Lexi Cortes

1 week ago | bnd.com | Lexi Cortes

Collinsville residents were recently warned in a letter that elevated levels of PFAS, also known as "forever chemicals," have been detected in their water. Belleville News-Democrat More than 80,000 people in Madison County recently learned their city's water exceeded new state and federal limits on contamination from PFAS, or "forever chemicals," the last time it was tested. Collinsville had some of the highest levels in the state: four and a half times the limit for one type of chemical.

1 week ago | bnd.com | Lexi Cortes

A map included in the agenda packet for the St. Clair County Board's April 28, 2025, meeting shows the 36 vacant lots the county will soon put up for sale at auction. St. Clair County St. Clair County will be auctioning off 36 vacant lots it owns in East St. Louis to an interested buyer or buyers. The properties are located in a neighborhood off of St. Clair Avenue between North 70th and North 72nd streets.

2 weeks ago | bnd.com | Lexi Cortes

An O'Fallon park will soon be getting $400,000 worth of improvements as part of an agreement between the city and county. St. Clair County is transferring ownership of St. Ellen Mine Park to O'Fallon and giving the city a $400,000 grant for renovations, according to the agreement, which the County Board approved at its meeting Monday night. The park is located at 610 St. Ellen Mine Road in O'Fallon, the site of a former coal mining operation.

2 weeks ago | bnd.com | Lexi Cortes

Jennifer Foushee, 40, who has cerebral palsy, has lived at the long-term care facility Clinton Manor Living Center in New Baden for the past 13 years. She personalized her side of a small shared bedroom by hanging neon pink lights and the state flag of Texas, her home state. Now, she fears she may lose her home because of proposed federal cuts to Medicaid, which pays for her care.

3 weeks ago | nprillinois.org | Lexi Cortes

Federal spending cuts have put some Metro East infrastructure projects in a state of uncertainty, including plans to address sewage spilling out of city pipes in Cahokia Heights. The Republican-controlled Congress eliminated all local project funding from a temporary spending bill passed in March to prevent a government shutdown and fund federal agencies through the end of the fiscal year in September. U.S. Rep.