State News

  Southwestern Illinois College (SWIC) has announced it will launch an intercollegiate football program, with its inaugural season set for Fall 2027. The team will compete as an Independent in Division I as part of the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA). The addition of football reflects SWIC’s ongoing commitment to expanding opportunities for student-athletes,…

“Makers Madness” contest lets public decide what is “The Coolest Thing Made in Illinois” The field of contenders for the 2026 title of The Coolest Thing Made in Illinois has been narrowed further, with voters choosing the top eight products to move ahead in the annual “Makers Madness” contest. Hosted by the Illinois Manufacturers’ Association…

  By RHIANNON BRANCH FarmWeek  Consumers purchasing table eggs for Easter festivities will be welcomed by a lower price tag at the grocery store this year compared to 2025. However, laying hen depopulations caused by highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) continue to push volatility in the market. USDA reported as of March 13, HPAI in…

EAST ST. LOUIS, Ill. – A man appeared in federal court last Wednesday to face a federal charge for allegedly robbing a bank in O’Fallon, Ill. George E. Habermehl, Jr., 62, is facing one count of bank robbery. “Anyone who robs a bank will face federal prison,” said U.S. Attorney Steven D. Weinhoeft. “The O’Fallon…

On March 31, 2026, Congresswoman Nikki Budzinski (D-IL-13) released the following statement, as steel production resumes at Granite City Works for the first time in two years:   “After more than two years of relentless advocacy, Granite City Works is coming back to life. Blast Furnace B has officially restarted, and 500 workers have returned…

State Rep. Katie Stuart (D-Edwardsville) will begin holding monthly Community Women’s Caucus meetings across Metro East communities. The Caucus was born from conversations at a Women’s Community Advisory Committee held in Stuart’s district last month, with attendees advocating for more spaces for women-led community advocacy and engagement. “My district and I run a series of…

March 31, 2026 UPDATE: Due to expected inclement weather, the lane closures on I-64 originally scheduled for tomorrow have been postponed to 9 a.m. on Wednesday, April 8. All lanes are expected to reopen by 9 p.m. on Sunday, April 12. The Illinois Department of Transportation has announced that westbound Interstate 64 will be reduced to…

A pro-worker initiative led by State Rep. Jay Hoffman (D-Swansea) to strengthen the Workplace Rights Bureau, close loopholes and hold bad actors accountable heads to the full House for consideration. “I’m proud to partner with Attorney General Kwame Raoul as we look to enhance the bureau’s capabilities to investigate and prosecute violations of laws that…

Federal lawsuit alleges Ascend Wellness Holdings created a hostile work environment for female employees ST. LOUIS – Cannabis company Ascend Wellness Holdings Inc. violated federal law when it subjected female employees at the company’s Collinsville, Ill., facility to unlawful sexual harassment, the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) charged in a lawsuit announced today. According…

The Illinois Department of Transportation is hosting 11 workshops throughout the state to help local governments and communities learn about and apply for funding opportunities through the Illinois Transportation Enhancement Program. Organized through IDOT’s ongoing Special Programs Assistance Conferences, the workshops will help stakeholders identify projects that qualify and learn how to craft successful applications.…