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You may recall that Donald Trump and his supporters have insisted that he’s the “free speech” President. His first day in office this term, he issued an executive order “restoring free speech” saying that “no Federal Government officer, employee, or agent engages in or facilitates any conduct that would unconstitutionally abridge the free speech of […]

Jack Scatizzi, who oversaw a major expansion in MTC funding and programming, is stepping down in January.

Tarlton, St. Louis’ largest women-owned general contracting and construction management firm, expands its construction accounting team through the promotion of Amanda Schmitt to senior project accountant. In addition, Tarlton welcomes the financial backgrounds and expertise of Brian Stout, project accountant; Jack Martin, corporate accountant; and Kate Scotino, accounts payable specialist. Amanda Schmitt joined Tarlton in […]

The post Tarlton Expands Project Accounting Team appeared first on Construction Forum.

EDWARDSVILLE - During the regular meeting of the Edwardsville Community Unit School District #7 Board of Education, members of the Woodland School Improvement Team presented the Board with plans to further improve Woodland Elementary School. Woodland Principal Andy Williams and his team explained that Woodland Elementary School was named a “targeted” school in 2023, earning a 59.15 score on the Illinois School Report Card. By 2024, the school had launched a School Improvement Plan and increased their score to 76.55, making it a “commendable” school. “It’s a challenging job, and it’s one that the staff puts in every single day,” Williams said. “Really, this is a staff thing. This is not an administrative thing. It’s them coming together and doing the work and putting the love of what we’re doing into it.” Assistant Principal Alicia Hillier explained that Woodland made “intentional shifts” to

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ST. LOUIS – The American Red Cross has opened a shelter located at Saint Angela Merici, 3860 N. Highway 67, Florissant, MO 63034 following the explosion yesterday morning in North St. Louis County. Individuals affected by the explosion are encouraged to come to the shelter for water, meals, snacks, resources and a safe place to stay overnight. Individuals do not have to stay overnight at shelters. Individuals affected can also call 1-800-RED-CROSS for assistance or download the Red Cross Emergency app for shelter updates and resources. Identification and/or proof of residency is NOT required to be admitted to a Red Cross shelter. American Red Cross services are free and available to all regardless of race, religious beliefs, nationality, or citizenship status. The role of the Red Cross in any disaster is to focus on addressing the immediate needs of those affected. The Red Cross is coordinating with the community, government, and emergency management officials to determine

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Let’s face it. Back pain is no fun. Millions of people suffer from some type of back discomfort and will try anything to find relief. But one the best paths to getting some relief may be an old standby – walking. Walking might strengthen your muscles, improve your posture and stabilize your back – all of which can help lessen pain, reduce flare-ups and prevent future problems. Back pain is very common, says Brittni Zick, a physical therapist for OSF HealthCare. It can impact anyone of any age for a variety of reasons. “Maybe there was an injury in the past, or poor posture is usually a big reason for it,” she says. “Or it’s the type of work that people do if they're bending and lifting a lot. It's one of the most common things I see as a physical therapist.” Zick adds that walking increases blood flow, which is important because tissue in your back can get irritated. By walking, blood circulates to those areas, helping heal

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CHICAGO — Today, Governor JB Pritzker joined elected officials, business, faith, and education leaders, community advocates, and law enforcement leaders to condemn the Trump administration’s plan to deploy the National Guard or active duty military in Chicago despite objections from state and local leadership. After witnessing weeks of federal overreach from Washington, a broad coalition of leaders from across the city gathered to present a united front and denounce Trump’s abuse of power "There is no emergency in Chicago that calls for armed military intervention that will disrupt the daily lives of our people. What President Trump is doing is unprecedented and unwarranted. It is illegal. It is unconstitutional. And it is un-American,” said Governor JB Pritzker. “Our civilian police force and elected leaders work every day to promote public safety – efforts that have successfully brought down crime. The State of Illinois is ready to stand

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CHICAGO – Attorney General Kwame Raoul announced a Tilden, Illinois man was sentenced to 180 years in prison for predatory criminal sexual assault of a minor under the age of 13. The case is part of Raoul’s ongoing work, in collaboration with federal law enforcement agencies and local law enforcement officials throughout Illinois, to apprehend offenders who download and trade child sexual abuse material online. Clyde Thibodeaux, 68, was sentenced today by Randolph County Circuit Court Judge Jeremy R. Walker after pleading guilty to three counts of predatory criminal sexual assault, Class X felonies. During the investigation Thibodeaux admitted to committing acts of sexual abuse against 11 different children over the course of 50 years. “Those who prey on and victimize innocent children must be held accountable. This sentence ensures this predator who admitted to these heinous crimes will not harm these children again,” Raoul said. “My heart goes out to

