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ST. LOUIS - A man is dead after a shooting in south St. Louis city. St. Louis Metropolitan Police say it happened on Minnesota Avenue near Mount Pleasant Street around 6:20 p.m. Friday. Homicide detectives are investigating.

Temperatures will be a bit cooler today, but still well up into the 40s. Sunday looks amazing with temperatures climbing into the 60s with partly cloudy skies. A cold front approaches the region on Monday but looks to stay far enough north for much of the day for the unseasonably warm temperatures to continue with [...]

NEW ATHENS – State Representative Kevin Schmidt donated his pay raise for the month of January to Church Emergency Services New Athens (CESNA), in the form of a food donation. Schmidt has donated every month’s pay raise to a different local food pantry or charity organization throughout his district since voting against the pay raise for legislators. “Our local charities need our help,” said Schmidt. “When the legislature voted themselves a pay raise last General Assembly, I promised to give the amount of the raise each month to a local organization that’s trying to help feed the hungry. When I went to Springfield, I didn’t go to serve myself, I went to serve my community.” CESNA is an ecumenical organization made up of churches in New Athens that assists people in need. More information can be found on their Facebook . Local Scouts donated a birthday bag that will be used for one of the recipients who has a birthday in February

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ALTON/GODFREY – Several domestic battery cases have been filed in Madison County in recent weeks, with most involving prior domestic battery offenders. Travis L. Watley, 40, of Alton, was charged with his fourth offense of domestic battery, a Class 3 felony, on Jan. 22, 2025. The day prior on Jan. 21, Watley allegedly struck a household or family member “about the face with a closed fist,” according to court documents. He had previously been convicted of domestic battery on two prior occasions in 2009 and aggravated battery in another prior case from 2005, each in Madison County. The latest domestic battery case against Watley was presented by the Alton Police Department. While he was granted pretrial release from custody, a motion for additional conditions on his release has been filed, citing previous attempts to threaten or perpetrate physical abuse towards the victim from this case. Brandon E. Ford, 39, of Madison, was charged with a Class 2 felony count of

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EDWARDSVILLE - Southern Illinois University Edwardsville will host storm spotter training on Tuesday, February 4th, from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. in the Morris University Center (MUC) Oak/Redbud Room. The event is free and open to the public, with free parking available in Lot B starting at 6 p.m. Led by SIUE’s extreme weather expert Alan W. Black, PhD, assistant professor and Graduate Program Director in the Department of Geography and Geographic Information Sciences (GIS), the training will give students the knowledge needed to identify and report severe weather events. “Spotters provide crucial, real-time information that helps the National Weather Service issue more accurate and timely warnings,” said Black. “Their reports can make the difference in saving lives when seconds count.” Participants will learn about thunderstorm development, storm structure, and how to safely observe and report severe weather. Volunteer storm spotters play a key role

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CHICAGO – The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) announced it has awarded $4.5 million to 12 groups across the state-funded through Governor JB Pritzker’s 2024 Birth Equity Initiative. The grants, ranging from $100,000 to $700,000, were awarded through a competitive process and are designed to support innovative, community-based efforts that have the potential to reduce inequities in populations historically at higher risk for adverse birth outcomes. The Doula Lab: The Belleville-based, BIPOC-led, non-profit organization will receive $400,000 for improving maternal and reproductive health outcomes for communities in the Metro East area. The project focuses on addressing systemic disparities in maternal health by expanding the doula workforce. “Illinois has one of the most robust birth equity initiatives in the entire nation and today’s announcement brings us closer to a state where every mother – no matter her race, economic status, or ZIP

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SPRINGFIELD - Social Security rules for public safety retirees such as police officers and firefighters have been totally re-written as a result of federal legislation passed and signed on January 5, and a newly-updated guide offers the best way to navigate those changes. The Third Edition of the IPPFA Retirement Guide adds a new section regarding the 2025 Social Security Fairness Act, the latest updates on Illinois fire and police pensions, new savings limits in Section 457 deferred compensation plans, and retirement healthcare funding. “The Social Security Fairness Act increases benefits for fire and police personnel who have pensions from work that is not covered by Social Security, and this affects the majority of downstate Illinois fire and police personnel,” said James McNamee, president of the Illinois Public Pension Fund Association (IPPFA), the guide’s publisher. “The law also repealed the Government Pension Offset that reduced or eliminated

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QUINCY - Quincy University released its Dean's List for the Fall 2024 semester. Honorees must earn a semester grade point average of at least 3.5 (on a 4.0 scale) to be included in the biannual Dean's List. In total, 416 students received the honor during the Fall 2024 semester. Several area students listed below were named to the Quincy Dean's List. Founded in 1860 by Franciscan friars, Quincy University is a small Catholic university emphasizing the sciences, liberal arts and the professions. Quincy University offers undergraduate, graduate and adult education programs integrating practical experience and Franciscan values. Faculty and advisors work with students to design customized success plans to help them graduate on time, find their passion and prepare them for life. QU is a member of NCAA Division II for intercollegiate athletics. For more information, please visit www.quincy.edu or contact the Office of Community Relations at (217) 228-5275 or communityrelations@quincy.edu.

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A Jackson County judge previously allowed certain regulations, such as mandatory pelvic exams for medical abortion, to remain in place.

Nearly two months after a voter-approved constitutional amendment legalizing abortion went into effect, the procedure remains inaccessible in Missouri.  On Jan. 31, a Jackson County judge heard arguments over whether to grant an injunction requested by Planned Parenthood that would permit the organization to offer abortion services almost immediately.  Last month, Jackson County Judge Jerri […]

Illinois residents have until Feb. 14 to vote on a flag design — every resident can cast one ballot every 24 hours — on 10 finalists the commission chose from almost 5,000 submissions.

The Jan. 19 fire on Aston Way in St. Charles County sent the contractor, Cory Elliott, to the hospital with burn injuries.

Some Republicans are still evaluating the new governor’s plans, but the concept has strong support from key legislative leaders.

Gov. Mike Kehoe outlined big raises for members of his Cabinet in his budget proposal. Higher pay, his spokeswoman says, is needed to retain and recruit “the best qualified people.”

LA's wildfires may have been devastating, but the spirit of cooperation among Angelenos in the aftermath has been pretty inspiring. Everyone across the city is willing to help their neighbors in need and lock hands in a spirit of— Oh wait: Hundreds of San Gabriel Valley residents confronted state and federal officials during a heated ...continue reading "After the fires, a city comes together"

In 2024, the Gateway Region YMCA reached the successful conclusion of its five-year, $55 million comprehensive capital campaign, themed “Opportunity for All,” that raised more than $59 million. We are thankful to the thousands of supporters who made this campaign possible, and especially grateful to the support from our leading corporate and foundation partners, including Enterprise Mobility, Edward Jones, Boniface Foundation, Bayer, Sunnen, Emerson and Cardinals Care. While the campaign has…