There can be no winner in this, least of all the people of City of Belleville and the metro east who love and support this important event. Art on the Square BND.com bnd.com/news/local/com…

Two business people step up to lead Art on the Square, Belleville’s biggest community event, which was at risk of being canceled due to lack of leadership. BND.com reports: buff.ly/3MOkCJC

Unfortunately, I-64 commuters may not see relief exiting to O'Fallon and Shiloh any sooner. Construction to add lanes and widen the exit ramp is slated to begin next year and will take two years. St. Louis Public Radio stlpr.org/government-pol…

Over 100 public schools and charters have closed in St. Louis since 1991, and nearly 90 have opened, according to a new study released this month by St. Louis University’s PRiME center, via St. Louis Public Radio stlpr.org/education/2024…

ICYMI: A week-long federal trial over Illinois’ assault weapons ban began Monday in East St. Louis. A judge will decide whether the nearly two-year-old law violates the 2nd Amendment right to bear arms. From Mawa Iqbal (she/her): stlpr.org/law-order/2024…

Scoop: The Amazon warehouse in Edwardsville that was ravaged by a tornado in 2021 — killing six employees — has reopened. St. Louis Public Radio stlpr.org/economy-busine…

My latest for NPR. Drug overdose deaths are down nationwide by at least 10 percent - an unprecedented decline. Some researchers believe the drop is even larger. npr.org/2024/09/18/nx-…

New on St. Louis Public Radio: Today marks one year since Illinois got rid of cash bail. My conversation with St. Clair County's top judge to see how things have changed. stlpr.org/law-order/2024…

EAST ST. LOUIS, Ill. — On the second day of the trial for the lawsuit challenging Illinois' assault weapons ban, an engineer testified those guns are intended only for civilian use and cannot be easily converted into military-grade firearms. stlpr.org/law-order/2024…

ICYMI: St. Clair County was among a handful of Illinois counties where voters' records — like Social Security numbers, birth dates and addresses — were temporarily on the open internet. capitolnewsillinois.com/news/contracto…

East St. Louis High School in lockdown after social media threat, district says bnd.com/news/local/art…

In the year since Illinois got rid of cash bail, St. Clair County’s chief judge says the new system is working — and it’s making the Metro East county safer. ✍️: Will Bauer stlpr.org/law-order/2024…

Were you at the 300th consecutive sellout streak game at Memorial Stadium in 2009? Or the 200th sellout in 1994? If you were at either and plan to go to the 400th sellout this Friday, please reach out for an interview: [email protected]. Nebraska Public Media News

The Biden administration pushed its decision on whether to let a Japanese company buy U.S. Steel — owner of Granite City Works in the Metro East — until after the 2024 election. nytimes.com/2024/09/17/us/…

Breaking: The Federal Reserve cut rates by a half point, choosing the more-aggressive option for its first cut in four years on.wsj.com/3XQMPVh on.wsj.com/3XQMPVh

As SIU Carbondale leaders tout rising enrollment and record-breaking fundraising, members of the campus community are detailing the impacts of “catastrophic” budget cuts. My latest for St. Louis Public Radio. stlpr.org/education/2024…

Good news: The O’Fallon Garden Club donated 5,300 pounds of fresh produce to the Metro East town’s local food pantry last year — earning the group its second consecutive national award for the most fruit and veggies given to a food bank. St. Louis Public Radio stlpr.org/health-science…

A Metro East garden club donated 5,300 pounds to a local food pantry, earning the group its second national award for the most fruit and veggies given to a food bank. ✍️: Will Bauer 📸: Sophie stlpr.org/health-science…

New-ish to St. Louis? Join us for the first-ever STL Welcome Kit Party to learn more about the St. Louis region, register for important services and more! Event details: buff.ly/3zCXbj9