Area News

Proposition S funded projects at every district building S. M. Wilson & Co. has completed the Northwest R-1 School District bond program of construction projects that include updates to every campus in the district.S. M. Wilson was the Construction Manager at Risk for the projects, which were funded through the $28 million Proposition S bond…

Southwestern Illinois College (SWIC) celebrates its 80th anniversary in 2026, marking “80 Years Strong” of providing affordable, accessible education and serving as a cornerstone of the southwestern Illinois community. Founded in 1946 as Belleville Junior College, the institution was created to meet the post-World War II demand for higher education. Through the early 1960s, the…

Madison County will host its annual Project Homeless Connect from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 30, bringing individuals and families who are navigating homelessness or a housing crisis together with services, support, and basic necessities all in a single, accessible location. The event will take place at Riverbend Family Ministries, 144 E.…

  Scheduled opening of first, large-scale transit infrastructure project in 20 years among key highlights The MetroLink extension to MidAmerica St. Louis Airport is scheduled to open in summer 2026 as ongoing efforts on both sides of the river work to deliver reliable access to opportunity. The circumstances surrounding transit funding are changing. Illinois is…

Tony Fuhrmann and Chef Lasse Sorensen bring decades of expertise in workforce innovation and culinary excellence to nonprofit’s mission National award-winning Soulcial Kitchen and The Soulcial Solutions Foundation recently announced the appointment of two distinguished leaders to its Board of Directors: Tony Fuhrmann, a veteran workforce development executive with nearly four decades of public and private…

Study estimates company’s operations are generating more than $20.7 billion in annual economic output Ameren Corporation’s (NYSE: AEE) operations in Illinois and Missouri triggered more than $20.7 billion in annual economic output, according to a study by a leading market research and development firm. Conducted by HR&A Advisors and commissioned by Ameren, the study analyzed…

The Illinois Retail Merchants Association (IRMA) has announced the launch of the Illinois Retail Scholarship Challenge, which encourages high school seniors to develop creative, practical solutions to real business challenges facing the retail sector, with teams competing for scholarships of up to $60,000. Supported by grant funding from the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic…

Regional differences underscore the need for local expertise as the agricultural land market adjusts The U.S. agricultural land market is shifting after years of steady growth. Although land values are still high historically, current signs indicate a more complex situation driven by local and regional factors rather than nationwide trends. “After years of steady growth,…