SPRINGFIELD - The Illinois House of Representatives has passed a modified ban on high-powered weapons and large-capacity magazines early Friday. The bill passed along party lines in the House Executive Committee Thursday afternoon. The assault weapons legislation quickly advanced to the full House and after late-night debate passed on a 64-43 vote. The bill is scheduled now to head to the Senate. Some legislators are hopeful it is voted on before the new set of legislators is sworn in on Wednesday. The bill would ban the sale of assault-style weapons and high-capacity magazines with more than 12 rounds. Anyone in possession of those magazines would have 90 days to convert, dispose or sell them. Those who already own assault-style weapons would be grandfathered in, but have 300 days to enter the serial number of those weapons into the FOID system. A spokesperson for Illinois Senate President Don Harmon said: "These are critically important issues, and the Senate Democratic Caucus
Céline Dion fans were outraged that Rolling Stone omitted the Canadian superstar from its new list of the 200 Greatest Singers of All Time. But instead of just complaining about…
The University of Illinois has removed its COVID-19 vaccination and testing requirements for all students and employees, system President Tim Killeen announced.
The Illinois House of Representatives voted Friday to shore up the state’s already-expansive reproductive rights and shield the influx of out-of-state patients seeking abortions in Illinois after the fall of Roe v. Wade.
JERSEYVILLE - A black Pontiac four-door sedan caught on fire in the Jerseyville Walmart parking lot on Thursday, Jan. 5. Jerseyville Fire Chief Keith Norman said while his department was able to contain the fire and put it out relatively quickly, the vehicle suffered extensive damage to the front end. Norman said the incident was called in at 4:51 p.m., and he happened to be driving nearby, allowing him to be on the scene just 28 seconds after the call. Firetrucks arrived seven minutes later and firefighters spent 20 minutes putting out the vehicle fire. “It was absolutely totaled,” Norman said. “We kept the fire out of the passenger compartment, but the engine compartment was 100 percent destroyed.” While the exact cause of the fire wasn’t determined, Norman said he expects it was a malfunction in the engine compartment. “I would make an assumption that it did start in the engine compartment of the vehicle, so it was obviously some kind
EDWARDSVILLE — Madison County’s top two assessment officials are retiring. Joe Dauderman, who became the Chief County Assessor for Madison County in May 2013, announced his retirement for the end of February and his chief deputy, Phil Byers, said goodbye Friday. “The retirement is a huge loss to Madison County,” Chairman Kurt Prenzler said. “They are taking with them a combined 72 years of experience.” Dauderman began working in Madison County in April 1985. Byers came on board in September 1987. During Dauderman’s tenure, he watched the county’s property value increase and the office take on additional responsibilities in assessing property. The assessor's office determines the value of all taxable property in the county and decides when adjustments are needed based on various laws and exemptions. In 2018, the county board passed a resolution giving townships a choice to either pay for the full costs of tax assessments or do the
As previously reported, Heart’s Ann and Nancy Wilson are set to receive the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Recording Academy, and now they're sharing their feelings about the honor. “I can hardly fathom the Lifetime Achievement…
The Chinese ambassador to the U.S. is referencing a trip last year to St. Louis in a Washington Post op-ed saying that the planet's future depends on a "healthy and stable China-U.S. relationship."
JERSEYVILLE – Freshman Meredith Gray is beginning to turn some heads toward the Jersey Community High School girl’s basketball team. As a freshman, she has become the team’s second-leading scorer and has helped the Panthers tremendously throughout the season. Jersey currently sits at 12-7 on the season. Meredith has played in all 19 of those games and has amassed 203 points so far, good for a 10.7 point-per-game average. She’s also pulled down 89 rebounds, also second on the team. Meredith has put up double-digit scoring in nine games this season with a season-high 20 points against Hazelwood West back on Nov. 29. Just last night (Jan. 5) she put in 14 points to help her team win over Triad. It was the Panthers’ first Mississippi Valley Conference win in two years. She’s just happy to be along for the ride. "It feels pretty good,” she said after the win Thursday night. “I'm glad my teammates can count on me whenever they need me and
Cops like science. Not in the way that say, scientists like science. They just like science-y sounding mumbo jumbo that paves the way for criminal convictions. And, sure, maybe you’re thinking this only applies to backwoods agencies that prefer to use a combination of Aunt Cleo and questionable testimony to lock people up. But it’s […]
Two related manufacturing companies in Bridgeton – reporting revenue of $6.5 million and $2.2 million respectively – have filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy, seeking to reorganize their debts.
This article originally ran in the American Journal of Transportation on Dec. 2, 2022. The directors from five busy airports in the St. Louis region say the collaboration that takes place amongst their airports is unique in the aviation industry and a model for success — accounting for more than 36,500 jobs (between airport operations and tenants) and generating a […]
Red alert for all Kiss Army soldiers and wannabe Spacemen: A local Kiss fanatic based in Weldon Springs is unloading his entire collection on Facebook Marketplace, including a pretty bitchin' custom-made Kiss costume. The seller, Kerry O'Brien of Mr. Make-Believe Kiss Kollectibles, says he's been collecting Kiss merchandise for 45 years, amassing so much stuff that he can't even fit it all in his house and has to keep it in storage. The obsession, he says, started when he was just a boy.