Because central and southern Illinois differ from the north in how they make and buy electricity, they’re slipping behind in the race for cheap power, clean air and economic growth.

But tucked just 25 miles north of St. Louis, where three mighty rivers converge, Alton offers a refreshing alternative to wallet-draining metropolitan adventures. This riverside town has somehow ...

NPR Financial Correspondent Maria Aspan, Host of "Politics Nation" Rev. Al Sharpton, and President of Media Matters for ...