EAST ST. LOUIS – Nefer Ojeda-Elenes, a 33-year-old man from California, was sentenced to 228 months in federal prison for his role in trafficking fentanyl to the Metro East region. The sentencing took place following Ojeda-Elenes’ guilty plea to conspiracy and distribution charges related to the powerful synthetic opioid. U.S. Attorney Steven D. Weinhoeft described fentanyl as a "ruthless killer" that devastates families and communities. He emphasized the seriousness of Ojeda-Elenes' actions, and said, “This defendant conspired to bring seven kilograms of fentanyl into the Metro East region, when as few as two milligrams is lethal to most adults.” Weinhoeft asserted that the 19-year sentence reflects a commitment to justice for those affected by drug trafficking. Court documents reveal that Ojeda-Elenes was involved in a conspiracy to deliver two kilograms of fentanyl to the Metro East in April 2020. He later agreed to deliver an additional five kilograms
GODFREY – Gov. J.B. Pritzker and other Illinois lawmakers visited Lewis and Clark Community College Monday, March 3, 2025, to propose a new community college baccalaureate program. “Community colleges like Lewis and Clark have been at the center of our economic agenda from day one of my administration,” Pritzker said. “To build an economy where every Illinoisan can get ahead, we need an education system that can meet people where they are, regardless of their age, background or zip code.” The proposed legislation, HB 3717, would amend the Public Community College Act to allow community colleges to offer baccalaureate degrees in high-demand career paths. The bill would cap the cost of the final two years of a four-year degree to 150 percent of the associate degree cost, an average of $7,500 annually. Tuition and fees at Lewis and Clark are currently around $4,500 per year for a full-time student, lower than the average paid by full-time student
CHICAGO – Attorney General Kwame Raoul and Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison led a coalition of 21 attorneys general today in filing an amicus brief in continued opposition to President Donald Trump’s unlawful attempt to remove Gwynne Wilcox, a member of the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB). Dismissing Wilcox would leave just two members remaining on the five-member board, which cannot act without a quorum of at least three members. Last week, a federal judge ruled in Wilcox v. Trump, that Trump’s attempt to fire Wilcox was illegal and ordered that she remain on the board. The Trump administration has asked for a stay to stop the ruling from going into effect while it seeks an appeal, effectively allowing her firing to take effect. In their brief, Raoul and attorneys general urge the court to deny the administration’s request for a stay. The coalition argues that if allowed to stand, the attempt to dismiss Wilcox would undermine protections for worker
SPRINGFIELD – The 2025 Illinois spring trout fishing season will open Saturday, April 5 at 58 ponds, lakes, and streams throughout the state. An early opportunity at select trout sites – the spring catch-and-release fishing season – will open Saturday, March 22. No trout may be kept during the catch-and-release period, but anglers can keep trout after the opening of the regular season beginning April 5. The daily harvest limit for each angler is five trout. The Illinois Catchable Trout Program receives funding support by those who use the program through the sale of inland trout stamps. The Illinois Department of Natural Resources stocks more than 80,000 rainbow trout each year in bodies of water where trout fishing is permitted during the spring season. An additional 80,000 trout will be stocked for the fall trout season, which begins in October. New for 2025: In McHenry County, spring trout will be stocked into Rush Creek Pond in Harvard due to ongoing constructio
WASHINGTON — Louisiana Republican Sen. Bill Cassidy launched a working group on Wednesday that will look at ways to overhaul the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Cassidy, chairman of the Health, Education, Labor and Pensions, or HELP, Committee, wrote in the announcement that the group of seven Republicans would draft legislation at some point […]
It’s not like we need any more of this sort of thing. COPPA (Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act) pretty much deters any app maker or social media service from catering to a very underage crowd. Compliance is difficult, if not impossible. But, all the same, it has deterred plenty of the worst developers in the […]
EAST ST. LOUIS – The Illinois Department of Transportation announced today that rehabilitation of a crossing by Terminal Railroad on Illinois 3 between Packers Avenue and North First Street in St. Clair County will require a full closure beginning, weather permitting, Tuesday, March 25. A posted detour will be in place to safely guide motorists around the closure, which is expected to conclude Thursday, March 27. Motorists can expect delays and should allow extra time for trips through this area. Drivers are urged to pay close attention to detour signs in work zones, obey the posted speed limits, refrain from using mobile devices and be alert for workers and equipment. For IDOT District 8 updates, follow us on Twitter at @IDOTDistrict8 or view area construction details on IDOT’s traveler information map on GettingAroundIllinois.com.
