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Women in the Skilled Trades: White Paper Available on New Study

1 week 4 days ago

From Association of Wall and Ceiling Industries: A new white paper titled “Women in the Skilled Trades: More Than Just Boots on the Ground” by the National Center for Construction Education & Research (NCCER) and Ambition Theory delves into the experiences of women in the construction industry. Click to download paper. Despite comprising nearly half […]

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Tom Finan

Westbound I-64 Ramp Closure Begins Aug. 15

1 week 4 days ago
EAST ST. LOUIS – The Illinois Department of Transportation today announced that the ramp from westbound Interstate 64 to eastbound I-55/70 in St. Clair County will be temporarily closed for bridge deck patching starting, weather permitting, at 9 p.m. Friday, Aug. 15. Motorists should expect delays and are encouraged to use alternate routes during this closure. Drivers are urged to reduce speed, be alert for changing conditions, obey all construction signage, and refrain from using mobile devices while approaching and traveling through the work zone. The ramp is scheduled to reopen at 6 a.m. Monday, Aug. 18. For IDOT District 8 updates, follow us on the social media platform X at @IDOTDistrict8 or view area construction details on IDOT’s traveler information map on GettingAroundIllinois.com.

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How a Blue Collar Job Can Help You Achieve The Future You Want

1 week 4 days ago

From Saving Advice: Many people imagine their dream future as something tied to a high-paying office role, but blue collar jobs can open equally promising doors. Skilled trades often provide stability, solid wages, and opportunities for advancement without requiring years of student debt. These roles also offer tangible satisfaction—you can see the direct results of […]

The post How a Blue Collar Job Can Help You Achieve The Future You Want appeared first on Construction Forum.

Dede Hance

Apply Now for the 2026 Commercial Facade Improvement Program

1 week 4 days ago

For the second year in a row, the City of St. Louis’ Community Development Administration (CDA) is administering the Commercial Facade Improvement Program — a big opportunity for small businesses to give their storefronts a fresh new look. Funded through the federal Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program, the initiative offers forgivable loans to help […]

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Dede Hance

Contractor Optimism for Robots Grows, But Usage Drops

1 week 4 days ago

From Construction Dive: Construction professionals view their companies’ robotic innovation efforts more favorably in 2025 than in prior years, according to BuiltWorlds’ latest Equipment & Robotics Benchmarking report. Positive evaluations of the innovative equipment jumped from 74% in 2024 to over 95% this year, and negative evaluations, called “poor” in the report, dropped entirely. That […]

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Dede Hance

In St. Louis, Artist Housing Opens Up Home Ownership Opportunities

1 week 4 days ago

From Shelterforce: Long before his skills earned him a path to homeownership in his hometown, Stan Chisholm DJ’d, painted murals, and taught local kids how to express themselves creatively. But his story didn’t start so smoothly. Chisholm was born on the south side of St. Louis, where his mother relocated their family regularly as a […]

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Tom Finan

Unless Congress acts, full Social Security benefits could end in 7 years

1 week 4 days ago
WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump signed a proclamation celebrating the 90th anniversary of Social Security on Thursday, though he offered no plans for avoiding insolvency and a steep drop-off in benefits within the next decade. Trump, who campaigned on “saving” the income stabilization program for America’s seniors, said during an appearance in the Oval Office […]
Jennifer Shutt

Riverpointe in St. Charles Has Stalled for Years. Two New Hotels Could Change That.

1 week 4 days ago

From St. Louis Post-Dispatch: City leaders here say a pair of luxury hotels are helping breathe new life into St. Charles’ proposed Riverpointe development along the Missouri River — a project that has languished nearly empty for years. The hotel complex is a joint venture from area hotel developer Anandkumar “Andy” Patel and Raj Clement, […]

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Dede Hance

PBS Channel's "The Bread Monk" to Speak at St. Paul's Episcopal Church in Alton

1 week 4 days ago
ALTON - St. Paul’s Episcopal Church invites community members to attend a program with Father Dominic “The Bread Monk” Garramone, known for his 2000s PBS cooking show “Breaking Bread with Father Dominic.” Father Garramone, a Benedictine monk from Peru, Illinois, will give a presentation at St. Paul’s at 2 p.m. on Sunday, Aug. 24, 2025. Doors open at 1 p.m. and lunch — one of Fr. Garramone’s own recipes — will be served at 1:30 p.m. “It’s going to be a very exciting opportunity to hear from a very learned and wonderful chef,” said Robbie Cupp, a leader at St. Paul’s. In addition to hosting his own cooking show from 1999 to 2001, Fr. Garramone is known as the author of several cookbooks and an award-winning children’s book. He is also an educator and travels often. Cupp explained that St. Paul’s has been working for over a year now to book an event with Fr. Garramone, and the parishioners

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Illinois enacts new law to aid human trafficking survivors

1 week 4 days ago
Illinois Governor JB Pritzker signed the Illinois Statewide Trauma-Informed Response to Human Trafficking Act into law, which will create new human trafficking task forces, provide support and training for state attorneys, align penalties for child labor trafficking with child sex trafficking penalties, and provide affirmative defense for minors.
Kamy Smelser