Microsoft Office 2021 Professional is the perfect choice for any professional who needs to handle data and documents. It comes with many new features that will make you more productive in every stage of development, whether it’s processing paperwork or creating presentations from scratch – whatever your needs are. The tools within this suite have […]
RIVERBEND - Ameren is urging residents to celebrate thoughtfully this summer to mitigate power outages. Brian Bretsch, a spokesperson for Ameren Illinois, shared that the company often sees power outages due to released balloons. Though Bretsch emphasized that Ameren wants people to celebrate and have fun, they’re asking folks to dispose of balloons properly and avoid releasing them. “Ameren is not the balloon police,” Bretsch joked. “We do want you to celebrate. We just want you to properly dispose of your balloons, especially the Mylar ones. The issue with the Mylar balloons is there’s a metallic coating on the balloons. When they’re released, if they come in contact with the power lines or anywhere on a substation, that metal property on the balloon can come in contact with an energized area. It can go around the balloon, spark, and then if it pops and the debris goes into our system, then it can cause an outage.” Bretsch noted
SPRINGFIELD – The Illinois Department of Transportation is asking the public to provide feedback on the state's transportation system and the agency’s overall performance by taking the annual Traveler Opinion Survey. Conducted through May 30, the survey is available online at https://go.uis.edu/traveler2025 or visiting by idot.illinois.gov . Done in partnership with the University of Illinois Springfield, the survey is an opportunity for people who live in Illinois to provide feedback on a wide range of topics, giving IDOT valuable insight and information to continue being a national leader in transportation services. This year’s survey takes less than 10 minutes to complete and asks for input on commuting habits, passenger rail, ice and snow removal, planning priorities, electric vehicles and more. In 2024, more than 1,700 responses were received. The Traveler Opinion Survey has been a staple of IDOT since 2001. Copies of previous surveys and results can be
EAST ST. LOUIS - Specialist Maria White Burton recognized that Kiyara Conrad, a teacher at Dr. Katie Harper-Wright Elementary School in East St Louis School District 189, has been saluted for her dedication to student growth and professional excellence in the district. During Teacher Appreciation Week, East St. Louis School District 189 highlighted educators who positively impact student outcomes. Research indicates that students with access to high-quality teachers are more likely to graduate from high school and attend college, regardless of their background. Ms. Conrad exemplifies this standard through her student-centered approach, setting high expectations and encouraging students to reach their full potential, Burton said. “Ms. Conrad is a student-centered educator at Dr. Katie Harper-Wright Elementary School in East St. Louis who consistently prioritizes the academic and personal growth of her students,” Burton said. “She sets high expectations and encourages
EDWARDSVILLE — The City of Edwardsville’s Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee marked the completion of the second week of its Bike Bus initiative on Friday, May 9, 2025, encouraging students to bike or walk to school in groups rather than relying on cars or traditional bus transportation. On that morning, 18 students participated on the Columbus Elementary route, 10 students joined from Woodland Elementary, and additional riders from Cassens Elementary and several Walk Bus participants from Columbus participated. The event, which has been held for several years each spring and fall, aims to promote active transportation among schoolchildren while fostering a sense of community. The committee noted that the strong participation has led them to describe the program more as a “Bike Train” than a Bike Bus. The final session for this spring is scheduled for Friday, May 16, 2025. The Bike Bus and Walk Bus programs have grown in popularity nationwide,
Bill would create grant programs to support women through pregnancy and newborn stages, and improve access to pre- and post-natal telehealth appointments
The United States and China agreed Monday to lower steep tit-for-tat tariffs for 90 days, temporarily cooling a trade war but still leaving a cloud of uncertainty over businesses in the world’s two largest economies. American and Chinese officials announced the pause will go into effect Wednesday, following talks in Geneva, Switzerland, as negotiations on […]
WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump signed an executive order Monday aimed at lowering drug prices by pressuring pharmaceutical companies to align their U.S. pricing models with those in similarly wealthy countries. “We’ll slash the cost of prescription drugs and will bring fairness to America,” Trump said at a morning White House event. “We’re all gonna […]
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, combat Veteran and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL)—a member of both the U.S. Senate Armed Services (SASC) and Veterans’ Affairs Committees (SVAC)—and U.S. Representatives April McClain Delaney (D-MD-06) and James Moylan (R-GU-AL) introduced legislation to modernize the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) in order to help ensure that military caregiver benefits are available to more people who selflessly care for their servicemember or Veteran family member in medical need. The Making it Likely for Families of the Military to Live with Leave Access (MIL FMLA) Act would expand FMLA leave benefits for military family members who aren’t currently covered under the FMLA. “It’s long overdue that Congress expands leave benefits for the selfless Americans who care for their servicemember or Veteran loved ones—who often have complex and unique medical needs as a result of their service,” said Senator Duckworth
SPRINGFIELD – With warmer weather comes “tick season” and the annual observance of National Lyme Disease Awareness Month throughout the month of May. The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) is urging the public to learn how to protect themselves from ticks and Lyme disease. “Lyme disease is a serious bacterial infection transmitted through the bite of infected ticks,” said IDPH Director Dr. Sameer Vohra. “Lyme Disease is the most common vector-borne illness in the United States affecting more than 500,000 people nationally each year. As the summer approaches, I encourage our residents to learn to ‘Fight the Bite’ and protect yourself and your loved ones from tickborne illnesses. If you have been in wooded or high grassy areas and are experiencing symptoms – fever, fatigue, headache and a circular rash – see your health care provider immediately.” IDPH has created Pocket Cards , a Tick Defense Knowledge
Heather Stiles says she was fired by Auditor Scott Fitzpatrick after she alleged the office had failed to follow state and federal laws and guidelines. Fitzpatrick denies the allegations.
SPRINGFIELD – The Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (Illinois EPA) is providing notification to the owners and operators of ten Community Water Systems (CWS) that have been identified as having an emergency connection to a CWS that was previously notified of the detection of one or more Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) at levels exceeding newly enacted groundwater quality standards. The ten CWS only utilize the emergency connection in the event of a water emergency. A list of the ten systems is included with this notification. Illinois Right-to-Know laws require CWSs to notify all end users if groundwater contamination poses a threat of exposure to the public above the Class I groundwater quality standards. This law establishes methods of notification and strict time frames for providing notice. Groundwater routinely utilized by the ten CWS specified in this release does not exceed the newly adopted groundwater quality standards; however, the systems are authorized
CHICAGO — Governor JB Pritzker announced that the State of Illinois received the necessary assurances from the federal government to move toward completion of the Brandon Road Interbasin Project. This afternoon, the Trump Administration issued a memorandum expressing their support for continuation of the project, which aims to prevent invasive carp from infiltrating the Great Lakes. After months of uncertainty around the withholding of federal infrastructure funding from the Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR), the Administration has reversed course and given the certainty required for the State of Illinois to continue as previously planned. “I am glad that the Trump Administration heard our calls about the importance of delivering federal funds for the Brandon Road Project and decided to finally meet their obligations to the State of Illinois and the Great Lakes region,” said Governor JB Pritzker. “I have made clear that – in the interest
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