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Ameren Illinois Donates $4 Million In Energy Assistance To Agencies

1 week 3 days ago
ST. LOUIS - Ameren will make available an additional $4 million for bill payment assistance to community action agencies dedicated to energy assistance for residential customers in need of financial assistance across Missouri and Illinois. This follows the $1 million in support for victims of the May 16 tornado that Ameren announced earlier this year, which local area agencies continue to distribute. "We've experienced prolonged periods of extreme heat throughout the summer, leading to increased use of energy and air conditioners," said Joe Solari , vice president of customer experience for Ameren. "We understand the economic hardships families living in our communities are facing each day which is why we want customers to know additional help will soon be available from Ameren through our community partners." Throughout 2025, Ameren has partnered with hundreds of agencies to make more than $75 million available in energy assistance and LIHEAP for its customers. The company continue

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How Age Verification Laws Targeting Online Porn Could Be (And Should Be) Viewed As A Labor Rights Issue 

1 week 3 days ago
Age verification laws and regulations that target online pornography and digital sex work are far from being the “modest” child safety measures intended to protect public decency favored by the far–right. Proponents of these laws benefit from the fearmongering and framing of age verification as a necessity to protect children from inappropriate material found on […]
Michael McGrady

Local 65-Year-Old Bodybuilder to Compete in World Championship

1 week 3 days ago
JERSEYVILLE - Jim Nanney, 65, has been bodybuilding for decades, and he’s proud to share his discipline and passion for the sport. “It’s probably the single longest thing I’ve ever done in my entire life,” Nanney said. “I’m extremely competitive by nature. I’m mediocre in every other sport that I compete in. But bodybuilding, somehow, I seem to have a knack for it.” Nanney started bodybuilding in his early 20s, after he saw his brother’s success in the sport. He quickly fell in love with the discipline of diet and exercise. To this day, Nanney works out six days a week at JerseyFit Barbell in Jerseyville or Planet Fitness in Alton. He still gets a thrill out of pushing himself as hard as he can. “I think the workouts are the thing that I enjoy the most, the discipline of the dieting. It’s kind of a weird enjoyment to have, but I do. It’s fun to see how disciplined you can make yourself. And then,

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East St Louis Students Begin Year With Strong Academic Expectations and Positive Culture

1 week 3 days ago
EAST ST. LOUIS — Classes have begun for the 2025-2026 school year in East St. Louis School District 189, ushering in a new chapter marked by fresh leadership with an emphasis on a positive school culture from the high school to kindergarten grade levels. Lincoln Middle School welcomed Quanshanda Nicholson as its new principal this week. Nicholson and other district officials highlighted strong expectations of the students and the importance of fostering a supportive and positive environment. In addition to leadership changes, the district has welcomed 12 international educators this fall, further diversifying its teaching staff. Social-emotional well-being for the students is also a top priority as schools across East St. Louis open their doors. Photos from the high school, middle school, kindergarten, and other district schools capture students and staff with smiles, reflecting an optimistic start to the academic year.

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Are men's wedding cloaks the next big thing in fashion?

1 week 3 days ago
A viral TikTok showing Philadelphia Eagles tight end Kylen Granson wearing a white cloak at his wedding has ignited a conversation about men’s self-expression in formalwear — and it all started in the Chicago home studio of fashion designer Josh Kercher.
Alex Barton

Community Support Sought for Memorial of Baby Leilani

1 week 3 days ago
ALTON — The young parents of a 6-month-old baby girl who died earlier this month are seeking community support to provide a peaceful burial and memorial for their daughter. Karma Perry and her partner, both 16 years old, lost their daughter, Leilani Blake Outsey, at 6:55 a.m. on Wednesday, Aug. 13, 2025. Perry described Leilani as a joyful child who brought happiness to those around her. “She had a smile on her face every day from the day she was born. She was so smart, so strong, and loved is an understatement,” Perry said. The young couple has launched a GoFundMe campaign with a goal of raising $6,000 to cover burial expenses, including a memorial and tombstone. As of this week, the fundraiser has raised over $1,000. Perry, who works a minimum wage job, said she and her partner are doing their best to cope with the loss while relying on family support. “Our baby was taken from us way too soon,” she said. “A beautiful girl, a beautiful life,

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Illinois State trooper charged with distribution, possession of child sex abuse material

1 week 3 days ago
DEERFIELD, Ill. — An Illinois State trooper has been charged in federal court for alleged distribution and possession of child sex abuse material. Colin Gruenke, 37, of Deerfield, is facing two federal counts of distributing child pornography and possessing child pornography. Federal authorities searched his home on a warrant Wednesday following a months-long investigation that [...]
Andy Koval

Good News, SCOTUS May Sometimes Still Think The First Amendment Makes Censoring The Internet Illegal, But Good Luck Getting Them To Do Anything About It

1 week 3 days ago
There was a colloquy at oral argument earlier this year in the Free Speech Coalition v. Paxton case between Justice Kavanaugh and FSC that raised the unsettling prospect that at least several of the Supreme Court justices did not understand what preliminary injunctions are for. In that case, the bad Texas law had already been […]
Cathy Gellis