Justice Department announces results of Operation Restore Justice
205 child sex abuse offenders arrested in FBI-led nationwide crackdown, four facing charges in the Southern District of Illinois EAST ST. LOUIS, Ill. – The Department of Justice announced Wednesday the results of Operation Restore Justice, a coordinated enforcement effort to identify, track and arrest child sex predators. The operation resulted in the rescue of…
Read MoreU.S. Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi announces Senate candidacy
Northwest suburban Democrat enters race with cash advantage By BEN SZALINSKI Capitol News Illinois U.S. Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi is the latest Democrat to enter the 2026 U.S. Senate primary for retiring Sen. Dick Durbin’s seat. Krishnamoorthi, of Schaumburg, has represented the 8th Congressional District since 2017. He was born in India and grew up…
Read MoreU.S. Rep. Robin Kelly joins Democratic primary to fill Durbin’s Senate seat
Former state party chair once again challenging a Pritzker-backed candidate By BEN SZALINSKI Capitol News Illinois U.S. Rep. Robin Kelly is the second Democrat to step into the 2026 primary race to succeed U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin. Kelly, a resident of south suburban Matteson, has represented Illinois’ 2nd Congressional District since 2013 and recently…
Read MoreCommunity invited to celebrate loved ones at memorial butterfly release ceremonies
Ceremonies to be held in Greenville, O’Fallon, Highland and Breese hosted by HSHS Home Care HSHS Home Care invites community members to join them for butterfly release ceremonies at locations throughout southern Illinois at these Hospital Sisters Health System hospitals: HSHS Holy Family Hospital, Greenville: Wednesday, May 14 at 4 p.m. in the fountain area (front…
Read MoreBelt helps secure $550K in job training funding for SWIC
State Senator Christopher Belt secured $550,000 to help Southwestern Illinois College build pathways to good-paying jobs in the construction and building trades in the Metro East. “We often talk about the importance of getting more people into the trades — but talk alone doesn’t build careers,” said Belt (D-Swansea). “This funding will provide resources to…
Read MoreO’Fallon-Shiloh chamber hosts ribbon cutting for Livido Wellness
On April 30, 2025, the O’Fallon-Shiloh Chamber of Commerce led a ribbon cutting celebration for Livido Wellness, located at 1911 Frank Scott Pkwy E suite 4, Shiloh, IL 62269. Livido is open and eager to serve the community with its services under its mantra of “Balance. Boost. Beautify. Your Wellness, Reimagined with Livido Wellness.” Shown with…
Read MoreIllinois celebrates World Trade Month in May
2024 exports reach all-time high and represent a 32 percent increase from pre-pandemic levels in 2019 This May, the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) is celebrating World Trade Month. According to rankings by the U.S. Department of Commerce, Illinois continues to lead as the top exporting state in Midwest and the fourth…
Read MoreChina tariff hits hard here, back home
By MELISSA CROCKETT MESKE IBJ Managing Editor [email protected] SG Labs LLC is based in O’Fallon, Ill. Michael Gramelspacher is its co-founder and co-director. It is a small, lean business with just a few employees. But its customer base is widespread and international, coming in from all over the world from places such as California, Florida,…
Read MoreFirearms trafficker sentenced to 100 months’ imprisonment
BENTON, Ill. – A district judge sentenced a Marion man to more than 8 years in federal prison after he admitted to trafficking firearms in southern Illinois. Lonnie J. Petty, 20, pleaded guilty to one count of illegal possession of a machine gun and one count of illegal transfer of a machine gun. Law enforcement…
Read MoreLetter to the Editor: State lawmakers must curb illicit vape sales in Illinois
In my professional life as a former senior special agent with the ATF and now as an educator teaching in secondary and higher education throughout Illinois, I have a unique view into both the criminal underworld and the communities it harms. I strongly support HB2634 because I believe it is critical to protect our state…
Read More