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CHICAGO - Attorney General Kwame Raoul led a coalition of 22 attorneys general in filing an amicus brief supporting the federal government’s actions to increase the minimum wage for employees of certain federal contractors. In April 2021, President Biden issued an executive order increasing the minimum wage for these workers to $15 and directing the U.S. Department of Labor to implement subsequent annual raises to reflect changes in the cost of living. Raoul and the coalition submitted the amicus brief in Nebraska v. Su, a case challenging the increase in minimum wage for federal contract workers. “Employees of federal contractors have a right to fair wages that allow them to provide for themselves and their families,” Raoul said. “We all benefit when workers in our states earn decent living wages, and I will continue to advocate for the rights of all workers to receive fair compensation for the work they do – particularly when they are working on behalf

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SPRINGFIELD - The Illinois Department of Labor (IDOL) has created a new Informal Resolution and Mediation Unit, which will help workers and employers resolve straightforward claims before they reach an administrative hearing or litigation. By bringing parties together to resolve their disputes, informal resolution and mediation processes can resolve claims more quickly and efficiently, saving time, resources, and money for everyone involved. “The Informal Resolution and Mediation Unit is not only beneficial for workers and employers, it also allows IDOL to prioritize enforcement resources on complex, strategic, or high-impact investigations,” said Illinois Department of Labor Director Jane Flanagan. The Unit currently has two primary functions: A pilot project for proactive resolution of single employee, low-dollar wage claims; and Administration of the new Illinois Freelance Worker Protection Act. As the Unit grows and evaluates outcomes from the pilot project,

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Sunrise over the Danube near Regensburg.

The Rolling Stones' Keith Richards is one of the many artists who have recorded a cover of Chuck Berry’s classic holiday song “Run Rudolph Run,” and now he’s sharing why he chose…

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The new year is just around the corner and new Illinois laws will be going into effect alongside it. From caps on prescription costs to digital driver's licenses, here's a look at some of the notable changes Illinoisans will feel come Jan. 1, 2025. What will be the new minimum wage in Illinois? Workers making minimum wage in Illinois will see an increase on their checks starting Jan. 1. Wages for hourly workers will increase from $14 to $15. Tipped workers will see an increase to $9 from their…

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Todd Young (R-IN), Roger Marshall (R-KS) and Maggie Hassan (D-NH) applauded Senate passage of their bipartisan legislation to provide Veterans with service-connected disabilities with expedited screening under the Transportation Security Administration’s (TSA) PreCheck program. While TSA PreCheck is already offered to active duty, Reserves and National Guard servicemembers at no cost, the Veterans Expedited TSA Screening (VETS) Safe Travel Act would expand this program to include Veterans who are amputees, paralyzed or blind who often experience challenges when passing through airport security. The bill passed the House of Representatives by unanimous consent earlier this month and now heads to the President’s desk to be signed into law. “Millions of Veterans have sacrificed a great deal in service to our nation and returned home with service-connected disabilities—for those of us who rely on prosthetic

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Three new solar facilities are online, providing 500 megawatts of energy to commercial and residential customers in Missouri.

SPRINGFIELD - The Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) is monitoring a large event of waterfowl mortality at numerous locations throughout Illinois. Test results received so far indicate highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) is the cause. The public is reminded to not handle or attempt to capture waterfowl or other wild birds displaying signs of illness. IDNR will continue to monitor for HPAI mortality events throughout the state during the seasonal bird migration. Members of the public are encouraged to report concentrations of five or more deceased birds found at one location to IDNR district wildlife biologists by going online. Due to risk of infection to other animals, dogs and other pets should be kept away from the carcasses of birds that may have died from HPAI. If carcasses need to be disposed of, IDNR recommends following guidance from the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH). IDNR is unable to assist with carcass removal from non-IDNR properties i

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ALTON — Alton Police Chief Jarrett Ford confirmed Monday, Dec. 23, 2024, that law enforcement officers gathered in significant numbers on Brown Street to execute an arrest warrant for an individual connected to a recent shooting. The operation was completed Monday morning. Chief Ford stated, "An individual was wanted for a recent shooting." He confirmed that the individual sought in the case is now in custody . Further details regarding the incident will be disclosed pending the filing of charges.

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A defunct Chinese satellite created a light show across the southern United States Sunday night, prompting over 120 reports of fireball sightings, as it made an uncontrolled reentry into Earth's atmosphere.

EAST ST. LOUIS - Illinois State Police reported on Monday, Dec. 23, 2024, that a 21-year-old woman was shot and killed in the 400 block of North Sixth Street on Sunday evening, Dec. 22, 2024. The gunshot victim was identified as Markela Howliet. Illinois State Police and East St. Louis Police both responded to the crime scene at 7:27 p.m., where the woman was pronounced dead. There have been no other details released about the shooting. ISP and East St. Louis Police continue to investigate the fatal shooting.

