Area News
U.S. planting intentions: Less corn, more soybeans
By RHIANNON BRANCH FarmWeek U.S. farmers intend to plant 95.3 million acres of corn in 2026, down 3 percent from last year, and 84.7 million acres of soybeans, up 4 percent from last year, according to USDA’s prospective plantings report released March 31. “The survey suggested corn acres would be switching to soybeans in…
Read MoreIllinois land values simmer, for now
By RHIANNON BRANCH FarmWeek The 2026 Land Values and Lease Trends Report saw a shift in narrative from recent years, with 61 percent of survey respondents expecting a decline in farmland prices this year, signaling a potential plateau in the market. However, the report, conducted annually by the Illinois Society of Professional Farm Managers…
Read MoreEast St. Louis consents to Clean Water Act violations, agrees to implement actions
City agrees to take action to address unlawful discharges of untreated sewage EAST ST. LOUIS, Ill. – The Justice Department, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the State of Illinois reached an interim agreement with the City of East St. Louis, Illinois to address the City’s Clean Water Act violations. In December 2024, the Justice…
Read More‘Makers Madness’ contest enters final round
Four products remain in running for “The Coolest Thing Made in Illinois” As voting opens in the final round of the 2026 “Makers Madness” contest, just four products remain in the annual bracket-style tournament held by the Illinois Manufacturers’ Association that lets voters decide The Coolest Thing Made in Illinois. Presented by Comcast Business, the…
Read MoreNGRREC named Environmental Education Association of Illinois Organization of the Year
The Environmental Education Department at the National Great Rivers Research and Education Center (NGRRECsm) has been named the 2026 Organization of the Year by the Environmental Education Association of Illinois (EEAI). The honor recognizes the team’s outstanding and ongoing efforts to advance environmental education opportunities across the state of Illinois. “I am incredibly proud…
Read MorePublic comment sought on proposed Illinois 203 improvements in Madison County
The Illinois Department of Transportation will hold a public meeting to discuss a study for the proposed improvements on Illinois 203 from Maverick Drive to Eagle Park Road in Madison County. The meeting will be held from 4 to 7 p.m. Thursday, April 23 at The Mill Events, 1311 20th St., Granite City. IDOT, in cooperation with…
Read MoreRecent ribbon cutting celebrations hosted by O’Fallon area chamber
The O’Fallon-Shiloh Chamber of Commerce recently hosted a ribbon cutting celebration with Keller Williams Pinnacle in O’Fallon to mark the relocation of their offices to the O’Fallon Downtown District. Their offices are now located at 108 West State Street. Representatives from Keller Williams Pinnacle on hand to lead the ribbon cutting were Christi Johnson and…
Read MoreLooking for tax breaks you can feel good about?
By MELISSA CROCKETT MESKE Managing Editor, Illinois Business Journal [email protected] As this year’s tax season moves toward the end of its peak days with the April 15 deadline fast upon us, tax planning (or adjusting already in-place plans) and tax breaks are top of mind. Available charitable giving options are being reviewed with more thought…
Read MoreAWI expands local resources for domestic violence survivors and their pets
The Animal Welfare Institute (AWI) has announced Oasis Women’s Center, based out of Madison County, Ill., as the recipient of its 2026 Safe Havens for Pets Desert Grant to expand sheltering resources for the pets of domestic violence survivors in underserved communities. Following a rigorous analysis of national data, AWI identified Illinois as a “safe haven desert”— an area that lacks adequate sheltering services for…
Read MoreIllinois lawmakers begin days of deep dives on data centers
By NIKOEL HYTREK and UIS Public Affairs Reporting (PAR), Capitol News Illinois Article Summary The House Executive Committee met Wednesday to hear from mayors, unions and agriculture representatives about how data centers impact communities. The subject matter hearing was the first of three planned by the committee to bring stakeholders together to discuss data centers.…
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