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Rep. John Shimkus, R-Ill. questions Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius during a House Energy and Commerce Committee hearing on the implementation failures of the Affordable Care Act, Wednesday, Dec. 11, 2013, on Capitol Hill in Washington. Sebelius said in a blog post early Wednesday that she is asking the department's inspector general to investigate the contracting process, management, performance and payment issues that may have contributed to the flawed launch of HealthCare.gov.

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Video of U.S. Rep. John Shimkus engaging in a fiery exchange with Kathleen Sebelius lit up the Internet...

Snow falling on East Main Street in Belleville in a 2012 file photo.

Winter storm should arrive just in time for evening rush

Roads should be in good shape for the morning commute Friday.

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Metro-east News

Two flights from Chile on Monday delivered 250,000 pounds of blueberries to North Bay Produce at MidAmerica St. Louis Airport. The company said it was the biggest delivery to date at the airport.

250,000 pounds of blueberries: MidAmerica may become fruit hub for Asia

North Bay Produce received its largest shipment ever in a single day when 250,000 pounds of blueberries from South America were delivered this week to MidAmerica St. Louis Airport. The blueberries were flown into the Mascoutah...

Crime

South Roxana man guilty of sexually abusing 4-year-old relative

A Madison County jury found a South Roxana man guilty of sexual abuse in 45 minutes of deliberation Thursday.

Hot Topics

The group home at 4 N. Ruby Lane in Fairview Heights was part of a federal lawsuit alleging the trustees discriminated against disabled residents by charging a nonprofit group four times more than it should have for a sewer tap-in fee. Caseyville Township has agreed to pay $60,000 to Cerebral Palsy of Southwestern Illinois, based in Belleville, and refund $10,225 of the nonprofit's tap-in fee. The nonprofit filed the lawsuit in January following the construction of two group homes located at 220 Oulvey St. and 4 N. Ruby Lane in Fairview Heights.

Caseyville Township settles discrimination lawsuit for $60,000

Caseyville Township trustees have settled a federal lawsuit alleging the trustees discriminated against disabled residents by charging a nonprofit group four times more than it should have for a sewer tap-in fee.

Sports

Belleville West's (13) Imani Berry and Alliyah St. John try to steal the ball from Edwardsville's Aaliyah Covington during their game at West.

Edwardsville survives serious scare from West

With a 63-game Southwestern Conference winning streak on the line, the Edwardsville Tigers' go-to girl came through Thursday at Belleville West High School.

Features

In this June 16, 2013 photo, cars drive past the scene of a fatal wreck. A North Texas juvenile court judge has sentenced a 16-year-old boy to probation for the crash that killed four people on Tuesday, Dec. 10, 2013.

Sentence in Texas teen's fatal DWI wreck stirs ire

"Affluenza," the affliction cited by a psychologist to argue that a North Texas teenager from a wealthy family should not be sent to prison for killing four pedestrians while driving drunk, is not a recognized diagnosis and should not be used to justify... 2 hours ago

State|Region

Illinois prisoner dies after 5-story fall

The Illinois Department of Corrections says an inmate serving a 70-year sentence on a murder conviction plunged five stories to his death after a visit at the maximum-security lockup by his girlfriend.

Nation|World

Federal public defender Andrew Nelson, left, talks to the media as he leaves court in Missoula, Mont., Thursday, Dec. 12, 2013, after his client Jordan Graham pleaded guilty to killing her husband of eight days by pushing him from a cliff in Glacier National Park while they argued about her second thoughts about the marriage. The surprise plea agreement with prosecutors came just before closing arguments were set to begin in the trial of the Montana newlywed.

Newlywed pleads guilty to second-degree murder

A Montana newlywed pleaded guilty Thursday to killing her husband of eight days by pushing him from a cliff in Glacier National Park while they argued about her second thoughts about the marriage. 6 minutes ago

Opinion

No wonder Shimkus is frustrated

U.S. Rep. John Shimkus is usually an easy-going guy, but Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius had him frustrated and upset this week.

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