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Collinsville Area Vocational Center Groundbreaking Ceremony Begins Construction On $25 million State-of-the-Art Workforce Facility

9 months 3 weeks ago
COLLINSVILLE — The Collinsville Area Vocational Center (CAVC) is set to break ground on a $25 million expansion and renovation project, aimed at enhancing workforce training for students across the region. The ceremonial event will take place at 11 a.m. on Tuesday, March 25, 2025, at the construction site located at the intersection of South Morrison and Caseyville Roads in Collinsville, directly across from the existing CAVC building and Collinsville High School campus. Officials from the Collinsville Community Unit School District #10, along with members of the design and construction team, local business leaders, trade unions, professional organizations, and representatives from the State of Illinois are expected to attend the ceremony. The upgraded facility will serve 10 area Metro East school districts, including Civic Memorial, Dupo, East Alton-Wood River, Edwardsville, Highland, Lebanon, Mascoutah, Roxana, and Triad high schools. The new CAVC is designed to create a more

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Fatal fireworks home explosion trial delayed to July

9 months 3 weeks ago
The trial for a man charged in a 2022 fireworks home explosion that claimed the lives of four people was slated to begin Monday. However, the trial was pushed back to the summer after prosecutors received word of new evidence being introduced to the case.
Kevin S. Held

Two teachers unions, parents, advocates sue over Trump dismantling of Department of Education

9 months 3 weeks ago
WASHINGTON — Two separate coalitions of advocacy and labor groups each filed suit against the Trump administration Monday over its sweeping efforts to dismantle the U.S. Department of Education. The National Education Association, NAACP, the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees Maryland Council 3 and public school parents filed a lawsuit in the U.S. District […]
Shauneen Miranda

Attorney General Raoul Leads Coalition To Preserve Parole Pathways For Vulnerable Immigrants

9 months 3 weeks ago
CHICAGO - Attorney General Kwame Raoul and New York Attorney General Letitia James today led a coalition of 16 attorneys general in filing an amicus brief supporting the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) parole pathways for certain vulnerable immigrants fleeing dangerous conditions in their home countries. On Jan. 20, the Trump administration issued an executive ordering directing DHS to terminate humanitarian parole programs. As a result, DHS stopped processing new applications for parole pathways and barred current parolees from applying for other forms of temporary or permanent immigration status. In their amicus brief, Raoul and the coalition urge the court to grant a preliminary injunction to halt the Trump administration’s actions, which have upended the lives of tens of thousands of legal immigrants and threaten to tear communities and families apart. “I am the proud son of Haitian immigrants who, like so many immigrants, worked diligently to

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Budzinski Launches 2025 Congressional Art Competition

9 months 3 weeks ago
SPRINGFIELD - Today, Congresswoman Nikki Budzinski (IL-13) announced the start of the 2025 Congressional Art Competition for high school students in Illinois’ 13th Congressional District. The winning submission will be displayed in the U.S. Capitol Building for one year alongside artwork from congressional districts across the country. “I always love seeing the artistic talent and creativity of students in Central and Southern Illinois and I’m excited to launch the Congressional Art Competition for 2025,” said Congresswoman Budzinski. “This contest gives high school students across the country the chance to display their work on the national stage, with the goal of recognizing and encouraging young artists. Last year, I was so impressed by the incredible artwork that came from students in the 13th district – and I can’t wait to see what they have in store this year.” The Congressional Art Competition, first held in 1982, is a nationwide

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Attorney General Raoul Joins Bipartisan Effort To Protect Veterans' Education Benefits

9 months 3 weeks ago
CHICAGO – Attorney General Kwame Raoul joined 51 other attorneys general in filing an amicus brief before the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims in support of two military veterans and their families who were unlawfully denied their full G.I. Bill education benefits by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). In this case, a U.S. Army lieutenant colonel veteran and a U.S. Air Force colonel veteran were denied crucial education benefits to which they are clearly entitled. Raoul and the bipartisan coalition argue in the brief that the VA has taken a restrictive interpretation of the G.I. Bill that contradicts the Supreme Court’s recent ruling in Rudisill v. McDonough, which confirmed veterans whose length of service separately qualifies them under both the Montgomery and Post-9/11 G.I. Bills are entitled to a full 48 months of education benefits. Despite the clear precedent, the VA has continued to limit benefits based on an erroneous reading of the ruling,

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Contempt Of Court

9 months 3 weeks ago
I think lots of people know the kind of person who thinks they’re more clever than they really are. The kind of person who thinks that they can outwit the system by playing stupid games. The kind of person who thinks that this kind of beating the system is because they’re smart. This kind of […]
Mike Masnick

New leadership at Explore St. Louis focuses on economic development

9 months 3 weeks ago
“St. Louis will never be all that it can be without a healthy, robust visitor economy,” Brad Dean, the new president and CEO of Explore St. Louis, says. “Together, we must celebrate what sets St. Louis apart, cultivate strategic partnerships to realize our shared vision and ensure the visitor economy serves as a catalyst for economic growth and quality of life. The future of St. Louis is full of promise, and I truly believe that our best days are ahead of us.” As the official destination…
Explore St. Louis

Letter To The Editor: April 1 Election: A Chance for Sustainable Development in Alton and Godfrey

9 months 3 weeks ago
Letter To The Editor: The future of the City of Alton and the Village of Godfrey are directly tied to the upcoming April 1 Municipal elections. Resident voters will have the opportunity to elect a Mayor and Alderman/Board members whose responsibility it will be to progressively lead their communities for the next four years. Each community is faced with an issue over which they have little control, that being an out-migration of residents driven by the second highest total tax base in the nation, with the possibility of yet another State Income Tax increase in support of the thirst for spending by our elected officials. Madison County's unemployment rate is higher than the State's average suggesting the need for more competitive paying jobs within our business component. Affordable and attractive housing is of necessity to drive families to the area and the available housing stock is reasonably priced. Strong leadership must evolve from the upcoming election. Elected leaders must

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