WASHINGTON — Congressman Sam Graves announced he has secured an additional $4.9 million in federal funding for the Highway 54 Shared 4 Lane Project serving Audrain County and Pike County Missouri. The funding was included in the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2026, signed into law February 3, and is intended to help advance long-planned improvements along the busy Highway 54 corridor. According to Graves, the project will add an alternating passing lane between Curryville

SPRINGFIELD — Lawmakers in Illinois are intensifying debate over how to regulate the rapid expansion of data centers as concerns grow about rising energy costs, environmental impacts and the state’s economic competitiveness. Data centers, which store and process massive amounts of digital information — including artificial intelligence workloads — require significant electricity to operate. A state report released in December projects potential energy shortfalls beginning in

SPRINGFIELD — Schools across Illinois, including chapters serving Pike County Illinois, Greene County Illinois, Scott County Illinois, Brown County Illinois and Calhoun County Illinois, are recognizing National FFA Week with student-led activities highlighting agriculture and leadership. National FFA Week honors the founding of the organization in 1928 and shines a spotlight on agricultural education programs offered in area high schools. Local chapters traditionally mark the

PITTSFIELD — Financial oversight and payroll system challenges in Pike County Illinois are resurfacing in the current County Board election after a public post referenced past implementation problems tied to the PayCom payroll system. Reta Hoskin, a candidate for Pike County Illinois Board, addressed previously shared county bank statements that contained handwritten notes. Hoskin said the notes reflected employee frustration at the time due to inaccurate financial reporting

LOUISIANA, MISSOURI — The Louisiana City Council will meet Monday, February 23 at 6:00 p.m. inside the second-floor Council Chambers at City Hall, with a full agenda that includes ordinance changes, adoption of a new city code, infrastructure updates, and employee pay increases. According to the posted meeting notice, the meeting was called by Mayor Tim Carter and will include routine items such as roll call, approval of the agenda, approval of minutes from multiple January m

HANNIBAL, MISSOURI — Human remains discovered in Hannibal on Feb. 15 have been positively identified as Brian Snyder , a man with ties to Louisiana, Missouri, who had been missing since May 2022, authorities confirmed. Snyder disappeared from a job site near Mark Twain Cave nearly four years ago, and his disappearance sparked searches and community concern across northeast Missouri. According to the Hannibal Police Department, an autopsy and forensic examination confirmed Sny

CARROLLTON —  Two Greene County men were sentenced Friday to prison terms in separate felony cases, according to the Greene County State’s Attorney’s Office. Nicholas A. Williams, 33, was sentenced to a total of 14 years in the Illinois Department of Corrections after pleading guilty to three counts of child pornography, all Class 2 felonies. Court records show Williams received consecutive sentences of five years on two counts and four years on a third count, for a combined

BOWLING GREEN, MISSOURI —  A long-vacant building on the Bowling Green Square is coming back to life this week as local owners Juan Leon and his father, Guillermo Leon, officially open Mi Margarita . The restaurant occupies a space that has sat empty for more than 30 years, formerly home to the Ben Franklin variety store — once a familiar fixture in downtown Bowling Green. Juan Leon, a Bowling Green native and graduate of Bowling Green High School, says opening a restaurant i

BOWLING GREEN, MO —  The Spring Bestie Market Vendor Fair is set to bring a full day of shopping, food, and family fun to the Pike County MO Fairgrounds in Bowling Green on Saturday, March 21, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. The event will feature a wide variety of vendors offering permanent jewelry, boutiques, clothing, crafts, metal work, handmade and crafted items, sweet treats, and unique one-of-a-kind finds. Organizers say shoppers can expect a diverse selection of goods, making i

BARRY —  Western Elementary School is rolling out two new family engagement initiatives this month designed to strengthen the partnership between parents and the classroom. School leaders say the goal is simple: when families are involved, students succeed. The first initiative, called Family Fridays , will take place on the last Friday of each month and invites parents into the school to participate directly in classroom activities with their children. Principal Ernest Motle

QUINCY —  As teacher shortages continue to impact schools across Illinois and the Tri-State region, John Wood Community College is stepping in with new resources aimed at strengthening the future educator pipeline in West Central Illinois. The U.S. Department of Education has identified widespread teacher shortages in multiple subject areas, prompting efforts at both the state and local levels to recruit and support new educators. John Wood Community College recently received

PITTSFIELD —  After two decades of organizing one of Pike County’s most recognizable summer traditions, the Pittsfield Lions Club has announced it will no longer host Pig Days. Club members say the decision comes after 20 years of leading the large-scale community festival. While they describe the run as rewarding and successful, declining membership and a shortage of volunteers have made the multi-day event too large for the club to continue managing. Pig Days began as a one

PITTSFIELD —  Pittsfield High School is searching for a new head coach for its girls basketball program following the resignation of head coach Noah Mendenhall , who stepped down after two seasons leading the Lady Saukees. Mendenhall said his decision came after a meeting with high school administrators earlier this week, during which he was informed there had been complaints from parents and players regarding conditioning, preparation, and coaching. According to Mendenhall,

BOWLING GREEN —  The Bowling Green Board of Aldermen has named a new chief of police, signaling the latest leadership change in local law enforcement following recent departures at the top of area departments. At its latest meeting, the board appointed Corporal Chris Beard  as the new chief of police for the city’s police department. Beard said he is honored by the appointment and looks forward to serving the Bowling Green community in his new role. “I’m grateful for the conf

SPRINGFIELD — Gov. JB Pritzker is preparing to push a sweeping statewide zoning proposal that critics say would significantly strip cities, villages, and counties of their long-held authority to decide what kind of housing can be built in their own communities, replacing local decision-making with one-size-fits-all mandates from Springfield. Under the proposal, the state would override local zoning rules to allow multi-unit housing on many residential lots and legalize access

PITTSFIELD —  Illinois high school football programs, including those in Pike County, could soon see significant changes after the Illinois High School Association approved an expansion of the state football playoffs. Under the new format, nearly 130 additional schools statewide will qualify for postseason play, giving more teams an opportunity to compete beyond the regular season. Supporters of the move say the change levels the playing field for smaller, rural schools that

WINCHESTER —  The Winchester School Board has not yet made a final decision on the future of the Winchester Grade School gym as district leaders continue gathering information and weighing costs tied to potential replacement or demolition. Superintendent Jeff Abell says the district has received a second evaluation report from the Illinois State Board of Education, which led the regional superintendent’s office to recommend condemnation of the gym. However, Abell emphasized t

PITTSFIELD —  Residents across the Twin Pikes region are being urged to use caution Wednesday as elevated fire danger conditions  are expected, especially north of Interstate 70, including parts of Pike County, Illinois and Pike County, Missouri. According to the National Weather Service, the combination of gusty southwest winds  and low relative humidity  could create conditions favorable for rapid fire spread between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. Wednesday . Dry grasses, agricultural

TWIN PIKES —  Residents across the Twin Pikes region should stay weather-aware heading into Thursday , as conditions may become favorable for strong to severe thunderstorms  later in the day. Forecast guidance from the National Weather Service shows a cold front moving into the region Thursday afternoon and evening , bringing increasing chances for showers and thunderstorms across Pike County, Illinois and Pike County, Missouri , along with surrounding areas. As warmer, more

JEFFERSON CITY, MISSOURI —  A wide-ranging property tax overhaul bill advancing in the Missouri House could unintentionally eliminate April municipal elections by shifting many local elections to August and November, according to election officials who say the bill’s language is broader than its sponsor intended. The proposal would require taxing districts to set separate property tax rates by property type and would move property tax elections to August or November ballots.