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There are significant traffic backups Thursday morning after a crash on Interstate 70 near James S. McDonnel Boulevard.

MADISON COUNTY — Hayley A. Ditzler, 18, and Olivia J. Brown, 18, have been charged with a Mob Action Class 4 felony for allegedly participating in an incident on April 18, 2025. According to the Madison County State’s Attorney’s Office, both defendants are accused of forcibly dragging the victim into the woods and repeatedly punching and kicking her in multiple areas of her body. The charges, filed on April 23, 2025, state that Ditzler and Brown acted together without legal authority, using force or violence that disturbed the public peace. The official charge reads that the defendants knowingly engaged in this conduct in violation of Illinois law, specifically 720 ILCS 5/25-1(a)(1). The incident is under investigation by local authorities, and no further details have been released at this time. Both defendants are expected to appear in court for proceedings related to the charges.

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Missouri’s new voter-approved state minimum wage and guaranteed paid sick leave rules are set to go into effect May 1.

SPRINGFIELD – The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) is reporting the first confirmed measles case of 2025 in Illinois. The case, involving an adult in far southern Illinois, was confirmed through laboratory testing on April 23. This is the only case IDPH is aware of and this is not considered an outbreak at this time. IDPH will update the public should there be any notable developments. The risk of community transmission for the general public in Illinois remains low. IDPH is working with local health officials to identify all potential exposure locations. The clinic in southern Illinois where the patient sought care is working to identify any possible exposed patients and check immune status of those individuals. All exposed healthcare staff were wearing masks and are considered immune. Anyone exposed and not immune to measles should stay alert for any signs and symptoms of measles such as rash, high fever, cough, runny nose, and red, watery eyes, and notify their

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CHICAGO – Attorney General Kwame Raoul, as part of a coalition of 12 attorneys general, today filed a lawsuit to block the Trump administration’s illegal tariffs. The case challenges several executive orders that claim the power to increase tariffs without congressional action. The lawsuit filed by Raoul and the coalition challenges the Trump administration’s executive orders calling for higher tariffs on most products worldwide. These tariffs impose a 145% tariff on most products from China, a 25% tariff on most types of products from Canada and Mexico, and 10% tariffs on most products from the rest of the world. Raoul’s lawsuit also challenges the administration’s plan to raise tariffs on imports from 56 other trading partners on July 9. “International trade is essential to states’ economies, and the administration’s tariffs will make it more difficult for our residents to purchase the basic goods they need at affordable prices,”

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WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) joined U.S. Senators Brian Schatz (D-HI), Patty Murray (D-WA) and 10 Senate Democratic colleagues in condemning the Trump Administration’s cuts to federal funding that for decades helped address child labor, forced labor and human trafficking globally. “These cuts are inconsistent with bipartisan laws passed by Congress providing federal funds to combat child labor, forced labor, human trafficking, and enforce labor standards in over 40 countries,” the Senators wrote in a letter to Labor Secretary Lori M. Chavez-DeRemer. “Cancelling all existing cooperative agreements will only harm American workers, lower international labor standards, and hurt children.” The Senators continued, “ILAB grants level the playing field for American workers and ensure businesses cannot profit from labor abuses by stopping the problems at their source. Offshoring work will only drive down wages, incentivize

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CHICAGO - Today, Governor JB Pritzker announced a series of measures against El Salvador in response to its role in aiding the Trump Administration’s defiance of court orders and violations of due process. As laid out in the Fifth and Fourteenth Amendments of the United States Constitution, no one should be deprived of life and liberty without due process of law. However, Kilmar Abrego Garcia, who was legally residing in the United States, did not receive any due process before the Trump Administration illegally deported him to El Salvador -- even though the first Trump Administration granted a withholding of removal order in 2019. Additionally, the Trump Administration admitted it sent Abrego Garcia to El Salvador because of an administrative error . Despite a unanimous decision from the Supreme Court of the United States ordering the Trump Administration to facilitate Abrego Garcia’s return because of his wrongful deportation, he continues to be held in illegal

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On This Day, April 24, 1989…Tom Petty released his first solo album, Full Moon Fever.Although it wasn’t billed as a Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers record, most of the Heartbreakers…

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Logan University's new president brings a wealth of experiences to his role, from an unexpected career shift to unique hobbies and global adventures.

DECATUR - Governor JB Pritzker joined TCCI Manufacturing today to announce the grand opening of its Clean Energy Innovation Hub . The new state-of-the-art hub is a $45 million project which strengthens the North American supply chain by onshoring critical electric vehicle (EV) component manufacturing, providing training and cutting edge research opportunities. As part of the project, TCCI invested more than $20 million to revamp their Decatur facility, creating 50 new jobs in the process. TCCI is the first recipient of the state’s groundbreaking Reimagining Energy and Vehicles in Illinois (REV Illinois) incentive program. “From workforce development to innovation to manufacturing expansion, we are building an engine of opportunity. That starts with strategic projects like the Clean Energy Innovation Hub,” said Governor JB Pritzker. “This has been years in the making, and it took collaboration to get here — collaboration between a company committed to

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ELSAH – To build stronger communities and positive relationships with law enforcement, the Illinois State Police (ISP) is hosting three, Team Illinois Youth Police Camps (TIYPC) this summer in Carbondale, Elsah, and Romeoville. Each week-long, overnight camp is geared for teenagers 13-17 years and focuses on providing personal development opportunities to challenge young people to reach their full potential. The TIYPCs are based upon a military model and attendees, or cadets, learn military drills and participate in physical fitness exercises. Cadets also attend classroom instruction on leadership development, substance abuse resistance, team building principles, and other life enhancing skills. TIYPCs promote positive rapport and interactions between law enforcement and attendees. The Metro East TIYPC will be held at Principia College in Elsah, Illinois from July 13-19, 2025. More than 900 cadets have graduated from this camp since 2006. Local sheriff and police departments,

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It's not quite "must-win" territory for the St. Louis Blues yet, but down 0-2 in their first-round playoff series against the President's Trophy-winning Winnipeg Jets, it's getting pretty close.

by Jeff Ernsthausen, Mica Rosenberg and Avi Asher-Schapiro

ProPublica is a nonprofit newsroom that investigates abuses of power. Sign up to receive our biggest stories as soon as they’re published.

