Freeburg, Illinois

As Illinoisans use more natural gas to heat their homes with colder weather hitting the region, Ameren says changes to the company’s local natural gas storage fields in the Metro East will help make it more efficient and save customers money in the long run.

Before the outbreak, the Metro East producer had about 900 chickens and guinea hens, 80 ducks, and 20 geese. All had to be killed when the Illinois Department of Agriculture detected avian influenza.

The Collinsville Kahoks, Granite City Warriors and Freeburg Midgets are some of the Metro East schools that could be required to change if the bills pass.

Representatives passed the legislation 71-38 along party lines. If passed by the Senate, it would prohibit public schools from using references to disabilities as mascots and require them to change by 2028.

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.

The Midgets mascot originated roughly 90 years ago. If passed by Illinois lawmakers, the bill would require the Metro East high school to change by September 2028.

Advocates have said Freeburg's mascot, the "Midgets” to be derogatory, objectifying and dehumanizing. A bill proposed in the Illinois General Assembly would ban public schools from using derogatory names for people with disabilities as mascots.

Jason Cerrano got the idea for the SAM Control System about 15 years ago while working a house fire for the Pattonville Fire Protection District. The system is used in more than 120 fire departments in the U.S.

Freeburg has been the “Midgets” for 90 years. Many people with dwarfism now consider the term a slur.