Eighteen nursing homes in Metro East received below-average scores from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) after the federal agency updated its nursing home rating system for consumers in April.

More than 130 Illinois public school administrators who signed witness slips in opposition to a bipartisan bill that aims to consolidate Illinois school districts make six-figure salaries, according to an analysis compiled this week.

Illinois’ state and local effective tax rate ranks the highest in the nation, according to a new study of tax burdens imposed by the 50 states and the District of Columbia.

The number of vacant homes in St. Clair County was nearly 3,800 in the third quarter of 2018, a 441-unit decrease over what it was a year ago, according to real estate numbers reported by ATTOM Data Solutions.

In-state tuition and book costs for the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign will continue to be among the highest for schools in the Big 10 conference, despite the UI Board of Trustees' vote on Thursday to extend an in-state tuition freeze for the fifth-straight year.

Swansea Rehab and Health Care Center, a 94-bed skilled care facility in Swansea, was cited by the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) for violations of the Nursing Home Care Act in the fourth quarter of 2018.

Rosewood Care Center of Alton, a 180-bed skilled care center in Alton, was cited by the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) for violations of the Nursing Home Care Act in the fourth quarter of 2018.

Granite Nursing, an 86-bed skilled care center in Granite City, was cited by the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) for violations of the Nursing Home Care Act in the fourth quarter of 2018.

Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville sports programs brought in $40,654 per athlete in revenue in 2016, meaning its athletes on average generated the 10th highest sports revenue of any school in Illinois that year, according to a Metro East Sun analysis of U.S. Department of Education data.

The Fairview Heights Sears store will close its doors in March as part of the parent company’s restructuring plans, Sears Holdings Corp. said this week.

McKendree University ranked No. 4 for student athletic participation in the state, according to a Metro East Sun analysis of college sports participation.

Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville wrestling brought in $16,002 per athlete in revenue in 2016, the second highest level for wrestling programs in Illinois that year, according to a Metro East Sun analysis of U.S. Department of Education data.

St. Clair County had the second lowest home affordability index in Illinois in the third quarter, according to an analysis of 440 counties by ATTOM Data Solutions.

In a list of the 30 most populous counties in Illinois, St. Clair County ranked No. 4 for the rate of abortions performed there in 2017, according to an Illinois Department of Public Health report issued in December, which tracks abortions performed on an annual basis.

St. Clair and Madison counties accounted for 951 of the 39,329 abortions performed statewide in 2017, according to an Illinois Department of Public Health report issued in December, which tracks abortions performed on an annual basis.

Men’s head coach salaries at Southwestern Illinois College outpace women’s team coaches by 70 percent, according to a Metro East Sun analysis of recent U.S. Department of Education data.

Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville volleyball brought in $34,630 per athlete in revenue in 2016, making it among the highest-grossing volleyball programs in Illinois that year, according to a Metro East Sun analysis of U.S. Department of Education data.

Illinois received a score of 72 on making key financial information accessible and understandable to the public, according to a new report from Truth in Accounting (TIA), a Chicago-based policy institute.

Illinois House Speaker and Democrat Party Chief Michael Madigan (D-Chicago) gave a total of $1,368,859 to Godfrey State House candidate Monica Bristow this election cycle, state filings show.

Illinois House Speaker and Democrat Party Chief Michael Madigan (D-Chicago) gave a total of $710,523 to Smithton State House candidate Jerry Costello, II this election cycle, state filings show.