Area News
Judge declines to extend ‘swipe fee’ injunction to credit unions, applies it to out-of-state banks
Court had previously granted injunction to national banks, denied it for Illinois banks, credit card companies By BEN SZALINSKI Capitol News Illinois A federal judge on Thursday [Feb. 6, 2025] declined to issue an injunction to stop an Illinois law that bans certain credit card fees from applying to credit unions while extending its previous…
Read MorePresident suggests that Nippon Steel would not buy U. S. Steel, but instead invest in it
By MELISSA CROCKETT MESKE IBJ Managing Editor Recent reports by the Associated Press indicate that President Donald Trump has suggested Nippon Steel would instead invest in U. S. Steel rather than buy the American-iconic business. Nippon Steel’s previous bid to acquire U. S. Steel and merge the two steel industry titans had been blocked by…
Read MorePritzker signs ‘Karina’s law’ to remove guns from domestic violence situations
Bill named for Chicago woman killed after receiving order of protection By BEN SZALINSKI Capitol News Illinois Karina Gonzalez and her 15-year-old daughter Daniela were shot and killed on Fourth of July weekend in 2023 at their Chicago home, allegedly by her husband. After more than a year of negotiations, Gov. JB Pritzker signed a…
Read MoreLocal gourmet oils-and-more source is February business honoree
What could be argued as a best choice during the month that celebrates love, Olive Oil Marketplace in Alton is being honored by the RiverBend Growth Association as the February 2025 Small Business of the Month award recipient. Located at 108 W. 3rd Street, Olive Oil Marketplace is a local, family-owned and operated gourmet market…
Read MoreUPDATE: SIUC’s SouthernTECH research and business growth event postponed until March 4
Due to uncertain weather and widespread illness in the region, the SouthernTECH 2025: Advancing SIU Research, Building Businesses, Igniting Smart Growth” conference, originally scheduled for tomorrow (Feb. 11, 2025) at Southern Illinois University Carbondale, is being postponed until March 4. The free event is geared toward regional business leaders who want to stay ahead of industry…
Read MoreUPDATED: Mueller Furniture & Mattress remodels historic Belleville location
Mueller Furniture & Mattress recently announced that its fourth-generation family-owned business completed a $300,000 remodel for its historic Belleville location which opened its doors nearly 100 years ago. The remodel consists of expanding the showroom with new flooring, ceiling, lighting, paint and in-store kiosks. “We are so excited for our customers to see our investment…
Read MoreChief Judges of Illinois approves tuition-free court reporting training
Court reporters, and the transcripts they produce, are an integral part of the court system; however, a shortage of licensed court reporters is looming on the horizon. Licensed court reporters take a verbatim record of criminal cases heard in Illinois to ensure that all citizens have equal access to justice – not just the ones who…
Read MoreIllinois locked in legal battles with Trump administration over immigration policy
Early weeks of new Trump administration dominates legislative debate By PETER HANCOCK Capitol News Illinois SPRINGFIELD – Illinois participated in one court battle with the Trump administration Thursday when a federal judge temporarily blocked enforcement of an executive order that sought to end “birthright citizenship” under the U.S. Constitution. But the legal battles between the…
Read MoreHPAI leaves Kakadoodle Farm looking for ‘what’s next’
By RHIANNON BRANCH FarmWeek Cook County farmer Marty Thomas was scheduled to speak about “How to scale your egg business” at the 2025 Everything Local Conference, but an outbreak of avian influenza just two weeks prior changed what he chose to share with fellow producers. In 2021 Thomas and his wife, MariKate, established Kakadoodle Farm,…
Read MoreHSHS St. Joseph’s Hospital Breese Auxiliary to host used book fair, bake sale
HSHS St. Joseph’s Hospital Breese’s Auxiliary is hosting its annual Used Book Fair and Bake Sale from Thursday, March 6 through Saturday, March 8, at the Knights of Columbus Hall at 480 N. Walnut St. in Breese. Hours will vary by day as follows: 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Thursday, March 6 10 a.m. to…
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