Southwestern Illinois

$400,000 of the grants will be used in downtown Granite City to revive old neon Route 66 signs, construct a band stage and insert new electric vehicle charging stations.

Southwest Illinois to get $850,000 for Route 66 projects ahead of 100th anniversary

Will Bauer

The biggest project for the 2026 anniversary currently funded will be in downtown Granite City. The Metro East town will revive its old neon Route 66 signs, create a music band stand and put in electric vehicle charging stations.

During fall, a sailboat is seen on the Mississippi River. The Great River Road can be seen behind the river.

Economy & Business

Southwest Illinois' tourism generated record economic growth last year

Will Bauer

Along with the rest of the state, southwest Illinois’ tourism industry continues to see a solid bounce back following a pandemic lull, according to the latest figures released for 2022.

Judge tosses suit challenging FEMA flood mapping in S.W. Ill.

A federal judge has thrown out a lawsuit three southwestern Illinois counties filed to block the U.S. government from declaring the region's levees…

A levee in Granite City, Ill. Granite City is one of the areas where FEMA says the levees do not meet its minimum threshold for certification. (St. Louis Public Radio)

Trial set in suit over southwestern Ill. levees

The case of three southwestern Illinois counties suing to block the U.S. government from declaring the region's levees functionally useless could be…

Arts

Ubjects II: Exhibit shows unique objects and tells family stories

This article first appeared in the St. Louis Beacon, Aug. 24, 2009 - Home is just an ordinary place with a little something extra. That extra something is…