Opinion | The Affordable Car Is Dead. What Happened? (Gift Article) This is how cars got so ridiculously, forbiddingly expensive.

NYT: For generations, working- and middle-class Americans could find an inexpensive, reliable set of wheels to get around. That era is over.
www.nytimes.com/interactive/...

East St. Louis' Reginald Petty reflects on life's work after top Illinois honor Petty has received the Order of Lincoln, which “recognizes individuals who have made remarkable contributions to the betterment of humanity.”

His long career includes:
- Working on voting rights in the south w/ MLK, Jesse Jackson and John Lewis
- Directing the Peace Corps in Africa, meeting folks like Nelson Mandela
- Returning to his native East St. Louis to document its history
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East St. Louis' Reginald Petty reflects on life's work after top Illinois honor Petty has received the Order of Lincoln, which “recognizes individuals who have made remarkable contributions to the betterment of humanity.”

Reginald Petty, the civil rights activist turned East St. Louis historian, received the state's top award for professional achievement and public service over the weekend. @stlpublicradio.bsky.social
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East St. Louis School District 189 Credit Upgrade to Save Taxpayers About $900,000 East St. Louis School District 189's credit upgrade to investment grade by Moody's saves taxpayers $900K funding school upgrades.

East St. Louis School District 189 Credit Upgrade to Save Taxpayers About $900,000

GRAFTON, Ill. — The ferry that runs between the city and St. Charles County across the confluence of the Mississippi and Illinois rivers reopened for the season today — but it won’t shut down later this fall like it normally does. @stlpublicradio.bsky.social
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Democrat wants to unseat a 3-term Republican in ultra-conservative Illinois district Democrat Jennifer Todd will face Republican Congresswoman Mary Miller in Illinois’ 15th District this fall, which is rated as one of the nation’s 35 most conservative.

Edwardsville nurse Jennifer Todd wants to do something that many believe to be highly unlikely — win Illinois’ 15th Congressional District as a Democrat this fall.
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Scott Air Force Base contributes $12.9B to local economy annually, new study finds The updated figures, which had last been calculated in 2010 at $3.2 billion, provide a quantifiable value to what Scott Air Force Base brings to the regional economy.

Scott Air Force Base, which is responsible for employing nearly 9,000 people full-time across the region, has an annual economic impact of $12.9 billion, according to a recent economic study. @stlpublicradio.bsky.social
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Cahokia Heights Mayor Curtis McCall Sr. on Friday morning shared a theory about recent community-organized testing that found E. coli in residents’ kitchen tap water.

From Lexi Cortes:
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Belleville in bloom: More than 300,000 tulips wash Eckerts Farm in vibrant color Leaders at the farm say their Tulip Trail will continue as long as the flowers are well and blooming.

BELLEVILLE, Ill. — More than 300,000 tulips are blooming at Eckert’s Farm right now.

This is the first time in more than 180 years that the farm has added a pick-your-own crop to its portfolio.

From @brianmunoz.bsky.social: www.stlpr.org/2026-03-27/p...

Granite City Works plans to produce steel again this weekend Plans for steelmaking on Saturday morning are seen by union members as a temporary win and an opportunity to prove their worth to new owners, despite having no long-term assurances the mill will…

Granite City Works plans to once again produce steel when one of the two blast furnaces at the Metro East mill gets up and running this weekend after being idle for more than two years.

Granite City Works plans to produce steel again this weekend Plans for steelmaking on Saturday morning are seen by union members as a temporary win and an opportunity to prove their worth to new owners, despite having no long-term assurances the mill will remai...

NEWS: Granite City Works plans to once again produce steel when one of the two blast furnaces at the Metro East mill gets up and running this weekend after being idle for more than two years, according to the local union president. @stlpublicradio.bsky.social
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Police shut down unlicensed dental office in Granite City operated by immigrants The cash-only operation came to light after a patient complained about a root canal gone bad.

GRANITE CITY, Ill. — For at least a year and half, a house operated as an underground dental practice until it was shut down last fall, according to a police report.
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Three local St. Louis TV stations under same umbrella after FCC-approved $6.2B merger The purchase puts KSDK Five on Your Side, currently owned by TEGNA, under the same umbrella as KPLR and KTVI, both of which are owned by Nexstar.

The $6.2 billion deal approved by the FCC this week puts St. Louis station KSDK, currently owned by Tegna, under the same umbrella as KPLR and KTVI, both of which were owned by Nexstar. @stlpublicradio.bsky.social
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Moore: How ‘Strattmentum’ upended Krishnamoorthi’s once-seemingly inevitable Senate path At the height of Beatlemania, Paul McCartney wrote a lyric that still resonates 60 years later: “I don’t care too

Brenden Moore shares his take on the U.S. Senate Democratic primary: Money was obviously a factor, and the leading candidates needed it to communicate with voters. But money isn’t worth anything without a winning message and an effective messenger. https://loom.ly/8QvF0v0

Some automated sirens failed during tornadoes in the Metro East St. Clair County officials are awaiting a report from siren vendor ATI Systems to determine the cause.

