Area News
Regional comms pro to host ‘Google Goldmine’ July 9, live online
For more than 20 years, Carolyn Green has worked as a fractional CMO, bringing a team of communication specialists into a few select businesses to win bigger projects and better clients without them needing to hire additional staff. Over the past year or so, C.Green & Associates Inc. has further been expanding its service model…
Read MoreChallenges persist for women, minorities breaking into Illinois’ skilled trades
Over the past 10 years, women have held fewer than one in 10 construction jobs By MAGGIE DOUGHERTY and Medill Illinois News Bureau, Capitol News Illinois PEORIA — For 60 years, SkillsUSA Illinois has held workforce development competitions for young people entering the trades. For 60 years, there has never been an all-female team…
Read MoreIllinois payroll jobs hold steady, unemployment rate unchanged in May
The Illinois Department of Employment Security (IDES) announced on June 20, 2025, that nonfarm payrolls were nearly unchanged over-the-month, up +100 (0.0%) to 6,166,100 in May. Additionally, the April monthly change in payrolls was revised from the preliminary report, from +4,100 to -2,400. The unemployment rate was 4.8 percent in May, while the revised April…
Read MoreAble Flight, SIU Aviation offer the sky to student pilots with disabilities
There are comparable skill sets that a trauma nurse and pilot must possess. Brandi Fields knows one and is quickly learning the other as one of five students in Southern Illinois University Carbondale’s 2025 Able Flight program hosted by SIU Aviation. “There are a lot of transferable skills,” said Fields, a 29-year-old nurse from Kansas City, Mo.…
Read MoreFirst Mid earns second consecutive Greater St. Louis Top Workplaces award
First Mid Bancshares Inc. (First Mid) recently announced that it has been named a Greater St. Louis Top Workplace for the second year in a row by the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. This esteemed recognition is based entirely on employee feedback gathered through a third-party survey administered by Energage, which measures workplace culture drivers such as…
Read MoreAMFP launches Greater St. Louis chapter to support healthcare built environment professionals
The Association of Medical Facility Professionals (AMFP) has announced the official launch of its newest chapter, the 34th chapter of the organization, in St. Louis, Mo., effective June 19, 2025. This expansion marks an important step forward in supporting the region’s healthcare built environment leaders—bringing together professionals from across planning, design, construction, and operations. Planning…
Read MoreHistoric Mississippi River Festival archives find permanent home in Alton
Former MRF Director Lyle Ward’s personal collection makes Alton debut during 2025 festival weekend that celebrates music legacy After nearly five decades of safeguarding the memories of one of America’s most legendary music festivals, Lyle Ward is bringing his treasure trove to Alton. As a former director of the Mississippi River Festival (MRF), which…
Read MoreLegislators Harriss, Elik, to host free Kids Fair event on June 28
State Senator Erica Harriss (R-Glen Carbon) and State Representative Amy Elik (R-Alton) have partnered to host a free Kids Fair Event this coming weekend, on Saturday, June 28, 2025. The event will feature free resources for parents and their children, free vison/hearing tests, face painting, food, touch-a-truck, a foam party, and more. The event…
Read MoreSoybean group seeks candidates to fill board seats
The Illinois Soybean Association (ISA) seeks qualified candidates to fill board seats representing six districts that are up for election in 2025: District 3: Whiteside, Rock Island, Henry, Mercer, Henderson, Stark, and Warren Counties District 4: Bureau, LaSalle, Grundy, and Kendall Counties District 6: Woodford, Livingston, and McLean Counties District 8: Hancock, McDonough, Adams, Brown,…
Read MoreBudzinski, steelworkers demand a voice for Granite City in Trump-Nippon deal
On Saturday, June 21, 2025, Congresswoman Nikki Budzinski (IL-13) joined local United Steelworkers leaders in Granite City at a press conference calling for greater transparency and stronger investment commitments in the proposed deal between President Donald Trump and Nippon Steel. Budzinski, along with Local 1899 President Craig McVey and Sub-District Director Jason Chism, emphasized…
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