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CHICAGO – While the Trump Administration plans to deploy the National Guard, active-duty military, or federal agents into Democratic-led states, Illinois is showing that smart, data-driven policies, investment in strong law enforcement, and community engagement produce real results. In contrast to the declines in violent crime in Illinois and Chicago, a number of Republican-led states continue to see a high level of violent crime. Yet, the Trump Administration ignores these crime levels, undermining their public safety claims. Deploying military officers only seeks to undermine the hard work both state and local police departments and community members have built on to regain trust, including the ways that state and local law enforcement already coordinate with federal law enforcement to tackle crime. Instead, the Trump Administration should focus on releasing critical crime prevention and law enforcement funding back to local communities and states, rather than undermining

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ST. LOUIS – Today, Mayor Cara Spencer signed Executive Order 90, removing barriers that can slow down the process of rebuilding and repairing property. The scope of this order includes neighborhoods impacted by the May 16 tornado; the City is also beginning work on a major overhaul of its Zoning Code in a thorough effort to remove barriers across the city. “While all of St. Louis needs and deserves zoning reform to remove burdensome regulations, the need to move even more urgently in the neighborhoods damaged by the tornado is obvious,” said Mayor Spencer. “This executive order brings quick, localized reform to remove barriers for those who have lost so much, effective today.” Executive Order 90 relieves regulatory barriers by: Giving the Cultural Resources Office staff flexibility when reviewing and approving permits with the applicable standards of the impacted local historic districts (such as roof materials or windows) in cases of verified hardship

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Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker (D) said Monday that personal attacks from President Donald Trump “are just evidence of a guy who’s still living in fifth grade” after Trump recently commented on Pritzker’s weight.

It won’t work, but it sure will rattle the economy.

SPRINGFIELD – Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias’ office recently discovered that U.S. Customs and Border Protection gained access to Illinois license plate camera data – a violation of state law his office initiated. During a recent audit, Giannoulias’ office found that Flock Safety, which operates the largest automated license plate reader (ALPR) system in the nation, allowed U.S. Customs and Border Protection to access Illinois license plate cameras on Illinois roads and surveil drivers. As a result, Giannoulias immediately ordered the company to shut off access to U.S. Customs and Border Protection. “This sharing of license plate data of motorists who drive on Illinois roads is a clear violation of the state law. This law, passed two years ago, aimed to strengthen how data is shared and prevent this exact thing from happening,” Giannoulias said. “I take my responsibility as Secretary of State seriously. It’s why we spearheaded this

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A hidden business gem in Moscow Mills, MO. is expanding with a new advanced manufacturing facility completed by Contegra Construction. Elite Tool, an established lean contract manufacturer for the aerospace, commercial and defense industries, has moved into a new 120,000-square-foot facility. It replaces the firm’s 70,000-square-foot manufacturing operation. The $20 million expansion is expected to […]

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AMERICAN RED CROSS TRANSITIONS SHELTER TO NEW SITE FOR THOSE IMPACTED BY MONDAY’S EXPLOSION NEAR FLORISSAN The American Red Cross transitioned the location of its shelter for those impacted by the explosion Monday in North St. Louis County to: Faith Church, 5320 N. Highway 67, Florissant, MO 63034 A water main break affected the original […]

The post Explosion near Florissant sounded like a Bomb, says Resident appeared first on flovalleynews.com.

ST. LOUIS COUNTY, Mo. — Investigators are examining a house explosion and subsequent fires that injured five people and damaged more than two dozen homes Monday morning, Aug. 25, 2025, in the 13800 block of Evan Aire Drive. The incident occurred at approximately 9:13 a.m. on Aug. 25 when the Black Jack Fire Protection District and North County Precinct officers responded to reports of an explosion. Upon arrival, first responders found five homes engulfed in flames and about 20 additional residences in the surrounding area with damage. Five victims were located at the scene. An 18-year-old male was transported to a local hospital with life-threatening injuries. An adult female was also hospitalized for non-life-threatening injuries and later released. An adult male and female remain hospitalized for minor health complications related to the explosion. Another adult male was treated at the scene and declined transport. No first responders were injured. Vera Clay, Acting Public

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From St. Louis Business Journal: A nonprofit animal welfare organization is finalizing plans for its $30 million expansion to north St. Louis County. The Animal Protective Association of Missouri, more commonly known as the APA, plans to convert a former car dealership building near unincorporated Spanish Lake into a new veterinary clinic and low-cost and […]

The post Keeley Leads DB, Grubb Is Architect on $30M North County Animal Protective Association Facility appeared first on Construction Forum.

WESTMONT, IL – Illinois Federation of Teachers President Dan Montgomery issued the following statement in response to news reports that the Trump administration is deploying the National Guard to Chicago. “The Illinois Federation of Teachers strongly condemns the decision by the Trump administration to send the National Guard into Chicago. There is no basis for sending soldiers here or to any other city. There is no emergency. “This deployment will inevitably lead to more racial profiling and the terrorizing of Latino and immigrant communities, especially undocumented families who already live with the constant fear of deportation. If the goal were truly safety, Trump and his administration would not have frozen $158 million in funding for violence prevention programs in cities like Chicago, dismantled the Office of Gun Violence Prevention (OGVP), or terminated more than $800 million in anti-violence grants nationwide. “Every dollar spent on militarization

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