East St. Louis

An East St. Louis pantry said it used to get 12 to 13 pallets of produce per week. Now, it’s four or five after the USDA eliminated a program that reimburses states for purchasing produce from local farmers.

This aid is separate from the $89.5 million St. Clair County received in January for disaster recovery from flooding in July 2024.

The old Broadview Hotel has been converted into a 110-unit apartment building for residents over 55 years old. East St. Louis leaders believe this project will anchor future economic development.

U.S. Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi, who represents Illinois' 8th Congressional District in suburban Chicago, came to East St. Louis over the weekend when U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin is contemplating whether to run for another term in 2026.

In 2024, the Metro East city recorded 20 homicides. At the most recent peak in 2017, that same figure stood at 37.