Belleville News-Democrat

Despite rumors of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement activity at a naturalization ceremony at Belleville West High School, district leaders and police say they do not anticipate an ICE presence.

The Illinois Environmental Protection Agency announced last week that Dupo's public water system exceeded state and federal limits for so-called “forever chemicals” known as PFAS.

Last week, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services announced it planned to freeze $1 billion for child care and other family assistance programs in Illinois, citing fraud concerns. A judge last week granted a temporary restraining order preventing the freeze, at least for now.

Chicago-based nonprofit ACT Now, which distributes these federal funds to the two East St. Louis schools and others across the state, filed its suit against the department and Secretary Linda McMahon in U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois.

Metro-east nursing homes were cited and fined a total of $1.3 million from state and federal regulatory agencies.

The U.S. Department of Education has canceled an estimated $168 million of ongoing, multi-year funding for community schools, saying the grants “did not align with the Administration’s priorities.”

Southwestern Illinois College's taxing district includes all or parts of eight counties. In recent years, SWIC’s levy increases have been closer to 4%.

The federal lawmakers would like the agency to look into Veolia's incinerator in Sauget. The CDC previously completed an air pollution investigation in May, which suggested the EPA should monitor air quality and conduct soil testing.

After being off the list in recent years, the St. Clair and Madison counties are now ranked as the seventh-worst court systems, according to the American Tort Reform Association.

A police officer was shot in Granite City Friday afternoon.