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After the first hour of his confirmation hearing for the job of leading Missouri's health department, it was clear that Donald Kauerauf knew he had a problem. It was January 31.…

SANGAMON COUNTY - A downstate Illinois judge has issued a ruling against the state's school mandates, including masking after lawsuits involving parents and teachers from more than 150 districts throughout the state. In granting them a temporary restraining order, Sangamon County Circuit Court Judge Raylene DeWitte Grischow said the mandates violate the plaintiffs' "due process rights under the law which provide them a meaningful opportunity to object to any such mitigations." “This court acknowledges the tragic toll the COVID-19 pandemic has taken, not only on this State but throughout the nation and globe,” Grischow wrote in the decision. “Nonetheless, it is the duty of the Courts to preserve the rule of law and ensure that all branches of government act within the boundaries of the authority granted under the Constitution. “The (Illinois Department of Public Health) is limited by law to delegating its authority only to certified local health departments

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CHICAGO – Governor Pritzker has asked the Illinois Attorney General’s office for an immediate appeal of Judge Grischow’s decision to restrain the State from enforcing the safety measures aimed at protecting teachers, school personnel, students and communities from COVID-19. The Attorney General is seeking an expedited appeal from the Fourth District Illinois Appellate Court. “The grave consequence of this misguided decision is that schools in these districts no longer have sufficient tools to keep students and staff safe while COVID-19 continues to threaten our communities – and this may force schools to go remote,” said Governor JB Pritzker. “This shows yet again that the mask mandate and school exclusion protocols are essential tools to keep schools open and everyone safe. As we have from the beginning of the pandemic, the administration will keep working to ensure every Illinoisan has the tools needed to keep themselves and

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EDWARDSVILLE - Criminal charges have been issued against a former Roxana School District teacher for alleged crimes that occurred inside the City of Edwardsville. On January 26, 2022, the Edwardsville Police Department received notification from the Roxana Police Department that a former school teacher in the Roxana School District had alleged sexual relationships with juveniles that were under the age of 18 years old. The Edwardsville Police department initiated an investigation due to the sexual acts occurring within the city limits of Edwardsville. The subsequent investigation led to the execution of a search warrant on February 1, 2022, at the suspect’s residence, located in the 400 block Roanoke Drive, Edwardsville, Illinois. The suspect was taken into police custody at that time. On February 4, 2022, the Madison County State’s Attorney’s Office issued criminal information for: Danielle C. Fischer F/W, 29 years of age For the following offenses: COUNT

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For decades, Dennis Rabbitt tortured women and cast a pall over the St. Louis region as the South Side Rapist. He prowled neighborhoods on a mission to find unlocked doors and windows.

Gen Horiuchi, artistic director of the St. Louis ballet Company since 2000, choreographed ballet performance for Nagano, Japan opening ceremony.

ST. LOUIS COUNTY - A two-alarm fire broke out early Saturday morning at a west St. Louis County church, prompting a massive response from multiple departments. Fire crews are at the First Free Church on Carman Road very close to Weidman Road. The flames started in a back building and not in the main church. The [...]

A civilization doesn't let the lights go out — neither does this teenager.

Girl Scouts of Southern Illinois CEO, Loretta Graham, wrote this editorial reflecting on Black History Month: As we celebrate Black History Month, let us recognize how African American culture has profoundly shaped American culture. Two of the greatest women in black history delivered a couple of the most significant speeches in American history - Sojourner Truth and Harriet Tubman. Sojourner Truth dedicated herself to the causes of ending slavery and fighting for equal rights for women. She was born into slavery in New York and freed in 1827 under the state’s emancipation law. Let’s reflect on an interpretation of a speech she delivered, “Ain’t I a Woman?”. She said “Well, children, where there is so much racket there must be something out of kilter. I think that ’twixt the Negroes of the South and the women at the North, all talking about rights, the white men will be in a fix pretty soon. But what’s all this here talking about? T

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PEORIA - How many times at work have you declared, “There has got to be a better way!” Knowing that Mission Partners (employees) have great ideas to create a better way, OSF HealthCare launched the OSF Innovation Studio – to take those ideas from exploration to commercialization. A couple of ideas that have been rapidly advanced include an app to improve surgical safety of patients with medical implants and a new type of heart stent. Kip McCoy, vice president of Innovation Studio for OSF HealthCare, says his team looks for ideas that have the potential to transform health care, are associated areas of expertise at OSF or are aligned with the OSF Innovation focus areas. Those areas include pediatrics, neurology, medical technology, big data and the social determinants of health, among others. But the Innovation Studio will also embrace random opportunities in a particular setting to improve processes, safety, recovery, treatment or even the patient’s overall

