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GODFREY - The Godfrey Village Board of Trustees on Tuesday approved a change to the liquor license for Ruler Foods in Godfrey to allow the business to offer video gaming within its store after some discussion from village trustees. Trustees Sarah Woodman and Mike Fisher, who previously met with Ruler representatives and discussed video gaming licenses last year, said they were in favor of Ruler’s plan because of its success at other locations. Trustee Rick Lauschke added the business would not be solely focused on gaming. “It’s also a business here, too - it’s not just opening up a gaming parlor and doing nothing else,” Trustee Rick Lauschke said. “They’re just trying to, I’m assuming, add more revenue to the store.” Godfrey trustees previously put in place new rules and regulations regarding liquor and video game licenses for businesses within the village. Village officials determined that video gaming should not accoun

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The Florida legislature (with the support of goon-in-chief Ron DeSantis) really has a thing for unconstitutional bills that piss on the 1st Amendment. I mean, the state is still in a 1st Amendment fight with Mickey Mouse, which should tell you something. The Florida legislature is only in session at the beginning of the year, […]

On the first business day of the new year, Missouri Treasurer Vivek Malek began accepting applications for about $120 million of state-subsidized, low-interest loans to small businesses, farmers and affordable housing developers.

WASHINGTON, DC – As Republicans and the anti-abortion movement continue their state-by-state attacks on reproductive healthcare in post-Roe America, U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and U.S. Representative Susan Wild (D-PA-07) are introducing new legislation to protect every American’s right to access in -vitro fertilization (IVF) and other assisted reproductive technology (ART) services that millions of Americans need to have children—including Senator Duckworth herself, who relied on IVF to have her two daughters. Building on the lawmakers’ previously introduced Right to Build Families Act , this new legislation would establish a statutory right to access IVF and other ART services, thereby pre-empting any state effort to limit such access and ensuring no hopeful parent—or their doctors—are punished for trying to start or grow a family. “Since the Supreme Court threw out Roe v. Wade, our nation has seen a wave of Republican-led state

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WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today met with Meredith Berkman, co-founder of Parents Against Vaping e-cigarettes (PAVe), to discuss FDA’s failure to protect children from the dangers of vaping as the agency continues to miss and delay critical deadlines, including a missed federal court deadline on December 31, 2023. Durbin has repeatedly criticized FDA for failing to clear the market of addictive, kid-friendly e-cigarettes amid its long-overdue review of pre-market tobacco product applications (PMTAs) from e-cigarette manufacturers, which had a deadline of September 9, 2021. FDA has missed that court-ordered deadline by 28 months as unauthorized e-cigarettes flood the market and addict America’s children. “FDA is now 28 months past the original court-ordered deadline to complete its review of unauthorized e-cigarettes. That is not only unacceptable, it’s embarrassing. And the consequences for our children are devastating.

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ALTON - According to the latest federal data available, young adults in the United States continue to be more likely than their older counterparts to be experiencing symptoms of anxiety or depression. An analysis of the Census Bureau’s Household Pulse Survey finds that half (50%) of adults ages 18-24 reported anxiety and depression symptoms in 2023, compared to about a third of adults overall. The data also show that young adults are more likely than adults of any other age group to experience mental health symptoms. Since mental health continues to be a prominently identified community health priority in Madison County, OSF Saint Anthony’s Health Center – Psychological Services (1 Saint Anthony’s Way, 3 rd Floor, Alton, IL, 62002) will be offering FREE and confidential depression and anxiety screenings on the first Friday monthly beginning Friday, February 2. A referral for screening is not required but a scheduled appointment is necessary. Limited slots

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WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today met with leaders and members from the Illinois Soybean Association to discuss Illinois’s agricultural priorities as Congress works to reauthorize the Farm Bill. Duckworth and the members discussed the importance of supporting inland waterways, increasing Illinois’s agricultural exports markets and improving farm safety net programs. A photo from today’s meeting can be found on the Senator’s website. “America has always depended on our nation’s farmers to grow the food and fuel we need, and I’m proud to advocate for them on both the national and international stage,” Duckworth said. “The work of Illinois’s farmers is so important to the strength of our state and our nation, and I look forward to continuing my work with the Illinois Soybean Association and farmers across the state to make sure they have the resources and information they need.” Global

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WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today questioned witnesses during a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing entitled “Five Years of the First Step Act : Reimagining Rehabilitation and Protecting Public Safety.” The law serves as a beacon for “smart on crime” policies, and the hearing examined its successes and impact. Durbin first questioned Matthew Charles, a First Step Act beneficiary after serving over two decades in prison and now a Senior Policy Advisor at FAMM (formerly Families Against Mandatory Minimums), about his personal experience and how Congress can continue to improve and build upon the First Step Act. “There was a moment when your life turned around. Was that all your decision and your experience? Was it something external that made a difference to you that you think could help someone else in the future?” Durbin asked. Mr. Charles responded that he felt

