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JERSEYVILLE – A 20 acre solar farm is set to be built along State Highway 16 near Jerseyville. Jerseyville City Council members unanimously approved a series of resolutions authorizing the annexation and rezoning of the property, as well as a special use permit to operate a commercial solar energy facility at the site. The property, which sits just outside the eastern Jerseyville city boundary in unincorporated Jersey County, will be annexed into the city. The solar farm is expected

CAHOKIA MOUNDS/COLLINSVILLE - Collinsville Police are asking for the public’s help after a newborn infant was found abandoned Sunday night in a car seat in the Cahokia Mounds parking lot in Collinsville. At 8:35 p.m. on Sunday, June 7, 2026, the Collinsville Police Department responded to the parking lot after a 911 caller reported finding the infant there, police said. Officers arrived and found the child sleeping and appearing to be in good health. The infant was taken to a local hospital

MADISON COUNTY - One person died Tuesday morning in a crash involving a motorcycle and a semitruck on Illinois Route 4 in Madison County, according to Illinois State Police. The crash happened about 9:10 a.m. just south of the Interstate 70 interchange outside Marine, state police said. Troopers said the motorcycle and semitruck crashed, killing one person. Illinois State Police did not release additional details about the person who died. Both lanes of traffic were temporarily closed following

ALTON — Alton Police are investigating an armed robbery involving an armored vehicle that was reported at about 11:14 a.m. Tuesday, June 9, 2026, in the parking lot of Red Lobster at 170 Homer Adams Parkway, authorities said. The suspects fled with an undisclosed amount of currency, according to the Alton Police Department. No additional information about the suspects is being released because the investigation remains active. The department said it received a 911 call reporting the robbery

ALTON — The Rockin' With Robert Concert scheduled for Tuesday, June 9, 2026, at the Robert Wadlow Statue on College Avenue in Alton has been canceled because of hot weather conditions. The No. 4 Combo had been set to perform at the concert, Debbie Frakes, an organizer of the weekly summer series, said. She said organizers will work on getting that concert rescheduled. Frakes said the next concert at the statue is set for next week from 6 to 8 p.m. and will feature the Tragg Band. “The

ALTON - Hundreds of people are slated to attend the 48th annual Mustang Round Up and All Ford Car Show in July in Alton. Starting at 8 a.m. on Saturday, July 18, 2026, at Roberts Motors, Inc., in Alton, community members from across the region are invited to view a wide variety of Mustangs and other classic cars. Hosted by the Southern Illinois Mustang Association, this event is expected to attract car enthusiasts from around the area. “I like seeing the cars that are there every

ALTON – An updated plan to establish a grant program for festivals and events in Alton is moving forward. Aldermen approved an amended resolution establishing a festival and event microgrant to support city-wide events using Food and Beverage Tax Revenue at their June 8, 2026 Committee of the Whole meeting . The item was postponed during the last committee meeting on May 26, 2026 as Alderwoman Martha Pfister sought to clarify the eligibility guidelines for funding recipients. Alderman

ALTON - A few community members are coming together to make a difference, and you can help. Becca Mesey and her team will host their fifth annual Back the Backstoppers fundraiser on Sept. 12, 2026, at Bowl Haven in Alton. Attendees can bowl in a nine-pin tournament and enjoy a craft fair while supporting local first responders. Businesses and organizations are also encouraged to sponsor or donate toward the event. “For me personally, I just want the first responders to know that they’r

EDWARDSVILLE - Members of the Edwardsville Police Department participated on Tuesday, June 9, 2026, in the Illinois Law Enforcement Torch Run for Special Olympics. The officers carried the torch, traveling from the Montclaire Shopping Center on Troy Road to Busey Bank on West Vandalia Street in Edwardsville, before stopping at Busey Bank, according to the department. The department said the runners were led by a police patrol vehicle. The Edwardsville Police Department described

AVE MARIA, FLA./GODFREY - Ava Bartosiak of Godfrey was named to the Dean's List at Ave Maria University in Ave Maria, Florida, for Fall 2025 and Spring 2026. Daniel Davy, Ph.D, Dean of Faculty, said on behalf of your professors, we are all deeply proud of your accomplishments and grateful for your thoughtful inquiry and your contributions in class discussions, and we continue to make our courses a joy to teach. This honor recognizes you as one of AMU’s strongest and determined students.

