Area News
Contegra constructing fifth distribution facility at Pontoon Beach’s Gateway Tradeport
NorthPoint Development is adding a 933,656-square-foot distribution center to Gateway Tradeport in Pontoon Beach, Ill. Contegra Construction is building the facility and targeting completion in Spring 2026. It is the fifth distribution center built by Contegra at the 600-acre master-planned Gateway Tradeport. The industrial development debuted in 2019 and will host more than 3.6 million…
Read MoreIllinois unemployment rate stable, jobs nearly unchanged in January
Revised December 2024 data revisions show payroll jobs up, unemployment rate down On Wednesday, March 12, 2025, the Illinois Department of Employment Security (IDES) announced that nonfarm payrolls were almost unchanged, down -1,100 (0.0%), while the unemployment rate was unchanged at 4.9 percent in January, based on preliminary data provided by the U.S. Bureau of…
Read MoreICC 2024 Supplier Diversity Report shows steady investment growth from ‘Big 6’ utilities
The Illinois Commerce Commission’s (ICC) Office of Diversity and Community Affairs’ (ODCA) 2024 Annual Report shows that diverse spending by the state’s largest investor-owned utilities has grown steadily for the fourth year in a row at over $2 billion. Some utilities reported a nearly 45 percent share of their total spending with diverse suppliers, including…
Read More‘Right to Play’ bill that would affect high school athletes advances in House
Bill would allow students to compete on school and nonschool teams simultaneously By PETER HANCOCK Capitol News Illinois [email protected] SPRINGFIELD – A House committee advanced a bill Wednesday that would give high school student athletes the right to participate in both school-sponsored teams and nonschool teams in the same sport at the same time, despite…
Read MorePartisan politics infiltrating non-partisan local Illinois elections
Illinois Democrats backing candidates in new strategy to get involved in all elections By BEN SZALINSKI and BRIDGETTE FOX Capitol News Illinois March 11, 2025 SPRINGFIELD — It’s been just four months since the last election concluded, but another election is on the horizon in Illinois: the April 1 elections for school boards and municipal…
Read MoreRaise a Glass for Rivers: March 20 trivia night to benefit NGRREC
The National Great Rivers Research and Education Center (NGRREC℠) is hosting a trivia night and silent auction from 6 to 9 p.m. on Thursday, March 20, at the Old Bakery Beer Company in Alton (400 Landmarks Blvd.). This event will benefit from Old Bakery Beer Company’s March “Drink for a Cause” initiative. The Drink for…
Read MoreOSF Moeller Cancer Center to host free April 7 skin cancer screening
“First come, first served” event scheduled from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. on Monday, April 7 Spring is just days away, the summer season will be here before we know it, temps will be getting warmer, and that means one thing – more fun in the sun. Riverbend region residents will be outside enjoying time at…
Read MoreMCT ‘unleashes’ four more sculptures along its trails
An Agency for Community Transit gift expands MCT’s “Arts on the Trails” initiative Just in time for spring, Madison County Transit (MCT) and Agency for Community Transit (ACT) have welcomed four new “Trail Critter” sculptures along the MCT Trails, expanding the popular “Art on the Trails” initiative. Building on the success of the eight sculptures…
Read MoreSite Selection Magazine ranks bi-state St. Louis metro region as ‘tops’
By MELISSA CROCKETT MESKE IBJ Managing Editor [email protected] As a part of the recent Leadership Council Southwestern Illinois board of directors meeting, held on Friday, Mar. 7, 2025, at the DoubleTree Hotel in Collinsville, Site Selection Magazine Representative Ron Starner honored the council for its continuously diligent work throughout the region. Recognizing these efforts,…
Read MoreBusey Bank Bridge Scholarship applications now available
Funds provide financial support for continuing education endeavors Busey Bank is again offering financial support opportunities toward continuing education endeavors to applicants of all ages and educational backgrounds through its Busey Bank Bridge Scholarship program. “We are proud to support the educational aspirations of students across our footprint through the Busey Bank Bridge Scholarship,” said…
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