DEVELOPING: After going without a contract for an entire school year, the Cahokia Federation of Teachers and the school district have reached a tentative agreement. @stlpublicradio.bsky.social www.stlpr.org/education/20...

Glen Carbon has received state approval to create a STAR Bond District, giving the village a new economic development tool as officials weigh future tourism, entertainment or destination-style projects. www.theintelligencer.com/news/article...

Metro East lawmakers in both parties believe there were a handful of legislative victories throughout the 2026 session that just wrapped up — despite local politicians being divided about the budget largely along party lines. @stlpublicradio.bsky.social www.stlpr.org/government-p...

Generations of civic leaders have carried the dream of expanding the Gateway Arch National Park into Illinois forward, believing the Mississippi River should connect the region rather than divide it. @stlpublicradio.bsky.social has the story behind the movement: www.stlpr.org/podcast/meet...

U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin delivered his farewell address to Illinois lawmakers this week. He reflected on his decades in public office and warning that today’s political divisions threaten democratic norms. @capitolnewsil.bsky.social reports:

“If anything happens, yes, I'll be ready. But for the most part, what I'm really focused on is how I can be the best lieutenant governor I can be — help move the state forward, help our farmers, help our small businesses.” — @cmitchellforlg.bsky.social www.stlpr.org/podcast/poli...

STE. GENEVIEVE, Mo. — @repwesleybellmo.bsky.social & @budzinski.house.gov say some detainees held by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement at the county jail are kept in overcrowded cells and others struggle to access necessary resources. @stlpublicradio.bsky.social www.stlpr.org/government-p...

"The problem we have here in Washington is that I have colleagues here who continue to vote for Donald Trump's ideas — and not to protect the well-being of the men and women who defend this great nation,” @duckworth.senate.gov said today. www.stlpr.org/government-p...

MASCOUTAH, Ill. — The autonomous naval refueling aircraft being manufactured by @boeingdefence.bsky.social in the Metro East recently completed its first test flight successfully, according to the aerospace giant. @stlpublicradio.bsky.social www.stlpr.org/economy-busi...

KMOV: The museum at Cahokia Mounds State Historic Site has been closed for more than four years, leaving visitors and longtime patrons frustrated as renovation costs have ballooned far beyond initial estimates. www.firstalert4.com/2026/05/08/c...

As households across Illinois brace to lose their federal food assistance this month, grocery stores, especially independent grocers like those scattered throughout the Metro East, are preparing for the devasting effects of decreased spending. www.stlpr.org/economy-busi...

One year after an EF3 tornado severely damaged north St. Louis, new reporting shows how inexperience and decisions in Mayor Cara Spencer’s administration slowed the tornado recovery.

WOOD RIVER, Ill. — A $62 million movie and television studio under development in Wood River will aim to bring competitive production to the St. Louis region by next year. @stlpublicradio.bsky.social www.stlpr.org/economy-busi...

FAIRVIEW HEIGHTS, Ill. — Hostas on the Bluff, a display garden and farm in the Metro East, is growing thanks to customer demand. www.stlmag.com/business/hos...

GRANITE CITY, Ill. — A regional port district and its relationship with the mayor have become a new focus in the battle over whether the Metro East community should allow a data center to be built. @stlpublicradio.bsky.social www.stlpr.org/government-p...

SMITHTON, Ill. — St. Clair County Emergency Management Agency followed its protocol when it sounded tornado sirens across the county yesterday, and and it would rather be safe than sorry, according to Director Herb Simmons. @stlpublicradio.bsky.social www.stlpr.org/health-scien...

Southern Illinois clinics that provide abortions are once again allowed to dispense an abortion medication through the mail and with telehealth appointments following a U.S. Supreme Court decision Monday. @stlpublicradio.bsky.social www.stlpr.org/health-scien...

GRAFTON, Ill. — The National Memorial of Military Ascent has an opening date. Veterans and residents will finally get their chance to view the memorial hoisted along the Mississippi River bluffs on June 6 — the 82nd anniversary of D-Day. @stlpublicradio.bsky.social www.stlpr.org/culture-hist...

VALMEYER, Ill. — A popular hiking spot and nature conservation area about 30 miles south of St. Louis in Illinois will soon expand its footprint by 965 acres after a trio of nonprofits acquired the nearby land. @stlpublicradio.bsky.social www.stlpr.org/health-scien...

Illinois lawmakers are considering multiple proposals to regulate the state’s rapidly expanding data center industry as concerns grow over its impact on the electrical grid, utility costs and water reservoirs. @stlpublicradio.bsky.social www.stlpr.org/health-scien...

EDWARDSVILLE, Ill. — The renovation and construction of SIUE's new $117.4 million health sciences building has been completed, the university said Tuesday. @stlpublicradio.bsky.social www.stlpr.org/education/20...

NYT: For generations, working- and middle-class Americans could find an inexpensive, reliable set of wheels to get around. That era is over. www.nytimes.com/interactive/...

Reginald Petty, the civil rights activist turned East St. Louis historian, received the state's top award for professional achievement and public service over the weekend. @stlpublicradio.bsky.social www.stlpr.org/race-identit...

