Will Bauer
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Will Bauer
@will-bauer.bsky.social
280 followers 110 following 190 posts
Metro East reporter at St. Louis Public Radio. Northern Minnesota native & University of Nebraska grad. Sarcasm is my own. Email: wbauer@stlpr.org.
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will-bauer.bsky.social
ALTON, Ill. — The city council voted 5-2 on Wednesday to eliminate bars’ ability to sell alcoholic beverages until 2 a.m. on weekdays and 3 a.m. on weekends. @stlpublicradio.bsky.social
www.stlpr.org/economy-busi...
Alton will stop bars from serving alcohol past 1 a.m. starting next year
As written, the change is scheduled to take effect on Dec. 31 just before midnight — but the alderwoman who introduced it is considering if that’s too soon.
www.stlpr.org
November 13, 2025 at 2:49 PM
will-bauer.bsky.social
NEWS: The Alton city council voted 5-2 tonight to eliminate all late night liquor licenses in town. Come Jan. 1, all establishments will need to stop selling liquor at 1 a.m. @stlpublicradio.bsky.social
November 13, 2025 at 1:35 AM
will-bauer.bsky.social
U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin is once again at odds with other prominent Illinois Democrats over a vote that set in motion a plan to end the record-long federal government shutdown.
www.stlpr.org/government-p...
Key Illinois Democrats at odds with Durbin over shutdown vote — again
Dick Durbin, who is not seeking reelection in 2026, was one of eight members in the Senate Democratic caucus to join Republicans in supporting a procedural vote to begin the process of passing legisla...
www.stlpr.org
November 11, 2025 at 7:58 PM
will-bauer.bsky.social
ALTON, Ill. — Drinking into the early hours of the morning may be a thing of the past after a city council committee voted 5-2 on Monday to end all late night liquor licenses. @stlpublicradio.bsky.social
www.stlpr.org/economy-busi...
Alton city council, citing problems, wants to end liquor sales after 1 a.m.
Alton’s mayor and city council say late night liquor sales have caused too much drunken behavior.
www.stlpr.org
November 11, 2025 at 2:40 PM
will-bauer.bsky.social
Some Illinoisans who receive government subsidies for food via the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program may receive partial payments starting on Friday, according to the Illinois Department of Human Services. @stlpublicradio.bsky.social
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Some SNAP-eligible Illinoisans could receive partial payments starting Friday
After a federal judge ruled the Trump administration needed to make partial payments, the Illinois Department of Human Services said some Illinoisans could see benefits as early as this weekend.
www.stlpr.org
November 7, 2025 at 5:51 PM
will-bauer.bsky.social
ALTON, Ill. — A new affordable housing complex, called the Community of Sunnybrook, has nearly filled up with tenants as the developers announced the project’s completion on Wednesday. @stlpublicradio.bsky.social
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After 8 years, new affordable housing complex in Alton has opened
The Community of Sunnybrook, which has 40 units, will provide needed affordable housing in the Metro East town, the developers and city leaders say.
www.stlpr.org
November 6, 2025 at 1:08 PM
will-bauer.bsky.social
VENICE, Ill. — A food desert eliminating grocery store planned to open in the small Metro East town next summer will soon start construction. @stlpublicradio.bsky.social
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Venice grocery store, backed by state grant, will soon begin construction
The developer hopes construction can start before the end of the year and be complete by next August. The new store will eliminate a food desert in the Metro East community.
www.stlpr.org
November 6, 2025 at 1:07 PM
will-bauer.bsky.social
ALTON, Ill. — Whether the Illinois General Assembly should redraw the state’s congressional map in the middle of the decade will depend on Indiana, Democratic @govpritzker.illinois.gov said Wednesday. @stlpublicradio.bsky.social
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Illinois redistricting will hinge on Indiana, Gov. Pritzker says
“We're watching what Indiana does,” Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker said at an unrelated event in Alton on Wednesday. “We may have to react to that.”
www.stlpr.org
November 5, 2025 at 11:03 PM
will-bauer.bsky.social
After a monthslong standoff, China has agreed to buy 12 million metric tons of U.S. soybeans this year — less than half of what the country has historically purchased. @stlpublicradio.bsky.social
www.stlpr.org/economy-busi...
Some Midwest soybeans are headed to China again, but farmers still need other buyers
Some Midwestern soybean farmers are selling their beans to be crushed and turned into soybean meal and oil. But economists say domestic processing won’t be enough to offset the drop in Chinese demand.
www.stlpr.org
November 3, 2025 at 5:11 PM
will-bauer.bsky.social
STAUNTON, Ill. — Hundreds gathered yesterday to show support for a community member who is currently detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement. @stlpublicradio.bsky.social
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Hundreds gather in Metro East to support business owner detained by ICE
A small Illinois city is rallying for a prominent community member who is currently in ICE detention in Missouri. He was taken into custody after dropping his daughters off at school last week.
www.stlpr.org
November 3, 2025 at 3:07 PM
will-bauer.bsky.social
Food pantries across the St. Louis area are preparing for an influx of people requesting assistance since hundreds of thousands in the region will not receive SNAP benefits next month due to the government shutdown. @stlpublicradio.bsky.social
www.stlpr.org/government-p...
How to find SNAP alternatives in the St. Louis region – and how to help
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits will be paused on Saturday due to the government shutdown. Here is a resource for people to find food during this pause.
www.stlpr.org
October 30, 2025 at 5:03 PM
will-bauer.bsky.social
If federal tax credits expire in 2026, insurance costs for many will go up.