Sen. Steven Roberts joins St. Louis Public Radio's Sarah Kellogg and Jason Rosenbaum to talk about the 2025 Missouri Legislative Session, including a bill on its way to Gov. Mike Kehoe that places the St. Louis Police Department under a state-appointed board.
Sen. Steven Roberts joins St. Louis Public Radio's Sarah Kellogg and Jason Rosenbaum to talk about the 2025 Missouri Legislative Session, including a bill on its way to Gov. Mike Kehoe that places the St. Louis Police Department under a state-appointed board.
Paul McCartney is lending his support to a new PETA campaign that’s trying to get Peet’s Coffee to stop charging extra for plant-based milk options.Peet’s currently charges 80 cents extra…
Jerryl Christmas has been a prosecutor, defense attorney and civil litigator. On Tuesday, he played a different role, and he wasn't pleased with how it went.
JERSEYVILLE - Amelia Strebel, a standout student-athlete from Jersey Community Unit School District No. 100, has earned a place on the Illinois High School Association (IHSA) Academic All-State Honorable Mention team. The announcement was made following the selection of 76 students across the state, with each school permitted to nominate one male and one female student for the honor. Amelia Strebel is also a Sparklight Female Athlete of the Month for Jersey. The recognition comes at a time when Strebel is balancing her academic responsibilities with her participation in track and field, where she is an area standout in the shot put and discus. Jersey head girls track and field coach Kevin Strebel, who is also her father, expressed pride in her accomplishments both academically and athletically. "I am certainly proud of how she handles herself and takes care of everything the right way academically and athletically," he said. "She makes sure to prepare for any tests, and it is nice
Months after Missouri voters overwhelmingly approved a minimum wage increase and paid sick leave requirements, the new laws face challenges this week in court and the state legislature.
On Wednesday, the state Supreme Court Court heard arguments in a lawsuit seeking to strike down Proposition A, which guarantees sick leave for hundreds of thousands of workers and gradually hikes the minimum wage to $15.
A day earlier, the Missouri House gave initial approval to a bill repealing the sick leave law…
The advancement of the bill sparked strong condemnation from city leaders, including Mayor Tishaura Jones, who said the state takeover will undermine the work she's done in her term, citing a "historic decrease in crime" and improved 911 response times.
Walgreens, whose parent company recently announced it's going private, is closing another St. Louis-area store, this time in the city's Ellendale neighborhood.
GLEN CARBON - Owen Kolesa, a junior forward for the boys' basketball team at Father McGivney Catholic High School, has played an important role for the Griffins this season, and will be a key factor in the success the team enjoys in the upcoming IHSA Class 1A playoffs. He averaged 7.5 points per game and 2.7 rebounds a game on the season. He is a Byron, Petri, Carlson & Kalb Male Athlete of the Month for the Griffins. On Feb. 15, 2025, Kolesa had an outstanding game against Jersey contributing 17 points. The Griffins finished with a 15-18 overall record in the 2024-2025 campaign. Kolesa was interviewed after McGivney's 38-35 win over Maryville Christian on Feb. 15. He agreed that the comeback win over Maryville helped build up the team's confidence going into the final week of the regular season and the postseason run. "It really did build some confidence," Kolesa said after that encounter. "We were down, we battled through as a team. it gave us a lot of confidence through everything."
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