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CHICAGO – Governor JB Pritzker has proclaimed March 31st as Transgender Day of Visibility in Illinois, highlighting the state human rights law that protects transgender people from discrimination. To mark the occasion, the Illinois Department of Human Rights (IDHR) today issued non-regulatory guidance on the right to be free from discrimination on the basis of gender identity. “As Governor, it has been my mission to ensure that every Illinoisan lives without the fear of violence, prejudice, or discrimination,” said Governor JB Pritzker . “If you’re looking for a place to be authentically yourself, come to Illinois—a state where, regardless of who you are, we celebrate all Illinoisians, recognize their accomplishments, and fight to protect rights to live with dignity and respect.” “In Illinois you have a right to safely exist and be your most authentic self. We don’t just talk about inclusion—we put it into law,”

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The Digital Learning Lab at Tandy Recreation Center is the first to open.

CHICAGO – Attorney General Kwame Raoul today announced that a Carlyle, Illinois man was sentenced to 100 years in prison after pleading guilty to sexually assaulting children and producing child sexual abuse material. The case is part of Raoul’s ongoing work, in collaboration with federal law enforcement agencies and local law enforcement officials throughout Illinois, to apprehend offenders who download and trade child sexual abuse material online. The Attorney General’s office prosecuted Mickail S. Cranford, 24, who was sentenced on Thursday by Clinton County Circuit Court Judge Joshua Morrison after previously pleading guilty to two Class X felony charges of predatory criminal sexual assault of a child under 13 and two Class X felony charges of manufacturing child pornography. “This sentence represents justice for victims who have been exploited and abused,” Raoul said. “I will continue to partner with local law enforcement agencies and prosecutors

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Homicide detectives with the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department are investigating a death in the city’s Penrose neighborhood.

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, along with U.S. Senators Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Mazie Hirono (D-HI), and Alex Padilla (D-CA), sent a letter to the Deputy Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Dan Bongino, raising serious concerns over his ability to lead the Bureau with FBI Director Kash Patel. Deputy Director Bongino is a former conservative political commentator, podcast host, and conspiracy theorist peddler. The position of the FBI Deputy Director is not Senate-confirmed. The Senators wrote, “As the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) finalizes its new leadership structure, we are deeply concerned that Director Kash Patel’s senior leadership team is unprepared for the challenges of managing our nation’s premier law enforcement agency and its approximately 38,000 public servants.” “As the newly appointed Deputy Director, your past public

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PEKIN – Governor JB Pritzker, Epic Medical and the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) today announced the company will open its first U.S. facility in the Riverway Business Park in Pekin. Epic Medical, which will operate as Epic Pharma Solutions Inc. in Illinois, will make a $25 million capital investment with support from an Economic Development for a Growing Economy (EDGE) agreement with DCEO, which will enable the company to expand into the U.S., construct an intravenous (IV) solutions manufacturing facility, and initially create 50 new full-time jobs. “Illinois is one of the best places in the world for manufacturing companies to operate, and we are thrilled to welcome Epic Medical to Pekin,” said Governor JB Pritzker . “With the $25 million investment, the Central Illinois facility will create good-paying jobs for working families in the region while strengthening the medical device supply chain to increase the availability

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GODFREY - Now in its third year, the Community Garden at Resurrection Lutheran Church in Godfrey. is welcoming Spring. For many of us this is our favorite time of the year. What makes a garden a community garden? Mark Groh, co-chair says “we listen to the needs of the community. The produce is shared with the Alton Crisis Food Center, Oasis Women’s Center and others in the Riverbend area facing food insecurity. We asked them what vegetables are popular for those receiving food from their programs, and less available from other sources”. Karen Sullivan, Alton Crisis Food Center acknowledged okra, Chinese cabbage, and sweet potatoes were among the favorites provided by the Community Garden from those picking up food items in previous years. Traditional fresh vegetables such as peppers, green beans, eggplant, lettuce, squash, zucchini, and tomatoes supplement the non-perishable food donations of the congregation to both organizations throughout the long growing

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There is a disquieting update to my last post about a district court victory in Does 1-26 v. Musk that had enjoined DOGE, given its likely unconstitutional exercise of power, particularly in the context of its dismemberment of USAID. The Fourth Circuit has now stayed enforcement of that injunction, which raises a few issues worth […]

