Area News
Recent aerial applicator crashes draw attention to safety
By PHYLLIS COULTER FarmWeek Summer skies fill with planes and helicopters in rural Illinois every summer as corn and soybean fields need crop protection. However, the risk to aerial applicators was magnified last month with four crashes within eight days in Illinois. An applicator plane crashed near the Ogle County Airport in Mount Morris…
Read MoreEdwardsville Police join statewide Labor Day traffic safety effort
The Edwardsville Police will be one of over 200 law enforcement agencies across Illinois participating in the statewide “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over,” “Drive High Get a DUI,” and “Click It or Ticket” campaigns this Labor Day. From Aug. 15 through the early morning hours of Sept. 2, officers will be out in force,…
Read MoreBillboard promoting far-right group Proud Boys springs up in Breese, southern Illinois
The advertisement near a Breese high school appears to be a recruiting tool By MOLLY PARKER Capitol News Illinois August 18, 2025 Article Summary A billboard promoting the Proud Boys, a right-wing extremist group, has been put up near a high school in Clinton County in southern Illinois. The group, which has been labeled a…
Read MoreISP announces sweeping human trafficking law changes for Illinois
Illinois Governor JB Pritzker signs Illinois Statewide Trauma-Informed Response to Human Trafficking Act The Illinois State Police (ISP) is announcing major updates to several laws impacting the ability to combat human trafficking and help those who have been trafficked with the Governor’s signing of Senate Bill 2323, the Illinois Statewide Trauma-Informed Response to Human Trafficking…
Read MoreFirst Mid Insurance Group retains Best Practices Agency recognition
First Mid Insurance Group (FMIG) recently announced that it has once again been recognized as a Best Practices Agency for 2025, marking the sixth time they have achieved this honor. FMIG has retained its spot as a part of this elite group of independent insurance agencies around the United States. The Best Practices Agency designation…
Read MoreCareer Pathways of Southern Illinois to host Aug. 20 graduation ceremony
Career Pathways of Southern Illinois will host a graduation ceremony for its Construction Pre-Apprenticeship Cohorts 2 & 3 starting at 1 p.m. on Aug. 20, 2025. The ceremony will take place at Lansdowne Up Center, 1800 N. 25th Street, East St. Louis, Ill. A non-profit membership organization, Career Pathways of Southern Illinois is dedicated to connecting…
Read MoreNew technology evaluates sub-transmission power line performance, helps prioritize upgrades
Ameren Illinois plans to use LineVue technology to assess grid over the next several years Ameren Illinois is using groundbreaking technology to more quickly and accurately determine when sub-transmission power lines should be upgraded, improving service reliability and saving customers money. A device known as “LineVue” is placed on the sub-transmission power lines to…
Read MoreSt. Louis Postal Processing Center audit results released, Bost responds
Results of an audit were released on Aug. 14, 2025 by the U.S. Postal Service Office of the Inspector General of the St. Louis and Hazelwood, Mo., processing and distribution facilities serving southern Illinois. The independent report confirmed widespread problems that have fueled months of delivery delays, lost packages, and substandard service impacting local families,…
Read MoreIllinois State Police establishes trafficking enforcement group
New Investigative Support Operations Center provides latest technology, advancements to combat crime The Illinois State Police (ISP), partnering with the Decatur Police Department, the McLean County Sheriff’s Office, and the Howard G. Buffett Foundation, has created the Illinois Trafficking Enforcement Group (ITEG) to take its work in combating human trafficking to the next level. …
Read MoreCity of O’Fallon announces Aug. 18 start of annual water system treatment
O’Fallon city officials have announced that, on Aug. 18, 2025, Illinois American Water will begin the annual maintenance of their water system. Illinois American Water’s water quality team will be switching treatment to a form of chlorine known as “free chlorine,” which does not contain ammonia. The City of O’Fallon will be notified when they…
Read More