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READY TO STRIKE — Highland teachers picket Monday before the regular meeting of the Board of Education. From left are Kate Eaker, Michelle Deets, Sue Abbott (retired), Colleen Baker and Michelle Ficker.

Union claims teachers were bullied by some administrators

While the Highland School District has declared a commitment to eliminate bullying among students...

A teenage girl was hospitalized late Wednesday after she was injured at the former Belle Valley North School, located in a residential subdivision on the opposite side of West Boulevard from Belleville East High School. The current owners have a variety of security cameras and no trespassing signs around the building as they work to find a new owner or tenant.

Girl falls through skylight at abandoned Belle Valley school

A teenage girl was hospitalized late Wednesday after she was injured at a former Belleville area...

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Metro-east News

Assistant director and stage manager Josh Porter (15) helps with lines during practice.

Young actors pick up stage presence in Monroe County production

Pat Hunsaker was a bit harried Wednesday afternoon during a rehearsal for a Young People's Theater Production at the Capitol Theater in Waterloo.

Crime

Man dies in I-70 hit-and-run; police search for semi driver

The Illinois State Police are asking the public for help in finding a hit-and-run semi driver accused of fleeing the scene of a fatal crash on Interstate 70 near Troy.

Hot Topics

Inmates on cleanup crew find $1 million in pot

A Missouri cleanup crew consisting of jail inmates and a sheriff's deputy went into a roadside ravine to clean up trash and instead discovered more than 600 pounds of packaged marijuana.

Sports

Boston Red Sox starting pitcher John Lackey delivers to the Tampa Bay Rays during the first inning of a baseball game Saturday, July 26, 2014, in St. Petersburg, Fla.

Cardinals get pitcher Lackey from Red Sox for Craig, Kelly

Continuing their push for pitching, the St. Louis Cardinals on Thursday added veteran starter John Lackey to their mix.

Features

Mascoutah Homecoming and August Fest packs three days with fun

Mascoutah is rolling out its 87th annual Homecoming and August Fest this weekend with parades, carnival rides, tractor pulls, car show, firemen's muster, food, judging of 4-H projects and livestock, live music and much more.

State|Region

In this Wednesday, July 30, 2014 photo, Illinois Department of Agriculture contractors Jeremy Conaway, left, and Mike Saunders help with preparations at fairgrounds for the opening of the Illinois State Fair in Springfield, Ill. The annual agricultural extravaganza runs Aug. 7-17.

'American Idol' to have auditions at state fair

There's a chance you could walk away from the Illinois State Fair this year with more than just saltwater taffy, political ephemera and a tummy ache. You could snare a recording contract.

Nation|World

Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) in her office on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC.

CIA admits it broke into Senate computers; senators call for spy chief’s ouster

An internal CIA investigation confirmed allegations that agency personnel improperly intruded into a protected database used by Senate Intelligence Committee staff to compile a scathing report on the agency’s detention and interrogation program...

Opinion

Poor choice by Edwardsville School Board

The Edwardsville District 7 School Board took a contentious, ill-advised step backward this week when the majority reappointed Greg Roosevelt to the board despite his loss at the ballot box last year.

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