Townships get help from Madison County with road materials
by Randy Pierce • Township road districts throughout Madison County, including Collinsville, Jarvis, Marine, Helvetia, Pin Oak and St. Jacob, have received assistance in connection with the procurement of materials used in the maintenance and upkeep of their roads not within the boundaries of any corporate municipality. According to action taken by the county board…
Read MoreMultiple ordinances passed in Maryville in preparation of business district
By Kathy Turner • The Maryville Village Board on Wednesday, March 18 approved several ordinances as next steps in establishing the new Maryville Town Center Business District. To move forward, they first had to dissolve the current business district and taxing mechanisms. Once those were dissolved, the board approved the ordinance establishing the new Maryville…
Read MoreIllinois tops record wheat yield in 2025
By RHIANNON BRANCH FarmWeek • The statewide average winter wheat yield in Illinois for the 2025 crop was 88 bushels per acre, according to USDA, surpassing the record of 87 bushels set in 2023. “A lot of it boils down to the fact that wheat tends to respond to management very well and it seems…
Read MoreIran conflict spikes market volatility
By RHIANNON BRANCH AND TAMMIE SLOUP FarmWeek • Military action in Iran continues to impact fuel and fertilizer markets, prompting a nationwide “groundswell of concern from farmers” as planting season nears. “History teaches us that energy market shocks quickly reach the farm-gate and countries in and around the Persian Gulf account for a large share…
Read MoreRFA: ethanol industry should be ‘let off the leash’
By TAMMIE SLOUP FarmWeek • The ethanol industry wants “let off the leash” to help provide new market opportunities for the renewable fuels and agriculture sectors, said Geoff Cooper, Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) president and CEO. During his state of the industry report at the National Ethanol Conference (NEC) on Feb. 25 in Orlando, Florida,…
Read MoreSenator Erica Harriss introduces bill to create Illinois Pediatric Cancer Fund
By Tribune Staff • State Senator Erica Harriss (56th–Glen Carbon) has introduced legislation aimed at strengthening research efforts to help fight childhood cancer and improve outcomes for young patients across Illinois. Senate Bill 3954 would create the Illinois Pediatric Cancer Fund, a special fund within the State Treasury Department dedicated to supporting research, prevention and…
Read MoreJudge grants Clerk Andreas’ request for recount of votes for two referenda
A judge on March 20 granted Madison County Clerk Linda Andreas’ request for a recount of votes cast in two referenda that were on the ballot for the Primary Election. Andreas made the request for the recount after voters alerted her to apparent inaccuracies for the vote totals for two referenda questions involving Long Lake…
Read MoreBudzinski, Bost, Bell, Wagner introduce Gateway Arch National Park Boundary Revision Act
By Tribune Staff • SPRINGFIELD — Today, U.S. Representatives Nikki Budzinski (IL-13), Mike Bost (IL-15), Wesley Bell (MO-01), and Ann Wagner (MO-02) introduced bipartisan legislation to expand the boundaries of Gateway Arch National Park. Specifically, the legislation would expand the park’s authorized boundary to allow the National Park Service to extend the park into Malcolm…
Read MoreIllinois Stewardship Alliance highlights new LFIG enrollment period, calls for continued investment in state budget
By Tribune Staff • SPRINGFIELD — The Illinois Stewardship Alliance is encouraging farmers, food businesses, cooperatives, and community organizations across the state to apply now for the Fiscal Year 2026 Local Food Infrastructure Grant (LFIG) program, with the enrollment period open through March 27. Applications opened Feb. 18, marking another important opportunity for Illinois producers…
Read MoreTwo-car crash became hit-and-run at intersection of Routes 4, 143 west of Marine
By Charles Bolinger Editor • If you were westbound on Route 143 between Marine and Edwardsville on March 19 between 4:25 and 5:25 p.m., you were likely caught in the traffic jam after a two-car crash became a hit-and-run at the intersection with Route 4. Southbound Route 4 traffic extended beyond the Heritage Trail overpass.…
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