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10-Year-Old Author Shares Self-Love Message at Alton Elementary School

46 minutes 51 seconds ago
ALTON - A local young author gave a special presentation at West Elementary School in Alton. Ten-year-old Amoriah Gray is no stranger to book signings and music video shoots. But she got a special opportunity to engage with her peers on Friday, Feb. 27, 2026, when she presented her book “Amoriah’s Magic Afro Puffs” to the girls’ group at West Elementary. Amoriah’s brand is all about self-love, and it was a powerful message for the kids — and a chance for

Midwest Members Credit Union Male Athlete Of The Month: Oilers' Senior Runner LeBron Reed Reflects On Lessons From Cross Country/Track and Field

57 minutes 51 seconds ago
WOOD RIVER - LeBron Reed is entering his senior season with the East Alton-Wood River Oilers for track and field and plans to continue his running career in college, building on what he described as a breakthrough year in cross country. Reed said the success of his first full cross-country season this past fall helped lead to the Alton Road Runners Club EAWR Runner of the Year honor and now the Midwest Members Credit Union Male Athlete Of The Month recognition. “I believe that the success

Man Faces Felony Charges For Assault And Firearm Offenses

1 hour 5 minutes ago
ST. LOUIS COUNTY - The St. Louis County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office has filed felony charges against Tyresse Ware, 25, of St. Louis, accusing him of assault and weapons offenses stemming from a March 2 incident in St. Louis County, authorities said. Charges were issued Tuesday, March 3, 2026, against Ware, who lives in the 6100 block of Behle Avenue in St. Louis, Mo., 63135, according to a statement dated Wednesday, March 4, 2026. He is charged with first-degree assault, armed criminal

Edwardsville Students Refine Skills During Orchestra Workshop

1 hour 13 minutes ago
EDWARDSVILLE - Edwardsville High School orchestra students spent Feb. 27, 2026, working with Illinois State University music faculty during a day of rehearsals and sectionals that ended with a performance at the Center for the Performing Arts, according to Edwardsville High School Orchestra Director and Fine Arts Department Chair Victoria Voumard. Voumard said the sessions were led by Sam Chen, orchestra director at Illinois State University, along with other ISU string faculty

Timeline: Heavy rain and severe weather near St. Louis

1 hour 14 minutes ago
The southern St. Louis region is at a Level 2 risk of severe storms Wednesday afternoon and early evening, with the potential for damaging winds, quarter-sized hail, and a brief tornado, while heavy rain may cause flash flooding in low areas.
Chris Higgins

Godfrey Man Charged After Years Of Alleged Child Sexual Assault, Abuse

1 hour 15 minutes ago
GODFREY – A Godfrey man faces major felony charges after allegedly sexually abusing and assaulting the same victim for four years from ages 8 to 12. 56-year-old Ernest L. Smith, of the 4700 block of Village Drive in Godfrey, faces three Class X felony counts of predatory criminal sexual assault of a child and three Class 1 felony counts of aggravated criminal sexual abuse in a case filed on Feb. 26, 2026. Smith is accused of committing various acts of sexual assault and abuse against

Former Carlyle Police Chief Accused Of Embezzling More Than $100,000

1 hour 21 minutes ago
EAST ST. LOUIS - A former police chief in Carlyle, Ill., has been indicted on federal charges accusing him of embezzling more than $100,000 in public funds for personal benefit, according to prosecutors. A federal grand jury returned a four-count indictment charging Mark A. Pingsterhaus, 52, of Carlyle, with two counts of wire fraud and two counts of theft of government funds. The case was announced in East St. Louis. According to the indictment, Pingsterhaus is accused of embezzling funds

Illinois State Police Conduct Safety Belt Patrols in March

1 hour 25 minutes ago
COLLINSVILLE - Illinois State Police will conduct Occupant Restraint Enforcement Patrols in Madison and St. Clair counties during March to focus on safety belt and child safety seat laws, according to ISP Troop 8 Commander Capt. Casey Faro. The patrols, known as OREPs, are intended to increase compliance with occupant restraint requirements through education, child safety seat inspections, and enforcement. “OREPs allow the ISP to focus on safety belt and child safety seat laws,” Far

Edwardsville Elementary Students Present on Famous African Americans for Black History Month

1 hour 35 minutes ago
EDWARDSVILLE - First graders at Nelson Elementary School in Edwardsville completed their first report on a famous African American for Black History Month. Tamara Johnson has taught first grade for 27 years, and she always assigns a major Black History Month presentation to her students. Not only does the project encourage them to learn about a famous Black American, but it also teaches them the basics of writing and presenting information to their classmates. “They were so excited

Alton Police Welcome New Officer After Academy Graduation

1 hour 42 minutes ago
ALTON - The Alton Police Department has announced that Officer Mathew Wilson graduated from the Illinois State Police Academy last Friday, Feb. 27, 2026, and will work alongside officers on patrol. “The Alton Police Department is proud to share that Officer Mathew Wilson graduated from the Illinois State Police Academy last Friday,” Alton Police Chief Jarrett Ford said in a statement. Chief Ford said Wilson “will now begin our Field Training Program here in Alton,

St. Clair County Officer Rodney Wilson Retires After Two Decades

1 hour 46 minutes ago
BELLEVILLE - Officer Rodney Wilson is retiring from the St. Clair County Sheriff’s Office after 20 years of service that began Feb. 19, 2006, according to the St. Clair County Sheriff’s Department. Wilson started his career with the St. Clair County Sheriff’s Department as a member of the Auxiliary Deputy Program and later served with the Auxiliary Deputy Mounted Patrol. Over the years, he also served as an intelligence officer assigned to the jail, a firearms range master,

Officer Mark Harris Retires After 26 Years of Service

1 hour 47 minutes ago
BELLEVILLE - Officer Mark Harris is retiring from the St. Clair County Sheriff’s Department after a career that began Aug. 6, 2001, in Belleville, where he served as a correctional officer and later worked in inmate transport and equipment support roles, the department said in a statement. The department announced Harris’ retirement and congratulated him and Officer Rodney Wilson, who is also retiring. See the other story about Wilson's retirement. “For 26 years,