ICYMI: Tornado sirens in New Athens and other parts of St. Clair County failed to sound during a tornado on Sunday. @stlpublicradio.bsky.social
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Cahokia Heights teachers’ contract fight intensifies as union raises new allegations The tension between the union and district administration has been brewing since last summer. Last month, the union made allegations of financial mismanagement and asked for prosecutors to investigate...

CAHOKIA HEIGHTS, Ill. — While the district's superintendent repeatedly contends the union’s allegations are a ploy to distract from contentious contract negotiations, the union said it has uncovered more potential wrongdoing. @stlpublicradio.bsky.social
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Illinois U.S. Reps. Bost, Budzinski and Miller win their primaries U.S. Reps. Nikki Budzinski, D-Springfield, and Mary Miller, R-Hindsboro, beat primary opponents in contests they were expected to win. Rep. Mike Bost, R-Murphysboro, did not have a challenger. All thr...

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Illinois governor’s race will be a rematch in 2026 Republican Darren Bailey, the former state senator who lost to Pritzker in 2022, wins GOP nomination for governor on Tuesday night for his second try at Incumbent Democrat Gov. JB Pritzker.

Republican voters in Illinois have once again chosen former state Sen. Darren Bailey as their candidate for governor, giving him a second chance to unseat incumbent Democrat JB Pritzker in November.

Via @capitolnewsil.bsky.social:

Juliana Stratton wins Democratic primary to replace Sen. Dick Durbin A campaign funding boost Illinois’ lieutenant governor got from longtime running mate Gov. JB Pritzker helped her edge past U.S. Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi and eight other candidates, and she is now a s...

Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton has won the competitive Democratic primary race to replace U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin on the heels of a late campaign surge and millions in support from longtime running mate Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker.

Via @chicago.suntimes.com:

Illinois Lt. Gov Juliana Stratton wins Democratic primary for US Senate Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton of Illinois has won the Democratic primary for U.S. Senate. The retirement of Democratic Sen. Dick Durbin triggered a competitive campaign.

BREAKING: Illinois Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton wins Illinois Democratic primary for U.S. Senate.

NEWS: Jeff Wilson has beaten Joshua Loyd for the Republican nomination in IL-13, according to the Associated Press. As of now, Wilson is up 67% to 33% with 42% of the vote reported. He’ll face incumbent Democrat Nikki Budzinski in November. @stlpublicradio.bsky.social

Former Illinois Republican Party chairman Don Tracy wins GOP primary for US Senate seat Don Tracy, the former chairman of the Illinois Republican Party, has won the GOP nomination for U.S. Senate. The retirement of Democratic Sen.

BREAKING: Former Illinois Republican Party chairman Don Tracy wins GOP primary for U.S. Senate.

Former Illinois Republican Party chairman Don Tracy wins GOP primary for US Senate seat Don Tracy, the former chairman of the Illinois Republican Party, has won the GOP nomination for U.S. Senate. The retirement of Democratic Sen.

BREAKING: Darren Bailey wins Republican primary for Illinois governor, facing Gov. JB Pritzker in November.

NEWS: @budzinski.house.gov has defeated progressive challenger Dylan Blaha in Illinois’ 13th Congressional District, according to the Associated Press. Currently, the incumbent Democrat is up 76.1 to 23.9% in the primary contest with 63% of the vote reported. @stlpublicradio.bsky.social

= Expanding the site into Illinois was part of the original vision for the park by architect Eero Saarinen when the design was first pitched in the 1940s. =

@will-bauer.bsky.social on the renewed bipartisan, bi-state push by #Illinois and #Missouri legislators:

@stlpublicradio.bsky.social >>

4 things to watch Tuesday in Illinois primaries, including a hotly contested Senate battle Which Democrat will try to succeed Dick Durbin? Which Republican will challenge JB Pritzker? Can Nikki Budzinski fend off a challenge from the left?

Illinoisans go to the polls on Tuesday to cast their votes in their party’s primary contest, with the race to succeed retiring U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin at the top of the ballot.

Here are the four biggest things St. Louis Public Radio will be watching on election night.

Bill to expand Gateway Arch National Park into East St. Louis filed in Congress Tuesday’s announcement marks one of the first steps to formalize the idea that’s been recently revived by the Gateway Arch Park Foundation and supported by East St. Louis officials.

Tuesday’s announcement marks one of the first steps to formalize the idea that’s been recently revived by the Gateway Arch Park Foundation and supported by East St. Louis officials. @stlpublicradio.bsky.social
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Subscribe to the St. Louis Business newsletter The newsletter provides daily insights about the top stories and trends in the St. Louis business community.

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From St. Louis Magazine's business newsletter: Gas prices in the counties that make up the Metro East average now $3.90 per gallon. That's up $1.06 per gallon from last week.

Illinois primary voters should send mail-in ballots by 5 p.m. Tuesday Both major political parties in Illinois are recommending their primary voters send ballots in one week before election day. The recommendations follow a change made by the U.S. Postal Service under t...

If you're voting by mail in next week's Illinois primary elections, both major political parties are recommending their voters send ballots in by 5 p.m. today due to a change in how USPS defines postmarks. @stlpublicradio.bsky.social
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