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House Republicans Warn Of Summer Energy Cost Crisis, Offer Solutions To Expand Energy Production Capacity

1 month 3 weeks ago
SPRINGFIELD – House Republican members of the Illinois House Energy & Environment and Public Utilities Committees held a Capitol news conference on Tuesday to warn of a coming summer energy cost crisis and offer solutions to expand energy production capacity. The Republicans held the press conference after last week sending the House’s Energy & Environment Committee Chair and Vice Chair a letter explaining the urgent need for hearings into the recent results of the Midcontinent Independent System Operator (MISO) capacity auction which returned a shocking $666.50 per Megawatt-day price across all zones in the summer. That same price just one year ago was $30. State Representative Dave Severin (R-Benton) serves as the House Republican ranking member and spokesman on the House Energy & Environment Committee. Severin says Illinois' energy policies are to blame for the recent huge spikes in energy costs for Illinois utility customers. “House Republicans are concerned

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Missouri prisons get ‘brutally hot.’ In solitary, it’s even worse

1 month 3 weeks ago
Last summer, Kenneth Barrett recalls spending 46 days — about half the summer — in solitary confinement at Algoa Correctional Center, a minimum security prison in Jefferson City.  In segregation, he was confined to a cell roughly the size of a parking spot for 23 hours a day. Barrett said he had brown tap water […]
Ivy Scott

Duckworth, Murray, Blumenthal Introduce Resolution to Celebrate VA Researchers, Commemorate the 100th Anniversary of Veteran-Focused Research at VA

1 month 3 weeks ago
WASHINGTON, D.C. – To honor our nation’s Veterans Affairs (VA) researchers and commemorate the 100th anniversary of Veteran-focused research beginning at what is now known as the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), along with U.S Senators Murray (D-WA) and Blumenthal (D-CT)—member and Ranking Member of the U.S. Senate Committee on Veterans’ Affairs (SVAC), respectively—introduced a resolution to designate May 12th to 16th as Veterans Affairs Research Week. Her resolution recognizes the vital, lifesaving and cutting-edge research conducted by the department that improves the lives of Veterans, people in the United States and individuals worldwide. Duckworth is a combat Veteran and a member of the U.S. Senate Committee on Veterans’ Affairs (SVAC). “The scientists and researchers at the VA are incredible public servants who work relentlessly to improve the care and services our Veterans have earned,”

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Bridge Replacement Project Set to Close Portion of Center Grove Road for Summer Months

1 month 3 weeks ago
EDWARDSVILLE – Center Grove Road will be closed east of Esic Drive for several months beginning Tuesday, May 27, 2025, for replacement of the bridge that carries traffic over the MCT Nickel Plate Trail. The approximately $3.6 million project will include replacement of the bridge superstructure and guardrails, pier repairs, pavement patching and marking. The closure was scheduled for the summer months to limit travel disruptions and slowdowns near the two schools on Center Grove Road – Edwardsville High School and Metro East Lutheran High School. The road is expected to reopen just prior to Edwardsville School District 7’s first day of the 2025-26 school year, which is Wednesday, August 20. Construction crews will be on site 10 hours a day, six days a week, weather permitting. Detour signs will be posted. To bypass the closure, drivers can use Esic Drive and Governors’ Parkway for access to and from Illinois Routes 159 and 157. Access will be maintained throughout

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Nominations Now Being Accepted For Alton High School Wall Of Fame

1 month 3 weeks ago
ALTON – The Alton Educational Foundation is pleased to announce that nominations are now being accepted for the Alton High School Wall of Fame Induction Class of 2025. Members of the community are encouraged to submit nominations between now and June 9 for deserving recipients. The Alton High Wall of Fame recognizes excellence in a wide array of areas and individuals from any one or more of the following areas can be nominated: Graduates of Alton High School (must have graduated prior to 2015 for consideration as a Class of 2025 Inductee) AND/OR Retired employees of the Alton School District AND/OR Community members who have achieved excellence in their respective field and/or community (can include, but not limited to, service fields such as business, the arts, education, healthcare, military service, civil service, nonprofit and others). Community members are encouraged to nominate deserving individuals from any one or more of the three categories. Persons may

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Caseyville Police Leads Investigation: St. Louis Man Sentenced To Prison For Unarmed Bank Robberies

