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Godfrey Trustees Unanimously Reject New Fiber Network Proposal

19 hours 42 minutes ago
GODFREY – An internet company’s plans to build a new underground fiber optic network in Godfrey were shut down by Village Board members this week. Trustees voted 0-6 in a unanimous rejection of a Right of Way license agreement with Socket Telecom LLC (or “Socket Fiber”) at their May 19, 2026 meeting. The agreement would have covered the installation and restoration requirements involved in installing a fiber optic network within the village. According to a memo from

Cardinals fall 6-2 to Pirates in series finale

20 hours 7 minutes ago
Brandon Lowe hit an inside-the-park home run and Marcell Ozuna drove in two runs to lead the Pittsburgh Pirates to a 6-2 win over the St. Louis Cardinals on Thursday.
WARREN MAYES, Associated Press

First Presbyterian Church of Alton Celebrates 195 Years with Jazz Soiree

20 hours 8 minutes ago
A LTON - First Presbyterian Church of Alton will host a jazz soiree and open house to celebrate its 195th anniversary. From 3–6 p.m. on Saturday, June 6, 2026, community members are invited to First Presbyterian Church in Alton for the event. Pastor Ian Caveny is excited to celebrate the church’s history and share its presence with the Alton community. He emphasized the importance of connecting with the congregation and the Riverbend community. “I’m just here

The Save No One Saw: How a Quiet Alert Helped Prevent Dangerous Situation

20 hours 24 minutes ago
WITT, ILLINOIS – We all know what a tremendous save looks like in sports — a diving catch, a last-second block, a play that changes everything. But what does a tremendous save look like in natural gas safety? In Witt, Illinois, it started with a quiet alert from advanced metering technology and ended with a coordinated response that prevented what could have been a devastating explosion. A Warning Before Anyone Knew The incident began not with a customer call, but with data.

Teen Admits Being Caught with Gun After Police Chase

20 hours 26 minutes ago
ST. LOUIS – A teenage felon from St. Louis on Thursday admitted being caught with a machine gun after a police chase. Juanell Carter, 19, pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court in St. Louis to one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm. On the afternoon of Aug. 26, 2025, the St. Ann Police Department was alerted about a stolen 2024 Nissan Altima on Page Avenue. A St. Ann police lieutenant spotted the vehicle backing into a parking spot at a convenience store. Carter was behind

US Senate GOP punts immigration bill amid big split with Trump over settlement fund

20 hours 30 minutes ago
WASHINGTON — A multibillion-dollar package to fund immigration enforcement for the rest of President Donald Trump’s term faced new delays Thursday as Senate Republicans showed a rare split with the president over his new “anti-weaponization” fund. The administration dispatched Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche to Capitol Hill to meet with Senate Republicans as many fought to […]
Ashley Murray, Shauneen Miranda

Jimmy Ford and Madison County Republicans Collect Over 100 Suitcases For The Good Samaritan House

20 hours 36 minutes ago
COLLINSVILLE/GRANITE CITY- Thanks to the overwhelming generosity of the Collinsville community, Jimmy Ford and the Madison County Republican Party successfully collected over 100 suitcases, along with canned goods and toiletries, at their donation drive held Saturday, May 16, at American Legion Post 365. All donations went directly to The Good Samaritan House in Granite City, an emergency shelter dedicated to serving women and families in crisis across Madison County. The event, which ran from

The Science Is Not Settled: How Weak Evidence Is Fueling A National Push To Ban Social Media For Youth

20 hours 43 minutes ago
As statehouses ramp up for 2026, we’re seeing a familiar and concerning trend of lawmakers rushing to regulate the internet based on shockingly shaky science. From the California State Assembly to the Massachusetts and Minnesota legislatures, a wave of bills is crashing against the digital lives of young people, with proponents of these measures framing social media access as a “public […]
Rindala Alajaji

RBGA Honors King Air Conditioning & Heating Sith May Small Business Excellence Award

20 hours 48 minutes ago
GODFREY –As it continues its every-other-month cycle of recognizing excellence proven by its member small businesses, the RiverBend Growth Association has chosen its May shoutout. King Air Conditioning and Heating Inc. of Godfrey has been chosen for Small Business Excellence recognition this month by the RBGA. Owned by Mike and Karen Edwards for the past 35 years, the company itself has been in business for 52 years now. The Edwardses purchased it in September 1991, when two of their

Congress Approves $1.6 Billion for St. Louis VA Hospital Modernization, Bost Says

20 hours 54 minutes ago
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Rep. Mike Bost (IL-12) today announced that Congress has approved a Department of Veterans Affairs budget request of $1.6 billion to modernize the John Cochran Veterans Hospital in St. Louis. The VA funding bill, which is expected to be signed into law by President Trump, provides for the construction of a new bed tower, a mental health and substance abuse clinic, administrative facilities, parking garages, and a central utility plant. "Our veterans deserve

Edwardsville City Council Grants Liquor License For Foundry Public House Under New Ownership

20 hours 59 minutes ago
EDWARDSVILLE – A restaurant and bar in downtown Edwardsville is allowed to continue selling alcohol under its new ownership. Edwardsville City Council members on May 19, 2026 unanimously approved a Class C liquor license for Suhas Mandavalli, the current owner of the Foundry Public House at 126 N. Main St. in Edwardsville. Alderwoman Elizabeth Grant asked if Mandavalli is the Foundry Public House’s new owner, which Mayor Art Risavy confirmed. Risavy also said the establishment’s

Western Illinois Woman Claims $1 Million Powerball Prize

21 hours 3 minutes ago
CHICAGO — A western Illinois woman is celebrating a life-changing win after claiming a $1 million prize on Powerball ® . Diana of Carman matched all five white ball numbers — 3, 19, 35, 51 and 67 — in the April 29 Powerball drawing to win the $1 million prize. “I couldn’t believe it — I picked these numbers randomly,” said Diana. “I’ve won smaller prizes before, but this is the first time I’ve won a million dollars.”