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PFAS can cause numerous health issues if left to accumulate in people's bodies.

A bridal boutique, coffee shop and wellness lounge are some of the new retailers at City Foundry.

All aboard! The Riverboats at the Gateway Arch provide an unparalleled experience on the Mississippi River. The one-hour St. Louis Riverfront Cruise is narrated by a captain from the National […]

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by ProPublica

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ProPublica on Monday won the prestigious Pulitzer Prize for public service for the series “Life of the Mother,” which the judges described as “urgent reporting about pregnant women who died after doctors delayed urgently needed care for fear of violating vague ‘life of the mother’ exceptions in states with strict abortion laws.” The prize is given to the staff of a news organization that performed “meritorious public service.” This is the second consecutive year the organization was awarded the distinction. It is the eighth Pulitzer for ProPublica.

“America’s Mental Barrier,” an examination of how insurance companies interfere with access to necessary mental health care across the United States, was named a finalist in the explanatory reporting category. In addition to the Pulitzer winners, the designation is ProPublica’s 12th Pulitzer finalist in 17 years.

The “Life of the Mother” series, which ProPublica continues to pursue, is a landmark investigation into the unexamined, irreversible consequences of state abortion bans. Kavitha Surana, Lizzie Presser and Cassandra Jaramillo mined hospital and death records in states whose strict abortion bans threatened physicians with prosecution. From the tragic death of Amber Thurman in Georgia to gutting accounts of women denied lifesaving miscarriage care in Texas, the investigations illuminated the profound human cost of these policies. They exposed the chilling impact on medical professionals forced to choose between their oath and the law, the anguish faced by families and the broader erosion of women’s health and autonomy.

Stacy Kranitz’s immersive photo essay, “The Year After a Denied Abortion,” documented the unraveling of a Tennessee family after a denied abortion for a life-threatening pregnancy, especially in a state with meager support for poor mothers. The piece, reported with Surana, helped audiences see, feel and understand how decisions made by those in power impact families.

These stories ignited outrage around the country, became talking points during the presidential election and inspired action. Lawmakers have filed more than a dozen bills to expand abortion access in at least seven states.

Last week, the Texas Senate unanimously passed Senate Bill 31, called The Life of the Mother Act, which aims to prevent maternal deaths under the state’s strict abortion ban by making clear that a life-threatening medical emergency doesn’t need to be imminent for doctors to follow their medical standards and intervene to terminate pregnancies.

The bill represents a significant reversal for Republican leaders who had for years insisted no changes were needed. It was written by state Sen. Bryan Hughes, the author of the original ban who initially said that exceptions for medical emergencies were “plenty clear.” The bill stops short of removing what doctors say are the ban’s biggest impediments to care, including its threat of major criminal penalties for medical professionals, and it doesn’t expand abortion access to cases of fetal anomalies, rape or incest. Sen. Carol Alvarado, the Democratic lawmaker who co-authored the bill, said that its limits were a “real hard pill to swallow” but that it could still make a difference. “I believe this bill will save lives,” she said.

A U.S. Senate Finance Committee investigation, launched in response to our reporting, released a 29-page report in December 2024 that found that hospitals are providing minimal guidance to doctors navigating abortion restrictions, often leaving them without clear protocols in life-or-death situations.

A host of ProPublicans helped elevate this project, including Alexandra Zayas, Ziva Branstetter, Andrea Wise, Tracy Weber, Boyzell Hosey, Mariam Elba, Robin Fields, Anna Donlan, Allen Tan, Kirsten Berg, Jeff Ernsthausen, Doris Burke, Lexi Churchill, Andrea Suozzo, Audrey Dutton, Anna Maria Barry-Jester, Amy Yurkanin, Emily Goldstein, Diego Sorbara, Samantha Cooney, Grace Palmieri, Colleen Barry, Kassie Navarro, Sarah Childress, Lynn Dombek, Sophie Chou and Sophia Kovach.

From left: visual strategy editor Andrea Wise, Zayas, Presser, Surana, Jaramillo, editor Ziva Branstetter and research reporter Mariam Elba. ProPublica continues to pursue stories in the “Life of the Mother” series. (Sarahbeth Maney/ProPublica)

“We knew early that abortion bans were likely to have deadly consequences for women, and not just those seeking abortions,” said Weber, ProPublica’s managing editor for the national staff. “Our reporters and their editor, Alex Zayas, were endlessly creative, dogged, humane and careful in surfacing the deaths of these women when the states themselves were not looking. We are so honored that the Pulitzer Board has recognized their efforts.”

In the series honored as a Pulitzer finalist in explanatory reporting, reporters Annie Waldman, Duaa Eldeib, Max Blau and Maya Miller revealed how health insurers are engaging in aggressive tactics that push therapists out of networks; deploying an algorithmic system to limit coverage; creating “ghost networks”; cutting access to treatment for children with autism; relying on doctors whose judgments have been criticized by courts; and using patients’ progress to justify denials.

