Metro East

Illinois generated around $175 million in tax revenue from cannabis in 2020, and 25% of that money goes back to communities in the form of grants.

Residents from central and southwestern Illinois expressed concerns about how legislative maps will be redrawn this year.

The Black Woodstock Festival is this weekend and will feature 54 Black-owned businesses.

The We Live Here team balances deep dives into systemic issues with inspiring stories about people working to make a difference in their own communities. So when a listener reached out and introduced us to the work of Jeffrey “JD” Dixon, an activist organizing cleanups and coalitions in East St. Louis, a predominantly Black city in Illinois, we knew that we’d have to drive across the river to share his story. In this episode, we’ll learn about JD’s demand for legislative reform, hear from a political science professor about the legacy of industrial suburbs, and talk to a reporter about how JD is one of many Black residents in the Metro East area of Illinois who are pushing back against environmental racism.

The Illinois Pollution Control Board adopted rules governing how power plants close coal ash ponds that contain toxic waste on Thursday. The new rules require power plant operators to consider a range of options and allow public comments.

Jews in southern Illinois fear the congresswoman’s anti-Semitic comments will lead to more prejudice against the religious minority, which has always been an undercurrent in the region.

The City of Cahokia Heights will face logistical challenges in merging municipal departments and handling ongoing flooding and sewage issues.

The day-to-day assignments for the 19 new Space Force guardians at Scott Air Force Base won’t change until they move to an official Space Force command.

“I just don’t trust them,” a detainee said of the jail administration and its handling of the coronavirus pandemic thus far.

Gateway Pet Guardians’ new social worker will help the organization strengthen ties to existing community resources for people facing hardship.