7. The renovated shop has 12 booths […]