The newly released Social Mobility Index ranked Southern Illinois University Edwardsville 70th among 539 top schools in the U.S. The ranking acknowledges schools for increasing access to higher education and producing graduates poised to make a positive impact in their communities. “The Social Mobility Index ranking demonstrates that SIUE is focused on creating affordable, student-centered…

EDWARDSVILLE – Three ordinances addressing the renewal of two enterprise zones and the creation of a third were approved by the Madison County Board at Wednesday’s meeting. The enterprise zones county officials are attempting to extend are the Southwestern and Riverbend Enterprise Zones. The Southwestern Enterprise Zone is a 13.6-square-mile area that includes Granite City,…

WASHINGTON – A bill that sponsors say would provide access to clean drinking water without spending new money or creating new bureaucracy, has been introduced by U.S. Sens. Dick Durbin, D-Ill., and Bob Corker, R-Tenn. The pair on Wednesday introduced The Paul Simon Water for the World Act of 2014, bipartisan legislation to dramatically improve…

LCCC graduate Heba Freese, left, is featured in the video, “Heba’s Story.” GODFREY – Lewis and Clark Community College’s Media Services Department won three gold medallions, one silver medallion and one bronze medallion during the National Council for Marketing & Public Relations District 3 Awards Ceremony in October. “The college has an amazingly well-rounded staff…

NAPERVILLE – Delta Dental of Illinois today announced that Stephanie Aloisi has been hired as a sales executive. Aloisi will focus on middle market sales in southern Illinois, including Belleville, Bloomington, Carbondale, Champaign-Urbana, East St. Louis, Peoria and Quincy. With more than 20 years of experience in the health and life benefits industry, Aloisi most…

FAIRVIEW HEIGHTS – U.S. Attorney Stephen R. Wigginton, who represents the Southern District of Illinois, says the district collected $5,490,994.09 in criminal and civil actions in Fiscal Year 2014. Of that amount, $1,574,414.70 was collected in criminal actions and $3,916,579.39 was collected in civil actions. Additionally, Southern District of Illinois worked with other U.S. Attorney’s…

EDWARDSVILLE — A judge began weighing Tuesday a request from a group of landowners to at least delay Illinois’ new rules for high-volume oil and gas drilling from taking effect. Madison County Circuit Judge Barbara Crowder’s decision to take the matter under advisement came after more than two hours of debate between the landowners’ attorneys…

An interior view of Cornerstone Christian Church on Green Mount Road in Shiloh. The church remained operational during the remodel, which involved the demolition of 2,100 square feet of office space that was converted into a café. The new space features a concrete floor finished to resemble a wood plank floor, custom casework for a…

SPRINGFIELD – The Illinois Health Facilities Service and Review Board has now rescheduled a second public hearing regarding St. Elizabeth’s Hospital’s application to build a replacement hospital in O’Fallon. The hearing will be held from 5 to 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 2, at the Belle-Clair Fairgrounds and Expo Center, 200 South Belt East in Belleville,…

JERSEYVILLE – A new restaurant will open for business Monday in the heart of downtown Jerseyville. Ciudad Del Sol Mexican Restaurant, 208 S. State St., will celebrate its grand opening with a ribbon-cutting ceremony at 11 a.m. before officially opening its doors for the inaugural lunch service. City officials and members of the Jersey County…