Area News
Public comment sought on proposed Illinois 177 improvements in St. Clair County
The Illinois Department of Transportation will hold a public meeting to discuss a study for the proposed improvements on Illinois 177 in Mascoutah, Ill. The meeting will be held: Wednesday, March 18 4 to 7 p.m. Mascoutah High School 1313 W. Main St., Mascoutah The project involves replacing the existing pavement on Illinois 177 in…
Read MoreHoffman District Office relocates to Old Main Hall
State Rep. Jay Hoffman (D-Swansea) has moved into a new office on the former Belleville West High School and Lindenwood University-Belleville Campus in the Old Main Hall. The campus houses various local government organizations and educational institutions. “We’re so excited to be in an easy to access space along with other public entities,” Hoffman said.…
Read MoreHouse Ag Committee chair talks farm bill timeline
By TAMMIE SLOUP FarmWeek House Ag Committee Chairman Glenn “GT” Thompson is optimistic farm bill legislation will get to the full House floor this year, with committee markup beginning March 3. Illinois Farm Bureau members have been an integral piece of moving the legislation forward, Thompson said. “Thank you for your early investment, coming…
Read MoreGeoSTL launches as ‘regional backbone,’ advancing $5B STL geospatial economy
GeoSTL formally launched yesterday [Feb. 26, 2026] as the regional backbone organization dedicated to aligning and advancing St. Louis’ nearly $5 billion geospatial economy. Formed in January 2026, GeoSTL now enters its operational phase to coordinate strategy, strengthen collaboration, and position the region to compete nationally in one of the fastest-growing sectors of the global…
Read MoreCaritas Family Solutions launches Office of Community Connection program
New initiative aims to connect families to local resources and support to prevent crisis Caritas Family Solutions is expanding its mission to help children and families across the region thrive with the launch of its new Office of Community Connection (OCC) program. This initiative focuses on prevention and connects families with critical resources and support…
Read MoreBelt announces release of $4M grant for new Shiloh police station
State Senator Christopher Belt announced the release of a $4 million state grant for the Village of Shiloh to construct a new police station. The funding, previously announced as part of a $4.75 million allocation secured alongside State Representative Jay Hoffman, is now available to move the project toward a projected June or July groundbreaking.…
Read MoreUPDATED: St. Louis Regional Airport to host ‘Pilots’ N Paws’ flyway event
UPDATED: Feb. 26, 2026 Due to poor weather conditions forecasted for Sunday, the previously shared Pilots N Paws flyway event planned at St. Louis Regional Airport will be occurring on Saturday, Feb. 28. Over 40 aircraft are currently expected to arrive to St. Louis Regional Airport as early as Friday, Feb. 27 to participate. After…
Read MoreACEC Illinois announces ‘best’ state infrastructure projects at 2026 Engineering Excellence Awards
In recognition of their innovation, complexity, overall design and economic impact, the American Council of Engineering Companies of Illinois (ACEC Illinois) has announced awards to the state’s best infrastructure projects and design teams during its 2026 Engineering Excellence Awards. The top construction projects honored are transformative projects completed for the Village of Antioch, Flyover Attractions by…
Read MoreSierra Club Illinois’ Three Rivers Project, The Wedge, to host Seed Swap
The Three Rivers Project of Sierra Club Illinois and The Wedge Innovation Center are hosting a Seed Swap this winter to provide community members with a space to swap and share quality seeds, cuttings, and bulbs. The 2026 Winter Seed Swap will be held at the Wedge Innovation Center in Alton from 9 a.m. to…
Read More2025 continued a multi-year growth trend for OSF Saint Anthony’s, OSF Medical Group
Outpatient surgeries, outpatient services, and OSF Medical Group office visits continue three-year growth trend While national projections indicate a nine percent increase for inpatient days (i.e. length of stay) for the next 10 years, along with a long-term trend of a five percent decline in inpatient admission volumes for hospitals, OSF HealthCare Saint Anthony’s Health…
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