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MARYVILLE - A Madison County grand jury has indicted a Maryville resident on multiple child pornography charges after he requested and shared the disturbing material in online conversations. Thomas J. Angelo, 60, of Maryville, was charged with two counts of child pornography, one a Class X felony and the other a Class 2 felony. Angelo allegedly disseminated child pornography via the Kik application on July 5, 2024. Court documents describe the video file as depicting a female who was “clearly under the age of 13.” The Maryville Police Department received a cybertip through the Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force Program, according to a petition to deny Angelo’s pretrial release. Angelo reportedly engaged in online conversations with multiple individuals discussing, requesting, and sharing child pornography. “Following execution of search warrants to Kik, Verizon, and to the defendant's residence, evidence was discovered that he was engaging

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According to the Census Bureau, the median selling price of new homes plunged nearly $25,000 in November. The price of a new home is now exactly the same as its pre-pandemic average: Over the longer term new home prices are still up considerably. Adjusted for inflation, a new home costs about $100,000 more than it ...continue reading "New home prices tumble in November"

CARLINVILLE – The Carlinville Community will come together to host a Community Blood Drive on Wednesday, January 8, from 12:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. at the Elks Lodge, located at 201 West Main Street. This event is sponsored by the Carlinville Area Hospital Auxiliary in partnership with ImpactLife, a nonprofit organization that provides blood components to local hospitals. The blood drive aims to address the ongoing need for blood donations, which are critical for medical procedures and emergency care. Appointments for potential donors are encouraged and can be made by contacting ImpactLife Springfield at (800) 747-5401 or by visiting their website at www.bloodcenter.org and using the code 60045 to locate the drive. To be eligible to donate, individuals must be at least 17 years old (or 16 with parental permission) and weigh more than 110 pounds. A photo ID is required for donation, and those who last donated blood on or before November 13, 2024, are eligible to participate in thi

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GRANITE CITY - Earning a spot on Drury University's Dean's List is a significant accomplishment. The recognition means a student earned a grade point average of 3.6 or greater (on a 4-point scale) while carrying a full-time course load of 12 or more semester hours at Drury, a top Midwestern university, according to US News & World Report. In the fall semester, the following student made the evening school Dean's list: Alexandria Armenta, Granite City Senior HS Drury GO is a cutting-edge online learning platform developed by Drury University, designed to empower individuals with accessible and flexible educational opportunities. With a commitment to providing quality education in a digital format, Drury GO offers a diverse range of courses crafted by industry experts. This innovative platform caters to the evolving needs of learners, allowing them to pursue academic and professional goals on their own terms. Learn more: www.drury.edu/go .

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CHICAGO – The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) announced that the state’s overall respiratory illness level has moved up from Low to Moderate, meaning that Illinoisans face an increased chance of exposure to seasonal illnesses as families are gathering to celebrate the holidays. IDPH’s Seasonal Respiratory Illness Dashboard indicates that hospital admissions for COVID-19, flu and RSV all ticked up (as a percent of all hospital admissions) in the week ending Dec. 14, 2024. The percentage of emergency department visits due to respiratory illness also increased from 13.8% in the previous week to 14.7%. The state is also continuing to see a rise in ICU admissions due to RSV, driven by children 0-4 years old. “As expected, Illinois is experiencing an increase in seasonal respiratory illnesses as winter arrives,” said IDPH Director Dr. Sameer Vohra. “As we gather with our loved ones during the holiday season, please use all the tools

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ST. LOUIS, MO. – The United Way of Greater St. Louis (UWGSL) Charmaine Chapman Society’s (CCS) Divine 9 members raised over $320,000 through its Divine 9 Challenge, an initiative of UWGSL’s black philanthropy efforts. The challenge among CCS members from Black Fraternities and Sororities in the St. Louis Region provides a friendly fundraising competition. Each CCS member gives an annual donation of $1,000 or more to UWGSL that helps over 160 local nonprofits that United Way funds. “As we celebrate the 30th anniversary of CCS, we are so happy that our local Sororities and Fraternities came together through this fun and exciting Divine 9 Challenge that epitomizes what CCS has always been about – uplifting the community through collective giving,” said Michelle Tucker, President and CEO of United Way of Greater St. Louis. “This annual friendly competition is a testament of how passionate our CCS members are about giving, and that passion lead

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SPRINGFIELD – This holiday season, the Illinois Department of Transportation, Illinois State Police, and more than 200 police and sheriff’s departments are joining forces for the national “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over” campaign, reminding the public that law enforcement will focus not only on impaired drivers, but also seat belt violations, speeding, distracted driving and other traffic offenses. “The holidays should be a time for celebration and creating memories — not for grief and loss caused by preventable crashes,” said Stephane B. Seck-Birhame, IDOT’s bureau chief of Safety Programs and Engineering. “Whether you're using alcohol, cannabis or any other impairing substance, the message is the same: If you drive impaired, you risk lives, including your own.” As holiday festivities fill calendars, it’s critical to plan for a sober ride home before celebrations begin. Law enforcement statewide reminds

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