School goes remote after fire
Fire crews responded to a school fire in Murphysboro Tuesday morning.
The Murphysboro Fire Department said their firefighters responded to the Cope Alternative School before students arrived. Fire officials said there was substantial damage to the building.
The principal said they will be changing to e-learning for the rest of the week until they can find a new building.
Burger chain could be closing
Burger chain Red Robin, with 20 locations in Illinois, could be on the verge of closing dozens of restaurants.
According to a recent earnings report, the company is evaluating alternatives for approximately 70 underperforming restaurant locations.
The report did not contain a list of the underperforming restaurants, but most are expected to close as their leases expire over the next five years.
Makers Madness voting opens
The first round of voting is now open in the Illinois Manufacturers’ Association’s sixth annual “Makers Madness” contest, a bracket-style tournament in which the public will decide what product earns the 2025 title of The Coolest Thing Made in Illinois.
More than 250 unique products from around the state were nominated for this year’s contest, with candidates ranging from agriculture and energy storage equipment to life-saving medical products, and a variety of vehicles.
Voting for this round runs through March 16, and participants can vote up to five times per day.
