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SPRINGFIELD – As teenagers across the state look for and begin summer jobs, the Illinois Department of Labor (IDOL) is reminding parents and employers of the requirements that must be met for the employment of youth under 16. "Summer jobs offer young people valuable opportunities to gain experience and responsibility, but it’s essential that their safety and rights are protected," said IDOL Director Jane Flanagan. "We urge employers and families to understand the requirements of the Child Labor Law so that minors can work in secure, lawful, and supportive environments." IDOL regulates employment for workers under the age of 16 through several key provisions: Employment Certificate Requirement: Before starting work, minors under 16 must obtain an employment certificate confirming they are old enough to work, physically capable of performing the job, and that the job won’t interfere with their education (during the school year). Prohibited Work: Minors may

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GRANITE CITY – Granite City Police have charged two city residents in separate cases of domestic battery. David L. Emerson, 70, of Granite City, was charged on May 12, 2025 with a Class 2 felony count of aggravated domestic battery and a Class A misdemeanor count of domestic battery. On May 11, 2025, Emerson allegedly struck a household or family member about the face and body with his fist, causing great bodily harm to the victim, who sustained a fractured right wrist from the incident. A petition to deny Emerson’s pretrial release states the victim told authorities she and Emerson were arguing inside Emerson’s vehicle when Emerson began battering the victim. “She advised being struck by the defendant then exiting the vehicle,” the petition states. “The defendant also exited the vehicle and proceeded to strike her about the face multiple times with a closed fist.” A witness also reported seeing Emerson “shove and strike the victim

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SPRINGFIELD – Illinois turkey hunters harvested a preliminary record total of 18,189 wild turkeys during the 2025 spring turkey season. This year’s total compares with the previous record total of 17,208 turkeys harvested in 2024. The top five counties for harvest in 2025 were Jo Daviess, 628; Jefferson, 518; Pike, 468; Marion, 428; and Pope, 425. The 2025 total includes the record youth spring turkey season harvest of 2,099 birds, which compares with the previous record of 2,010 birds set in 2024. This year 89,687 permits were sold compared to 86,083 last year. Spring turkey hunting was open in 100 of Illinois’ 102 counties. The 2025 regular season dates were April 7 through May 8 in the south zone and April 14 through May 15 in the north zone. The 2025 youth spring turkey season was March 29-30 and April 5-6 statewide. County 2025 2024 Adams 350 324 Alexander 183 189 Bond 176 145 Boone 72 94 Brown

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EDWARDSVILLE – Edwardsville is the latest Riverbend community to establish its own 1% sales tax on groceries to offset major revenue loss as the state’s grocery tax expires. City Council members on Tuesday unanimously approved an ordinance implementing a city-wide Municipal Grocery Retailer’s Occupation Tax and a Municipal Grocery Service Occupation Tax. These taxes will take effect starting on Jan. 1, 2026. The Illinois General Assembly voted last year to eliminate the state’s 1% sales tax on groceries, from which 100% of the proceeds went to local municipalities. They later passed a law allowing municipalities to impose their own 1% sales taxes on groceries, but only if they also adopt an equal 1% sales tax on grocery “services.” According to Tuesday’s meeting documents, city staff estimate the elimination of the 1% grocery sales tax would amount to a loss of over $1.2 million from the city’s General Fund. This grocery tax also accounts

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ALTON - A local high schooler has been named the Boys and Girls Club State of Illinois Youth of the Year. Isaiah Stueckel was recognized during the Alton Community Unit School District #11 Board of Education meeting on May 20, 2025, for his accomplishments. Al Womack, a Board of Education member and director of the Alton Boys and Girls Club, introduced Stueckel as “an outstanding young man.” “I’ve been at the Boys and Girls Club for over a decade now, 12 years, and it’s really just changed my life,” Stueckel said. Womack explained that Stueckel came to the Boys and Girls Club as a “hesitant, shy, quiet” 6-year-old. At 18, Stueckel now has “a vision for his future” and has made waves as an impressive student at Alton High School and beyond. Stueckel shared that he used to be impatient and angry as a child, and the Boys and Girls Club helped him “dull that down” and ignite new interests. He pointed to th