East St. Louis School District 189 Credit Upgrade to Save Taxpayers About $900,000

GRAFTON, Ill. — The ferry that runs between the city and St. Charles County across the confluence of the Mississippi and Illinois rivers reopened for the season today — but it won’t shut down later this fall like it normally does. @stlpublicradio.bsky.social www.stlpr.org/economy-busi...

Edwardsville nurse Jennifer Todd wants to do something that many believe to be highly unlikely — win Illinois’ 15th Congressional District as a Democrat this fall. www.stlpr.org/government-p...

Scott Air Force Base, which is responsible for employing nearly 9,000 people full-time across the region, has an annual economic impact of $12.9 billion, according to a recent economic study. @stlpublicradio.bsky.social www.stlpr.org/government-p...

Cahokia Heights Mayor Curtis McCall Sr. on Friday morning shared a theory about recent community-organized testing that found E. coli in residents’ kitchen tap water. From Lexi Cortes: www.stlpr.org/health-scien...

BELLEVILLE, Ill. — More than 300,000 tulips are blooming at Eckert’s Farm right now. This is the first time in more than 180 years that the farm has added a pick-your-own crop to its portfolio. From @brianmunoz.bsky.social: www.stlpr.org/2026-03-27/p...

Granite City Works plans to once again produce steel when one of the two blast furnaces at the Metro East mill gets up and running this weekend after being idle for more than two years.

NEWS: Granite City Works plans to once again produce steel when one of the two blast furnaces at the Metro East mill gets up and running this weekend after being idle for more than two years, according to the local union president. @stlpublicradio.bsky.social www.stlpr.org/economy-busi...

GRANITE CITY, Ill. — For at least a year and half, a house operated as an underground dental practice until it was shut down last fall, according to a police report. www.stlpr.org/law-order/20...

The $6.2 billion deal approved by the FCC this week puts St. Louis station KSDK, currently owned by Tegna, under the same umbrella as KPLR and KTVI, both of which were owned by Nexstar. @stlpublicradio.bsky.social www.stlpr.org/government-p...

Brenden Moore shares his take on the U.S. Senate Democratic primary: Money was obviously a factor, and the leading candidates needed it to communicate with voters. But money isn’t worth anything without a winning message and an effective messenger. https://loom.ly/8QvF0v0

ICYMI: Tornado sirens in New Athens and other parts of St. Clair County failed to sound during a tornado on Sunday. @stlpublicradio.bsky.social www.stlpr.org/government-p...

CAHOKIA HEIGHTS, Ill. — While the district's superintendent repeatedly contends the union’s allegations are a ploy to distract from contentious contract negotiations, the union said it has uncovered more potential wrongdoing. @stlpublicradio.bsky.social www.stlpr.org/education/20...

Full story: www.stlpr.org/government-p...

Republican voters in Illinois have once again chosen former state Sen. Darren Bailey as their candidate for governor, giving him a second chance to unseat incumbent Democrat JB Pritzker in November. Via @capitolnewsil.bsky.social:

Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton has won the competitive Democratic primary race to replace U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin on the heels of a late campaign surge and millions in support from longtime running mate Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker. Via @chicago.suntimes.com:

BREAKING: Illinois Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton wins Illinois Democratic primary for U.S. Senate.

NEWS: Jeff Wilson has beaten Joshua Loyd for the Republican nomination in IL-13, according to the Associated Press. As of now, Wilson is up 67% to 33% with 42% of the vote reported. He’ll face incumbent Democrat Nikki Budzinski in November. @stlpublicradio.bsky.social

BREAKING: Former Illinois Republican Party chairman Don Tracy wins GOP primary for U.S. Senate.

BREAKING: Darren Bailey wins Republican primary for Illinois governor, facing Gov. JB Pritzker in November.

NEWS: @budzinski.house.gov has defeated progressive challenger Dylan Blaha in Illinois’ 13th Congressional District, according to the Associated Press. Currently, the incumbent Democrat is up 76.1 to 23.9% in the primary contest with 63% of the vote reported. @stlpublicradio.bsky.social

= Expanding the site into Illinois was part of the original vision for the park by architect Eero Saarinen when the design was first pitched in the 1940s. = @will-bauer.bsky.social on the renewed bipartisan, bi-state push by #Illinois and #Missouri legislators: @stlpublicradio.bsky.social >>

Illinoisans go to the polls on Tuesday to cast their votes in their party’s primary contest, with the race to succeed retiring U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin at the top of the ballot. Here are the four biggest things St. Louis Public Radio will be watching on election night.

Tuesday’s announcement marks one of the first steps to formalize the idea that’s been recently revived by the Gateway Arch Park Foundation and supported by East St. Louis officials. @stlpublicradio.bsky.social www.stlpr.org/government-p...

From St. Louis Magazine's business newsletter: Gas prices in the counties that make up the Metro East average now $3.90 per gallon. That's up $1.06 per gallon from last week.

If you're voting by mail in next week's Illinois primary elections, both major political parties are recommending their voters send ballots in by 5 p.m. today due to a change in how USPS defines postmarks. @stlpublicradio.bsky.social www.stlpr.org/government-p...

Swiss agrochemical giant Syngenta announced last week it will halt global production of paraquat by the end of June. Nearly 6,500 lawsuits have been filed over the chemical against both Syngenta and Chevron in the federal courthouse in East St. Louis. www.stlpr.org/2026-03-09/s...