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SPRINGFIELD – Today, the Illinois Department of Corrections (IDOC) and the national non-profit Freedom Reads announced the opening of 22 new Freedom Libraries in Decatur and Illinois River Correctional Centers. Six were installed in housing units at Decatur Correctional Center, a women’s prison, and 16 were installed in housing units in Illinois River Correctional Center, a men’s prison. The new libraries make a total of 28 Freedom Libraries in four IDOC facilities, with five in Logan Correctional Center and one in Lincoln Correctional Center, opened in 2022. Freedom Reads also facilitated book discussions, voting, and author events for the second annual Inside Literary Prize at Decatur and Western Correctional Centers. Launched in 2023 by Freedom Reads, the National Book Foundation, and the Center for Justice Innovation with support from Lori Feathers, the Inside Literary Prize is the first-ever US-based literary prize awarded exclusively by currently incarcerated

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CHICAGO- Today, Governor JB Pritzker announced his appointment of emergency management executive Theodore ‘Ted’ D. Berger to lead the Illinois Emergency Management Agency and Office of Homeland Security (IEMA-OHS), pending Senate approval. Berger joins the agency with decades of experience in emergency management and homeland security, most recently serving as Executive Director of the Cook County Department of Emergency Management and Regional Security. “Our Illinois Emergency Management Agency and Office of Homeland Security is on the front lines every day, working to equip our communities with the programs and resources needed in times of crisis,” said Governor JB Pritzker. “With decades of emergency management experience and a wealth of knowledge about our State’s many regions, Ted Berger is an exceptionally qualified candidate to lead Illinois’ critical support efforts.” Berger began his career in state government with the Office

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SPRINGFIELD - The annual Illinois Peace Officers Memorial Service to honor law enforcement officers killed in Illinois in the line of duty, including nine who died during 2024, will be held Thursday, May 1, 2025 at 11 a.m. at the Illinois Peace Officer Memorial sculpture on the Illinois State Capitol grounds in Springfield. For the first time, K-9 partners killed in the line of duty will also be recognized during the May 1 ceremony. “This annual ceremony honors those who made the ultimate sacrifice while serving their communities,” said Illinois Fraternal Order of Police (FOP) State Lodge President Chris Southwood. “Every man and woman in this difficult and dangerous profession knows the risks they face every time they put on the badge. Like their human partners, the faithful dogs who serve in police K-9 units are also brave public servants who sometimes pay the ultimate price to keep citizens safe. As a former K-9 officer myself I’m proud and humbled to recognize

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VIRDEN – North Mac High School will host a Community Blood Drive with ImpactLife, the provider of blood components for local hospitals. The blood drive will be from 8:45 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. on Wednesday, May 7, 2025 at 231 W. Fortune St., inside the ImpactLife Donor Bus. What: North Mac High School Community Blood Drive When: Wednesday, May 7th, 8:45 a.m. - 1:30 p.m. - Can’t make it to the Blood Drive? Stop by our ImpactLife Springfield Donor Center at 1999 Wabash Ave. to donate & credit North Mac High School on the Sign In Sheets! Where: ImpactLife Donor Bus, 231 W. Fortune St., Virden, IL Appointments: To donate, please contact Tina Leonard at (217) 965-4127 or visit www.bloodcenter.org and use code 60085 to locate the drive. Appointments are requested. You may also call ImpactLife at 800-747-5401 to schedule. 2801 S. 10th St. | Springfield, Ill. | (217) 753-1530 Donor Eligibility Criteria: Potential donors must be at least 17 years of

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CHICAGO – Today, the Illinois Student Assistance Commission (ISAC) sent a letter to Secretary of Education Linda McMahon expressing alarm about potential delays to the timely delivery of critical student financial aid caused by the Trump Administration’s dismantling of the U.S. Department of Education (ED). The letter also conveys deep concerns about the potential risks to student loan borrowers if the $1.6 trillion student loan portfolio is moved to the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA). The letter shares concerns about significant cuts in staffing at ED that can put in peril not only students’ ability to access financial aid, but also the timely disbursement of that aid to students and institutions that rely on it. Indeed, recent news reports indicate that calls and emails to ED are going unanswered and systems to disburse grants and loans are experiencing more frequent outages. The letter also flags risks to borrowers of the President’s plan t

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The high-speed police chase ended when the suspect's vehicle rolled several times after the car's tires were disabled by spike strips on I-64.

ST. CHARLES, Mo. – A man from Granite City is facing serious charges. 27-year-old Donte Pryor is accused of kidnapping and leading officers on a dangerous high-speed chase that crossed state lines. St. Charles County prosecutors say Pryor is charged with kidnapping, two counts of endangering the welfare of a child, and aggravated fleering. Investigators [...]

JERSEYVILLE – An upcoming “Needle and Thread Workshop” l ead by Joannie and Meredith Dougherty will guide Jerseyville area residents on how to make some of their own alterations. S et for Monday, April 28, 2025 from 6 to 8 p.m., participants are asked to bring an item from home they’d like to mend or hem; instructors will offer their expertise to help teach the hand sewing skills needed to complete your project. Needle and Thread Workshop classes will be held in the Jersey County Arts Council (JCAC) space in the First Presbyterian Church at 400 S. State St. in Jerseyville. These classes are for ages 8 and up, but class sizes are limited. A non-refundable donation of $25 to the JCAC is required to secure your spot and help cover the cost of supplies. To register and get more details on the upcoming Needle and Thread Workshop, contact sewingismysuperpower8@gmail.com . For other upcoming class offerings and more, visit sewingismysuperpower.com

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BETHALTO - Civic Memorial High School students recently saved 400 lives. The high school hosted their annual blood drive, which encourages eligible students to donate blood. Angie Parish, a teacher and organizer of the event, expressed her excitement for the annual drive. “It was a huge success, the most lives we have saved yet,” she said. “Each time, the students do a better job than the time before of donating, and we continue to break our own record each time.” Civic Memorial High School has formed a reputation as one of the top donors in the region, surpassing bigger schools and Lewis and Clark Community College. An ARCH Air Medical Transport helicopter landed on the high school’s baseball field to show support to the students. After donating blood, students ventured to the field to explore the helicopter and ask questions. Several of the students shared this was not their first time donating blood. Three-time donors received cords to

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ST. LOUIS – If you’ve got old electronics taking up space and maybe you’re doing some spring cleaning this weekend, here’s your chance to recycle them for a good cause. Adonis and E-Waste Recycling are hosting ‘Recycling for a Cause’ Saturday morning from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. at the McCarthy Building on Manchester Road. [...]

A new report shows a growing gender gap among people who vote with environmental issues in mind.

It'll be cooler but dry for Saturday. There will be a lot of cloud cover, but it shouldn't be completely overcast, so expect partly sunny to mostly cloudy skies for much of the day. Temperatures will only be in the mid 60. Overnight, temperatures will drop into the 40s and low 50s with cloudy skies. [...]

This week, the Missouri Senate passed legislation moving us one step closer to enshrining discrimination against the state’s poorest tenants into state law. If this bill becomes law, the state will prevent municipalities in Missouri from enacting source of income discrimination bans, and will void bans already in place in St. Louis, Webster Groves, Columbia […]

Federal investigators traced the cases back to a single grower, but the Food and the Drug Administration didn't disclose the name.

The St. Louis-based development firm's new principal will manage overall operations for the company's portfolio and serve as the strategic lead as properties transition from development to leasing.