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GRANITE CITY — Officials from Granite City and the Illinois Department of Transportation gathered Wednesday at Wilson Park to announce a $1.9 million grant aimed at closing a gap in the regional path and trail system. The grant will fund a multipurpose path stretching 5,150 feet and measuring 10 feet wide, running alongside 27th Street to Central Street. This project is one of 66 approved statewide through the Illinois Transportation Enhancement Program (ITEP). The approved projects include bike and pedestrian paths and trails, streetscape beautification, and other initiatives intended to promote safe travel across various modes of transportation at the local level. According to IDOT, the department received 233 applications for projects totaling an estimated $383 million in this funding cycle. Granite City’s project was among those selected for funding.

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CARLINVILLE - Marquette Catholic’s girls soccer team captured its fifth consecutive Regional Championship and 17th overall with a 6-0 victory over Carlinville on Tuesday, May 20, 2025, in Carlinville. The No. 7-ranked Explorers will face No. 9 Quincy Notre Dame on Friday, May 23, 2025, in the Greenville Sectional. The Explorers are honored as Tucker’s Automotive Repair & Tire Female Athletes of the Month, recording their 13th shutout of the season behind the strong goalkeeping of junior Jessica Eales. Rylie Jacobs opened the scoring with a goal assisted by Maya Stephan. Jacobs added a second goal, assisted by sophomore Izzi Hough. Maddie Waters made it 3-0 off a corner from Lilly Covert. Alex Stephan scored goals four and five, both assisted by Izzi Hough, who had three for the game. Lulu Lonero made it 6-0 for the Explorers. The team’s performance against Carlinville continues to build momentum as they prepare for their upcoming sectional matchup. The full roster

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GRAFTON - Raging Rivers WaterPark is excited to announce that it will be open daily beginning Saturday, May 24, 2025. As the school year comes to a close, the park is honoring educators with special Educator Appreciation Days from May 24 to May 26. Throughout this weekend, all school and district staff are invited to enjoy free admission by presenting a valid school or district ID or badge at the ticket booth - a thank you for their dedication and hard work. Located near the Mississippi River, Raging Rivers WaterPark is a top summer destination, featuring adrenaline-pumping slides like the Mississippi Monster, Runaway Rafts, Cascade Body Flume, Swirl Pools, and Shark Attack. For those seeking relaxation, the 700-foot Endless River offers a gentle float, while the 18,000-square-foot Breaker Beach Wave Pool delivers big waves and big fun. Families with young children will love Itty Bitty Surf City, a dedicated area with pint-sized slides, splash pools, rain trees, and the TreeHouse Harbo

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CASEYVILLE — St. Clair County Coroner Calvin Dye Sr. confirmed Wednesday, May 21, 2025, that Kent P. Recklein, 67, of Caseyville, was pronounced dead at 2:14 p.m. Tuesday, May 20, 2025, following an incident involving a pit bull dog attack. St. Clair County Coroner Dye responded to a police call and determined Recklein’s death. The Caseyville Police Department was first called to the scene and is actively investigating the circumstances surrounding the attack. Details about the exact location of the incident have not been released. Kent Recklein is survived by his wife, Marilyn, his parents, and his children and grandchildren. Visitation for Kent will be from 4 to 8 p.m. on Tuesday, May 27, 2025, at the Kassly-Meridith Funeral Home in Collinsville. The funeral service will be at 8 p.m. Tuesday, May 27, 2025, at the Kassley-Meredith Funeral Home in Collinsville.

