Aggregator

Dowd Bennett has topped the Business Journal's Largest Corporate Philanthropists - Small Companies List since 2018, and with $1.3 million in cash and in-kind giving in 2024, the firm is once again No. 1.

CHICAGO - Governor JB Pritzker released the following statement on the tariffs announced by President Trump on Wednesday afternoon: “Donald Trump may want to call this ‘Liberation Day,’ but there is nothing liberating for working families who are grappling with the high costs of food, housing, and utilities. Tariffs are a tax. They are a tax on working families, a tax on groceries, and a tax on other everyday necessities. Instead of doing anything meaningful to lower prices for Americans, the Trump Tax on Working Families is an extreme escalation against our closest allies that will raise prices just to give Elon Musk and his wealthiest friends a tax break.”

Continue Reading

COLLINSVILLE - A house fire on Monday, March 31, 2025, in Collinsville has left a family in distress, prompting Robin Lucas to organize a fundraiser to support her sister Beth, their grandmother Jackie, and Jackie’s roommate Nancy, who lost their home in the blaze. The fire has not only destroyed their residence but has compounded the challenges they already faced. Jackie is currently undergoing rehabilitation for cancer, while Beth is unable to work due to disabilities resulting from previous cancer treatments. As a result, the family is now seeking to secure new housing that accommodates their specific needs. Lucas expressed the emotional toll of the incident: "It was so devastating to see them walk away and have just the clothes on their back.” She emphasized the community's support, noting the "outpouring of love and prayers" from friends and neighbors, which has been greatly appreciated by the family. The GoFundMe campaign aims to raise funds to assist with immediat

Continue Reading

SPRINGFIELD —Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (Illinois EPA) Acting Director James Jennings today announced a funding opportunity that will provide grants to units of local government for the collection and disposal of household sharps from their residents. Sharps, including needles, syringes, and lancets, collected from private citizens are a household waste. Through the grant program, Illinois EPA will reimburse grantees that operate a sharps collection station as defined in Section 3.458 of the Illinois Environmental Protection Act . A Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) has been posted Illinois EPA website . “We have seen great success from our Residential Sharps Collection Program to date and we look forward to continued work with our local partners,” said Acting Director Jennings. “By providing this funding to local governments, we are providing increased opportunities for residents to safely dispose of their medical sharps.” Applicants

Continue Reading

Missouri lawmakers are considering a plan aimed at reversing worrisome financial declines in the St. Louis Public Schools pension system.

CAHOKIA HEIGHTS - Cahokia Heights police have called in the Major Case Squad of Greater St. Louis to investigate the shooting death of 22-year-old Jamya T. Dukes, who was pronounced dead late Monday night, March 31, 2025, at Touchette Regional Hospital. Dukes, a resident of Granite City, was brought to the hospital by unidentified individuals after sustaining multiple gunshot wounds. The Major Case Squad was activated at approximately 9 a.m. on Wednesday, April 2, 2025, following the request of the Cahokia Heights Police Department. Captain Todd Keilbach of the Belleville Police Department is serving as the Deputy Commander for this investigation, which involves 20 members of the Major Case Squad. Authorities are urging anyone with information related to the incident to come forward. Individuals with tips are encouraged to contact the Major Case Squad Command Post at 618-332-4252 or Crime Stoppers at 1-866-371-TIPS (8477).

Continue Reading

MEXICO CITY — Today, Governor JB Pritzker, Lt. Governor Juliana Stratton, the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO), the Illinois Department of Agriculture (IDOA), and Intersect Illinois completed their trade mission to Mexico City. Through this mission, the State of Illinois sought to strengthen its longstanding partnership with Mexico, paving the way for future investment and shared success. “With this trade mission, we have begun laying the foundation for an exciting new era of cooperation and shared prosperity for Illinois and Mexico,” said Governor JB Pritzker. “I’m grateful for the teams at Intersect Illinois, DCEO, and IDOA for their hard work on this successful trip and ongoing commitment to ambitious international partnerships. And to our neighbors in Mexico—thank you for your hospitality and collaboration. I look forward to seeing the impact of this work across our agriculture, business, and innovation sectors.”

Continue Reading

An investigation is underway after an ATV driver died in an overnight crash in Lincoln County, according to the Missouri State Highway Patrol.

Eureka firefighters said they are worried about flooding from the Meramec River from potential heavy rainfall.

The St. Louis Blues are heating up at the right time for a playoff push, riding a 10-game winning streak into Thursday. It's one of their longest winning streaks in franchise history, but they're still chasing the record.

On This Day, April 3, 2015...Bob Burns, the original drummer for Southern rock band Lynyrd Skynyrd, died in a car crash near his home in Cartersville, Georgia.Burns helped form Lynyrd…

Source

Stop trying to place coherence on a policy that’s really just a mob boss breaking legs and asking for protection money.

SPRINGFIELD - On March 27, 2025, the Illinois Commerce Commission approved “Beneficial Electrification Plans” (“BE Plans”) for the state’s two largest utilities, Commonwealth Edison (“ComEd”) and Ameren Illinois, that will invest approximately $254 million in transportation electrification in Illinois over the next three years. Illinois Sierra Club Chapter Director Jack Darin said in response: “We fully support the Commission’s decisions – these plans are a vital step in ensuring that every child in our state can breathe cleaner air, and the latest benefit from our landmark Climate and Equitable Jobs Act. Illinois must continue to be a national leader when it comes to protecting clean air, clean water, and our climate. “It’s clear that the Trump administration isn’t going to stand up for our communities, and so it’s more important than ever that Illinois lead toward a cleaner future. Sierra Club

Continue Reading

CHICAGO – Attorney General Kwame Raoul and a coalition of 20 attorneys general secured a preliminary injunction from the U.S. District Court for Maryland in an ongoing lawsuit against numerous federal agencies for the unlawful mass firing of federal probationary employees. The ruling will protect federal probationary employees who live or work in the states included in the lawsuit and orders 20 federal agencies to continue their efforts to reinstate unlawfully terminated probationary employees while the court case continues. The injunction also requires those agencies to follow lawful procedures in conducting any future reductions in force. “The mass firings of dedicated civil servants creates chaos and instability within our federal government. They also upend the lives of thousands of federal employees in Illinois and around the country, including veterans who deserve the support of a government they have put their lives on the line to serve,” Raoul said. “These

Continue Reading

"Soaring in the Lou: Opulence in Bloom" is at America's Center Convention Complex from April 3-6. Thousands of members will be in attendance from multiple states.

ST. LOUIS – Crime continues its historic decline in the City of St. Louis, with the first three months of 2025 seeing the lowest number of homicides since 2005, 20 years ago. As of March 31, 2025, homicides are down 45%, robberies are down 20%, burglaries are down 33%, and auto thefts are down 39%, year-to-date. Shooting incidents and shooting victims are both down 39%, as well. “Residents, visitors, and businesses in St. Louis deserve to live in a safe city, and we continue to make our city safer each and every day,” said Mayor Tishaura O. Jones. “This is an all-hands-on-deck effort, and these positive numbers wouldn’t be possible without the brave men and women of the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department, our community partners, and the residents who work with us to prevent crime and hold bad actors accountable.” "We have seen positive progress in the first three months of 2025, but there is plenty more work to do," said St. Louis Metropolitan

Continue Reading