In an unusual move, the administration of President Donald Trump has canceled a $3.8 billion contract to build an immigrant detention camp in Fort Bliss, Texas, just days after issuing it.

That doesn’t mean the job won’t go forward. Sources told ProPublica the administration still intends to move ahead with the plan to build a tent detention camp at Fort Bliss. A site visit for interested contractors took place on Wednesday.

The job promises to be highly sought after as Trump officials plan to pour billions of dollars into building detention facilities as part of the president’s push to deport more immigrants.

Why the contract was posted and then canceled is unclear.

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement awarded the contract on April 10 to Deployed Resources, a privately held company, according to data posted on a federal procurement website.

ProPublica published a profile of the company on April 11, describing its ascension from running facilities at music festivals into a government contracting juggernaut that, like other vendors, is pursuing billions of dollars in detention contracts planned under Trump. Company executives, ProPublica found, had hired more than a dozen former government insiders as it built its business over the years. Recent hires included some high-ranking former officials from ICE, the agency that would be tasked with carrying out Trump’s promises of mass deportation.

Then, on April 13, the administration reversed course and terminated the contract with Deployed Resources “for convenience,” according to data posted to the federal contracting site.

An ICE spokesperson confirmed that the award was made and then canceled, and that “a revised procurement action for Fort Bliss is currently active and ongoing.” The agency did not answer questions about why it reversed course.

Deployed Resources has not responded to requests for comment. On its website, the company says it is “dedicated to safely and efficiently providing transparent facility support and logistical services, anytime, anywhere.”

The awarding and cancellation of such a large contract to a company in such a short time is extremely unusual, according to a ProPublica review of contracting data going back a decade.

In solicitation documents, the government said it needs a facility with the capacity to hold thousands of immigrants before they are deported.

It’s possible, but not yet clear, that Deployed Resources could win the contract following a subsequent round of bidding. It likely is not the only bidder interested in the job, which could be broken up into two pieces.

Since mid-March ICE has housed detainees at a tent facility in El Paso, Texas, operated by Deployed Resources, that was previously used by U.S. Customs and Border Protection. The Department of Defense awarded Deployed Resources a contract to run the site for ICE, an ICE spokesperson told ProPublica.

Current and former agency officials said holding ICE detainees in tent facilities — which in the past have generally held people for shorter periods of time — raises significant concerns about potential health and safety risks. An ICE official at a recent border security conference said Deployed Resources was adding more rigid structures within its tents, which could address such concerns.

Trump, upon returning to office in January, signed a series of executive orders declaring an emergency at the border and enlisting the military to help with immigration enforcement. In early April, the administration issued a request for bids on new detention facilities across the country that could be worth up to $45 billion.

The rush of immigration contracts comes as the Trump administration guts federal programs and fires thousands of workers in other wings of the government.

Joel Jacobs contributed data analysis.

Anyone with information is asked to call the Moline Acres Police Department Dispatch at 636-529-8210 or email jdavis@molineacres.org.

SWANSEA — State Senator Christopher Belt announced that school libraries across St. Clair and Madison counties will receive more than $30,000 in state grant funding. “School libraries are a safe place for many kids to expand their knowledge and prepare for their future,” said Belt (D-Swansea). “The funding will help our school libraries keep up with times by helping them upgrade to new technology used to help kids learn.” The grants, awarded throughout Illinois, included annual per capita grant funding, public library construction grants and newly created technology grants to help libraries most in need upgrade their technology infrastructure. School districts receiving funding in the 57th Senate District include: Belle Valley School District 119 - $850 Belleville Township High School District 201 - $4,072 Cahokia Community Unit School District 187 - $2,374 Dupo Community Unit School District 196 - $850 East Saint Louis School District 189 -

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What if a single day dedicated to planting trees could transform landscapes, communities, and even national identities? Arbor Day, a celebration that might seem simple at first glance, holds a profound legacy of environmental stewardship, civic pride, and global influence. Beyond the act of planting saplings, Arbor Day has inspired millions to reconsider humanity’s relationship with nature and the critical role trees play in our lives. The Origins of Arbor Day: A Vision Rooted in Conservation Arbor Day began in the United States in the late 19th century, a period marked by rapid industrialization and environmental change. The holiday was founded by J. Sterling Morton, a Nebraska journalist and politician, who recognized the urgent need to address deforestation and soil erosion in the Great Plains. On April 10, 1872, Morton proposed a statewide tree-planting day to encourage residents to plant trees, not only to beautify the landscape but also to provide practical benefits like

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The St. Louis Artists' Guild is proud to present an exhibition with SAQA KS-MO-OK Regional members (primary and secondary) whowere asked to select at least one word and create one […]

The post ‘living- language- land’ Inspired appeared first on Explore St. Louis.