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GODFREY – The Village of Godfrey has a new Village Board member and Village Clerk after they and returning elected officials were sworn in on Tuesday night, May 20, 2025. Village officials took their oaths of office at this week’s Village Board meeting, which was held at the Trimpe Building on the Lewis and Clark Community College campus to accommodate the large crowd of family members and supporters in attendance. New Village Clerk Jacki Clayton was sworn in at the meeting, as was Gerard Fischer, the newest member of the Godfrey Village Board of Trustees. Returning Trustees Sarah Woodman and Rick Lauschke also took their Oaths of Office. Madison County Circuit Judge Amy Sholar administered the oaths for each elected official. Former Village Clerk Susan Robbins announced Mayor Mike McCormick was ill and therefore not present at the meeting. Judge Sholar administered his Oath of Office at his home on Tuesday afternoon. Longtime Trustee Steps Down With Farewell T

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Key takeaways: Shin splints bring pain, swelling, tenderness or soreness along the front part of your lower leg. Treatment involves icing, resting and slowly returning to competition. Prevention involves finding the right footwear and getting on the right workout plan. Leg compression sleeves can also help. Outdoor track and field season is underway. That means Brittany Delaney gets reacquainted with the shin – the front part of the leg between the knee and the ankle. While shin splints are a common and treatable injury, Delaney, an athletic trainer at OSF HealthCare, says it’s important to not rush back to competition. Shin splint basics Whether you’re a competitive athlete or a casual runner, repetitive use of your legs (especially long distances like a 1600 meter run at a track event) can bring pain, swelling, tenderness or soreness along the shin bone (the tibia). The medical term is medial tibial stress syndrome. “It’s

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ALTON - At a recent “What’s Up Downtown” meeting , the CEO of The Wedge Innovation Center shared more about what’s in the building and how the community can engage. Scot Heathman was named the CEO of The Wedge prior to its opening in April 2025. He explained that The Wedge is a space for the community, and he expressed his hope that the center will stimulate the economy and growth in the area. “This is a place where we can do some good for the community. We can do some good for the people. We can do some good for the region,” Heathman said. “And it’s kind of a blank canvas at this point. We can go in any direction we want to go in.” Heathman explained that The Wedge has several office spaces for lease, classrooms, 14 conference rooms, a rooftop area, a gym, a mother’s room, a wellness room, kitchens, and “lots of amenities” in addition to their coworking spaces. The Wedge primarily serves as a coworkin

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More sun and rising mercury mean people will head outdoors to lakes and forests. But something as simple as drinking river water can lead to an illness that derails your summer. Bethany Huelskoetter , APRN, a family medicine provider at OSF HealthCare, hits the major safety points about leisure time on the water. Bug bites: Coat yourself with bug spray to start the day, and avoid hanging out in tall grass where pests can hide. If your bug bite comes with skin tissue damage, chest pain, muscle cramps, sweating or nausea, see a provider right away. Also, watch for a rash in the shape of a bullseye , which is common with tick bites. To remove a tick, use tweezers to get close to the skin, and gently pull the insect out. Avoid twisting and yanking. Life jackets: Illinois and Michigan outline their life jacket laws. And some additional suggestions from Huelskoetter: for young kids, use a life jacket that straps on like a diaper. Life jackets that go over the chest could come up

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SPRINGFIELD – Gov. JB Pritzker and the Illinois Department of Transportation today announced that $139.2 million has been awarded through the Illinois Transportation Enhancement Program to expand local travel options and enhance quality of life in communities statewide. The popular program is the largest ever due to Gov. Pritzker’s historic, bipartisan capital program. “The Illinois Transportation Enhancement Program is a crucial part of Rebuild Illinois, helping make travel safer and more accessible in the communities that need it most,” said Gov. Pritzker. “Today, I’m proud to announce the largest investment in the program’s history, with more than $139 million going toward bike lanes, sidewalks, trails and other local improvements. This is just one part of the state’s larger effort to reverse decades of disinvestment and create more connected communities.” The 66 projects approved through ITEP include bike and pedestrian paths

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ST. LOUIS — Jenna Eve Eschbach, PhD, of Saint Louis, was awarded her Doctor of Philosophy degree from Washington University in Saint Louis after successfully defending her research on April 2, 2025. Eschbach, originally from Jerseyville, conducted her doctoral research in the Laboratory of Dr. Sebla Kutluay in the Department of Molecular Microbiology and Microbial Pathogenesis. Eschbach's dissertation focused on the role of the cGAS-STING sensing pathway in HIV-1 and SARS-CoV-2 infections. The Doctoral Hooding Ceremony took place on May 9, 2025, at Washington University, where Eschbach received her academic hood from her adviser, Dr. Sebla Kutluay, and the official PhD degree conferral from Dr. Steve Mennerick. Washington University's Commencement Exercises followed on May 12, 2025, on Olympic Field, where Olympic medalist Simone Biles, one of the world's most known gymnasts of all time, delivered the commencement address to the Class of 2025 and was awarded an honorary Doctor

