CHICAGO – Gov. Pat Quinn today announced that the National Council on Compensation Insurance has filed a request for lower worker’s compensation rates, recommending a 5.5 percent drop in the advisory rate for 2015. The decrease will bring the total rate reduction since “historic reforms championed” by the governor were enacted in 2011 to more…

EAST ST. LOUIS – A local man was charged federally this week for a case in which he is alleged to have placed needles in packaged meats in a Shop ‘n Save grocery store in Bellevile. Ronald G. Avers, 68, of Belleville, was charged by criminal complaint on July 30, with seven violations of the…

NEW YORK (AP) – U.S. stocks had their worst one-day drop since February as traders worried about weak corporate earnings and the looming end of economic stimulus from the Federal Reserve. The drop interrupted a prolonged advance in the market and erased its gains for July. It was only the second monthly loss for stocks…

EDWARDSVILLE – The announced retirement of Associate Judge Keith Jensen sets up a vacancy in the 3rd Judcial Circuit, officials announced this afternoon. In accordance with Illinois Supreme Court rules, David Hylla, the chief judge, announced that the vacancy becomes official with the retirement effective Aug. 31. Any U.S. citizen, who is licensed to practice…

Pictured from left: Jason Baldus, Chad Opel, Tim Hammett, Roger Lewis, Brett Gilliland and Mark Allaria. EDWARDSVILLE – Visionary Wealth Advisors, a wealth management firm founded in March of this year, is merging with Meridian Financial Group, a company that has served Edwardsville and surrounding areas for 15 years. Meridian’s founder, Scott Carson, shown below…

ST. LOUIS – U.S. Bank and Golden Management today inaugurated Oak View Village, a 47-unit, affordable-housing apartment complex for seniors in Union, Mo. U.S. Bancorp Community Development Corporation, the community development subsidiary of U.S. Bank, invested $5.8 million in equity raised from federal and state low-income housing tax credits in the project, which will help…

SPRINGFIELD – A new law designed to make Illinois’ schools safer for students and staff was signed by the governor this week and goes into effect Friday. The most important part of the law, an initiative of Attorney General Lisa Madigan, state Sen. Andy Manar, D–Bunker Hill, and Rep. Michelle Mussman, D–Schaumburg, is expanded access…

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman John Shimkus, R-Collinsville, voted with the majority today for the House of Representatives to sue the Executive Branch for the Obama administration’s alleged failure to faithfully execute the law as required by the Constitution. Shimkus said there are a number of areas in which President Obama has “acted beyond the scope…

COLLINSVILLE – Unity Hospice of Greater St. Louis recently announced that Jennifer Mann of St. Charles, Mo., joined the company as director of clinical services Area Administrator Gay Little made the announcement. In her new role, Mann will provide management to Unity Hospice clinical staff as well as oversee the delivery of hospice care. In…

BERWYN – Gov. Pat Quinn today signed legislation that will give Illinois residents the opportunity to voice their opinion on whether millionaires should pay a little more to help ensure all students have access to a high-quality education. The legislation establishes a statewide advisory referendum on the Nov. 4 ballot to ask voters if they…