St. Clair County Transit will open Phase I of The Orchard Loop trail with a ribbon-cutting community bike ride starting at 10 a.m. Saturday. The Orchard Loop is a new segment of the MetroLink Bike Trail that runs through Eckert’s Farms’ Belleville location, making the farm more accessible via public transit. The ribbon-cutting events will…

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment of health-care occupations is projected to grow 18 percent from 2016 to 2026, much faster than the average for all occupations, adding about 2.4 million new jobs. Health-care occupations are projected to add more jobs than any of the other occupational groups but the costs of…

Brian Campbell and Matt Diamond have taken over as the new owners of Colman’s Country Campers in Hartford, one of the largest dealerships in Illinois. Colman’s Country Campers provides sales, service and financing assistance along with parts and accessories. Campbell and Diamond have a combined 30-plus years of experience in the camping industry, ranging from…

Madison County is offering grants to communities looking to energize their parks through solar power. Community Development is announcing the availability of its new grant program, Solar Park Grant. The program, which is being funded by the U.S. Department of Energy, is designed to assist park districts and municipal parks and recreation departments within the…

International television news host Fareed Zakaria spoke on the importance of humanities-inspired leadership during the Mannie Jackson Center for the Humanities Speaker Series Fundraiser, Tuesday, March 26, at Lewis and Clark Community College. Zakaria’s message focused largely on the importance of humanities and soft skills in education and professional training. “One of the great challenges…

Long John Silver’s restaurants in 22 Central and Southern Illinois communities remain open as normal while owner Treasure Isles, Inc. works through bankruptcy proceedings, the restaurant chain says. Treasure Isles Inc. recently announced its filing for bankruptcy in an effort to preserve hundreds of jobs. The Long John Silver’s restaurants owned by the franchisee remain…

Survivors of sexual assault would be able to monitor their evidence online throughout the entire process under a goal set for by state officials. Illinois State Police Acting Director Brendan Kelly on Monday vowed to work toward fulfilling that goal, which is one of the recommendations set forth by the Sexual Assault Tracking Submissions Commission.…

A change to eligibility for federal food assistance could affect hundreds of thousands of Illinoisans. Able bodied people ages 18 to 49 without dependents, who work fewer than 20 hours a week, can only receive benefits through the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program for up to three months in a three-year period. The Trump administration wants…

OSF HealthCare Saint Anthony’s Health Center says a 12,000-square-foot rehab center will be built on the upper level of Alton Square Mall in the existing food court area, with construction expected to begin in the summer. The announcement was made Wednesday at an economic update luncheon hosted by the RiverBend Growth Association. OSF HealthCare Regional…