The program was founded by Brianna Morales — the young East St. Louis teacher named the 2023 Illinois Teacher of the Year last spring.

The allegations center around the more than $50 million St. Clair County received from the federal government as part of the American Rescue Plan Act.

The strip mall has shown signs of neglect and mismanagement in recent years. Now, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission charged the owners for allegedly engaging in a scheme to "misappropriate" more than $35 million in investor funds.

The Illinois Department of Transportation has been talking about constructing a connector between Illinois 3 in Fairmont City and Illinois 203 and Madison, Illinois, for the last 20 years. Recently, the state agency unveiled its preferred route.

The sheriff’s patrol budget is increasing 2% next year. Republican members of the St. Clair County Board say there's not enough deputies. The sheriff has also told the board staffing challenges.

On Tuesday, U.S. Steel sent more than 1,000 notices to employees, warning of potential layoffs. However, Local 1899's president said Wednesday he expects the number to be closer to the 400 who have already lost their jobs.

The last comprehensive plan for the Metro East city was written in 2010. This new effort would guide the city’s priorities for development and growth.

Health workers in Illinois are performing about 1,800 more abortions per month on average than before the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade.

Robert Hart Baker, music and artistic director for Belleville Philharmonic Society, told board members in September that he needed to take a leave of absence due to kidney-related problems. By November, the 69-year-old died.

The longtime civil rights and voting rights activist died Thanksgiving Day in O'Fallon, Illinois. Scott spent 32 years as the head of the East St. Louis NAACP branch.