by Dr. John Gaal Editor’s Note: Each week, Dr. John Gaal, director of worker wellness for the Missouri Works Initiative, a non-profit workforce formed by the Missouri AFL-CIO, collects and comments on news and trends in workforce wellness and life balance. Construction Forum will be carrying the Worker Wellness & Well-Being Blog as a regular […]
A federal appeals court has put on hold an Environmental Protection Agency regulation aimed at reducing air pollution in Missouri, drawing criticism from environmentalists but praise from the state’s attorney general who called the proposal “unconstitutional overreach.”
The Missouri General Assembly this year passed bills barring transgender youth from starting gender-affirming health care and another bill requiring student athletes to compete on teams based on the gender assigned to them at birth. In light of the actions, we asked this year's Business of Pride honorees to tell how the St. Louis region and state of Missouri can be more welcoming for the LGBTQIA+ community.
In his first year at the firm, Finnegan led a small team in creating a business case to show Edward Jones' senior leaders the value in adopting policies and practices to make it more inclusive for LGBTQIA+ clients and associates. He hasn't stopped there.
MOUNT VERNON – Governor JB Pritzker, Manner Polymers, and the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) today joined local leaders and partners to announce Manner Polymers’ new manufacturing facility in Mount Vernon. Known as an industry manufacturing leader in polymer compounds, Manner Polymers’ new state-of-the-art Illinois facility will manufacture a wide array of PVC compounds, including automotive PVC compounds for use in electric vehicles (EVs) and components for solar panels. The facility will be powered by a 15-acre solar field located on site. Bolstered by a Reimagining Energy and Vehicles in Illinois (REV Illinois) incentive package, Manner Polymers plans to invest $54 million and create more than 60 jobs for the Southern Illinois region. “I couldn’t be prouder to announce that Manner Polymers has selected Illinois for their new 80,000 square foot, 100% solar-powered facility to manufacture electric vehicle PVC compounds,
Gene Cheek, an information security and systems analyst for Schnuck Markets, is dedicated to fixing a "dated, crumbling" foster system that doesn't address the needs of the LGBTQIA+ community.
ALTON - In celebration of the Mississippi River Network’s Mississippi River Days of Action, the Three Rivers Project of Sierra Club Illinois is calling for volunteers to help stencil storm drains throughout Alton on June 17. Volunteers will receive storm drain stenciling kits provided by Sierra Club Illinois and stencil storm drains and apply plaques that say, “No Dumping, Drains to River!” to aid in the protection of the Mississippi River. To register to participate in the Storm Drain Stenciling Project, visit bit.ly/stormdrainstenciling23 . “Storm drain stenciling is a fun and interactive way to explore Alton and get involved in the local community while also protecting our important waterways,” says Christine Favilla, co-Coordinator of the Three Rivers Project of Sierra Club Illinois. “Downtown Alton’s storm drains flow directly into our local waters, depositing whatever they pick up along the way directly into the Mississippi River. We
CHICAGO - Someone could jump-start June 2023 as a multi-millionaire. The Lotto jackpot for tonight’s drawing has swelled to a mouth-watering $16.55 million. If a player wins tonight’s jackpot, it will surpass the last record-making Lotto jackpot won in June 2020 of $16.5 million. While a couple of $1 million Lotto prizes were won by lucky winners in Romeoville and Oak Forest in April, the jackpot is still up for grabs. In total this year, nearly 3.5 million winning Lotto tickets have been sold, netting players over $14 million in prizes. Lotto is an Illinois-only game that is played three times a week on Monday, Thursday, and Saturday. About the Illinois Lottery Founded in 1974, the Illinois Lottery has contributed over $24 billion (since 1985) to the state’s Common School Fund to assist K-12 public schools, as well as hundreds of millions of dollars to the Capital Projects Fund and to special causes. For more information, visit IllinoisLottery.com .
Katie Doherty recalls the dread she felt when clicking a box on a DEI tracking service, outing herself. She has committed herself to helping others who are proud of who they are, even if they don't want to "shout it from the rooftops with pink glitter cannons."
