Area News
Faster, cheaper, safer: I-255 work wrapped up this past weekend in St. Clair County
$65.4 million project completed more than six weeks ahead of schedule The Illinois Department of Transportation has announced that Interstate 255 from Illinois 157 to Illinois 15 in St. Clair County has reopened to traffic, more than six weeks ahead of schedule. Made possible by Gov. JB Pritzker’s historic, bipartisan Rebuild Illinois capital program, the…
Read MoreNGRREC to host June 24 SEED Series event with Botanist Wendy Applequist
Join the National Great Rivers Research and Education Center (NGRREC℠) for the upcoming SEED Series event Garden Guidance: Reframing Our Relationship with Invasives — An Empowering Conversation with Botanist Wendy Applequist. The event takes place from 10 a.m. to 12 Noon, Tuesday, June 24, at the Jerry F. Costello Confluence Field Station in East Alton.…
Read MoreSIHF Healthcare celebrates Vivian’s Village Housing Phase I Development opening
SIHF Healthcare (SIHF) celebrated the grand opening of Phase I of Vivian’s Village Wednesday, June 11, 2025 with a ribbon-cutting ceremony at 5708 Bond Avenue in Cahokia Heights, Ill. Vivian’s Village encompasses 16 one-bedroom housing units and is dedicated to providing safe, affordable, and supportive housing within a community SIHF serves. “This ribbon cutting and…
Read MoreHaine leads State’s Attorneys of 35 counties in calling for Illinois’ ban on firearms to be ruled unconstitutional
Amicus brief filed in U.S. Court of Appeals’ Seventh Circuit Madison County State’s Attorney Tom Haine has assembled a team of 35 elected State’s Attorneys from across Illinois to file an amicus brief in the U.S. Court of Appeals’ Seventh Circuit, arguing Illinois’ ban on so-called assault weapons is unconstitutional. In the amicus brief, also…
Read MoreJune small business honoree keeps Alton’s downtown ‘a-buzz’
The RiverBend Growth Association has selected Honeybee Vintage in Alton as its June 2025 Small Business of the Month award recipient. Located at 114 E. Broadway, it is in its fourth year of business now with Owner Melissa Bland collaborating with 20 vendors to create a marketplace that offers a variety of quality antiques,…
Read MorePresident Trump approves partnership between U.S. Steel, Nippon Steel
President Trump signs executive order to unleash unprecedented investment in American steelmaking PITTSBURGH & TOKYO–(BUSINESS WIRE)– United States Steel Corporation (“U. S. Steel”) (NYSE: X) and Nippon Steel Corporation (“Nippon Steel”) (TSE: 5401) together with its wholly owned subsidiary Nippon Steel North America Inc. (“NSNA”) (collectively, the “Companies”), announced on June 13, 2025, that United…
Read MoreFarming has an ‘acute succession challenge’
By TAMMIE SLOUP FarmWeek The 1980s farm crisis didn’t just impact balance sheets, it changed people’s interest in being involved in agriculture. “The farm prices didn’t just hurt those in production, the ripple effect was across the industry,” said Aaron Locker, who has spent his career helping agricultural businesses find talent and leadership. Locker,…
Read MoreProjected ag trade deficit climbs
By TAMMIE SLOUP FarmWeek A USDA trade outlook report forecasts the U.S. ag trade deficit to slightly climb from its previous quarterly projection. The report, dated May 29 but not released until June 2, puts the ag trade deficit at $49.5 billion for fiscal year 2025, up from the $49 billion forecasted in February.…
Read MoreIllinois State Fair announces theme for 2025: ‘Adventure Awaits’
Theme parade entry applications accepted until July 8 Adventure Awaits at the 2025 Illinois State Fair! The theme for this year’s fair sets the tone for an unforgettable journey through all that makes the Illinois State Fair a must-see event—livestock competitions, jaw-dropping performances, thrilling carnival rides, delicious food, and nonstop entertainment. This theme also sets…
Read MoreEckert’s Grafton Farm opens for the season; Belleville farm’s final weekend for blackberry picking
Eckert’s Grafton Farm (20995 Eckert Orchard Rd, Grafton, IL 62037) officially opened for the season today (Friday, June 13), kicking things off with a fan-favorite: Pick-Your-Own black raspberries. This limited-time crop will be available through Sunday (June 13–15), 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily. The farm will remain open throughout the season, closed on…
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