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WASHINGTON, D.C. – Combat Veteran and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL)—a member of the U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC)—today pressed Air Force Secretary Troy Meink and Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. David Allvin on the more than $1 billion in taxpayer money it would cost to convert the Qatari jet into a secure Air Force One, as well as the operational security risks inherent with using a jet gifted by a foreign government to transport the President. Video of Duckworth’s remarks can be found on the Senator’s YouTube . “It’s not enough that Donald Trump has given the pathetic appearance that he can be bought with a luxury jet—this flying national security risk will also force taxpayers to waste over $1 billion in upgrades to make the aircraft fit to protect a President of the United States,” Duckworth said. “We already have two fully operational and capable Air Force One aircraft. This would be a colossal,

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SPRINGFIELD — The Illinois State Senate convened Tuesday, May 20, 2025, for session in Springfield, where Senator Erica Harriss of the 56th District requested a moment of silence to honor those affected by recent tragedies in her district. Harriss addressed the Senate regarding an EF3 tornado that struck areas from St. Louis into the Metro East region on Friday, May 15, 2025, including Granite City and Venice, over the past weekend. The tornado resulted in five fatalities in St. Louis. She expressed gratitude for the first responders, emergency management personnel, public service, and utility workers who swiftly responded to the disaster. "An EF3 tornado ripped through St. Louis and crossed the river and impacted Granite City and Venice and then dissipated. Five died in the St. Louis tornado. We have deep gratitude for the first responders, emergency management public service and utility workers who quickly responded and continued to address that situation," Harriss said. In

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WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Kevin Cramer (R-ND) and Peter Welch (D-VT) re-introduced bipartisan legislation to make it easier for low-income families to afford the diapers they need. The End Diaper Need Act of 2025 would help assist low-income families address diaper need by providing targeted funding for states, territories, diaper banks and other eligible entities who help provide diapers and diapering supplies at no cost to those in need. A companion version of this bill is being introduced in the House by U.S. Representatives Rosa DeLauro (D-CT-03) and Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-NJ-12). “No parent should have to choose between paying the bills and buying something as basic as diapers that are essential to the health and well-being of their children,” said Senator Duckworth. “After working for years to secure major funding that is supporting our nation’s diaper banks, I’m proud to have Senators Cramer and Welch

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CHICAGO — Governor JB Pritzker and the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) today announced five new recipients as official State-Designated Cultural Districts. The State-Designated Cultural Districts program aims to uplift the unique contributions of historic cultural districts throughout Illinois with the overarching goal of increasing economic development opportunities. “People in cities and towns across the state have vibrant cultural identities, and through the State-Designated Cultural Districts program we’re helping them preserve their history and traditions while promoting economic development,” said Governor JB Pritzker. “Cultural Districts reflect the diversity of our great state, and Illinois is proud to recognize their cultural significance while empowering them to expand their reach and share their culture with Illinoisans and visitors alike.” State-Designated Cultural Districts are communities, towns, or

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ALTON - During the quarterly “What’s Up Downtown” meeting, entrepreneurs shared more about their businesses in downtown Alton. On Tuesday, May 20, 2025, the community gathered at the RiverBender.com Building to hear from local business owners and community leaders. Hosted by Alton Main Street, these quarterly meetings allow people to share information about their businesses and organizations. Scot Heathman, CEO of The Wedge Innovation Center , spoke about The Wedge’s coworking spaces and partnership with SIUE. He explained that The Wedge has several office spaces for lease, classrooms, 14 conference rooms, a rooftop area, a gym, a mother’s room, a wellness room, kitchens, and “lots of amenities” in addition to their coworking spaces. “This is a place where we can do some good for the community. We can do some good for the people. We can do some good for the region,” Heathman added. “And it’s kind of

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