Area Breaking News
Applications now open for IDNR volunteer fire assistance grants
By Tribune Staff • SPRINGFIELD – The Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) is accepting applications for Volunteer Fire Assistance (VFA) grants now through Feb. 16, 2026. The U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service VFA federal grant program provides matching funds to aid fire departments in the purchase of new equipment and helps fund training.…
Read MoreFive expert tips for live Christmas tree disposal
LISLE—Fresh Christmas trees don’t last forever and the tree care experts at The Morton Arboretum recommend planning ahead for proper disposal once it’s time to take them down. “To prevent a fire hazard, it is crucial to safely and appropriately dispose of your evergreen tree as soon as it shows signs of drying out, which…
Read MorePublic libraries across Illinois to stock, administer opioid overdose reversal agents in 2026
By Tribune Staff • SPRINGFIELD – The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) has issued an updated standing order which adds Illinois public libraries to the list of locations that are permitted to keep a supply of opioid overdose reversal agents on hand, and to allow trained staff to administer them in the event of…
Read MoreSt. Jacob swears in new police chief, approves new four-way stop signs
By Bruce Darnell • During its Dec. 17 meeting, the St. Jacob Board of Trustees swore in their new police chief, Damian Feeny and decided to move forward with changing some intersections to become four-way stops. St. Jacob’s prior police chief Gary Kukla resigned on Nov. 1, and a week later Feeny was being eyed…
Read MoreICC subtracts $11.2 million from Ameren’s rate reconciliation request
By Tribune Staff SPRINGFIELD – The Illinois Commerce Commission (ICC) struck $11.2 million from Ameren Illinois’ $59.6 million multi-year rate reconciliation request. The decision is the first in a new performance-based evaluation process designed to reconcile actual utility spending with the approved investments outlined in the utility’s multi-year grid and rate plans. “The ICC’s responsibility…
Read MoreTruth-in-Taxation public hearing held at Collinsville Board of Education meeting
By Ray Popkess • Collinsville’s School Board met last week to discuss their adjustments to 2025’s tax levy. Jamie Hadjan, the district’s director of finance, presented the board with calculations she formulized to make sense of the upcoming changes. Based on last year’s equalized assessed value (EAV) of property assets totalling $1,166,038,338, Hadjan explained her…
Read MoreTriad falters on winter rivalry weekend; defeated on ice, split matchups on court
By Ray Popkess The Highland Bulldogs showed no mercy to the Triad Knights when they met on the ice and on the court just before students dismissed for winter break. After the skaters suffered a 5-1 loss on Thursday, Dec. 18 at the RP Lumber Center, Knights’ hoopers traveled down US 40 on Friday,…
Read MoreAs America Approaches 250: Christmas in Madison County in 1930
By Kathy Turner As this month looks at the years 1920 to 1940, it isn’t hard to understand what the holidays were like in the area during those years. Between the Great Economic Depression that started in late 1928 and the start of a second world war that we entered involuntarily at the end of…
Read MoreCollinsville BOE considers bids for concession building addition to new CHS baseball field
By Ray Popkess Early this month, Collinsville Board of Education received bids from Holland Construction Services regarding the development of the new Collinsville High School varsity baseball field. On Monday, Dec. 15, the board voted to move forward with construction bids with one caveat. Board President Gary Peccola presented the board with an option to…
Read MoreSpringfield Diocese Catholic Charities achieves national re-accreditation in its centennial
By Tribune Staff • Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Springfield in Illinois has announced that it recently achieved national reaccreditation through the Council on Accreditation (C.O.A.) during its centennial year celebration. This accomplishment signifies that Catholic Charities has successfully implemented best practice standards in the field of human services. C.O.A. evaluated all aspects of…
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