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Our Love Story: The Couple: David (I call him Dave, Husband, Love, & Sexy) and Natalie (He calls me Natty, Sugar Butt, Wife, Love, & Momma) from Wood River Date Met/Started Dating: July 11, 1997 Briefly Describe First Date: He worked at Tommy's Quik. My Mom helped me get a car. I started going in there for gas, cigarettes, and soda. If he was there, he made sure he was the one to always wait on me. He was very nice. After a few days, he asked me to stay and hang out. We spent several hours talking between customers. Getting to know each other, joking, flirting. He asked for my phone number, and we spent the rest of the night on the phone. We both knew from that day that we would be together. Date Married: April 11, 1999 Name Something You Enjoy Doing Together: Everything. At this point in our lives, we are both disabled. He has stage 4 Kidney disease, & Chronic Hemolytic Anemia, among other things. I have Uncontrolled Epilepsy among other things. We spend 99.9% of

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Our Love Story: The Couple: Craig and Chelsea from Roxana Date Met/Started Dating: July 24, 2005 Briefly Describe First Date: Dinner at Moonlight. Date Married: January 30, 2009 Name Something You Enjoy Doing Together: Spending time together, playing with our 3 kids. Share Advice For A Happy Relationship: Always marry your best friend! You will have your ups and downs, but it's the friendship that gets you through. Thanks to my Aunt for the best advice!

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Our Love Story: The Couple: "Honey" and "Sugar" from Wood River Date Met/Started Dating: April 22, 1994 Briefly Describe First Date: Our first date was at the movies at Eastgate. Date Married: August 17, 1996 Name Something You Enjoy Doing Together: L ooking for records and driving our pt cruiser down the river road for fish or going to Duke's bakery for a cookie. We have been together since I was 14 and he was 16. Share Advice For A Happy Relationship: Always love each other no matter what. Love always wins. We just fit; we are soul mates.

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Our Love Story: The Couple: Scott & Melissa from Godfrey Date Met/Started Dating: January 3, 2010 Briefly Describe First Date: Homemade dinner and movie. Date Married: September 3, 2010 Name Something You Enjoy Doing Together: Sxs riding. Sushi dates. Movies. Fun days with our kids. We have fun doing anything together. Share Advice For A Happy Relationship: Laugh. Have fun and don’t take things so seriously. Always have date nights.

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SPRINGFIELD— February can be one of the coldest and snowiest months of winter. With the upcoming sub-zero temperatures predicted for the region, HSHS Illinois hospitals and HSHS Medical Group clinics remind everyone the risk of cold-related injuries increases as the temps drop. The most common cold-related health issues are hypothermia and frostbite. Dr. Gurpreet Mander, HSHS Illinois chief physician executive, says while many people can and should stay indoors when the temperature drops to dangerous levels, some jobs require people to work in the cold. “Hypothermia and frostbite can set in very quickly and those who work outdoors should take steps to prevent these potentially serious issues.” If you must be outdoors during frigid temperatures: · Dress in layers and wear insulated clothing that allows for evaporation and minimal absorption of perspiration. · Take breaks. Be sure to warm up inside when needed. · Eat a balanced diet. · Drink

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The Center Square – Gov. J.B. Pritzker says he believes in paying off the state’s debt, but he didn't mention the state’s $4.5 billion unemployment trust fund debt that costs taxpayers tens of millions in interest during his State of the State and Budget address Wednesday. Proposing a spending plan for the coming fiscal year that's billions of dollars more expensive than what he proposed for the current year, Pritzker laid out his fiscal 2023 budget priorities on Groundhog Day at the Old State Capitol in Springfield. The governor offered up a spending plan of $45.5 billion in state funds, nearly $4 billion more than he proposed for the current fiscal year. Despite increased spending, the election-year plan includes a freeze in grocery taxes and property tax rebates of up to $300 per household. The governor is also proposing freezing the estimated 2.2 cent gas tax increase scheduled for July 1. Pritzker said the extra gas tax money wasn’t needed by the Illinois

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WOOD RIVER - Wood River Fire Department issued a Box Alarm on a fire call to Lewis and Clark Elementary at 501 East Lorena in Wood River on Friday. When firefighters arrived, they found smoke on the second floor. The fire appeared to originate in the mechanical area of the Lewis and Clark Elementary basement. With the assistance of the East Alton Fire Department and Roxana, Edwardsville, and Rosewood Heights Fire Departments, the firefighters were able to get the situation under control in a fast fashion. It was a snow day for Lewis and Clark Elementary, so there were no students in the buildings, Wood River Fire Chief Wade Stahlhut said, which was a huge blessing. Madison County Emergency Management was also called to the scene to assist. Stahlhut said he was also appreciative of the other departments for their assistance both at the fire and others with help at their fire station. The State Fire Marshal's Office was also requested to the scene to assist in the investigation o

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Mental health needs change as we get older. We reached out to counselors and experts for advice on handling stress and navigating life’s challenges.

‘I'm Muslim and I’m not Christian and he appointed me,’ former Sen. Jamilah Nasheed told the Post-Dispatch on Friday.