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McKendree University sports equipment manager Brad Oster prepares the women's locker room before a game. Thanks to Oster’s input, McKendree has created what is believed to be the country’s first and only bachelor’s degree program in sports equipment management.

McKendree offers unique sports equipment management degree

McKendree University sports equipment manager Brad Oster got lucky when he found his dream job.

Real Estate: What’s your neighbor’s home selling for?

Recent real estate transactions for St. Clair, Madison and Monroe counties.

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Metro-east News

Parents counter-sued by Wolf Branch School District after their original suit against the school was deemed "frivolous" and their attorney withdrew himself from representing them. Premissa Acoff speaks about the problems this has caused for her son.

Wolf Branch seeks to recover legal costs in racial bullying lawsuit

A judge is expected to consider whether a lawsuit filed by a family against the Wolf Branch School District over alleged racial bullying should continue, and whether the district can recover legal costs incurred from battling what it’s called...

Crime

Two face felony charges in Belleville Walmart purse thefts

A Belleville woman and a Fairview Heights man have been charged in connection with several purse thefts in the Walmart at 2608 Green Mount Commons Drive, police announced Saturday.

Hot Topics

West kicker Austin Seibert (43) practices on the sideline Oct. 18 at the start of the game against East St. Louis.

West kicker Austin Seibert featured in Parade Magazine

First it was an early verbal commitment to the Sooners of Oklahoma University.

Sports

Tigers' Zac Rujawitz closes in on Kahok QB Connor Zabala in a game last fall.

Edwardsville’s Rujawitz picks Drake, plus more area football commitments

On Super Bowl Sunday, a day where much of America pays at least some attention to football, Edwardsville High all-state linebacker Zac Rujawitz figured it was time to make his college choice official.

Features

Alixandra Parsons, 17, earned the title Miss Midwest Illinois on Jan. 17 in Belleville. In June, she will compete in the Miss Illinois pageant in Marion.

East senior dances her way to Miss Midwest Illinois

On Jan. 17, Alixandra Parsons, of Belleville, won the title Miss Midwest Illinois in Belleville at Lindenwood University. The regional pageant is part of the Miss America organization, so the 17-year-old will head to Marion in June to compete in the...

State|Region

An artist's rendering of St. Elizabeth's Hospital's plans for the O'Fallon site.

Senator wants Rauner to fill vacancy on board considering St. Elizabeth’s plan

St. Elizabeth’s Hospital leaders remain confident they can get state approval to move from Belleville and rebuild in O’Fallon. And a state senator is pushing to improve the hospital’s odds of getting the OK.

Nation|World

FILE - In this Saturday, Jan. 24, 2015, file photo, former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee speaks during the Freedom Summit, in Des Moines, Iowa. Huckabee says gay marriage is akin to alcohol and profanity _ options the Republican weighing a 2016 presidential bid says are appealing to others, but not to him.

Huckabee compares being gay to using alcohol, profanity

Former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee on Sunday said being gay is akin to choosing to drink alcohol or use profanity — lifestyle choices he says are appealing to others but not to him.

Opinion

A file photograph of Flyers' head coach Tony Young.

Winning isn’t the only thing

Football, deflategate and the Super Bowl were the talk of the sports world this past week, and squeezed in was the troubling story about East St. Louis Flyers basketball coach Tony Young.

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