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Wood River Police Charge Cahokia Man With Domestic Battery After S.W.A.T. Response

54 minutes 20 seconds ago
WOOD RIVER – A Cahokia man remains in custody after a domestic battery incident in Wood River led to his arrest involving the Metro East S.W.A.T. team . Tyler A. Taylor, 32, of Cahokia, Ill., was charged on July 22, 2025 with one count each of aggravated domestic battery (a Class 2 felony), unlawful restraint (a Class 4 felony), and domestic battery (a Class A misdemeanor). On July 202, 2025, Taylor allegedly strangled a household or family member, obstructed them from leaving a Wood River residence, and forcefully grabbed the victim’s phone from her hand, causing a laceration. Taylor also threatened the victim with a firearm, according to the state’s petition to deny Taylor’s pretrial release from custody. The petition states the victim waited until Taylor was asleep and fled the residence. “Officers documented injuries to her head and hand,” the petition states of the victim. “Victim later provided messages, sent to a third party,

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Photographer Brady Kesner Captures Nature's Healing Landscapes, Plus Glimpse Of Flynn and Skiold-Hanlin Art Work

1 hour 10 minutes ago
EDWARDSVILLE - These are three artists who will be featured at the upcoming Edwardsville Arts Fair on Sept. 26-28, 2025, at Edwardsville City Park. Today's featured artists are: Brady Kesner, Pary Flynn, and Sarah Skiold-Hanlin. Artist #1: Brady Kesner Medium: Photography Artist Statement: "I am passionate about photographing grand and intimate landscapes—flowing water, the rocks it tumbles over, and the trees that surround it. This environment quiets my soul, and I believe it does the same for the viewer. I am a believer in the power of nature to provide comfort, healing, and reduce stress." Artist #2: Pary Flynn Medium: Wood Artist Statement: "I make and play handmade cigar box guitars, built from many different cigar boxes I find during my travels—as well as vintage gas cans, old movie reels, bedpans, or handmade boxes." Artist #3: Sarah Skiold-Hanlin Medium: Works on Paper Artist Statement: "Music

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Ryne Sandberg, Mickey Mantle Baseball Cards On Tap At Treasurer Frerichs' State Fair I-CASH Auction Preview

1 hour 20 minutes ago
SPRINGFIELD - Baseball cards featuring the late Cubs legend Ryne Sandberg and Yankees great Mickey Mantle, basketball cards of Wilt Chamberlain and Walt Frazier, and an 18-karat yellow gold Hermes man’s chain bracelet are just some of the 250 unclaimed property lots on display for the public to preview on Tuesday, August 5 . “We encourage people to come preview the items we’ll be auctioning later in the month,” said Illinois State Treasurer Michael Frerichs, whose office oversees unclaimed property in Illinois. “As Treasurer, I can’t bid on anything, but I know there are plenty of Cubs fans who would love to bid on Ryne Sandberg’s rookie baseball card.” “This is a chance for everyday fairgoers to experience a real, live auction, make bids on an item they like, and take home something distinctive,” Frerichs added. Potential bidders are invited to attend the auction preview from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Tuesday August 5 at the Illinoi

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Belleville Family Rallies Support For 12-Year-Old Battling Cancer

1 hour 32 minutes ago
BELLEVILLE - Tera and Fredrick Mothersell are organizing a fundraiser to support their 12-year-old son, Richard, as he battles bone cancer for the second time along with leukemia. The fundraiser aims to help cover medical bills, gas, and other expenses related to Richard’s ongoing treatment, which includes chemotherapy and radiation. Tera and Fredrick said Richard was initially diagnosed with stage 4 Ewing sarcoma, a rare and aggressive bone cancer, on April 26, 2023, after experiencing back pain that led to the discovery of a large tumor in his chest and multiple cancerous spots throughout his bones and spine. Despite being told to prepare for end-of-life care, Richard’s cancer went into remission by July 27, 2023. He completed 14 rounds of chemotherapy and 45 rounds of proton radiation by November 22, 2023, marking a significant milestone by ringing the hospital bell. However, attempts to maintain remission with low-dose chemotherapy were unsuccessful due to toxic

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V1 Environmental Brings Fresh Perspective to Septic System Maintenance

2 hours 8 minutes ago
COLLINSVILLE - There’s a new option for septic pumping and portable sanitation in Madison and St. Clair Counties. V1 Environmental offers a fresh perspective on residential and commercial septic services. Lucas Maue, the 25-year-old founder and president of the business, can’t wait to grow and continue offering great services to the community. “The industry is ripe for a new approach,” he explained. “I think I bring a modern twist to the entire industry. We’re just trying to inject a whole lot of professionalism into what most people believe is kind of a dirty, in-the-corner portion of your home service needs.” Maue previously served in the National Guard before transitioning to a local government contracting role. Six months ago, he and his wife experienced issues with their septic system, and Maue struggled to find a company that could get out to help them. He decided that not only could he do the work himself, but he could als

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“Austin Pride” A creative musical for STAGES

2 hours 8 minutes ago

STAGES St. Louis ‘Austen’s Pride’ Rewrites History With Charm, Wit and Imagination                                by Pat Lindsey Lindsay Warren Baker and Amanda Jacobs have created a charming hit musical with ‘Austen’s Pride’ that is, hopefully, Broadway-bound. The two women wrote the book, music and lyrics based on Jane Austen’s book, ‘Pride and Prejudice,’ and laced it […]

The post “Austin Pride” A creative musical for STAGES appeared first on flovalleynews.com.

