Aggregator

A 2022 poll of 1,500 U.S. teenagers found that 89 percent of them regularly think about the environment, “with the majority feeling more worried than hopeful.”

CHICAGO - Ahead of the 2025 tax season, the state of Illinois announced its participation in the IRS Direct File program. This will allow millions of eligible Illinoisans to file their taxes directly with the IRS, in a free and simplified system. Sarah Saheb, Director of Economic Security Illinois, an affiliate of Economic Security Project, a leading advocate for IRS Direct File nationally and in Illinois, released the following statement: “Direct File will save eligible Illinoisans up to $725 million and alleviate the stress and complexity of tax season for families across the state. This is a commonsense tool that will make filing taxes easier than ever before and put money back in people’s pockets all while saving the government money. We applaud Governor JB Pritzker, the Illinois Department of Revenue, and all stakeholders who helped make this possible. As Illinoisans prepare to file their 2025 taxes, we encourage all who are eligible to utilize this completely free

Continue Reading

SPRINGFIELD - In partnership with the National Association of Secretaries of State (NASS), Illinois Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias presented the 2nd annual John Lewis Youth Leadership Award (JLYLA) to 21-year-old Ivoryana Neal and 23-year-old Anthony Ray Wright Jr. “It’s wonderful to honor the impact of the late Congressman Lewis by recognizing two incredible young Illinoisans for their significant service to our communities,” Giannoulias said. “Ivoryana and Anthony are truly carrying out the spirit of Congressman Lewis’ legacy.” Neal, a Bellwood native and a December 2024 graduate of Spelman College, is passionate about criminal justice reform and has helped educate peers on the need for more re-entry support for formerly incarcerated individuals and their families. Neal’s firsthand experiences interning with the Fulton County Sheriff’s Office in Atlanta and with the Broadview, Illinois, police department have informed her call

Continue Reading

SPRINGFIELD - A severe ice storm wreaked havoc on large parts of southern Illinois earlier this week, closing schools and leaving thousands without power. In response, Comptroller Susana Mendoza Thursday issued payments totaling more than $17.7 million dollars earlier than originally planned. This comes at the request of Senator Dale Fowler, R-Harrisburg who informed the Comptroller of the dire circumstances facing southern Illinois. The bulk of that, $16.7 million, is Illinois State Board of Education mandated categorical grants to elementary and secondary schools in the region. Most schools were forced to close and will not reopen until at least next week. Thursday’s infusion can help the schools with their cash flow as they make repairs. Additionally, 423 vouchers totaling nearly $1.1 million were paid out for things like ambulance services, local electric cooperatives, city and county services, and social service agencies. A full list is available here. “It’s

Continue Reading

ALTON – As the Executive Director of Alton Little Theater (ALT), I am deeply committed to ensuring that our organization remains a safe and welcoming space for everyone who steps through our doors. However, allegations of past misconduct have been brought concerning individuals formerly affiliated with the theater. Let me be clear: we take these allegations with the utmost seriousness. I want to assure the public that under my leadership, ALT will be a space where everyone feels safe to explore their passion for theater. Theater is about creating joy and fostering community and that is exactly what we will do. Eric Sykes Executive Director, Alton Little Theater

Continue Reading

ALTON - The local Piasa Palisades chapter of the Sierra Club will screen a special film at their upcoming monthly meeting. At 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 14, 2025, community members are invited to Old Bakery Beer Co. in Alton for a screening of “Water for Life,” a documentary that tells the story of three Indigenous leaders who fought for water resources in their communities. Christine Favilla, representative with the Sierra Club and a co-coordinator for the Three Rivers Project, emphasized the importance of talking about sustainability and water rights. “It has to do a lot with making that connection with humans and hoping that they see they have a connection to nature,” she explained. “The more people that we have connected to nature, hopefully the more we will be able to see it be sustained and conserved.” Favilla said that the Piasa Palisades chapter of the Sierra Club meets at Old Bakery Beer Co. once a month, but this is the first time

Continue Reading

ST. LOUIS - Law enforcement in Missouri has officially commenced for the Siddens-Bening Hands-Free Law, which prohibits drivers from holding their phones while operating a vehicle. Many from the Alton, Edwardsville and Belleville areas drive across the river to Missouri on a daily basis for work and entertainment. The law, which went into effect in the summer of 2023, transitioned from an educational awareness phase to active enforcement on Jan. 1, 2024. Under the new regulation, officers are permitted to issue tickets to drivers who are found holding their phones. However, the law allows for the use of hands-free devices, such as Bluetooth or Apple Car Play. The Siddens-Bening law operates under secondary enforcement, meaning that drivers can only be ticketed for phone use if they are pulled over for another violation, such as speeding or reckless driving. Since the law's implementation, Missouri has reported a 5% reduction in deaths related to distracted driving, which

Continue Reading

BETHALTO — Ace Hardware of Bethalto has expressed gratitude to its customers for support in a recent fundraising initiative that benefited local organizations. The store, located at 1 Airway Court in Bethalto, collected donations through a register round-up campaign for The Community Hope Center and The Bethalto Spirit Christmas Village. Molly Mathias, the office manager at Ace Hardware, acknowledged the contributions of their patrons. “It is because of the generosity of our customers that we were able to present these two organizations with a donation check,” Mathias said. The initiative aimed to provide financial assistance to both organizations, enhancing their ability to serve the community during the holiday season. The donations collected reflect the commitment of the local business and its customers to support community efforts.

Continue Reading

Plant of the Week: Ornamental Cabbage Sign up for Missouri Coalition for the Environment’s Legislative Bill Tracker USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map Visit a rainforest in St. Louis on a winter day: Climatron at Missouri Botanical Garden. Garden Admission Free to St. Louis City and St. Louis County residents on Saturday and Wednesday mornings, otherwise … Continue reading This Week in Gardening & Nature →

Most of the main streets are cleared, but a lot of the side streets are still covered with snow. Some people can't even get out of their homes.

Kehoe graduated from Chaminade College Preparatory School in 1979.

Brooklyn, established in the early 1830s as a refuge for free and enslaved Black people, was once a key outpost on the Underground Railroad and, later, a welcoming beacon for those fleeing the Jim Crow South.

The crews from Mexico will join thousands of other firefighters on the frontlines of the fires.

Americans were expected to spend $902 on average on holiday expenses in 2024 — a new record — according to the National Retail Federation.

A logistics company has taken over a local 500,000-square-foot distribution space that lost its major tenant more than a year ago.

In his “Ancient Rings” series, Jim Scheller transforms each vessel into a meditation on time, continuity, and humanity’s spiritual connection to the past. The pieces from the collection shown together […]

The post Ancient Rings by Jim Scheller appeared first on Explore St. Louis.