Aggregator

We just talked about Ross Scott’s Stop Killing Games initiative, started last year, which has found new life recently due to an online back and forth with some gaming industry veterans. As a short primer, Scott’s campaign centers around game preservation and ownership, two topics we discuss here regularly. It’s not a complicated set of […]

BELLEVILLE, Ill. — Two women were shot during an altercation Wednesday evening at a McDonald’s restaurant in Belleville, according to police. The shooting occurred shortly before 5 p.m. at the McDonald’s located in the 100 block of South Belt East. One of the victims sustained non-life-threatening injuries and was transported to a hospital. The condition of the second victim is unknown, but she was taken to a St Louis hospital. A female employee of the restaurant is currently in custody as authorities continue their investigation.

Continue Reading

WASHINGTON — Republican members of the U.S. Senate called on Office of Management and Budget Director Russ Vought in a letter Wednesday to release the $6.8 billion in funds for K-12 schools that the Trump administration is withholding. The letter marked a major friction point between President Donald Trump and influential lawmakers in his own party as […]

WASHINGTON — U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy urged patience Wednesday from Democratic and Republican members of the U.S. House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee who asked about a backlog of approved grants the department has yet to pay out to state and local governments. Duffy, in his first appearance before the panel, said former President Joe […]

GRANITE CITY – Two people from Granite City face felony charges in separate cases of illegal weapon possession and vehicular burglary. Martez D. Moss, 19, of Granite City, was charged on July 8, 2025 with two counts of aggravated unlawful possession of weapons (both Class 4 felonies) and a Class A misdemeanor count of driving on a suspended license. On June 7, 2025, Moss allegedly carried a tan FN Five-Seven 5.7 caliber pistol in his vehicle, which was uncased, loaded, and immediately accessible at the time of the offense. His possession of the weapon was unlawful as he was under 21 years of age and had no valid Fireram owner’s Identification (FOID) card or Concealed Carry License (CCL). Moss was additionally accused of driving on I-255 in Madison County while his driver’s license had been suspended. The Illinois State Police presented the case against Moss, who was granted pretrial release from custody. Another Granite City resident was charged in a separate

Continue Reading

SPRINGFIELD – The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) announced that it has posted the 2025 First Quarter Report of Nursing Home Violations. Details on the 243 violation reports completed in the first quarter of 2025 may be found HERE on the IDPH website. The four facilities listed below were cited with type “AA” violations of the Nursing Home Care Act during the first quarter of 2025, the most severe type of violation. An “AA” violation is cited when there is a condition or occurrence at the facility that proximately caused a resident’s death. Click on the links below to view the completed “AA” violation reports: Alden Estates of Huntley , a rehabilitation facility in Huntley, was fined $50,000 for an “AA” violation. Bria of Palos Hills , a nursing home in Palos Hills, was fined a total of $52,000 for an “AA” violation and a “B” violation. City View Multicare Center , a skilled nursing

Continue Reading

Madrina the Italian-American neighborhood restaurant in Webster Groves, will host the Silk Road Dinner Series, a three-part dinner experience celebrating diversity in the St. Louis culinary space. The Silk Road […]

The post Madrina Silk Road Dinner Series appeared first on Explore St. Louis.

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Continuing Donald Trump and his Administration’s long record of blaming victims, Deputy Secretary of State Michael Rigas today shamefully tried to argue that hundreds of dedicated State Department employees who were wrongfully fired by the Trump Administration last week were to blame for the Administration’s—and his—own poor decisions. In today’s U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee (SFRC) hearing, U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) noted for Mr. Rigas that individuals who were hired under Veterans preference were among the more than 1,350 employees who were fired at the State Department, thereby illustrating how sloppy and short-sighted these RIFs were carried out. Duckworth’s remarks can be found on the Senator’s YouTube . “How the State Department conducted Friday’s RIFs was already appalling—but putting the blame on hundreds of devoted public servants whose lives have been abruptly upended i

Continue Reading

SPRINGFIELD - Today, Governor JB Pritzker joined the Office of the Illinois State Fire Marshal (OSFM) to announce the inaugural Fire Station Construction and Rehabilitation Program awards totaling $5 million to 16 grantees across the state. This funding will allow fire departments or fire protection districts to repair, upgrade, or construct new fire stations. “I am proud to be celebrating inaugural Fire Station Construction and Rehabilitation Program awards, a crucial lifeline for fire departments across the state – particularly those in rural areas – to upgrade their facilities and equipment,” said Governor JB Pritzker. “Our firefighters put their lives on the line every single day, and these investments can make all the difference in keeping our communities safe and protected.” “This was the inaugural year of the grant program, established as part of the OSFM’s ongoing commitment to assist the Illinois Fire Service in identifying