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WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today took to the Senate floor to deliver a speech on his new bipartisan legislation with U.S. Senator Roger Marshall, M.D. (R-KS) to reauthorize funding for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) Oral Health program for the next five years. In his remarks, Durbin spoke about the impetus of the Promoting Dental Health Act, hearing stories from across Illinois, including rural and dental shortage areas, where children with tooth decay and other dental conditions faced extensive wait times to access necessary treatment while facing excruciating pain. Durbin began his speech by recognizing the highest enrollment numbers to date for health insurance coverage under the Affordable Care Act. Durbin recalled his own experience being uninsured when his family faced health complications, and reiterated the importance of ensuring quality, accessible health care options for Americans. “Last week, we

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MITCHELL - A tiny town in Illinois just got some huge news. An Illinois Lottery retailer in Mitchell is celebrating big after selling a winning $1 million Mega Millions ticket. The ticket was purchased for the Tuesday, January 16 drawing at 508 Variety Shop, located at 508 E. Chain of Rocks Road in Mitchell, IL, an unincorporated community located outside of St. Louis with a population of just over 1,000. “This really is huge news for our town,” exclaimed Amber Ronk, owner of 508 Variety Shop. “Mitchell is a very small town - blink and you might miss it. I am so excited for the winner!” When asked if she suspects who the winner might be, Ronk said, “I’m willing to bet the winner is a regular of ours. 90% of our customers are local residents who come in almost every day. I hope I find out who won so we can bask in the joy with them!” Not only is this news big for the winner, but also for the shop owner. “This is exciting news for

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JOLIET – On January 18, 2024, at approximately 4:32 a.m., Illinois State Police (ISP) officials investigated a two-vehicle traffic crash involving an ISP trooper’s squad car that was hit by a motorist who failed to move over on the ramp of Interstate 55 southbound to Interstate 80 eastbound in Will County. On the above date and time, an ISP Troop 3 trooper’s fully marked squad car was stationary on the ramp with its emergency lights activated responding to a report of a tire in the roadway. A silver Lincoln approaching the area, failed to move over, and struck the rear of the ISP squad car. No injuries were reported. The driver of the Lincoln, 63-year-old Joseph A. Gemini of Bolingbrook, IL, was charged with Move Over Law – Failure to Yield to Stationary Emergency Vehicle. In 2023, ISP had 21 Move Over Law-related crashes. In 2022, ISP had 23 Move Over Law-related crashes where eight Troopers sustained injuries. ISP is reminding the public of the requirements

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EDWARDSVILLE - The Madison County Board Executive Committee and State’s Attorney Tom Haine had several questions for County Chairman Kurt Prenzler after a reported ethics violation. While on county property and during work hours, Prenzler allegedly gave a political business card with his phone number handwritten on the card to a vendor. He also gave a card to an assistant state’s attorney in a separate incident. Prenzler was found in violation by Ethics Advisor Bruce Mattea, based on concerns that he was electioneering on county time and property. During the Executive Committee meeting on Jan. 17, 2024, Prenzler answered questions about both incidents. He said he took the card out of his wallet to give the vendor his phone number, not to campaign. He also pointed out that the vendor was not a Madison County voter. “I really didn’t think about it,” Prenzler said. “I just pulled out something to write on, something small that I could give to

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A classic concert from The Who is getting its first audio release. Live At Shea Stadium 1982, which originally was released on DVD and Blu-ray back in 2015, is coming out on CD…

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The new estimate provided by the Bi-State Development Agency is part of a report submitted Wednesday to the regional East-West Gateway Council of Governments.

Two teenage boys were shot Thursday evening after one of them accidentally pulled the trigger while holding a gun in the city's Carondelet neighborhood.

FAIRVIEW HEIGHTS - U.S. Attorney Rachelle Aud Crowe announced Thursday that the Southern District of Illinois collected $3,414,959.96 in criminal and civil actions in fiscal year 2023. Of this amount, $1,951,689.87 was collected in criminal actions and $1,463,270.09 was collected in civil actions. Additionally, Southern District of Illinois employees worked with other U.S. Attorney’s Offices and components of the Department of Justice to collect an additional $4,148,633.35 in jointly pursued cases. Of this amount, $9,266.10 was collected in criminal actions and $4,139,367.25 was collected in civil actions. “Throughout the last fiscal year, federal prosecutors and financial litigation staff worked tirelessly to collect millions of dollars in restitution from individuals charged with fraud and other crimes,” said U.S. Attorney Rachelle Aud Crowe. “These funds help support victims regain a sense of normalcy and offer assistance to law enforcement officers with

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Over the years, Metallica's 2003 effort, St. Anger, has consistently been the band's most maligned album, with fans often making fun of the sound of Lars Ulrich's snare drum on the record.…

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