ALTON – Spring is in the air, and the Easter Bunny is on his way! Families are invited to celebrate the season with an unforgettable Easter experience at Alton Square Mall, filled with joy, smiles, and festive fun. Starting on April 4, 2025, guests can visit Alton Square Mall to meet the Easter Bunny, capture memorable photos, and soak in the vibrant springtime atmosphere. This beloved tradition brings the magic of the season to life with beautifully themed photos, creating cherished memories for all. "Springtime is about making joyful memories with loved ones," said Rosanna Frisch, Senior Marketing Manager. "We’re delighted to welcome the Easter Bunny back to Alton Square Mall and invite families to join us for a fun, festive photo experience that celebrates the magic of the season." For more information please email mallevents@hullpg.com or contact the Mall Management Office at (618) 300-3164

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The shooting was about 7:45 a.m. Sunday in the 10700 block of Page Avenue in Overland.

COLLINSVILLE – Illinois State Police (ISP) Troop 8 Commander, Captain Casey Faro, announces the ISP will conduct Alcohol Countermeasure Enforcement (ACE) patrols in Madison and St. Clair counties during April. ACE patrols allow the ISP to focus on preventing, detecting, and taking enforcement action in response to violations associated with impaired driving and illegal transportation or consumption of alcohol or drugs. The ISP has zero tolerance for impaired driving in Illinois. Officers working the detail will be watchful for motorists who show signs of impaired driving, operating vehicles in an unsafe manner, driving with a suspended or revoked driver’s license, and transporting open alcoholic beverages, as well as improper seatbelt and child restraint usage, distracted driving, and other Illinois Vehicle Code violations. Alcohol and drug impairment are estimated to be a factor in more than 47% of all fatal motor vehicle crashes in Illinois. There is one alcohol-related

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The proliferation of what are called gray market machines is one of the best arguments for authorizing video lottery games, supporters of the bill say.

ALTON – OSF HealthCare Rehabilitation Services in Alton will be holding its monthly Lymphedema education meeting on Thursday, April 3. Riverbend region residents are invited to join the OSF Lymphedema Therapy Team for this free educational session about Lymphedema and meet other people with Lymphedema. The April Lymphedema education meeting will be held: Thursday, April 3, 1:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m. OSF HealthCare Rehabilitation Services 228 Alton Square Mall, Alton, IL Enter the Rehab office from the upper mall parking lot, facing Alby Street, under the "OSF HEALTHCARE" sign Interested individuals should direct questions or requests for additional information to OSF Rehabilitation Services at (618) 463-5171. Lymphedema refers to tissue swelling caused by an accumulation of fluid that is usually drained by the body's lymphatic system. Some Lymphedema facts include: It most commonly affects the arms or legs, but it can also occur in the face, neck,

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BELLEVILLE – Busey Bank is proud to support the financing of Southern Illinois Healthcare Foundation’s (SIHF) latest initiative aimed at expanding healthcare services in Belleville. SIHF, a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing comprehensive healthcare services to communities throughout Southern Illinois, will now be able to purchase and renovate a four-story, 59,425-square-foot facility to expand healthcare services for the Belleville region. This impactful project was made possible through the use of federal and state New Markets Tax Credit (NMTC) programs, which are designed to stimulate investment in low-income communities and encourage economic development in areas where traditional capital may not be readily available. Busey partnered with SIHF on this complex financing by providing multiple loans, including a federal NMTC leverage loan and a federal NMTC equity investment. With financing now in place, the planned renovations will allow SIHF to consolidate

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St. Louis County prosecutors on Saturday charged Corey Jordan, 37, with two counts of first-degree assault and armed criminal action.

Her body was discovered about 9:30 p.m. Sunday behind a building in the 4400 block of Marcus Avenue.

Letter To The Editor: I am proud to endorse Mayor Goins for re-election as Mayor of Alton. Over the past few years, Mayor Goins has demonstrated exceptional leadership and dedication to our community. It took him several years, beginning in 2021, to clean up the financial mess he inherited. There was no way to allocate funds for necessary street repairs and infrastructure improvements until the city’s finances were stabilized. After more than two years of hard work, he has successfully turned our city's financial situation around. It would not be fair to deny him another term, as he needs the opportunity to continue implementing his vision for better streets, improved infrastructure, and enhanced economic development for Alton. In addition to his financial accomplishments, Mayor Goins has made a significant impact during his first term. He has transformed our city's deficit into a remarkable $7 million surplus and has overseen more road repairs than any previous administration.

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