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Hackers Expose The Massive Surveillance Stack Hiding Inside Your “Age Verification” Check

1 week 6 days ago
We’ve been saying this for years now, and we’re going to keep saying it until the message finally sinks in: mandatory age verification creates massive, centralized honeypots of sensitive biometric data that will inevitably be breached. Every single time. And every single time it happens, the politicians who mandated these systems and the companies that […]
Mike Masnick

Missouri may allow 5-year car registration soon

1 week 6 days ago
Missouri drivers with newer vehicles could soon have the option to register their cars for five years at a time instead of just one or two years, under legislation unanimously backed Monday by the Missouri House.
Alex Barton

USDA to give up massive DC office building as shift of staff to states begins

1 week 6 days ago
The U.S. Department of Agriculture will transfer a large office building to the General Services Administration in a step toward shrinking the department’s footprint in and around Washington, D.C., Secretary Brooke Rollins said Wednesday. More than 70% of offices at the USDA’s South Building, in Washington, sit empty on any given day, while deferred maintenance costs […]
Jacob Fischler

East Alton Fire Chief Emphasizes Crucial Mutual Aid System

1 week 6 days ago
EAST ALTON - East Alton Fire Chief Jeremy Diveley reflected on Wednesday, Feb. 25, 2026, about the massive fire in the Wilshire Strip Mall early Tuesday morning, Feb. 24, 2026. One point he wanted to emphasize was how important all the fire agencies were when the box alarms went out for the fire. He also stressed the importance of the system for East Alton and other departments in the region. “The mutual aid system we utilize is vital to small departments like ours,” Diveley said

Diveley Highlights Community Importance Of Strip Mall Devastated In Blaze

1 week 6 days ago
EAST ALTON - East Alton Fire Chief Jeremy Diveley said the fire in the Wilshire Strip Mall area early Tuesday morning, Feb. 24, 2026, was devastating for not only residents and those who still worked and owned businesses in the buildings. He pointed out that residents depend on the businesses at the Wilshire Strip Mall, as the Illinois State Fire Marshal’s Office investigates a fire that broke out Tuesday at the East Alton shopping center. Drone photos above are by Doug Booten. Diveley

Techdirt Podcast Episode 445: The Vision For The Decentralized Internet

1 week 6 days ago
Support us on Patreon » Late last year, Mike was a guest on Seb Agertoft’s Humans in the Loop podcast for a wide-ranging discussion all about restoring the promise of the decentralized internet. That interview was just released, and we’re dropping the whole conversation here as well on this week’s episode of the Techdirt Podcast. You […]
Leigh Beadon

Blues second-leading scorer Robert Thomas takes temporary leave of absence for a personal matter

1 week 6 days ago
St. Louis Blues forward Robert Thomas, who is second on the team with 33 points, will take a temporary leave of absence because of a personal matter. Blues president of hockey operations and general manager Doug Armstrong announced the leave of absence. Thomas is expected to return to the team on Friday. In 42 games, Thomas has 11 goals and 22 assists. He was placed on injured reserve on January 16 with a lower body injury. He made his last appearance in a game on January 10 against the Vegas Golden Knights.
Associated Press

Mexican National Sentenced to 18 Years in Prison on Child Sex Charges

1 week 6 days ago
ST. LOUIS – U.S. District Judge Henry E. Autrey on Wednesday sentenced a Mexican national to 18 years in prison for sexually abusing a minor. Giovanni Falcon, 41, began messaging a 15-year-old girl on Instagram in 2024 using an alias. In July and August of that year, Falcon sent the victim images of his genitals. Falcon then repeatedly engaged in sexual contact with the victim. On Aug. 13, 2024, the victim’s father contacted the St. Ann Police Department after discovering the explici

Madison Seymour Earns Recognition On 2025 Fall Dean's List At Trinity Christian

1 week 6 days ago
PALOS HEIGHTS, Ill. - In recognition of outstanding academic achievement, Trinity Christian College, Palos Heights, Illinois, released the college's Dean's List for Fall 2025. Brighton's Madison Seymour is on the Dean's List for the fall at Trinity Christian College. The Dean’s List is Trinity Christian College’s highest academic honor. It is recognized for traditional undergraduate students who achieve a semester GPA of 3.5 or better in 12 or more credits with grade points.

"Take Back the Night" Walk Planned on SWIC Campus for Sexual Assault Awareness Month

1 week 6 days ago
BELLEVILLE - College students and community members can come together for a Take Back the Night walk. On Thursday, April 30, 2026, Southwestern Illinois College (SWIC) in Belleville will host the annual demonstration and resource fair, which aims to raise awareness about sexual assault prevention and resources during Sexual Assault Awareness Month. The walk starts at 7 p.m. on SWIC’s Quad and will progress throughout campus, followed by a few speakers in the theater. “It’s

Mascoutah Teacher Named Finalist for Prestigious Teaching Award

1 week 6 days ago
MASCOUTAH - Joshua Veath, a fifth-grade teacher at Mascoutah Elementary School, has been named one of 30 finalists statewide for the 2026 Golden Apple Award for Excellence in Teaching, selected from nearly 600 nominations in Illinois, according to Mascoutah School District 19. The district said Veath, who teaches math, science and social studies in Mascoutah, was recognized for the impact he is making in the classroom. Mascoutah School District 19 congratulated him in a post identifying