ALTON - In the early hours of the morning the day after our scheduled adjournment, the Illinois General Assembly approved the largest budget in state history, and despite the Chicago spin machine's attempts to sell this budget as a win, Illinois taxpayers lost again. At nearly $56 billion, this budget does little in the way of making life more affordable for families in the Metro East. There is no relief on energy bills, and the touted “gas tax relief” won’t even pay for you

JERSEYVILLE – An Illinois woman faces charges in Jersey County after allegedly driving under the influence and without insurance. Christy D. Garrison, 46, of Pittsfield, Ill., was charged on June 5, 2026 with aggravated driving under the influence with no valid insurance, a Class 4 felony. Garrison was also charged in a separate but related case filed on June 4, 2026 with operating an uninsured motor vehicle and failure to reduce speed, both petty offenses. The charges in both cases

BETHALTO - The Bethalto Fire Department will once again host its annual homecoming carnival, and they encourage people to mark their calendars now for a fun weekend. On Sept. 4–7, 2026, Labor Day weekend, community members can enjoy carnival rides and games, live music, food, vendors, and more fun at Bethalto City Park. Derek Mormino, president of the volunteers for the Bethalto Fire Department, shared that this year marks the 107th anniversary of the homecoming tradition, and he hopes

ALTON – Alton officials may support a youth gardening program and more this summer with up to $5,000 pending City Council approval. Committee of the Whole members unanimously approved a resolution authorizing up to $5,000 in American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds for the Summer Youth Program offered by the Alton Housing Authority. This includes the Elm Street Youth Garden Program, which Alderwoman Martha Pfister shared more about. “This is an existing garden at Alton Manor, and

ALTON - Community members can learn more about estate planning and taxes at an upcoming free dinner seminar. At 6 p.m. on Wednesday, June 17, 2026, Stephens Planning and Goldenberg Heller & Antognoli, P.C., will host the seminar at The Wedge in Alton. Curtis Stephens and Mark Goldenberg emphasized that the goal is to help attendees prepare and avoid family conflicts as they finalize their estates. “People don’t understand how probate, wills and trusts are deeply connected to

BELLEVILLE/SWANSEA - Belleville and Swansea police departments took part in the Annual 2026 Illinois Law Enforcement Torch Run for Special Olympics, with Belleville officers completing their leg of the run and passing the torch to the Swansea Police Department. The event moved through Belleville and Swansea as officers and supporters carried what Swansea police called the “Flame of Hope” in support of Special Olympics athletes across Illinois. Belleville Police

ST. LOUIS - Steve Holley, the longtime executive director of St. Louis Guns ’N Hoses, has died at age 70, according to an announcement from St. Louis Metropolitan Police Chief Robert Tracy and a statement from the organization’s president. Holley was remembered as a leading advocate for first responders and charitable causes in the St. Louis region. In a message to members of the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department on Monday, Tracy called him “one of the most

GRAFTON — The National Memorial of Military Ascent was officially dedicated Saturday morning in Grafton during a June 6, 2026, ceremony marking the 82nd anniversary of D-Day and opening the site to the public for the first time. The ceremony concluded with an official ribbon-cutting, after which guests were invited to visit the monument and view the memorial’s tribute to veterans and the American spirit of service and sacrifice. Veterans, military families, elected officials, community

CHICAGO – Attorney General Kwame Raoul today applauded a final ruling from the U.S. District Court of Massachusetts vacating the Trump administration’s unlawful policy of imposing a $100,000 tax payment on new H-1B visa petitions to allow highly skilled foreign workers to temporarily fill positions in specialty professions and occupations in Illinois and nationwide. H-1B visas allow U.S. employers to hire highly skilled foreign national workers in roles that require specialized skills

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) joined U.S. Senators Adam Schiff (D-CA) and Tim Kaine (D-VA), along with Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) and 33 Senate Democrats, in refuting the Trump Administration’s claim in a May 1 letter to Congress that the hostilities that began on February 28, 2026, in Iran have “terminated.” Additionally, the Senators are requesting President Donald Trump