The reporters crowdsourced thousands of tips; obtained explosive internal company documents; reviewed thousands of pages of lawsuit filings to identify the doctors doling out denials; and included shattering and intimate stories of patients for whom care was prematurely cut off, leading to devastating consequences.

In September 2024, the Biden administration announced that it had finalized new regulations to strengthen protections for mental health care coverage and hold insurance companies accountable for unlawfully denying it. In December 2024, following several of ProPublica’s stories, U.S. Sens. Chris Murphy, Tina Smith and Ben Ray Luján reintroduced the Parity Enforcement Act to better hold insurance companies accountable by providing the U.S. Department of Labor the authority to impose civil monetary penalties for violations of the mental health parity law. The following month, the Labor Department found widespread noncompliance and violations of federal law in how health plans and insurers cover mental health care, findings that mirrored ProPublica’s investigation. The department also began investigating the oversight and management of doctors hired by insurers who repeatedly denied mental health coverage for patients.

Steve Mills, Mara Shalhoup, Charles Ornstein, Ariana Tobin, Zisiga Mukulu, Tony Luong, Alex Bandoni, Agnel Philip, Vanessa Saba, Chris Morran, Cengiz Yar, Isabelle Yan, Lena Groeger, Zayas, Weber, Berg, Ernsthausen, Tan, Goldstein, Palmieri, Sorbara, Wise, Barry, Cooney and Paige Pfleger of WPLN/Nashville Public Radio contributed to the series. Some of the pieces were published in collaboration with NPR.

“People who need mental health care often cannot get it. It doesn’t matter if you are rich or poor, insured or uninsured, the lack of access is widely felt,” said Ornstein, ProPublica’s managing editor for local. “So many people on our staff wanted to be a part of this project. Through immersive storytelling and investigative digging, they adeptly documented the causes of the crisis, those responsible and the regulators who have stood by and done little to fix it.”

ProPublica received Pulitzers for public service in 2024, national reporting in 2020, feature writing in 2019, public service in 2017, explanatory reporting in 2016, national reporting in 2011 and investigative reporting in 2010. Local Reporting Network partner Anchorage Daily News won the Pulitzer for public service in 2020.

BETHALTO - Sarah Hughes has spent 20 years as a teacher, and she’s not stopping anytime soon. Hughes is a seventh grade pre-algebra teacher and a math interventionist for grades six through eight at Trimpe Middle School in the Bethalto Community Unit School District #8. Over the years, she has learned that relationships are at the foundation of every classroom, and she is proud of how her students have grown. “The favorite part of my job is building relationships with students and being able to try and explain math in a way that is easy for students to understand,” she explained. “I love greeting students in the morning and making sure they get their day started with a smile.” Hughes has always wanted to be a teacher. As a child, she would often “play school” with her sister and friends. She soon realized that she wanted to make an impact on children, just like her teachers did for her. That impact extends beyond the classroom. Hughes

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SPRINGFIELD - Illinois Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias wants Illinoisans to get the facts about REAL IDs as many scramble to get one. Giannoulias will stress the May 7, 2025 “deadline” isn’t really a deadline. On May 7, Americans will need a REAL ID compliant driver’s license or ID, or a valid passport, to board a domestic flight; however, DMVs will continue to issue REAL IDs after May 7. Giannoulias noted if you’re not traveling after May 7, you probably don’t need a REAL ID right away. Given the recent surge at Illinois DMVs, Giannoulias advised Illinoisans who don’t need a REAL ID in May to consider holding off to avoid waits at facilities. The primary reason for Illinoisans over the age of 18 to obtain a REAL ID is to fly domestically on a commercial aircraft after May 7. Individuals who have a valid U.S. passport, Military ID, Green Card, or Global Entry and those under the age of 18 will not need a REAL ID to fly. He also

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Cinema St. Louis is planning for its annual St. Louis International Film Festival without part of its funding after losing a grant from the National Endowment for the Arts. In a press release, Cinema St. Louis said its grant was withdrawn due to a realignment of priorities under the Trump administration. President Donald Trump called for the elimination of the National Endowment for the Arts as part of his 2026 budget proposal. "While we respect that their values may have changed, ours have…

CHICAGO – Attorney General Kwame Raoul, as part of a coalition of 18 attorneys general, today filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration over the unlawful attempt to freeze the development of wind energy. Wind energy is a homegrown source of reliable, affordable energy that supports hundreds of thousands of jobs, creates billions of dollars in economic activity and tax payments and supplies more than 10% of the country’s electricity. “Wind energy is a key component in Illinois’ transition to a renewable energy future,” Raoul said. “The decision by the Trump administration to effectively halt all wind energy development is illegal and baseless, and I will continue to join with my fellow attorneys general to push back against the president’s unlawful actions.” On January 20, President Trump issued a memorandum that, among other things, indefinitely halted all federal approvals necessary for the development of offshore and onshore

