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VIDEO: St. Louis Firm Had Ties to Unused Nuclear Tower Imploded in This Dramatic Video

2 months 2 weeks ago

When an unused nuclear cooling tower in Hartsville, TN was recently imploded, it stirred memories for St. Louis construction executive Mark Murphy. Murphy, president of Drilling Service Company—a deep foundations contractor founded in 1955 by his uncle, Cliff Murphy—shared on social media: “Our uncle’s firm, American Drilling Service Co., drilled the many drilled shafts under […]

The post VIDEO: St. Louis Firm Had Ties to Unused Nuclear Tower Imploded in This Dramatic Video appeared first on Construction Forum.

Tom Finan

Gov. Pritzker Presses Chair Of National Governors Association To Denounce Deployment Of Texas National Guard In Illinois

2 months 2 weeks ago
CHICAGO – Today, Governor JB Pritzker sent a letter to National Governors Association (NGA) Chair Kevin Stitt, calling for him to denounce the unconstitutional deployment of the Texas National Guard into Illinois. This action is an illegal abuse of federal power by the Trump administration, and Governor Greg Abbott’s willingness to exploit his own National Guard members to participate in a manufactured political stunt goes against the core principles of the NGA and our democracy. “This is precisely the federal and interstate overreach we warned against — gubernatorial authority being trampled, state sovereignty being ignored, and the constitutional balance between states being attacked,” said Governor JB Pritzker. “If the President continues overriding Governors to deploy military assets into another state against another Governor’s will, we have abandoned the foundational principles that have protected our Republic for nearly 250 years.”

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Durbin Condemns Ruthless ICE Raids, Orders To Deploy National Guard Troops To Illinois In Senate Floor Speech

2 months 2 weeks ago
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today delivered a speech on the Senate floor condemning the Trump Administration for the cruel, inhumane raids being carried out by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) agents at the direction of President Trump and U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem during “Operation Midway Blitz.” In his remarks, Durbin shared disturbing details about these raids in Chicago, including stories of children being ripped from their beds in the middle of the night. Durbin also called on President Trump to immediately rescind his order to federalize 300 Illinois and up to 400 Texas National Guard troops and deploy them in Illinois. “On Friday, in the midst of a Republican-led government shutdown, President Trump revealed his priorities. It isn’t to protect the health care, the health insurance

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Budzinski Meets With Furloughed Federal Workers, Rallies With Illinois AFL-CIO

2 months 2 weeks ago
SPRINGFIELD — Today, Congresswoman Nikki Budzinski (IL-13) met with furloughed federal employees to hear how they have been affected by the ongoing government shutdown. Following the discussion, she rallied with the Illinois AFL-CIO, AFSCME, and AFGE to highlight the impacts of the Republican shutdown on federal workers in Illinois and families seeking to access critical services “As we enter the second week of the Republican government shutdown, we cannot forget that working people are the real victims of this manufactured crisis,” said Congresswoman Budzinski. “For six days, hardworking federal employees have been furloughed or forced to work without pay while House Republicans refuse to meet at the negotiating table. I’m once again calling on my colleagues across the aisle to reach a deal that reopens the government and prevents 15 million Americans from losing their health care.”

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Edwardsville School Board Members Urge Action on Spending Remaining 2023 Bond Funds

2 months 2 weeks ago
EDWARDSVILLE - During their work session on Oct. 6, 2025, the Edwardsville Community Unit School District #7 Board of Education once again discussed the priorities of the 2023 bond money. At the previous Board of Education meeting on Sept. 22, 2025 , the Board discussed how to spend the remaining 2023 bond money — around $10 million — and identified the top priorities as asbestos abatement in Hamel Elementary School, Columbus Elementary School’s gymnasium, and the addition of a media center at Edwardsville High School. At the Oct. 6 meeting, Board members emphasized the need for action. Board member Matt Breihan voiced his “disappointment” that the agenda did not include an action item for spending the 2023 bond money. During the public comments portion of the meeting, a few community members spoke about concerns they have regarding Hamel Elementary School, including Justin Gerstner, mayor of Hamel. Gerstner requested an action item to be included

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SIUE, IACAC Partner to Host Illinois Regional College Fair on Oct. 27, 2025

2 months 2 weeks ago
EDWARDSVILLE – Southern Illinois University Edwardsville- SIUE will host the Illinois Association for College Admissions Counseling Illinois Regional College Fair (IRCF) from 6-7:30 p.m. Monday, Oct. 27, in the Meridian Ballroom at Morris University Center. This event, held on the Edwardsville campus, is free and open to all high school and transfer students, along with their families and guests. Nearly 100 colleges and universities from across the country will be represented at the IRCF, giving students the chance to connect directly with admissions professionals, explore academic programs, learn about application processes, and discover scholarship opportunities. “For students to be successful in college, they have to find the school that best aligns with the goals they want to achieve and provides the resources they need to thrive,” said Alicia Taylor, associate director of admissions in the Office of Undergraduate Admissions. “A college fair like the IRCF