Continue Reading

CHICAGO – Attorney General Kwame Raoul, as part of a coalition of 20 states, filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration over its attempt to illegally shut down the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) bipartisan Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC) program, designed to protect communities from natural disasters before they strike. For the past 30 years, the BRIC program has provided communities across the nation with resources to fortify their infrastructure against natural disasters. By focusing on preparation, the program has protected property, saved money that would have otherwise been spent on post-disaster costs, reduced injuries and saved lives. “We can look to the many recent natural disasters, such as the devastating California wildfires in January and the tragic flooding that occurred in Texas earlier this month, and witness the heartbreaking destruction and loss of life these events can cause,” Raoul said. “We

Continue Reading

Axon Enterprise’s Draft One — a generative artificial intelligence product that writes police reports based on audio from officers’ body-worn cameras — seems deliberately designed to avoid audits that could provide any accountability to the public, an EFF investigation has found. Our review of public records from police agencies already using the technology — including […]

SPRINGFIELD – The Illinois Community College Board (ICCB) proudly announces the appointment of Dr. Sylvia Jenkins as the new Chair of the Board by Governor J.B. Pritzker. Dr. Jenkins becomes the first woman to serve as board chair, succeeding Dr. Lazaro Lopez, who completed his term as Chair on June 30. A long-standing champion of student success, workforce development, and institutional excellence, Dr. Jenkins brings decades of leadership experience to her new role. She served as President of Moraine Valley Community College from 2012 until her retirement in 2023, when she was honored with the title of President Emeritus. Her appointment as Chair marks a continued commitment to advancing Illinois’ community college system with a student-centered and equity-driven approach. She has served as a member of the Illinois Community College Board since 2022. “Dr. Jenkins is a proven leader with a deep commitment to student success and equity. Her experience and steady

Continue Reading

ALTON — Human remains found in a wooded area near 7th and Market Street in Alton, Illinois, have been identified as Angela M. Coyle, a 50-year-old unhoused white female, Madison County Coroner Nicholas P. Novacich announced Wednesday, July 16, 2025. The remains were discovered on July 13, 2025. Senior Investigator Kelsey Jones and Ashley Reed responded to the scene and pronounced Coyle deceased at 2:40 p.m. that day. The Office of the Coroner was notified immediately following the discovery. The investigation involved coordination with the Alton Police Department Criminal Investigations Division, Illinois State Police Crime Scene Unit, and the St. Louis County Medical Examiner’s Office Forensic Anthropologist. The scene was secured until July 14, 2025, when a full-scale recovery of the remains took place. Evidence and personal effects were collected, and radiological comparisons were conducted to confirm the positive identification. The case remains under active investigation

Continue Reading

EDWARDSVILLE – Members of the Edwardsville Moose Lodge donated the proceeds of a highly successful barbecue to local first responders at Tuesday’s City Council meeting. Three checks, each for $2,800, were proudly presented to the Edwardsville Police and Fire Departments, as well as the Southern Illinois University Edwardsville (SIUE) Police Department. Leigh Ann Acra, Vice President of Edwardsville Moose Lodge, said one of their members had the idea to host a barbecue to support first responders. The event was a massive success, with bounce houses, 38 vendors, a cornhole tournament, Madison County first responder vehicles, and a large turnout from the community. Plans are already in the works to make the barbecue an annual occasion, with next year’s event set for Sept. 12, 2026. In addition to the trio of $2,800 checks, the lodge also donated three cases of “Tommy Moose” plush toys for each department to give to children in distress. “ W

Continue Reading

GRANITE CITY – The Illinois Department of Transportation today announced that repairs on eastbound and westbound Interstate 270 between Illinois 3 and Riverview Drive in Missouri will require lane closures starting, weather permitting, at 9 p.m. Friday, July 18, 2025. One lane will remain open in each direction. All lanes are expected to reopen by 5 a.m. Monday, July 21. Motorists should expect delays and are encouraged to use alternate routes during this closure. Drivers are urged to reduce speed, be alert for changing conditions, obey all construction signage, and refrain from using mobile devices while approaching and traveling through the work zone. For IDOT District 8 updates, follow us on the social media platform X at @IDOTDistrict8 or view area construction details on IDOT’s traveler information map on GettingAroundIllinois.com .

Continue Reading

A ruling earlier this month that allowed abortions to resume in Missouri should be set aside because the laws and rules it blocks are important safeguards for women’s health, Attorney General Andrew Bailey’s office said in a filing last week to the Missouri Supreme Court. The document asks the high court to suspend Jackson County […]