That’s especially true in southern Illinois, where certain insurance customers will see some of the highest premium hikes in the country when they start shopping on Nov. 1.
www.stlpr.org/health-scien...
Cost of marketplace health plans to soar in 2026, will hit some in southern Illinois especially hard
Certain insurance customers will see some of the highest premium hikes in the country when they start shopping for plans on the open enrollment marketplace.
www.stlpr.org
October 30, 2025 at 5:01 PM
will-bauer.bsky.social
Four family members of Darren Bailey, a Republican candidate for Illinois governor, were killed in a helicopter crash Wednesday in Montana.
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Helicopter crash kills 4 members of Illinois GOP governor candidate Darren Bailey’s family
Darren Bailey, a Republican candidate for governor in Illinois, said his son, daughter-in-law and two grandchildren were killed in a helicopter crash
www.stlpr.org
October 23, 2025 at 2:33 PM
will-bauer.bsky.social
A new commission to explore taking rural counties from Illinois and bringing them to Indiana is set to have its first meeting on Wednesday, Oct. 22.
www.wthr.com/article/news...
Indiana's commission looking at taking counties from Illinois is about to have its first meeting
The new Indiana-Illinois Boundary Adjustment Commission is meant to look into bringing disgruntled Illinois into Indiana.
www.wthr.com
October 22, 2025 at 2:49 PM
will-bauer.bsky.social
House Democratic leaders have shifted their proposed new Illinois congressional map as they angle for a mid-decade redraw in the Land of Lincoln.

The latest configuration would target GOP Rep. Darin LaHood rather than GOP Rep. Mary Miller.
punchbowl.news/article/camp...
Dems’ new Illinois redistricting plan targets LaHood
House Democratic leaders have shifted their proposed new Illinois congressional map as they angle for a mid-decade redraw in the Land of Lincoln.
punchbowl.news
October 21, 2025 at 6:59 PM
Reposted by Will Bauer
stlpublicradio.bsky.social
There's a new Veterans Home open in Quincy.

The $300 million facility replaces buildings that saw an outbreak of Legionnaires Disease kill 14 residents and sicken dozens more:
New Illinois Veterans' Home in Quincy looks to move past Legionnaires’ disease
The $300 million facility with 80 independent living apartments and 210 beds in long-term care replaces buildings where the water system was linked to the Legionnaires’ outbreak.
www.stlpr.org
October 20, 2025 at 9:17 PM
will-bauer.bsky.social
SWANSEA, Ill. — Land of Lincoln Legal Aid, a provider of free civil legal assistance to lower-income Illinoisans, launched two mobile offices on wheels Monday in hopes to expand its services. @stlpublicradio.bsky.social
www.stlpr.org/law-order/20...
Legal nonprofit launches new 'mobile justice vans' to reach more Illinoisans
The Land of Lincoln Legal Aid, a nonprofit that provides assistance to lower-income residents, believes the vans will help break down geographic and transportation barriers.
www.stlpr.org
October 20, 2025 at 9:55 PM
will-bauer.bsky.social
VALMEYER, Ill. — The developer who turned a cave into an industrial park has been looking at alternative ways to bring electricity to its underground roads, offices and cold storage — including the possibility of miniature nuclear reactors. @stlpublicradio.bsky.social
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Metro East cave-turned-industrial park considers nuclear-powered electricity
Rock City is an underground industrial park in a cave located below a nature reserve in Valmeyer, a small town of about 1,200 people. A recently signed memorandum signaled interest in potentially brin...
www.stlpr.org
October 17, 2025 at 8:30 PM
Reposted by Will Bauer
stlpublicradio.bsky.social
BREAKING: The St. Louis Public Schools Board of Education voted Friday to fire Superintendent Millicent Borishade during a closed session.

