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SPRINGFIELD – Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (Illinois EPA) Acting Director James Jennings today announced a new funding opportunity to fund projects addressing emerging contaminants in drinking and/or source water in small or disadvantaged communities. The Emerging Contaminants in Small or Disadvantaged Communities (EC-SDC) Grant Program will provide over $40 million to assist communities in completing construction projects to address Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) or Manganese in drinking and/or source water. A Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) for this opportunity has been posted to the Illinois EPA website. The EC-SDC Grant program will fund projects for communities on the Illinois EPA’s Public Water Supply Loan Program Emerging Contaminant Intended Funding Lists for FY2025 and FY2026. Emerging contaminants are identified by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (U.S. EPA) Contaminant Candidate Lists (CCL) 1-5. PFAS are a series of man-made

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by Burnea Lester & Kevin McMullin, SITE Improvement Association LET’S STOP PRETENDING IT DIDN’T HAPPEN! We often hear the phrase “silence before the storm.” But in construction, the storm I’m talking about comes after… after the death of a coworker, friend, or family member who has died by suicide. The silence that follows is heavy, […]

The post After the Silence: The Weight We Carry After Suicide appeared first on Construction Forum.

JERSEY - A former FBI agent and a survivor of a violent family attack will share their story Thursday night, Sept. 4, 2025, in a live podcast episode of "The Brighter Side of Blue." Retired FBI Agent Frank Brostrom previously discussed the Henry Hersman case, a violent and chaotic event that involved Hersman attempting to firebomb his parents’ home with his young daughter inside. At the time, listeners heard the story with a mix of disbelief and dark humor. Unbeknownst to the podcast team, Henry Hersman’s daughter, Sally, was listening. Sally Christine Arbuthnot, now a detective with the Jersey County Sheriff's Office, was six years old when her father tried to set fire to her grandparents’ home while she was inside. Instead of being offended by the podcast’s laughter at the chaos of the case, she reached out to the hosts to share that the laughter was healing. "Because sometimes when you’ve lived through hell, all you can do is laugh at the insanity o

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ALTON - Hop in the car and take a road trip to southwest Illinois this fall and discover authentic small-town charm coupled with stunning fall color drives, scenic and historic guided tours, adventures in u-pick orchards, corn maze adventures and spectacularly spooky haunted sites. When it comes to fall, the Great Rivers & Routes region has more than its share of fun, adventure and relaxing getaways on tap. “Fall is really a great time to visit southwest Illinois and the Great Rivers & Routes region,” says Cory Jobe, President/CEO of the Great Rivers & Routes Tourism Bureau. “We are the perfect week day escape and weekend getaway destination. There are so many things to do here – from rock climbing in the state’s largest state park, to classically haunted tours, unparalleled scenic color drives and tours to embracing the literal giants of The Last 100 Miles of Route 66 in Illinois.” The Great Rivers & Routes Tourism Bureau offers spectacular

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CHICAGO — Illinois Lottery players have another shot at a mind-boggling, life-changing windfall this weekend. The Powerball jackpot is now a staggering $1.7 billion for the next drawing on Saturday night. If won, it would be the third-largest Powerball jackpot and the third-largest lottery jackpot won in U.S. history. Several Illinois Lottery players are celebrating after winning big money from last night’s drawing. One lucky Illinois player won $1 million after matching five numbers. The winning Powerball ticket was purchased at Joe’s Tobacco & Vape, located at 1945 W. Galena Blvd. in Aurora. In addition, two players won $100,000 after matching four numbers and the Powerball, plus the game’s Power Play feature. And six players matched four numbers and the Powerball to win $50,000 each. DRAW DATE PRIZE AMOUNT WINNING RETAILER 9/3/25 $1,000,000 Joe’s Tobacco & Vape 1945 W. Galena Blvd. Aurora, IL 9/3/25 $100,000

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ST. LOUIS - Spire Missouri, a natural gas provider in the St. Louis area, is set for another rate hike this fall, a move expected to increase monthly customer bills by 10% on average. On Wednesday, the Missouri Public Service Commission approved a plan for a $210 million rate increase for natural gas customers of [...]

Since before RFK Jr. was even confirmed into his position as the head of HHS and American health, I have been pleading for someone to step in and correct this obvious mistake. Everything about his first half a year or so in the role has been a disaster. Layoffs and resignations at HHS agencies have […]

MADISON, Ill. - Start your engines! NASCAR roars back into the Metro East this weekend as Enjoy Illinois 300 returns to World Wide Technology Raceway for the fourth consecutive year. For the first time ever, WWT Raceway will play host to the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs, serving as the second of 10 playoff races on the road [...]

