Metro East

Edwardsville and East Alton will see new board leadership as school districts have struggled to navigate budget shortfalls after pandemic-era relief money dried up last year.

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.

The Mississippi Valley Library District board of trustees has been caught up in culture war-like issues for the past two years. On Tuesday, three of its seven seats are open, and the winners will steer the board as it navigates issues including aging facilities and staff unionization.

People with dwarfism find the term midget derogatory. The bill, requiring the Metro East high school to pick a replacement by 2028, could come up for debate on the House floor within two weeks.

The bill that would force Freeburg to ditch its mascot is scheduled to be called in two House Education Policy Committee hearings this week.

Students at Dupo High School must keep backpacks in lockers and are not allowed between classes to carry drawstring bags, purses, or any small bags or clutches with straps that are larger than 5 by 9 inches besides Chromebook bags.

The proposal would allow all students currently declared as a physics major or minor an opportunity to complete the program. It would not eliminate all physics courses.

The federal funding for farmers has been terminated under President Donald Trump’s administration. Family farmers in the Metro East now face abrupt uncertainty about how to fund plans they made for their growing businesses.

Cougar KickBots is a program starting at Alton Middle School this week that combines on-field soccer instruction with STEM concepts and robotics.

Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker has backed proposed legislation that would ban cellphones in classrooms, with some exceptions. What’s the policy in your local school district?