EAST ALTON — Multiple fire agencies responded to a residential fire in the 100 block of Haller in East Alton on Thursday morning, Feb. 20, 2025, after a Box Alarm was issued. Firefighters from East Alton, Wood River, Alton Roxana, and Rosewood Heights quickly arrived on the scene, aided by a nearby hydrant, while Bethalto fire personnel manned the East Alton station. East Alton Fire Chief Tim Quigley reported that the cause of the fire remains under investigation, although the homeowner suspects a malfunctioning battery in an appliance may have been responsible. Quigley praised the firefighters for their efforts under challenging weather conditions, noting that the temperature at the time was just 1 degree above zero, with wind chills reaching minus 10 degrees. "The firefighters made a quick direct hit on the fire with a hydrant so close by," Quigley said. Upon arrival, firefighters observed smoke coming from the front door and flames visible in a window. Thanks to their rapid
EAST ST. LOUIS – The Illinois State Police’s (ISP) urban policing model, Public Safety Enforcement Group (PSEG), is reducing crime and building trust with the community, leading to a 6-year low in homicides in East St. Louis, the area covered by the model. ? ISP’s combination of targeted antiviolence details, dedicated investigative resources, coordination with local law enforcement, implementation of new technology, partnerships with community organizations, and engagement in neighborhoods helped reduce homicides in 2024 by 26% compared to 2023, and non-fatal shootings by 32%. “Our state has one of the best police forces in the entire nation, and key anti-violence initiatives like their urban policing model in East St. Louis are delivering results and making our communities safer,” said Governor JB Pritzker. ? “The numbers we’re seeing today are not only a testament to ISP’s commitment to community-building, but they are also a reminder
COLLINSVILLE - The Madison County Board voted against the building of a solar facility in Collinsville Township. Armoracia Solar applied for a special use permit to develop a commercial solar energy facility at the southeast corner of Interstate 55 and Pleasant Ridge Road in Collinsville. The property, owned by Jacob Frey and Scott Frey, is zoned as an “R-3” Single-Family Residential District. The Madison County Zoning Board of Appeals recommended that the application be denied. At the County Board meeting on Feb. 19, 2025, several people spoke in favor and in opposition of the solar facility. The County Board ultimately voted to uphold the Zoning Board of Appeal’s denial. Mick Madison, the chairman of the Building and Zoning Committee, explained that property values and concerns about the reflection off the solar panels were the main reasons why the Committee decided to deny it. “Hurting property values was one of the things that we looked at the
EDWARDSVILLE - Every year, the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) honors educators across the state, and this year, two Edwardsville Community Unit School District 7 educators are among the recipients for 2025. The awards program is divided into two categories – the “Illinois Teacher of the Year” cohort and the “Those Who Excel” awards. Within “Those Who Excel” are three different awards, including the Award of Excellence, the Award of Special Recognition, and the Award of Meritorious Service. Congratulations to Lincoln Middle School instructional coach Maggie Dust and Leclaire Elementary second grade teacher Teryn Cross, who both received Special Recognition. “We are incredibly proud to see these two outstanding educators receive well-deserved recognition for their dedication and impact on students,” said Edwardsville Community Unit School District 7 Superintendent Dr. Patrick Shelton. “Their commitment to excellence
(The Center Square) – Bitcoin and digital asset bills have been field in at least 31 state legislatures, according to a Bitcoin Laws website tracking state legislative filings. The website breaks down each bill filed and its progress in its…
By Bethany Blankley | The Center Square contributor
CHICAGO - Attorney General Kwame Raoul today led a bipartisan coalition of 37 states and territories urging the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to take swift action against bad actors that are endangering consumers with counterfeit forms of the weight loss and diabetes drugs Mounjaro, Zepbound, Ozempic and Wegovy (GLP-1 drugs). “The usage of GLP-1 medications continues to increase as millions of Americans seek tools to help them lose weight and live healthier lifestyles. However, scammers and bad actors are attempting to take advantage of individuals looking for more affordable and convenient means of obtaining GLP-1 medications by selling them directly to consumers,” Raoul said. “Consumers who purchase what they think is a product containing the active ingredients found in name-brand GLP-1 drugs run the risk of taking a counterfeit drug that was never intended for human consumption. I am proud to co-lead this bipartisan coalition calling on the FDA to use its
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, on the anniversary of Executive Order 9066 that began the horrific internment of thousands of Japanese Americans during World War II, U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Mazie K. Hirono (D-HI) and U.S. Representative Mark Takano (D-CA-39) re-introduced the Korematsu-Takai Civil Liberties Protection Act, a bill that would establish a clear legal prohibition against un-American policies that seek to imprison individuals solely on the basis of race, religion, nationality, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, ethnicity or disability. As President Donald Trump and his Administration continue their dangerous efforts to whitewash and ignore our nation’s history, passing this bill would be a first step toward recognizing this dark chapter, honoring the families impacted and safeguarding vital freedoms that are supposed to protect all Americans against arbitrary imprisonment or detention with no due process, as happened to Japanese Americans during Worl
A class-action lawsuit filed against the surgeon claims he also did nothing to protect his patients’ data, including their financial information and nude photos of them.
After the closure of Bob’s Seafood, the metro area’s go-to for fresh retail seafood, several outlets have risen to the occasion with an array of fish, bi-valves, crustaceans, and everything in between.
Worries that “slackers” may take advantage of Missouri’s new law requiring most employers to give workers paid sick leave isn’t a good enough reason to repeal it, a Democratic lawmaker said Wednesday. In November, voters overwhelmingly approved an initiative petition called Proposition A that requires employers with business receipts greater than $500,000 a year to […]
On a day when dangerously cold weather forced the Internal Revenue Service to close its downtown processing center, hundreds of probationary employees are on notice that their jobs are likely going away. Following days of uncertainty for Kansas City’s federal workforce, IRS employees learned in a Feb. 18 video message that their jobs would be […]
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