MARYVILLE - The Village of Maryville announced that Keebler Road at Illinois Route 162 will be closed. The closure began Tuesday, Sept. 2, 2025. The closure will require motorists to use a detour route via Old Keebler Road to Illinois Route 157. Beginning the third week of September, weather permitting, Illinois Route 162 will be reduced to one lane. This traffic pattern is expected to remain in place until the completion of the project. The construction involves the installation of a roundabout, which is anticipated to be finished by late winter or early spring of 2026. Village of Maryville officials urged all motorists to exercise caution when traveling through the affected area.

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GODFREY - Madison County authorities are investigating a fatal pedestrian crash that occurred Wednesday evening, Sept. 3, 2025, on Martin Luther King Boulevard (U.S. 67) near Godfrey Road. At approximately 9:22 p.m., Madison County Sheriff’s Deputies and the Godfrey Fire Department responded to the scene about half a mile south of Godfrey Road. Preliminary investigation indicates a black Toyota Tacoma traveling northbound struck a pedestrian who was walking northbound near the edge of the roadway. The area was unlit, and there were no nearby intersections or crosswalks. After the initial collision, the Toyota driver pulled to the side of the road. At that time, a second vehicle traveling in the same area also struck the pedestrian. The pedestrian was pronounced dead at the scene. The driver of the Toyota initially left but was located shortly afterward in the parking lot of his residence in Alton, with assistance from the Alton Police Department. All drivers involved are cooperating

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Surveys show that most of us place a high priority on our health and wellness. That’s probably not surprising to hear. But as common a goal as improving health is, it can sometimes feel like a mystery how we can actually work toward it, with busy days filled with work, family and other important activities. Luckily, small changes can have meaningful health benefits, and those benefits grow over time. Try these 15 simple tips that focus on behaviors most of us could start today. Stock up on frozen vegetables . They’re easy, ready when you need them and as healthy as fresh options when they have no added salt or sugar. Place fruit where you can see it — on the counter, top shelf of the refrigerator or your desk. Make it as easy as possible to choose these snacks over less-healthy ones. Keep a reusable water bottle filled and close by . Plain water is the healthiest and easiest way to stay hydrated. Add a mini walk — a micro break

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From Facilities Dive: Organizations are launching programs aimed at expanding access to skilled trades at a time when the federal government is predicting above-average growth in these jobs over the next decade. The BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, which includes information on about 600 occupations, says the need for HVAC-R mechanics and installers is expected to […]

The post Skilled Trades Initiatives Expand; Demand for Workers Projected to Grow appeared first on Construction Forum.

ALTON - Alton will host their fourth annual bowling fundraiser to support local first responders. On Saturday, Sept. 13, 2025, community members can come out to Bowl Haven in Alton for a nine-pin bowling tournament, a silent auction, raffles and a craft fair. From 2–6 p.m., the craft fair will encourage attendees to shop. At 5:30 p.m., registration for bowling begins. All proceeds go directly to The BackStoppers, which supports local first responders. “It’s crazy how much BackStoppers is needed nowadays,” said Becca, one of the organizers. “We’re there to have fun and raise money. We have a goal this year to pack the bowling alley. It was pretty packed last year.” Becca and her loved ones started the bowling fundraiser after she lost her friend, Police Officer Tyler Timmins, in the line of duty. Becca’s brother was a firefighter in South Roxana at the time, and South Roxana Fire Chief Todd Werner had passed away a few months

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Deandre Coleman Jr., 18, is being held in the St. Louis County jail on $1.5 million cash bond.

Sens. Durbin, Whitehouse, Schiff to Bondi: “The Trump Administration’s choices to double down on its politicization of DOJ and elevate those who have actively attacked the rule of law, such as Mr. Wise, are a slap in the face to law enforcement everywhere” WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, and U.S. Senators Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) and Adam Schiff (D-CA) urged the removal of Department of Justice (DOJ) employee Jared Wise. Wise stormed the Capitol on January 6, 2021, and was charged with multiple felony offenses, including aiding and abetting the assault of police while on Capitol grounds; however, his case was dismissed after President Trump’s blanket pardon of more than 1,500 insurrectionists. Wise was hired as a senior adviser to Ed Martin and the “Weaponization Working Group,” which has recently made headlines for employing intimidating tactics

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From The Edwardsville Intelligencer: Glen Carbon officials say Meijer is moving closer to construction of its long-awaited supercenter in the Orchard Town Center. Village officials recently met with Meijer representatives and had a “very favorable meeting,” Director of Community Development Erika Heil said during the Aug. 26 Building and Development Committee meeting. Heil said Meijer […]

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The upcoming movie Springsteen: Deliver Me From Nowhere follows Bruce Springsteen as he makes his 1982 solo album Nebraska, and to coincide with the release The Boss is treating fans to a new expanded edition of…

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A woman shot and killed her husband last month, then attempted to clean up the crime scene with the help of a witness, according to charging documents.