EDWARDSVILLE - SIUE Emeritus Professor Stephen Hansen will explore the myths and legends of Abraham Lincoln at the inaugural event of the 2025 MCHS Speakers Series at 2 p.m. on Sunday, Feb. 9, 2025, at the Main Street Community Center in Edwardsville. Hansen isn’t going up against the Super Bowl since his presentation will be completed long before the big game begins. The program is “A Superhero from Another Age: The Legend and Mythology of Abraham Lincoln.” Hansen will explore why we are still fascinated with Abraham Lincoln. At different times, Lincoln has been seen as the Savior of the Union, the Great Emancipator, the Self-Made Man, and the Man of the People. These images and legends are so powerful that nearly every segment of American society has claimed Lincoln to represent them from the American Vegetarian Society to the American Communist Party! Hansen will explore how the Lincoln legend grew and changed over time and why it is important for us today.
District 3 detectives need assistance identifying two individuals wanted in connection to the shooting and robbery of a 19-year-old that happened on February 3, 2025.
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, and Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley (R-IA) today announced the establishment, leadership, and membership of Senate Judiciary Subcommittees for the 119th Congress. “The Senate Judiciary Committee is arguably the workhorse of Senate committees. The list of historic hearings held before it is long and filled with memorable testimony,” Durbin said. “These are consequential times, but we have a talented group of Democratic members and I look forward to them leading the national debate on the critical issues we face.” “The Senate Judiciary Committee’s broad jurisdiction tasks us with important responsibilities, such as safeguarding Americans and our border, empowering consumers, pursuing justice against criminal offenders, vetting nominees to the federal judiciary and upholding the founding principles of our Constitution,”
(The Center Square) – A coalition of House Republicans has filed two amicus briefs supporting President Donald Trump’s executive order ending birthright citizenship for the children of illegal immigrants.
SPRINGFIELD – The Illinois Emergency Management Agency and Office of Homeland Security (IEMA-OHS) is encouraging everyone in Illinois to practice how to Drop, Cover, and Hold On! during Earthquake Awareness Month. “A strong earthquake won’t just affect southern Illinois, but the entire state given its proximity to two major seismic zones—the New Madrid Seismic Zone on the border with Missouri and the Wabash Valley Seismic Zone on the border with Indiana,” said Director Alicia Tate Nadeau. “The best way to stay safe during an earthquake is to Drop, Cover, and Hold On! If you practice this regularly, you’ll know exactly what to do during an earthquake because a strong earthquake could easily affect homes and infrastructure throughout Illinois.” Whether you are in your home, a school classroom, a high-rise or other type of building, it is important to know how to protect yourself during an earthquake. Practice what to do during an earthquake
MACOUPIN COUNTY — Spectrum, the #1 rural internet provider in the nation*, today announced the launch of Spectrum Internet, Mobile, TV and Voice services to more than 315 homes and small businesses in rural areas of Macoupin County. Spectrum’s multi-year Rural Construction Initiative is driven by an approximately $7 billion private investment from Charter and will ultimately connect approximately 1.75 million new homes and small businesses across the country. “Spectrum is bringing gigabit broadband to unserved communities in Illinois and across America,” said Aaron Detwiler, Area Vice President for Spectrum’s Missouri Management Area. “Our investment is making it possible to deliver the high-value broadband, mobile, TV and voice services now available in Macoupin County. We are providing residents and small businesses superior connectivity at highly competitive prices, backed by a team of skilled local technicians and 100% U.S.-based customer
EDWARDSVILLE - The SIU System is pleased to announce that Moayad "Mo" Abuzaneh, a junior at SIU Edwardsville (SIUE), is the newest member of the SIU Board of Trustees. Abuzaneh was elected by the students of SIUE to serve on the board from January 27 – June 30, 2025. A special election was recently held after the previous SIUE student trustee resigned. “As a board trustee, my main goal is to advocate for SIUE students and ensure their voices are heard at the system level,” said Abuzaneh. “I want to push for initiatives that enhance student life, academic resources and financial accessibility while fostering greater engagement between students and administration.” Abuzaneh was born in Jordan and moved to the United States in 2021. He calls Springfield, Illinois home and is a 2022 graduate of Glenwood High School in Chatham, Illinois. Abuzaneh is majoring in biology at SIUE with a minor in chemistry. He plans to graduate from SIUE in 2026 and go to medical
CHICAGO - The State of Illinois announced today it has executed a contract for a new seed-to-sale system for Illinois’ growing medical and adult use cannabis programs. Metrc is a highly-configurable, secure, and scalable system that will modernize Illinois’ evolving cannabis industry and regulatory systems. This includes utilizing RFID tags, computerized tags that allow for easier, more accurate entry of information into the system by operators. Through State funding, cannabis business establishments will not be charged for Metrc’s RFID tags, subject to certain restrictions. These new identification tags will reduce manual auditing and increase time for health-related inspections. The State of Illinois’ contract with Metrc also includes additional services, including new reporting tools to help study trends in the industry. “We look forward to this new partnership with Metrc to ensure Illinois continues advancing the safest and most secure cannabis market,&rdquo
EAST ST. LOUIS – State Senator Christopher Belt’s office is collecting store-bought or handmade cards for residents in long-term care facilities for Valentine’s Day. “Let’s show our support for our senior community and let them know we are thinking about them on Valentine’s Day,” said Belt (D-Swansea). “This is a really simple way to brighten someone’s day.” Individuals are encouraged to write kind notes and drop them off or mail them to Belt’s district offices, located at the Kenneth Hall Regional Office Building, 10 Collinsville Ave., Suite 201A, East St. Louis, IL 62201 or 7 Park Place, Suite C, Swansea, IL 62226. Belt is collecting cards until Monday, Feb. 10 and will deliver them to local long-term care facilities. People with questions can reach out to Belt’s East St. Louis office at (618) 875-1212 or Swansea office at (618) 746-8126.
