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CHICAGO – The Illinois Accountability Commission, housed in the Illinois Department of Human Rights (IDHR), held a public meeting on December 18 at the Arturo Velasquez Institute (AVI) at Richard J. Daley College in the West Lawn community. During the first public meeting, the Commission outlined its function and purpose, presented two video montages highlighting concerning actions by federal agents, and heard a first-hand witness account as well as a presentation from a public health

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Combat Veteran and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), who served in the Reserve Forces for 23 years and is a member of the U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC), successfully secured several important provisions to support Illinoisans, servicemembers, Veterans and our state’s economy that passed Congress this week and are heading to the President’s desk to be signed into law. Some of the priorities Duckworth secured to help Illinoisans include protecting

CHICAGO – Attorney General Kwame Raoul today issued a statement condemning two proposed federal rules announced by the Trump administration that could ban medically necessary health care for transgender adolescents. “Following nearly a year of cruel and relentless attacks on transgender youth and their medical providers, today the Trump administration released its proposal to prohibit Medicaid and federal CHIP reimbursement for transgender patients younger than 19, and block Medicaid

EDWARDSVILLE – The Graduate School at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville in conjunction with the Office of the Provost has announced the Distinguished Research Professor Award to two faculty members: Kristine Hildebrandt, PhD, and Faith Liebl, PhD. The committee of distinguished research faculty awarded Drs. Hildebrandt and Liebl the promotion to Distinguished Research Professor based on each of their significant research output and the broad impact their research has had on their

ALTON - K Miller Foundation founder Kidada Miller is pleased to announce that their toy giveaway is completely full. From 12–3 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 20, 2025, at the Mineral Springs Banquet Center in Alton, those who have registered can pick out toys and turkeys. Miller said that every toy and turkey is accounted for, and walk-ins will no longer be accepted. “I’m really excited about this year and what we’re able to do in the community,” she added. Caregivers

SPRINGFIELD – The Illinois Community College Board (ICCB) announced $9.3 million in Innovative Bridge and Transition (IBT) Grants to support initiatives that help Illinois residents transition more effectively into postsecondary education, job training, and high-demand careers. These grants, awarded to community colleges and partner organizations across the state, expand access to bridge programming, adult education pathways, wrap-around supports, and disability transition services designed

GLEN CARBON – State Senator Erica Harriss (56th-Glen Carbon) has released the below statement following the signing of Senate Bill 2111 on Tuesday: “Taxpayers were promised Rebuild Illinois dollars would fix roads, bridges, and water systems- not bail out Chicago. Today’s transit bill breaks that promise. “Metro East families sit in traffic on crumbling roads while Springfield raids funds to cover Chicago’s financial failures. That’s not responsible governing.

SPRINGFIELD – The Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) is accepting applications for Volunteer Fire Assistance (VFA) grants now through Feb. 16, 2026. The U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service VFA federal grant program provides matching funds to aid fire departments in the purchase of new equipment and helps fund training. Funding is passed through IDNR to local fire departments and fire training academies. The VFA grant program reimburses 50% of the recipients’

CHICAGO — Throughout 2025, the State of Illinois faced new challenges. The federal government created chaos and uncertainty for the national economy, stripped away healthcare and food assistance from seniors and children, and attacked fundamental American rights and freedoms — but Illinois stayed focused on making progress and delivering real results for working families. Despite this year’s challenges, Governor JB Pritzker continued to step up and fight for working families

WOOD RIVER – Midwest Members Credit Union is proud to sponsor the “Shell of the Month” program at Roxana High School. Students from each grade level are selected each month by members of RHS faculty. Each student is awarded a certificate and a Subway gift card. The Seniors selected each month will have the opportunity to compete for a “Shell of the Year” scholarship at the end of the school year. November & December Shell of the Month winners are: Senior &ndash

Did you know that travelers who plan their winter vacations at least three months in advance save an average of 20% on accommodations and flights? This statistic highlights an often-overlooked aspect of travel: timing and preparation can transform a simple trip into an unforgettable escape. Whether you seek adventure, relaxation, or cultural immersion, a well-planned winter getaway can rejuvenate your mind and body, offering a fresh perspective during a time when many feel confined by routine.

December 19 has witnessed a tapestry of significant events throughout history, each contributing uniquely to the global narrative. In 1777, during the American Revolutionary War, the Continental Army, led by General George Washington, endured the harsh winter at Valley Forge. Though not a single day's event, the encampment had reached a critical phase by mid-December, with soldiers facing severe shortages and extreme cold. The resilience and training during this period would prove crucial to th

Darion Benton was acquitted Thursday for shooting at the Cinco de Mayo festival on Cherokee Street. The police investigation was faulty, his attorneys argued.

As pennies vanish from the American landscape, many businesses are clamoring for federal guidance on how to handle cash transactions in a penniless world. Should retailers round up or down? Should they round in favor of the customer? Or in favor of the business? So far, calls for federal direction have gone unanswered. Some businesses […]

There were rumblings about this for a while, but it looks like the Trump TikTok deal is done, and it’s somehow the worst of all possible outcomes, amazingly making all of the biggest criticisms about TikTok significantly worse. Quite an accomplishment. The Chinese government has signed off on the deal, which involves offloading a large […]

Friday morning starts off chilly with temperatures around 30 degrees and mostly sunny skies. The day will be colder than usual, with a high of 37 degrees. Breezy winds at 11 to 25 mph from the west-southwest will be noticeable in the morning. Through the afternoon, expect mostly sunny conditions with the cold continuing. By evening, it turns partly cloudy and remains breezy with south-southeast winds around 16 mph gusting to 23 mph. Overnight lows will dip to about 30 degrees, keeping the chill

Glenn Burleigh from Mound City Messenger discusses the recently released Good Jobs First report on local tax incentive usage with one of the report's authors.

WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump’s administration took major steps Thursday in a campaign to block minors’ access to gender-affirming care nationwide.  Under two proposed new rules from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, hospitals would be barred from providing gender transition treatment for children as a condition of participating in Medicare and Medicaid programs, […]

The St. Louis County Pet Adoption Center is hosting their second free adoption event this weekend in an effort to find homes for pets during the busy holiday season.