BELLEVILLE – While St. Clair County saw no shortage of contested races for Mayor and more, it did see a shortage of participation from local voters in the April 1, 2025 elections. Voter turnout was considerably low across St. Clair County, where only 15% of all registered voters participated. While the county is home to 168,330 registered voters, only 25,291 of them cast their ballots on Election Day. Belleville In the county seat of Belleville, the vast majority of voters chose to sit out a highly consequential election which saw current Mayor Patty Gregory ousted by challenger Jennifer "Jenny" Gain Meyer. Out of 43,180 registered Belleville voters, just 6,914 cast their votes – meaning the town’s new leadership was decided by just 16% of eligible participants. Collinsville Only 19% of Collinsville voters decided the contested City Council race, which saw Donna Green secure re-election as David Seaton Jr. won a seat on the council against Eric M. Nagel an
The Rolling Stones’ Ronnie Wood doesn’t seem too keen on modern music.Wood and The Who's Roger Daltrey recently attended a launch event in London for a new book about Buddy Holly. During a Q&A…
Dear Editor, As the Fire Chief of the Godfrey Fire Protection District, I am concerned about the current Village of Godfrey Trustees' decision to dismiss the proposal for expanding ambulance services. In September 2023, I suggested leasing the old fire station on Godfrey Road to enhance our emergency response, but this was ignored. Relocating the proposed service to Roxana contradicts the trustees' vision for our village. Reliable emergency services are vital, and opposing this expansion undermines our residents' safety. Currently, Alton Memorial is our only ambulance service, and while they perform admirably, our growing community needs more support. Expanding services would, in periods of increased demand, ensure quicker response times and better care during emergencies. To Godfrey trustees, please again consider the importance of reliable emergency services. Thoughtful decisions can ensure that our community's needs are met and that we continue to thrive. Sincerel
President Donald Trump announced plans for sweeping tariffs Wednesday, saying “our country has been looted, pillaged, raped, plundered” by other nations.
EAST ST. LOUIS — East St. Louis Senior High School hosted its annual Poetry Slam recently, featuring the theme “Words That Breathe and Transform.” The event, sponsored by English Language Arts teacher Melanie Davis, showcased the talents of students as they expressed themselves through spoken word poetry. Participants delivered a range of performances that highlighted their creativity and passion. The event aimed to provide a platform for students to share their thoughts and experiences, encouraging self-expression and artistic exploration. “Congratulations to all the participants and winners,” Davis said. “Your voices, creativity, and passion truly shined.” The Poetry Slam is part of a broader initiative at East St. Louis Senior High School to promote literacy and the arts among students. The event drew an enthusiastic audience, with attendees supporting their peers and celebrating the art of poetry. Highlights from the event included
Missouri has more billboards per mile on Interstate 70 than most other states. But representatives of the outdoor advertising industry oppose a beautification study for the interstate corridor.
O'FALLON, Ill. — A community is coming together to support David Lang, who is facing the challenges of raising two daughters alone following the sudden death of his wife, Maria Lang, on March 27, 2025. Maria died shortly after giving birth to their newborn daughter, Adelynn, leaving behind her husband and their 8-year-old daughter. In the wake of this tragedy, a fundraiser has been organized by Shelby Brennan on behalf of the Lang family. The initiative aims to help David cover funeral expenses, medical bills, and ongoing needs for his family. According to the fundraiser's description, Maria was "so excited to be a mom again." Following her death, Adelynn spent time in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) but has since returned home. The fundraiser has been launched by members of the Holy Childhood School community, where David's older daughter is enrolled. Organizers hope that the effort will provide financial relief and support during this difficult time. The fundraiser
Jurors agreed that Ashley Cummins was singled out for abuse by several National City Police Department workers and that senior commanders did little to stop the abuse.
By Jeff McDonald, Tammy Murga | The San Diego Union-Tribune
The 55,000-square-foot, state-of-the-art facility will function as a social impact hub, research lab, think tank and workspace, and is designed to advance innovation and economic growth in Alton, the Metro East and the St. Louis region, backers said.
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, led all Senate Judiciary Committee Democrats in a letter to Chairman Grassley pushing for a hearing on Ed Martin’s nomination to be U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia. While the Committee doesn’t typically hold hearings for U.S. Attorney nominees, Mr. Martin’s record and deeply problematic conduct merit heightened scrutiny and more than justify the full committee questioning him under oath. The Senators described Mr. Martin’s record of attacks on law enforcement and association with violent criminals , writing: “Prior to his appointment as interim U.S. Attorney, Mr. Martin made stunning attacks on federal prosecutors and associated himself with individuals who present a threat to our nation. Mr. Martin was a leader of the so-called ‘Stop the Steal’ movement to illegally overturn the 2020 election. H
ALTON - Senior Services Plus, Inc. (SSP), located at 2306 N. Rodgers Ave. in Alton, will host a "Meet the Legislators" panel discussion on April 25, 2025, from 12 to 1 p.m. Proudly sponsored by AARP Illinois, the event will feature District Director Brian Zilm from U.S. Representative Nikki Budzinski's office, Senator Erica Harriss, and State Representative Katie Stuart. These legislators will discuss key topics and issues impacting the older adult community, followed by a Q&A session where attendees can engage directly with the speakers. “We are grateful to have local legislators visit our agency to share updates and answer questions for our older adults. It’s important that we offer opportunities for our older adults to stay engaged and informed. This event wouldn’t be possible without our AARP Illinois’ collaboration and support.” said SSP Development Director, Emily Jackson. This event will take place in the School House Grill inside Senior Services
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, combat Veteran and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL)—a member of the U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC), U.S. Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee (SVAC) and U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee (SFRC)—along with SVAC Ranking Member Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), U.S. Senator Mark Kelly (D-AZ) and U.S. Senator Mazie Hirono (D-HI) called out the White House for declaring SignalGate—the most devastating and significant national security breach in years—“ case-closed ” without holding any senior Administration officials responsible for leaking classified information through an unclassified communications channel, putting the lives of our servicemembers at greater risk. In her remarks, Duckworth called on Republicans to join her in demanding congressional hearings and an independent investigation to look into the Trump officials on the Signal chat—urging her colleagues on the other side of the aisle
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today met with Dr. Paul Kearns, Director of Argonne National Laboratory to discuss the future of scientific research as the Trump Administration takes aim at federal research institutions. During their meeting, Durbin and Dr. Kearns spoke about the disastrous impact of the Trump Administration’s funding cuts and freezes to scientific research. Durbin and Dr. Kearns also discussed Illinois’ position as a leader in quantum computing research. In February, Durbin introduced his bipartisan DOE Quantum Leadership Act , which would authorize more than $2.5 billion over the next five years for quantum research at the Department of Energy. “Illinois is home to premier research institutions, including Argonne National Lab. But the Trump Administration fails to understand just how critical our scientists and researchers are in pushing our country forward,” said Durbin. “It was a pleasure to
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