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Durbin Slams Trump Administration For Pausing Grants For Chicago Infrastructure Projects

2 months 2 weeks ago
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, delivered a speech on the Senate Floor today after Russell Vought, Director of the U.S. Office of Management and Budget (OMB), announced that the Trump Administration would “put on hold” $2.1 billion in federal funding for Chicago infrastructure projects, including the Chicago Transit Authority (CTA)’s Red Line Extension Project and CTA’s Red and Purple Modernization (RPM) Program. Durbin began by outlining the history of the Red Line Extension Project and the importance of public transit for Illinoisans. Durbin said, “In 1969, 56 years ago, former Chicago Mayor Richard J. Daley proposed extending the Red Line of the Chicago Transit Authority. And yet, still to this day, residents of the far South Side of Chicago don’t have that transit option, at least not as they should.” Durbin continued, “Transportation can make or

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Governor Pritzker Announces NANO Nuclear to Establish Operations in Illinois

2 months 2 weeks ago
OAK BROOK – Governor JB Pritzker, the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) and NANO Nuclear Energy Inc . (NASDAQ: NNE) (“NANO Nuclear” or “the Company”), a leading advanced nuclear energy and technology company focused on developing clean energy solutions, will establish a manufacturing and research & development facility in Illinois. NANO Nuclear plans to make an investment of more than $12 million with the support from the Reimagining Energy and Vehicles in Illinois (REV Illinois) program, which will enable the company to establish its operations and create 50 new full-time jobs. “I’m proud to welcome NANO Nuclear to Illinois’ growing clean energy economy,” said Governor JB Pritzker. “Our qualified workforce, unmatched infrastructure, and competitive incentives all make Illinois the best state for companies investing in clean energy production. With support from REV Illinois, this critical investment

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For Data Center Contracts, It’s All About the Fine Print

2 months 2 weeks ago

From Construction Dive: From the outside, a data center structure looks like a simple warehouse. Its construction contract would reveal a different story. Data center construction is booming in the U.S. Contractors on the ground report being buried in early-stage activity, even amid concerns of a slowdown. For example, Apple unveiled plans earlier this summer […]

The post For Data Center Contracts, It’s All About the Fine Print appeared first on Construction Forum.

Tom Finan

Attorney General Raoul Issues Statement On Public Safety And First Amendment Rights During Protests

2 months 2 weeks ago
CHICAGO – Attorney General Kwame Raoul issued a statement on efforts by state and local law enforcement to protect public safety and First Amendment rights amid ongoing protests in Broadview, Illinois. “At the request of the Broadview Police Department, the Illinois State Police (ISP), Cook County Sheriff’s Office, and multiple state and local law enforcement agencies have combined to form a unified command to coordinate public safety measures in Broadview. I support the mission of the unified command to create a safe space for the exercise of First Amendment rights while also protecting businesses and access to nearby roads. My office has been in ongoing consultation with ISP regarding the establishment and purpose of the unified command. In accordance with the TRUST Act, the purpose of the activities conducted by the unified command is to maintain public safety and the ability to lawfully exercise First Amendment rights – not to engage in federal immigration

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Trump floats plan to deny back pay to furloughed federal workers after shutdown

2 months 2 weeks ago
This report has been updated. WASHINGTON — The Trump administration may try to interpret a law enacted during his first term in office differently than it did following the last government shutdown, potentially denying back pay to hundreds of thousands of furloughed federal workers.  The change in stance, outlined in a memo from the Office […]
Jennifer Shutt

DPH, Illinois Department of Agriculture Announce Illinois "Unaffected" by H5N1 Avian Influenza in Dairy Cattle

2 months 2 weeks ago
SPRINGFIELD – The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) and the Illinois Department of Agriculture (IDOA) have announced that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has declared Illinois to be “unaffected” by H5N1 avian influenza , a recognition of the state’s efforts working with local health departments, dairy farms, and agricultural organizations to keep the illness from impacting the state’s dairy supply. The USDA defines “unaffected” as “Ongoing testing and surveillance activities demonstrate absence of disease in dairy cattle in the State." At the same time, the agencies are reminding the public that with migration season underway, infected wild birds may be found in Illinois, and stressed the need for appropriate precautions to prevent the spread of H5N1. “Public health truly excels through the power of partnership,” said IDPH Director Dr. Sameer Vohra. “We, at IDPH, are grateful for our colleagues

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US prison population rises for second straight year

2 months 2 weeks ago
The nation’s prison population grew for the second consecutive year in 2023, reversing more than a decade of steady decline. A new prison population report from the federal Bureau of Justice Statistics, released before the federal shutdown, shows that 1,254,224 people were incarcerated in state and federal prisons on the last day of 2023 — […]
Amanda Watford