Metro East

Melanie Brink, who has led Freeburg’s elementary school district through two years of controversy and upheaval, is leaving to become superintendent of Belle Valley School District 119 in Belleville next year.

An incentive agreement between the state and the company lists an East St. Louis address for the facility that will create 150 jobs when operational.

“You have to get the foundation laid and then go from there,” said Lynn Cope, whose 29-year-old son, Clayton, was killed by an Edwardsville tornado in December 2021.

The post’s 104-acre property in the rural Freeburg that has been plagued by squatting and criminal activity in recent years.

For more than 60 years, Santa’s House has been a Christmastime staple. Since 1994, the Optimist Club of Belleville has sponsored the house.

Under President-elect Donald Trump’s administration and a GOP-controlled Congress, the Illinois Republican is hoping to fix problems with the Department of Veterans Affairs.

The Granite City Electoral Board ruled in favor of a local resident who had filed objections against Baumgartner and a second mayoral candidate, Kim Benda, for violating the Illinois Election Code.

The public will vote on the finalists or a former flag beginning in January. From there, the results will be given to the Illinois General Assembly.

In addition to millions in repairs, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the U.S. Department of Justice and the state will require the city to pay a $30,000 penalty.

The first-time candidate filed a petition to run for city clerk in O'Fallon, Illinois, that was successfully challenged by the incumbent for improper filing. The candidate will now campaign for the seat as a write-in instead.