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Collinsville Police 'Fugitive Friday:' Suspect Benjamin Murden Sought In Connection With Theft Incident

2 hours 9 minutes ago
COLLINSVILLE — The Collinsville Police Department on Friday, Aug. 1, 2025, released information about this week’s fugitive, Benjamin Murden, wanted in connection with a theft at a local Walmart. According to the department, Murden is accused of taking merchandise valued at over $300 without paying, an act that qualifies as a felony under state law. The incident reportedly occurred prior to the release date of Aug. 1, 2025. “Mr. Murden helped himself to some merchandise at Walmart without paying for it. Unfortunately for him... the items were valued at over $300, making his bad decision a felony,” the Collinsville Police said in their “Fugitive Friday” announcement. Authorities are asking anyone with information about Murden’s whereabouts to contact the Collinsville Police Department at 618-344-2131, extension 5209. Callers may remain anonymous. The department emphasized that the charges are based on probable cause and that Murden is presumed

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Update to Rivers Project Master Plan Receives Final Approval  

2 hours 15 minutes ago
ST. LOUIS - The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers St. Louis District Commander has fully approved the revised “Rivers Project Master Plan” with accompanying “Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI)” and “Environmental Assessment (EA)”. The River Project Master Plan is a conceptual document that guides public use and natural resource management of over 48,000 acres of federal lands for environmental stewardship and recreational purposes. Master Plans for the Rivers Project were developed or updated in 1948, 1961, 1977, 2001, and 2015. Since its last revision, there have been many changes in public recreational perceptions and demands, in natural and man-made resources along the Upper Mississippi and Illinois Rivers, and in federal roles in the Project areas. These changes necessitated the preparation of an updated Master Plan to serve as a meaningful guide for future federal management of these rivers. This Master Plan supersedes the 2015 version

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Statewide Sales Tax Holiday Runs August 1 to 3 in Missouri

2 hours 38 minutes ago
ST. LOUIS - The Missouri Department of Revenue announced that the state’s 2025 Back-to-School Sales Tax Holiday will take place from 12:01 a.m. Friday, Aug. 1, through Sunday, Aug. 3, 2025. During this period, all state and local sales and use taxes on qualifying back-to-school items will be exempt, marking a change from previous years when only state and some local taxes were exempt. Under Missouri state law, the sales tax holiday begins on the first Friday in August and lasts through the following Sunday. Qualifying items include clothing, school supplies, computers, and certain computer accessories, each subject to specific price limits. Clothing items such as diapers and shoes qualify if their taxable value is $100 or less. School supplies are exempt up to $50 per purchase. Computer software priced at $350 or less, personal computers costing $1,500 or less, and other computer devices like mice, keyboards, and external disk drives under $1,500 are also included. Graphing calculators

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Illinois Gaming Board (IGB) Approves New Gaming Licenses Among Other Actions

2 hours 52 minutes ago
CHICAGO — The Illinois Gaming Board (IGB) approved a number of gaming licenses and other measures today including issuing a gaming license for the State’s first racino and welcoming the first African American woman as IGB Chairperson. The IGB approved the Organizational Gaming License for the racino, Fairmount Park, Inc. d/b/a Fairmount Park Casino and Racing in Collinsville. The IGB received upfront fees of $9,950,000 in May, which was deposited into the Rebuild Illinois Fund, which funds infrastructure projects statewide. Fairmount Park is the seventh newly authorized casino the IGB licensed since November 2021 and the State’s 17th casino. Fairmount Park Casino and Racing began casino operations in Collinsville in April and was licensed today. Also at today’s meeting, Illinois Gaming Board Administrator Marcus D. Fruchter welcomed Dionne Hayden to her new position as Chairperson. She was appointed by Governor JB Pritzker following the July resignation of Chairma

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Victim Identified: Man Found Dead From Multiple Gunshot Wounds In Washington Park

3 hours 10 minutes ago
WASHINGTON PARK, Ill. — Authorities responded early Thursday morning, July 31, 2025, to a fatal shooting in the Metro East, where a 46-year-old man was found dead from multiple gunshot wounds. Police were called to a residence in the 5000 block of Warren Avenue near Kingshighway in Washington Park shortly before 5:40 a.m., Illinois State Police said. St. Clair County Coroner Calvin Dye Sr. said that Demario D. Walker was the victim. Dye Sr. said Walker was pronounced dead at the scene. According to the coroner, Walker’s last known address was in the 5000 block of Warren Avenue. The Illinois State Police were requested by Washington Park police to investigate the shooting. No additional information about the circumstances of the shooting or potential suspects has been released. The investigation remains ongoing.

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