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IDFPR Announces New Pathway to Licensure for Internationally Trained Physicians to Work in Illinois

2 months 2 weeks ago
CHICAGO – As part of the Pritzker Administration’s commitment to expanding the health care workforce and providing needed care to the people of Illinois, the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR) today announced a new licensure process that will better enable internationally trained physicians to provide their services to the people of Illinois. International Medical Graduate physicians (IMGs) may now apply for an International Medical Graduate Limited License that allows them to practice under a supervising physician and begin the pathway to full licensure in Illinois. IMGs may now apply for this new license by going here . "Today marks a transformative step forward in the landscape of health care in Illinois,” said IDFPR Secretary Mario Treto, Jr . “This new process opens doors for skilled professionals to provide their expertise to the people of Illinois while ensuring they receive the support and supervision necessary fo

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Edwardsville to Host Professional Beach Volleyball Tournament with $20,000 in Prizes

2 months 2 weeks ago
EDWARDSVILLE - The City of Edwardsville is excited to host the Midwest Open, a beach volleyball tournament for professional volleyball teams with a $20,000 payout. On Sept. 20 and 21, 2025, community members are invited to Plummer Family Park in Edwardsville to watch the tournament for free, enjoy yard games, eat at food trucks, and celebrate the volleyball community. Nate Tingley and Sara Thomas with the Edwardsville Parks and Recreation Department expressed their excitement to bring people out and engage with the city. “I think it’s just another example of how Edwardsville is trying to really attract people, both locally and from the area, to come to Edwardsville, have a great time, and enjoy themselves,” Tingley explained. “It’s great for the community.” The volleyball tournament will kick off at 8:30 a.m. both days. There are six beach volleyball courts at Plummer Family Park. They currently have 18 teams from around the country slated

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Haunted Houses Undergo Safety Inspections Ahead of Halloween Season

2 months 2 weeks ago
SPRINGFIELD – The Illinois Department of Labor (IDOL) and the Office of the Illinois State Fire Marshal (OSFM) are teaming up to make sure haunted houses in Illinois are safe before doors open for the Halloween season. Haunted houses operated by not-for-profit religious, educational, or charitable organizations may apply for an exemption from IDOL inspections. Haunted house operators/owners should contact local authorities to see what requirements apply locally for haunted houses. Local authorities should be providing those inspections. For those municipalities that do not have local codes or inspectors, OSFM will perform a Fire Department Assistance inspection upon receiving a request from the local Fire Chief. “Spooky season is something many people look forward to in Illinois,” said IDOL Carnival Manager Brian Fox . “IDOL’s Amusement Ride and Attractions Safety Inspectors work to ensure that an experience at a haunted house is safe and fun by verifying

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Attorney General Raoul Launches New Online Platform For Charitable Organizations

2 months 2 weeks ago
CHICAGO – Attorney General Kwame Raoul today announced a new online portal and updated database created to help charitable organizations more easily comply with state law and to improve potential donors’ access to information about charitable organization before making donations. The new system will allow charitable organizations to fill out and submit required forms to the Attorney General’s Charitable Trust Bureau, request filing extensions if needed and pay required fees electronically. Potential donors will be able to better search for charitable organizations’ registration and financial information using the office’s newly updated Charitable Trust Database . “The new online filing system will greatly improve the ability of charitable organizations to interact with my office’s Charitable Trust Bureau, making it easy for organizations to comply with Illinois law,” Raoul said. “Potential donors in Illinois have a right to kno

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Duckworth, Casten Reignite Push to Help Education Support Professionals Access FMLA Benefits

2 months 2 weeks ago
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and U.S. Representative Sean Casten (D-IL-06) today reintroduced legislation to expand the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) to cover 2.7 million education support professionals (ESPs) who are currently blocked from accessing FMLA benefits. The FMLA guarantees a segment of the workforce the ability to take unpaid leave to care for their newborns and sick loved ones without fear of losing their jobs. However, as a result of their schedules and the limited school year, many ESPs—including clerical support professionals, maintenance workers, janitorial staff, food service employees, bus drivers and others—fail to meet the 1,250-hour threshold needed to qualify for unpaid leave under the FMLA. Duckworth and Casten’s ESP, Paraprofessional, and Education Support Staff Family Leave Act would correct this by finally updating the FMLA to close this gap in federal law. “No one should ever have to choose between

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Missouri GOP senator slams party leaders for forcing vote on bills without allowing debate

2 months 2 weeks ago
The Missouri Senate died at 1:42 p.m. Friday afternoon when Republican leaders refused to allow debate on a measure weakening the initiative petition process, GOP state Sen. Lincoln Hough said in an interview with The Independent. A two-week special session to gerrymander Missouri’s congressional map and make it virtually impossible for voters to amend the […]
Rudi Keller

The Independent wins 28 journalism awards in annual Missouri Press contest

2 months 2 weeks ago
The Missouri Independent’s staff won 28 awards Saturday — including 10 first place honors — in the annual Missouri Press Association Better Newspaper Contest.  The awards were handed out at the association’s annual convention, which this year was held in Wildwood. The Independent swept the “investigative reporting” category, with first place going to Allison Kite […]
Staff Reports

Cardinals drop fifth straight, lose 9-8 as Brewers walk off

2 months 2 weeks ago
Caleb Durbin hit a tying double in the 10th inning, Andruw Monasterio followed with the winning single and the playoff-bound Milwaukee Brewers rallied from five runs down to defeat the skidding St. Louis Cardinals 9-8 on Saturday night.
ANDREW WAGNER, Associated Press

St. Louis CITY SC ends Montreal's 5-game unbeaten run with 2-0 victory

2 months 2 weeks ago
MONTREAL (AP) - Conrad Wallem and Marcel Hartel each scored as St. Louis snapped Montreal’s five-game unbeaten run on Saturday night with a 2-0 win. St. Louis (6-17-7) is unbeaten in its last two games. Montreal (5-16-9) has just 11 points in 16 home games this season. Wallem opened the scoring in the 11th minute [...]
Associated Press