Edwardsville

Last year, more than 378,000 workers were authorized for H-2A visas, or temporary agriculture positions, according to figures from the U.S. Department of Labor. Horseradish farmers in the Metro East are among those who say they’re now using the program.

Gov. JB Pritzker’s proposal includes $100 million for a state grant program. At Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, 30% of students use the program.

In response to the collapse of the Amazon warehouse that killed six employees during a December 2021 tornado, Illinois lawmakers hope to recommend increased safety measures by 2025.

Edwardsville's school district held a number of "engagement sessions" to get input from community members. School officials propose a $100 million bond.

Amazon officials say they are taking steps to make their workplaces safer, including better training.

In the wake of the storm, warehouse employees and supporters of labor said the building should have included a protective shelter, even though building codes do not require them.

The federal workplace safety agency has been investigating the deaths of six people at the facility since a tornado hit it in December.

Both new lawsuits join a wrongful death lawsuit that was filed earlier this year on behalf of one of the six Amazon workers who died during the tornado.

One of the construction companies that built the Amazon warehouse in Edwardsville responds to accusations that the building wasn't properly constructed

A report by a structures specialist who responded to the collapse says it appears support columns were not properly anchored to the floor.