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WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) joined U.S. Senator Mazie Hirono (D-HI) in reintroducing the Public Service Freedom to Negotiate Act, bicameral legislation to guarantee the right of public sector employees to organize, act concertedly and bargain collectively in states that currently do not afford these basic protections. This comes at a critical time, after President Trump’s recent executive order ended collective bargaining for more than one million federal workers. “Our public sector workers deserve the same right to organize as private sector workers, work in a safe job that pays a livable wage and be able to save for a secure retirement,” said Duckworth. “As Donald Trump works to hollow out the backbone of our public sector, I’m proud to help Senator Hirono and my colleagues introduce this legislation that would protect these hardworking Americans by finally enshrining

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WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL)—a member of the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee (SFRC)—joined her fellow Democratic SFRC colleagues, including U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) and Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), in sending a letter to Secretary of State Marco Rubio regarding the State Department’s recently announced plans to restructure the Department and fold USAID into the Department of State. In their letter, the SFRC Democrats emphasize that the State Department’s proposal for USAID is an unconstitutional violation of the separation of powers, and that broader efforts to restructure, including the closure of U.S. embassies and consulates, are illegal without Congressional action and would be an unjustified seismic shift in the U.S foreign policy enterprise. “The proposal, if implemented, and action taken to date to gut USAID, are clearly an unconstitutional violation of the separation of powers,” the Senators

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SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Christopher Belt advanced a measure that would eliminate the licensing requirements for hair braiders in Illinois. “It is common sense to eliminate unnecessary licensing requirements for hair braiders,” said Belt (D-Swansea). “Illinois is one of the few states that imposes these stiff requirements, and it’s time we get out of the way and allow individuals to practice their craft and earn a living without unnecessary barriers." Currently, hair braiders are required to obtain licensure under the Barber, Cosmetology, Esthetics, Hair Braiding, and Nail Technology Act of 1985. Aspiring hair braiders must complete 300 hours of training at a cosmetology school, which can cost over $5,000. Illinois is one of only 14 states that have these licensing requirements. Senate Bill 2348 would eliminate the need for hair braiders to get licensed with the state. Hair braiding businesses would still have to obtain a normal business license an

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HIGHLAND – A man from Highland faces seven felony counts of child pornography after possessing and distributing the material through online platforms. Beau D. Imming, 21, of Highland, was charged on April 8, 2025 with seven counts of child pornography. The five charges of dissemination were classified as Class X felonies, while the two charges of possession were classified as Class 2 felonies. Charging documents state that from Sept. 21 to Dec. 8, 2024, Imming used Snapchat and Microsoft Bing to disseminate images and videos depicting child pornography involving prepubescent toddlers and infants. The investigation unfolded on Dec. 26, 2024, after the Madison County Sheriff’s Office received several cybertips from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC), according to a petition to deny Imming’s pretrial release. “26 of the cybertips were connected to matching internet protocol (IP) addresses,” the petition states. “These

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O'FALLON - This year marks the 60th anniversary of the Major Case Squad of Greater St. Louis (MCS), a task force established in 1965 that plays a crucial role in investigating homicides and other violent crimes in the region. The MCS comprises nearly 600 investigators from 120 agencies throughout the St. Louis area, allowing for a collaborative approach to addressing serious criminal cases. The O'Fallon Police Department noted this week that several members of its department are actively involved in the MCS, serving in various capacities, including investigators, supervisors, and board members. This partnership enhances the department's ability to respond to and solve violent crimes, drawing on a wealth of resources and expertise from across the region. "The anniversary serves as a reminder of the ongoing commitment of law enforcement agencies to work together in pursuit of justice and public safety," the O'Fallon Police Department said this week. "The MCS not only supports individual

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EDWARDSVILLE - The Southern Illinois University Edwardsville Graduate School has presented its 2025-26 Hoppe Research Professor Award to Kevin R. Tucker, PhD, associate professor in the College of Arts and Sciences’ Department of Chemistry. “I’m honored to receive this year’s Hoppe Professor Award,” said Tucker . “Many of the previous recipients are the best at SIUE in their scholarly pursuits, and it’s humbling to join that group. This award is a meaningful investment in not just me, but also in the students that I mentor and support as we develop methods for analysis in environmental samples.” Tucker, who started at SIUE as an assistant professor in 2016, noted his significant contributions through the years. “My work, most notably in the area of mass spectrometry method development, has covered fields ranging from bioconcentration of pharmaceuticals in aquatic ecosystems to investigating the effects of testosterone i

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JERSEYVILLE – The City of Jerseyville has ambitious plans for its parks, both in the works and on its wish list. Parks and Recreation Director Tyler Hermans and other c ity officials announced s everal ongoing and possible future park improvement projects at a “workshop” meeting held on Tuesday, April 8, 2025. No formal action was taken at the meeting, which was for discussion purposes only. C hanges Made, Coming To Wock Lake H ighlighted during the meeting were the upgrades made to Wock Lake in recent years, including the replacement of a pedestrian bridge along the walking path that circles the site. However, Hermans noted the narrow strip of land bending toward the center of the lake is now becoming unsafe for visitors. “The horseshoe landmass there in the middle used to be wide enough to get out there and mow and maintain, but … it’s too narrow to maintain safely,”

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A motorcyclist died Saturday after hitting a pickup truck on Interstate 70 in St. Charles County, the Missouri State Highway Patrol said.

On April 12, District 3 officers responded to a robbery in 1700 block of South Tucker, just after 9 p.m. A 48-year-old woman told officers she parked at the above location. When she exited her car, she was approached by four males, one armed with a rifle. The male with the rifle demanded the 48-year-old […]

The post Woman Robbed by Four in Lasalle Park, Two Juveniles Arrested appeared first on St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department.

On April 12, District 6 officers responded to a nearby hospital for a shooting that happened in the 4400 block of Lexington, at approximately 2:30 p.m. Officers were advised that a 27-year-old man was in surgery for a gunshot wound to his leg. The man was in critical but stable condition. A 46-year-old man and […]

The post Man Shot in Crossfire in Greater Ville appeared first on St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department.

The White House and DOGE have sought to eliminate thousands of jobs from the Forest Service. The wildland firefighting force is one of many targets within the agency.

Plant of the Week: Tulips April 30th Deadline for Powder Valley Urban Nature Photo Contest May 3rd Deadline for submissions to Soulard Art Gallery juried Exhibit: The Art of Nature Hey, Missouri Birders. Enter the Missouri Birding Challenge Seed St. Louis Raised Bed Plant Spacing Chart Plan your garden with  Seed St. Louis 2025 Planting … Continue reading This Week in Gardening & Nature →

ST. LOUIS – Two juveniles were robbed at gunpoint in the middle of the day Friday in north St. Louis. Detectives are looking for suspects and could use the public’s help. Police say it happened around 4 p.m. near Saloma and Riverview in Walnut Park. The two juveniles told officers they were walking in the [...]

(The Center Square) – American universities have long been captured by systems of thought that are “anti-family, anti-religious, anti-capitalist” and even “anti-truth,” according to Trump-appointed education department official Jonathan Pidluzny.

Catch up on the local business appointments, hires and promotions.

Here are this week’s local business and nonprofit awards, acquisitions and donations.