Crime is going down in California: Through May 20, L.A. experienced a drop of more than 10% in violent crime this year compared with the same period in 2022. Property crime fell by slightly more than 1%, and arrests were up 4.4%, according to Police Department data....The Police Department posted additional positive numbers in a ...continue reading "The 2020 crime wave is steadily receding"
GRANITE CITY - GCS Credit Union recently announced their new name, Revity Credit Union, which will take effect on July 1, 2023. GCS noted this rebranding project has been a deliberate process and they deeply respect their roots, dating back to 1941. Honoring their history is important, and this revitalization will help bridge the past and future while connecting to GCS Credit Union’s entire 18- county field of membership. While members will see a new name and look, the Credit Union’s values and mission have not changed. The same great people will be there to serve membership just as they have always done. GCS is honored to be the neighborly credit union the community has come to know for over 80 years. “We are proud of our 82-year history and mission. We know change is constant, and we must adapt to our members’ needs. We will always stay true to our mission of serving our members, and are excited for this revitalization of the future,” said Keith Burton,
ALTON - The Alton Municipal Band is excited to announce its 133rd season of Concerts in the Parks. Each summer, on Thursdays and Sundays, the band performs a variety of programs featuring singers, instrumentalists, and music for everyone in the family. This year, conductors Jennifer Shenberger and David Drillinger have planned an exciting concert series, with old favorites and new friends joining the band. The season will kick off at Riverview Park on Thursday, June 8th. This 7:30 p.m. concert will feature local favorite Susan Stanard, along with the members of the band. The Hayner Public Library District will be on hand with a card table for the kids, and the entire family can take in the breathtaking views from atop the bluffs. Then, on Sunday, June 11th, the concert will repeat at Haskell Park. The earlier start time at 7 p.m. makes this concert a perfect weekend event for the entire family. The Mobile Tropical Snow will be at Haskell Park providing tasty treats for purchase,
WASHINGTON – Following Memorial Day, U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Co-Chair of the Senate Ukraine Caucus, spoke on the Senate floor highlighting democratic nations’ commitment to defend peace and freedom as Vladimir Putin’s unprovoked war in Ukraine continues. Durbin said, “On Memorial Day, we remember those who gave their lives for this country. And on this Memorial Day, we were reminded, once again, that the struggle to defend freedom is never over. The peace and freedom for which more than one million American service members gave their lives in World War II is now threatened by a delusional despot, drunk on the fantasy of reclaiming a bygone Russian empire. And once again, the free nations of the world are united in our determination to defend peace and freedom.” During his speech, Durbin highlighted the stark contrast between Putin and Ukrainian President Zelensky, who spoke at the Arab League summit in Saudi Arabia, where he
Kai Kiefer-Eaves, a transgender UX designer, recalls being expelled from a church youth group over his sexual orientation. Now he dedicates his career to supporting the LGBTQIA+ community and easing the transition for others.
GLEN CARBON - When Girl Scout Cadettes focus on an issue they care about, learn the facts, and take action to make a difference, they gain the confidence and skills that will catapult them to lifelong success. It all adds up to the Girl Scout Silver Award – the highest honor a Cadette in grades 6-8 can achieve. Girl Scouts of Southern Illinois is pleased to announce this year’s class of Silver Award Girl Scouts who were honored at the annual Recognition of Excellence ceremony on Sunday, May 21. Congratulations to all our Silver Award Girl Scouts! Troop #130 from the Alton/Godfrey/Wood River/Roxana area Project: Shelter Helpers – A Project for Partners for Pets Somona Acheson, KayLynn Buttry, Hope Carter, and Melina Luebbert Troop #792 from the Alton/Godfrey/Wood River/Roxana area Project: Care for Critters Julia Heil and Elisabeth Preston Troop #819 from the Edwardsville/Glen Carbon area Project: Medical Equipment Help Hadasah Hunter, Doreen
Thursday 06/01 Big Tent Revival
Last year, Circus Flora brought a bona fide Hollywood star to the big top in Grand Center — Illinois native Britt Lower, recently of the HBO hit series Severance and in St. Louis to research a film project about circus folk.
We’ve written a few times about California’s “Journalism Protection Act” (CJPA) from state Rep. Buffy Wicks, and many times about the terrible concept of such link taxes. Unfortunately, it looks like California’s bill is moving forward, with buy-in from the big media orgs and their journalists that will get the free pay offs from such […]
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