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Downtown Troy Transforms into an Outdoor Art Festival for August First Fridays

1 day 5 hours ago
TROY - The free community celebration will once again transform the streets of downtown into a vibrant outdoor festival featuring live music, local artists, interactive art experiences, food trucks, shopping, family activities, and specials from downtown restaurants and businesses. Whether you're an art enthusiast, music lover, foodie, or simply looking for a fun evening with family and friends, First Fridays offers something for everyone. Live Music Headlining the evening will be Ryan

Alton Sex Offender Detained After Repeatedly Failing To Register, Giving False Name

1 day 5 hours ago
ALTON – A sex offender accused of failing to register after moving to Alton and giving fake names to police has been detained pending trial. 63-year-old Gary L. Vancil, listed as homeless out of Alton, was charged on Aug. 4, 2026 with his latest offenses of unlawful failure to register as a sex offender (a Class 2 felony) and obstructing identification (a Class A misdemeanor). Vancil allegedly failed to register with the Alton Police Department within three days of moving from Sangamon

Altonized Community Federal Credit Union Male Athlete Of The Month: Aiden Roberts Emerges As Southwestern Wrestling Bright Spot

1 day 6 hours ago
PIASA - Aiden Roberts, a Southwestern football and wrestling athlete, made significant improvement during the 2025-26 wrestling season, according to assistant wrestling coach Kimberly Kessinger. She said Aiden shined after developing through a youth wrestling club and continuing a sport shared by his family. Roberts is one of the bright spots for Southwestern in wrestling for the future after his performances this past season, and his future appears exciting. Roberts has been an offensive linema

Ctrl-Alt-Speech: In The Modi For Takedowns

1 day 7 hours ago
Ctrl-Alt-Speech is a weekly podcast about the latest news in online speech, from Mike Masnick and Everything in Moderation‘s Ben Whitelaw. Subscribe now on Apple Podcasts, Overcast, Spotify, Pocket Casts, YouTube, or your podcast app of choice — or go straight to the RSS feed. To get extended episodes with additional coverage, support us on […]
Mike Masnick

Christmas in July Fundraiser Raises Record $85,000 in Godfrey

1 day 7 hours ago
GODFREY — Christmas in July, a fundraiser organized by Margaret Freer for Community Christmas, raised a record $85,000 on July 24, 2026, at Freer Auto Body in Godfrey, with proceeds going to help provide local families with toys, clothes, food, hygiene items and more during the holiday season. The total surpassed last year’s previous record of $76,000. “It was a monumental accomplishment,” Freer said. “We have a wonderful, giving community. The Christmas in Jul

Alton Educational Foundation Brings Community Together to Support Alton School District

1 day 8 hours ago
ALTON/GODFREY - A luncheon brought together educators and community partners to celebrate Alton Community Unit School District #11 teachers and students. On Thursday, Aug. 6, 2026, the Alton Educational Foundation (AEF) hosted their annual Partners in Education Luncheon to share their support for the district. AEF Director Dr. Kristie Baumgartner noted that the foundation is focused on three main programs this year, all of which aim to boost student and teacher success. The luncheon also

Western wildfire could be latest climate disaster to unsettle property insurance market

1 day 8 hours ago
As Washington state reels from a devastating wildfire that destroyed hundreds of homes in Spokane last weekend, experts say the disaster has cast newfound uncertainty over a property insurance market that had just begun to stabilize.  Across the country, insurance companies have withdrawn coverage or raised premiums in areas threatened by climate-fueled disasters. In some […]
Alex Brown

Some Haitians targeted for ankle monitors by ICE as they face threat of mass deportation

1 day 8 hours ago
WASHINGTON — Even before Haitian immigrants in Ohio officially lost their Temporary Protected Status, the Department of Homeland Security required dozens of them to report to immigration appointments and accept ankle monitors, according to their attorneys and local advocates. The practice of using electronic monitoring appears to only be happening in Springfield, Ohio, according to […]
Ariana Figueroa

Missouri AG bars St. Louis company from kratom sales as federal 7-OH ban looms

1 day 8 hours ago
An agreement with Missouri Attorney General Catherine Hanaway will bar the owners of St. Louis-based Green Dragon from selling kratom products in the state, the latest development in her office’s crackdown on 7-OH and related substances. Under the agreement announced Thursday, Green Dragon and owners David and Matthew Jadwin cannot own, operate or hold a […]
Rebecca Rivas