Area News
Pritzker forms independent commission to document misconduct of federal agents
The Illinois Accountability Commission will seek public input of misconduct by federal agents By MAGGIE DOUGHERTY Capitol News Illinois Article Summary JB Pritzker signed an executive order creating a new commission to document unlawful actions by federal agents. The commission has three primary goals: Creating a public record of abuses, examining the impact on families…
Read MoreIllinois achieves 10th rating upgrade since Governor Pritzker took office
Moody’s rating upgrade serves as continued recognition of Illinois’ significant financial progress On Oct. 23, 2025, Governor Pritzker celebrated the State’s 10th credit rating upgrade in just over four and a half years as Moody’s Investors Service upgraded Illinois’ rating to A2 for the State’s general obligation bonds. This recognition comes as Illinois has made…
Read MoreStudents throughout region visit 25th annual SIBA Construction Industry Career Expo
By RANDY PIERCE Efforts to encourage local high school students to consider entering careers in the various construction trades, by educating them about the advantages and opportunities offered plus providing hands-on experiences concerning what those jobs involve, was the subject of a special event held in Belleville last week that was attended by high…
Read MoreFrom Blossom to Bushel: Get to the core of apple breeding in the Midwest
By NANCY DeVAULT Illinois Farm Bureau Partners The Midwest Apple Improvement Association (MAIA) is a collaborative organization dedicated to developing new apple varieties specifically suited to the region’s unique growing conditions. Founded by a small group of friendly, forward-thinking farmers in the mid-1990s, MAIA now boasts more than 1,100 members committed to combining traditional…
Read MoreSIU’s Paul Simon Institute to host Metro East Youth Leadership Weekend Oct. 25-26
Southern Illinois University Carbondale’s Paul Simon Public Policy Institute will host the 20th Metro East Youth Leadership Weekend, Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 25-26. The institute’s retreat will welcome young Black males from the Metro East to participate in events that foster personal development, civility, leadership, and civic engagement. The theme for this year’s event is “Civility, Leadership, and…
Read MoreMooneyham Art announces the addition of two featured artists from southern Illinois
Alton’s Mooneyham Art recently announced the addition of two new featured artists to its gallery: Christy Motsinger and Cathy Dudley. Both are active members of the Little Egypt Art Association (LEAA) in Marion, Ill. Charles Mooneyham and co-curator Stephen Scordias of Mooneyham Art first encountered Little Egypt’s gallery during a visit to Marion for Mooneyham’s…
Read MoreO’Fallon announces closure of Auto Court at intersection with Highway 50
The O’Fallon Public Works Department will be closing Auto Court at the intersection with Highway 50 beginning on Monday, Oct. 27, 2025. The road will be closed to perform pavement repairs. Westbound Highway 50 will also experience lane restrictions during the first week of the closure. Drivers are urged to use the entrance road between…
Read MoreJeffries’ Illinois redistricting push meets cool reception in Springfield
U.S. House minority leader wants to bolster Democrats’ chances in 2026 midterm elections By BRENDEN MOORE Capitol News Illinois Article Summary Despite pressure from U.S. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, there is “next to zero appetite” to redistrict the state’s congressional lines among Democrats in the Illinois legislature. Black elected officials expressed concern over the…
Read MoreNew study reveals corporate directors on charity boards drive pro-corporate lobbying
A new peer-reviewed study in the INFORMS journal Management Science finds that public charities with corporate directors on their boards are significantly more likely to lobby on behalf of the connected firms’ political interests. More to the point, the research found that nonprofit governance structures can quietly serve as extensions of corporate influence into the political process,…
Read More4 members of Illinois GOP candidate Darren Bailey’s family killed in helicopter crash
NTSB investigating crash in Montana; cause of the accident not yet released By BEN SZALINSKI Capitol News Illinois Article Summary Four members of Illinois GOP candidate for governor Darren Bailey’s family were killed in a Montana helicopter crash on Wednesday. Circumstances of the crash are unclear, but the National Transportation Safety Board said it is…
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