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SPRINGFIELD - The Office of the Illinois State Fire Marshal (OSFM) is raising awareness about the seriousness of the crime of arson during the 30th annual Arson Awareness Week (May 4-10, 2025). This year’s theme is "Preventing Arson in the Wildfire Environment – A Community Approach." According to the United State Fire Administration (USFA), arson robs communities of its valuable assets, lives and property. It destroys more than buildings; arson can devastate a community resulting in decline through increased insurance premiums, loss of business revenue and a decrease in property values. The fire service can help communities reduce the occurrence of arson and reduce its devastating effect by making residents aware of measures to safeguard their homes, buildings and property. The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) reports municipal fire departments in the United States responded to an estimated annual average of 52,260 intentionally set structure fires in the

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ALTON — The Alton Branch of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) will hold its 57th Annual Freedom Fund Banquet on Saturday, May 17, 2025, at the Lewis and Clark Community College Commons. The event, with the theme "Learn from the Past for a Better Future," will open its doors at 5 p.m., with dinner beginning promptly at 6 p.m. The banquet serves as the branch’s primary fundraising event, according to Leon Smallwood-Bey, Alton NAACP Branch president. The funds raised support the organization’s efforts to promote social justice and community development in Alton and Madison County. Additionally, the proceeds provide financial assistance to local students who maintain good academic standing and plan to pursue higher education. “Students who currently receive and have received this support in the past regularly update us on their progress and are grateful for the educational opportunities,” Smallwood-Bey said. “The community’

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Angelo D. McNeal, 52, was sentenced Monday to eight years in prison for possessing a gun during a deadly road rage shooting.

EDWARDSVILLE - Southern Illinois University Edwardsville was a place of refuge that made for a tremendous experience, with warm faculty, interdisciplinary coursework and a beautiful campus, according to several graduating seniors. Students reminisced about their experiences and academic careers at the University and talked about their career goals after participating in Affinity Celebrations last week. The SIUE commencement season began with eight affinity graduation ceremonies of the following groups: International, Hispanic/Latinx, Black, Lavender, Asian, Asian American Pacific Islander, and Desi ( AAPI/APIDA), Non-Traditional, Military and Veteran, and Accessible Campus Community & Equitable Student Support (ACCESS). Students, who were honored in front of family members, friends and administrators, received signature stoles to wear at the main SIUE commencement ceremony on Friday-Saturday, May 9-10. Sponsoring and hosting the graduation ceremonies were the Kimmel Belonging and

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Coordinated local and state response underway; City urges public awareness, preventive care, and immediate action for vulnerable populations exposed

BETHALTO - Melanie Reincke does everything she can to empower her students. Reincke works at Trimpe Middle School in the Bethalto Community Unit School District #8. She is a special education teacher with the sixth through eighth grade extended curriculum program. This Teacher Appreciation Week, she’s reflecting on the decision to become a teacher and the fun she has had along the way. “My favorite part of my job is seeing my students grow in their academic and functional skills,” Reincke shared. “Nothing brings me more joy than when my students feel confident in themselves and in their abilities. Seeing my students being independent in our school and in our community will always be the most rewarding part of the job.” Even as an elementary school student, Reincke knew she wanted to become a teacher. She used to “play teacher” and create worksheets for her fellow students to fill out. As a high schooler, she babysat a family friend named

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Cinema St. Louis announced on Monday that funding for the 2025 international film festival has been rescinded, citing NEA grant cuts and "realignment of priorities" under the Trump administration.

Lamar Murry, 51, was driving the school bus as a substitute driver when he became angry with several students who were the back of the bus, court documents say.

CHICAGO – Attorney General Kwame Raoul, with 19 attorneys general, today filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to stop the dismantling of HHS. Since January, thousands of federal health workers have been fired, vital programs have been shuttered, and states face mounting health crises without federal support. Raoul and the attorneys general argue that Kennedy and the Trump administration have robbed HHS of the resources necessary to effectively serve the American people and will ask the court to halt further dismantling and restore key program operations. “Since its founding, HHS has administered crucial offices and programs dedicated to protecting and advancing the health and well-being of all Americans. Programs like Head Start are critical to ensuring all children have access to resources that put them on an early path to success. And tracking diseases like

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ROXANA – The American Cancer Society’s Relay For Life of Riverbend, presented by OSF HealthCare, is proud to announce an exciting new format for its 2025 signature event. Taking place on Saturday, June 7, 2025, at the RoxArena in Roxana Community Park, this year’s event will be a Relay For Life Survivor and Team Dinner with the theme —“Re-Lei for a Cure!”. In a shift from the traditional Relay format featuring fundraising tents and continuous walking, this year’s Relay For Life of Riverbend will focus on a special Survivor & Team Dinner Event, followed by a Luminaria Remembrance Ceremony. The new event format invites the community to come together in a refreshed and inspiring way to honor cancer Survivors, support Caregivers, and celebrate the commitment of Relay teams and participants. “We’re excited to launch a new format that keeps the heart of Relay alive while offering a more connected and meaningful experience,”

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In an unprecedented 102-page ruling that methodically dismantles the Trump administration’s executive order targeting the law firm Perkins Coie, Judge Beryl Howell has issued a permanent injunction that goes far beyond her initial temporary restraining order. The ruling represents a stark rebuke of what the court calls an “overt attempt to suppress and punish certain […]