From St. Louis Post-Dispatch: Another portion of a historic Lemp Brewery building collapsed this weekend in the city’s Benton Park neighborhood, but its owner said he was already in the middle of demolishing it. Lemp Brewery owner Shashi Palamand said the portion that fell this weekend was opposite the wing that partially collapsed in 2020. […]
WOOD RIVER – At Monday’s City Council meeting, Wood River Mayor Tom Stalcup and Police Chief Brad Wells honored Brendan Lenhardt with the Telecommunicator of the Year award for 2024. Wells spoke highly of Lenhardt as a skilled communicator and multi-tasker, citing him as one of the department’s “success stories.” “Telecommunicator Lenhardt is an outstanding professional and highly dedicated employee,” Wells said. “He consistently demonstrates key qualities such as leadership, resourcefulness, compassion, professionalism, and the ability to multitask – traits that define an exemplary telecommunicator. “Over the past year, Telecommunicator Lenhardt has gone above and beyond, offering to assist in various areas to cover vacant positions in dispatch. He successfully completed the state-approved communications training officer program.” The chief then outlined two occasions on which Lenhardt’s decisive communication
With reports that 7 out of 10 teens in the U.S. are struggling with their mental health, one local company is harnessing the healing power of pets to help match therapy dogs with youth to lower blood pressure and increase self-confidence, and help reduce stress, anxiety and depression.
Nestlé Purina PetCare Company, headquartered in downtown St. Louis, is leveraging partnerships in each of its 24 communities across the country with the goal of connecting more youth with trained service and therapy…
From St. Louis Business Journal: Franklin County will lose its leader, as Presiding Commissioner Tim Brinker heads to Greater St. Louis Inc. to lead the business group’s government outreach. The move, to become GSL’s senior vice president of government relations, is effective Feb. 14. “Growing the St. Louis metro is our most important priority, and […]
WOOD RIVER – Wood River Mayor Tom Stalcup and Police Chief Brad Wells presented the 2024 Officer of the Year award to Geoffrey Fester at Monday’s City Council meeting. Wells said this marks the Officer of the Year award’s seventh year running, commending Fester as a worthy recipient. “This year, Jeff is very deserving of that,” Wells said of the award. “It’s with great pleasure to present officer Jeff Fester as the 2024 Officer of the Year for the Wood River Police Department.” He added Fester was formerly an East Alton Police officer who was an “obvious choice” for the Wood River Police Department given his work ethic, compassion for victims, and more. He’s been with the department for four years now, accumulating “extensive experience” on the job. “Officer Fester consistently ranks among the top in documented activity in the department,” Wells said. “He was selected to be part of
Two recipients of this year’s Missouri Arts Awards have a St.Louis connection. Six winners of the 2025 MO Arts Awards will be honored Wednesday by both the GOV and LT GOV in the Rotunda of the State Capitol. The STL Art Fair won for best Arts Organization. Since it began in 1994 it has become…
From Construction Business Owner: Since 2016, I have served on the editorial advisory board for Construction Business Owner magazine. This is a leadership responsibility I enjoy. The editorial team appreciates having input from industry leaders engaged in day-to-day work with contractors, suppliers, vendors and professional partners. Once a year, I review the next year’s proposed […]
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