Borishade told STLPR that she was not given a cause for her termination. www.stlpr.org/education/20...
St. Louis Public Schools fires Superintendent Millicent Borishade
The board voted to end its contract with Superintendent Millicent Borishade who has held the top role for just over a year.
www.stlpr.org
October 17, 2025 at 7:06 PM
will-bauer.bsky.social
Ameren Illinois’ $128.8 million rate hike request for natural gas delivery services should be cut by $43.7 million, two judges recommended recently. The final decision will be left to the Illinois Commerce Commission. @stlpublicradio.bsky.social
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Judges recommend state regulators cut Ameren Illinois' rate hike request by $44M
The final decision on Ameren Illinois’ $128.8 million rate hike request for natural gas delivery services will be made by the Illinois Commerce Commission.
www.stlpr.org
October 17, 2025 at 2:29 PM
will-bauer.bsky.social
“I was incredibly lucky,” Pritzker told reporters on Thursday. “You have to be to end up ahead, frankly, going to a casino anywhere. It was in Las Vegas and I like to play cards.”
www.stlpr.org/government-p...
Illinois govenor's taxes show more than $10M in 2024 income — $1.4M from gambling
Illinois' governor says 'I like to play cards' as returns show $1.4M in gambling income
www.stlpr.org
October 16, 2025 at 8:06 PM
will-bauer.bsky.social
ICYMI: @budzinski.house.gov said last week that some of her constituents will pay double for health insurance if Congress doesn’t vote to extend a subsidy program that helps pay for premiums. @stlpublicradio.bsky.social
www.stlpr.org/health-scien...
Rep. Budzinski of Illinois says some health insurance premiums will double if Congress doesn’t act
Democrats in Congress have held off voting on a spending bill unless legislators agree to again approve the tax credits for people who buy insurance on healthcare.gov.
www.stlpr.org
October 16, 2025 at 2:18 PM
will-bauer.bsky.social
COLLINSVILLE, Ill. — The city is nearly finished with an engineering analysis needed for a state grant application that would cover the remaining cost to retrofit its water treatment plant so it can filter out so-called forever chemicals. @stlpublicradio.bsky.social
www.stlpr.org/health-scien...
As residents worry about costs, Collinsville explores funding for PFAS water filters
After officials of the Metro East suburb recommended filtering drinking water because of so-called forever chemicals, residents had numerous questions about costs and health concerns at the latest cit...
www.stlpr.org
October 16, 2025 at 2:13 PM
will-bauer.bsky.social
The U.S. Supreme Court heard arguments Wednesday in an Illinois Republican congressman’s case challenging a state law on mail-in ballots.

More from @jasonrosenbaum.bsky.social:
www.stlpr.org/government-p...
U.S. Supreme Court hears Bost’s challenge of Illinois mail-in ballot law
The Murphysboro Republican is challenging an Illinois law counting ballots that arrive up to two weeks after Election Day.
www.stlpr.org
October 9, 2025 at 2:37 PM
will-bauer.bsky.social
BELLEVILLE, Ill. — A new bus service from the St. Clair County Transit District and Metro Transit will take St. Louis Blues fans in the Metro East to and from the Enterprise Center at select home games this season. @stlpublicradio.bsky.social
www.stlpr.org/news-briefs/...
New bus service will take St. Louis Blues fans to and from Belleville this season
A round-trip ride will cost $10 on the "Blue Note Express."
www.stlpr.org
October 8, 2025 at 7:34 PM