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Area News

Rep. Kevin Schmidt names Minerva Boutique as his ‘Business of the Month’

After receiving submissions from across the 114th District, State Representative Kevin Schmidt (R-Millstadt) selected Minerva Boutique to be his “Business of the Month” for September 2025. Rep. Schmidt presented the owner, Catherine Donelle Gress, with an official certificate of recognition for sharing her vision and boutique style apparel with the Lebanon community. “Minerva Boutique is…

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High-ranking Sinaloa Cartel members charged with foreign terrorist organization material support, narcoterrorism

EAST ST. LOUIS, Ill. – In a superseding indictment unsealed today, high-ranking members of the Sinaloa Cartel are facing federal charges for their alleged involvement in trafficking hundreds of kilograms of methamphetamine, fentanyl, and cocaine into southern Illinois and laundering the proceeds to Mexico. “The Sinaloa Cartel relies on drug trafficking to finance its terrorism…

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Durbin hopes to meet with ICE this week about Chicago-area raids

Feds have left Illinois officials in the dark about immigration enforcement By BEN SZALINSKI Capitol News Illinois Article Summary U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin said there is a “chance” Illinois’ Democratic members of Congress get a long-requested meeting with immigration officials this week. Illinois leaders say they’ve been left largely uninformed about immigration enforcement actions in…

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Ex-GOP nominee for AG Tom DeVore temporarily loses law license over inappropriate client relationship

DeVore rose to prominence filing lawsuits over COVID restrictions during pandemic By HANNAH MEISEL Capitol News Illinois Article Summary Tom DeVore, who unsuccessfully ran as a Republican for Illinois attorney general in 2022, will lose his law license for 60 days, per a recent Illinois Supreme Court order. During the early months of the COVID-19…

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SCCTD secures $450K in federal funds for Fairview Heights-Swansea Trail Phase 1

The St. Clair County Transit District (SCCTD) has been awarded $450,000 in federal Transportation Alternatives Program (TAP) funds for the develop of Phase 1 of its Fairview Heights-Swansea Trail. This new 0.25-mile connector trail segment will extend from Illinois 161 and Sullivan Drive/Union Hill Road north to the existing MetroBikeLink System of trails. This is part…

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Governor issues executive order to mitigate impact of Trump’s economic actions on Illinois’ budget

Gov. Pritzker directs agencies to identify reserves up to four percent of FY26 general funds, work to maintain core services On Sept. 23, 2025, Governor JB Pritzker signed Executive Order 2025-05 directing state agencies to identify up to four percent of Fiscal Year 2026 General Funds appropriations to reserve in order to mitigate the impact…

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Archon returns to Collinsville Oct. 3-5: ‘Con’ draws authors, artists, other creatives

Since 1977, Archon has brought authors, artists, other creatives, along with science fiction and fantasy fans, together for a weekend of professional development and fun. Highlights of the weekend include over 200 panels featuring professional guests speaking on various subjects; scores of authors, artists and other creatives; a 10,000-square-foot dealers room; the Archon Art Show;…

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