Marschke Engineering promotes Matt Tipton to project engineer
Young engineer working on projects in 25 states Marschke Engineering, a civil engineering firm with offices in Edwardsville, Ill., and Lake of the Ozarks, recently announced the promotion of Matt Tipton to project engineer. Tipton joined Marschke Engineering as an intern in 2022 and quickly distinguished himself through his initiative, technical skill, and professionalism. He…
Read More‘Centennial on 66’: Madison County announces student poster design challenge
Madison County is inviting young artists to get their kicks on Route 66 to celebrate 100 years of the “Mother Road.” The Madison County Board and Regional Office of Education are teaming up to launch the Route 66 Student Poster Challenge, a countywide art contest inviting K–12 students to design original posters inspired by the…
Read More[Op-Ed] ‘It’s better in a union:’ Illinois is standing guard for working families
By TIM DREA President, Illinois AFL-CIO Labor Day is more than a holiday. It’s a reminder that every workplace protection, every step toward fair wages, and every safety standard we enjoy today was fought for by generations of working people. And it’s a time to remember that those gains are never permanent unless we defend…
Read MoreMadison County names new Chief County Assessment Officer
Madison County has named Jessica Dudley as its new Chief County Assessment Officer. “Jessica brings a strong record of service and professionalism to this position,” Madison County Board Chairman Chris Slusser said. “Her background as Jarvis Township Assessor and her certification as a Certified Illinois Assessing Officer give her the experience and credibility needed to…
Read MoreFirst Mid Bank & Trust sounding alarm on new social engineering scams
Banking experts see increase in scammers posing as bank employees As fraudulent scams grow more sophisticated, First Mid Bank & Trust (First Mid) is sounding the alarm about a new type of social engineering fraud that is gaining traction and causing people to unwittingly give scammers access to their bank accounts. Social engineering fraud is…
Read MoreCaritas Family Solutions receives grant from Ameren Illinois to support housing program
Caritas Family Solutions has been awarded a $26,000 grant from Ameren Illinois to support the nonprofit’s Community Integrated Living Arrangements (CILA) program, which provides safe and supportive housing for adults with developmental disabilities. This funding enables critical home improvements, including sidewalk and door replacements, deck and gutter repairs, and the installation of shed gutters,…
Read MoreGovernor signs legislation to protect consumers from cryptocurrency scams
Building on efforts to increase consumer protections for the people of Illinois, Governor JB Pritzker signed two bills recently that create first-of-their-kind safeguards in the Midwest for cryptocurrency and other digital assets. The Digital Assets and Consumer Protection Act (SB1797) protects Illinoisans by establishing regulatory oversight of cryptocurrencies, while the Digital Asset Kiosk Act (SB2319)…
Read MoreCUB urges Ameren customers to attend upcoming public forums
The Citizens Utility Board (CUB) is urging Ameren Illinois gas customers to attend public forums in Springfield and East St. Louis next week to protest their utility’s proposal for a fourth gas rate hike in less than a decade. CUB advocates argue that Ameren’s current $131.1 million rate-hike plan is nearly triple what the utility…
Read More[Op-Ed] Ameren Illinois official explains summer energy bills
By MATT TOMC Vice President – Regulatory Policy and Electric Supply Ameren Illinois This spring, we began notifying our customers about an increase in the price of electricity and the projected impact on summer energy bills. The price of electric supply spiked because there is not enough surplus generation available to meet demand in the…
Read MoreNew study shows pre-apprenticeships transforming construction workforce
Investments in pre-apprenticeship programs have helped women and people of color become the two fastest growing demographic segments within Illinois’ construction workforce, according to new research by the nonpartisan Illinois Economic Policy Institute (ILEPI) and the Project for Middle Class Renewal (PMCR) at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. As 8-to-14-week programs, pre-apprenticeships (or apprenticeship…
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