Jay Hoffman

Wal-Mart claims that 11 percent of the produce in its stores now comes from local farms.

Metro East lawmakers praise initiative to open independent grocers in food deserts

Will Bauer

As part of his $49.6 billion budget proposal, Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker earmarked $20 million toward helping independent grocers open in food deserts across the state.

Rendering of the future $13,584,000 public safety center at the Emerson Park Transit Center. The goal of the center is to improve communications and security collaboration among public safety partners.

Economy & Business

MetroLink riders will see a new public safety center in East St. Louis next February

Will Bauer

The goal of the facility is to help make MetroLink safer for the region.

Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker signs the Climate and Equitable Jobs Act into law in Chicago on Wednesday. The new law puts Illinois on a path to reach 100% carbon free energy by 2050 and provides support for communities to transition to the green economy.

Government, Politics & Issues

Illinois’ New Energy Plan Promises Massive Shift Away From Fossil Fuels

Eric Schmid

The law puts the state on a path to reach 100% clean energy by 2050, with the goal of zeroing out carbon emissions by 2045.

According to Washington University's Center for Social Development's latest study, predominantly black residents and low-income communities in the region face barriers in casting their ballots.

Government, Politics & Issues

These Candidates Have Filed Paperwork To Run In The 2020 Illinois Primary

Eric Schmid

BELLEVILLE — People who want to run as a Democrat or Republican in the November 2020 elections had until the end of the day Monday to file their paperwork…

Sparta Public Schools Superintendent Gabe Schwemmer said her district doesn't have bonding authority, so it's borrowing from banks in order to open this year. Aug. 11, 2017

Education

Metro East school leaders to Illinois lawmakers: Give us money, override Rauner veto

Ryan Delaney

Dozens of Metro East school superintendents made one thing clear Friday: They need state money, and they need it now.Illinois’ new school funding formula…

Economy & Business

Gov. Rauner signs bill helping laid-off steelworkers

Wayne Pratt

Updated at 3 p.m. Dec. 19 with news of the bill signing — Illinois Gov. Bruce Rauner has signed a bill that would extend unemployment benefits for 2,000…

When copper piping like this is stolen, it can be costly to replace.

Government, Politics & Issues

Legislator: Limit Metal Theft By Setting Up Task Force

After receiving approval from both the Illinois House and Senate, a bill to form a task force to find solutions for metal theft has been signed into law…

Government, Politics & Issues

Future of Belleville Township in question; some officials say it's inefficient

The board of Belleville Township could soon be voting to dissolve itself.Currently an Illinois township can only be dissolved by a referendum of the…

Government, Politics & Issues

Illinois House Weighs Ban On Ticket Quotas

The Illinois House is considering whether to ban law enforcement agencies in the state from requiring officers to meet traffic ticket quotas.The measure…

Government, Politics & Issues

Democrats have obstacles to overcome to find candidate to replace Costello

Jason Rosenbaum

This article first appeared in the St. Louis Beacon, June 6, 2012 - It's deja vu all over again.Just last week, Brad Harriman, the Democratic candidate…