1 month 3 weeks ago
EAST ST. LOUIS — A St. Louis man was sentenced to 87 months in federal prison Friday after admitting to robbing four banks in less than three weeks in late 2023. Tyrone Leslie, 40, pleaded guilty in January to four counts of bank robbery, with one count charged in the Southern District of Illinois and three in the Eastern District of Missouri. The Missouri cases were transferred to southern Illinois to be prosecuted together. Leslie’s robberies occurred between Nov. 14 and Dec. 4, 2023. Court documents show he took $2,740 from U.S. Bank on Tesson Ferry Road in St. Louis on Nov. 14, $964 from People’s National Bank on Hampton Avenue in St. Louis on Nov. 17, and $5,050 from PNC Bank on Manchester Road in St. Louis on Dec. 2. On Dec. 4, he attempted to steal $4,125 from FCB Bank in Caseyville. After the FCB Bank robbery, Leslie led police on a high-speed chase. The Caseyville Police Department led the investigation. U.S. Attorney Steven D. Weinhoeft said, “Bank

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SCTE Gateway Chapter Wins Chapter Of The Year

1 month 3 weeks ago
STAUNTON – Congratulations to the SCTE Gateway Chapter (Society of Cable Telecommunications Engineers), for winning three major national awards at the recent SCTE Chapter Leadership Conference that was hosted in St. Louis, Missouri. The chapter’s purpose is to provide local networking, professional development and certification opportunities to current and prospective members across 70 locations worldwide. They were named the SCTE Chapter of the Year for the third year in a row out of 67 other chapters across the globe! This is a powerful acknowledgement of the passion, leadership, and excellence coming straight from this chapter. The Gateway Chapter also received the “Membership Award” along with the “Striving for Excellence Award”. Madison Communications, a fully integrated service provider of High-Speed Internet, HDTV, and Voice Service located in Staunton, IL are especially proud of two of their long-time employees that are a part of the SCTE

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Land Of Lincoln Honor Flight Continues 2025 Flying Season

1 month 3 weeks ago
SPRINGFIELD - Land of Lincoln Honor Flight continues our 2025 flying season with Mission #74 on June 3, 2025. Mission #74 will serve 96 Veterans including 6 Korean Era veterans 90 Vietnam era veterans from 66 Illinois home towns of Alton, Ashland, Auburn, Beason, Bingham, Bloomington, Blue Mound, Carman, Caseyville, Champaign, Chandlerville, Charleston, Chatham, Cooksville, Cowden, Danville, Decatur, Dieterich, Edinburg, Effingham, Eureka, Fairbury, Forrest, Franklin, Freeport, Germantown, Gibson City, Greenville, Hillsboro, Illiopolis, Indianola, Jacksonville, Jerseyville, Lovington, Mahomet, Mattoon, Monticello, Mt Pulaski, Naperville, Olney, Petersburg, Pontiac, Quincy, Rantoul, Rochester, Rockford, Rossville, South Jacksonville, Sadorus, Secor, Shipman, Shobonier, Springfield, Staunton, Troy, Tuscola, Urbana, Vandalia, Villa Park, Weldon, White Hall, Windsor, Wood River and Yale as well as O’Fallon, Missouri. Our June 3rd veterans represent all branches of

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Budzinski Blasts House Republicans' Budget That She Says Undermines Families and Farmers   

1 month 3 weeks ago
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, Congresswoman Nikki Budzinski (IL-13) criticized House Republicans’ budget resolution that would result in $313 billion in cuts to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). Budzinski countered Republican claims that these cuts won’t result in a reduction in benefits and highlighted how nutrition assistance helps lift people out of poverty, enables economic mobility, and allows hardworking families a chance at a better life. Budzinski’s opening remarks as prepared for delivery can be found below: Mr. Chairman, one year ago, I sat in this room and shared my disappointment over the proposed Farm Bill. I regret to say that disappointment has only grown. Not only am I troubled by the content of the bill we are marking up today, but also the fact that select Farm Bill provisions are being rolled into a partisan package built on the backs of our most vulnerable neighbors. I want to echo my Democratic colleagues

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East St. Louis Senior High Debuts Advanced Tennis Facilities

1 month 3 weeks ago
EAST ST. LOUIS – East St. Louis School District 189 will host a Ribbon Cutting Ceremony at 10 a.m. on Friday, May 16, 2025, to celebrate the completion of six brand-new tennis courts at East St. Louis Senior High School, located at 4901 State Street. This exciting event will commemorate the construction of post-tension concrete courts equipped with advanced lighting and blended court lines to enhance functionality for student athletes and community use alike. The celebration takes place during National Tennis Month, reinforcing the District’s commitment to expanding access to top-tier facilities and opportunities for youth development. “We are incredibly proud to unveil our new tennis courts that reflect our commitment to providing diverse, high-quality opportunities for our students,” noted Superintendent Arthur R. Culver. “We believe these courts will spark a love for the game and inspire a new generation of student-athletes to explore tennis, build confidence

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