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ALTON - Alton Branch NAACP President Leon Smallwood-Bey is once again running for leadership of the group, with an election coming on Nov. 17, 2026. Smallwood-Bey said he is calling for unity and accountability as he seeks to continue work on youth programs, economic opportunities, and civil rights in Alton. In a statement seeking members’ support, Smallwood-Bey cited his four years of service and described the election as a decision about the branch’s direction. “This election

ALTON — Abe Lee Barham knocked on doors in housing areas and other areas across Alton on Election Day, encouraging residents to vote. Barham’s efforts followed similar outreach during early voting at the Scott Bibb Center, where 2,280 early votes were cast. “Today is a very important day for Democracy and for our country,” Barham said. Barham described enthusiasm for early voting as positive and said he believed it had made a significant impact. His Election Day outreach

MADISON COUNTY — Voter traffic at polling places across Madison County has been steady on Election Day, County Clerk Linda Andreas said Nov. 3, 2026, with voters still able to cast ballots until 7 p.m. Andreas, who has been visiting polling places, said she thought some voters tried to get ahead of the damp weather by voting in the morning. “It looks steady everywhere I been,” she said. The Election Day activity follows strong early voting. Andreas said early voting had broke

ALTON - When every other member of his machine-gun squad was killed or wounded, Marine Pvt. Olin M. Gray of Alton took control of the weapon and destroyed two Japanese machine-gun positions during fighting on July 20, 1943, at Bairoko Harbor in New Georgia, Solomon Islands. Gray, who served with Company Q of the 4th Marine Raider Battalion during World War II, was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross for his extraordinary heroism in the engagement. Acting on his own initiative, Gray repeatedly

Told she had just six months to live following a Stage 4 lung cancer diagnosis, Joy Amundson was running out of options. For nearly 12 years, the 53-year-old Peoria, Illinois native had endured cancer spreading throughout her body and six different treatment approaches, including surgery, chemotherapy and immunotherapy. A massive tumor in her liver had grown to more than 10 centimeters (roughly the size of a bar of soap), compressing her stomach and making it difficult to eat. Cancer had also

EAST ALTON – An East Alton resident faces major felony charges after allegedly sexually assaulting a minor for over four years. Nicky L. Patterson, 41, of East Alton, was charged with six counts of predatory criminal sexual assault of a child, each enhanced Class X felonies. The charges against Patterson were filed on Oct. 23, 2026, but were sealed prior to his arrest to avoid the risk of flight from prosecution. The charges were unsealed after Patterson was arrested and booked into the

EAST ALTON/GODFREY - Veterans and their loved ones can enjoy a free breakfast in honor of Veterans Day next week. From 8–10 a.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 11, 2026, at Julia’s Banquet Center in East Alton, Embark Wealth Partners will host their annual “Breakfast For a Hero” event. Veterans and their family members are invited to enjoy a breakfast buffet, a performance by The Gibson Girls, and a speech by guest speaker Thomas Haine, an Army veteran and current Madison County

ALTON/GODFREY – ImpactLife is partnering with local blood donors and blood drive hosts in Alton and Godfrey during the week of Thanksgiving. It will be a busy week for everyone, and likely a challenging week for the blood supply. We appreciate the support of local volunteers who step forward as donors and the blood drive coordinators who help us build the blood supply in the days leading up to to the holiday! Faith Lutheran Church November 23, 2026 | 3 PM to 6 PM 6809 Godfrey Rd, Godfrey

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL)—Ranking Member of the U.S. Senate Commerce Subcommittee on Aviation—today demanded answers from the Trump Administration on Donald Trump’s reckless, dangerously low White House flyover during last week’s Halloween festivities, which frightened local residents, jeopardized safety and likely cost taxpayers hundreds of thousands of dollars for no good reason. In her letter to Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth,

SPRINGFIELD – Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (Illinois EPA) today announced the launch of its Clean Trucks Program to help Illinois fleets transition to zero-emission vehicles to reduce their fuel costs and build a cleaner, more resilient freight system. “Illinois EPA is committed to giving our state’s fleet operators the tools, guidance, and financial assistance they need to meet their logistical objectives while furthering the state’s climate goals,” sai

SPRINGFIELD – Governor JB Pritzker has proclaimed November 2026 as Carbon Monoxide Awareness Month in Illinois, encouraging residents to take steps to protect themselves and their families from the dangers of carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning. Carbon monoxide is an invisible, odorless, and tasteless gas that can be deadly. It is produced when fuels such as natural gas, gasoline, propane, wood, and charcoal do not burn completely. According to national estimates, carbon monoxide poisoning results

CHICAGO – Attorney General Kwame Raoul secured a decision by the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts finding the Trump administration’s implementation of new Medicaid work requirements under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act to be unlawful. In June 2026 , Attorney General Raoul filed a lawsuit challenging provisions of an interim final rule which adopted a new interpretation of key terms like “medically frail,” making it harder for medically vulnerable

CHICAGO — Get Covered Illinois will kick off the 2027 annual open enrollment period on November 1, helping Illinoisans compare plans, apply for financial help and enroll in coverage. With federal changes signed into law by President Trump affecting access to affordable health insurance, the state's official marketplace is committed to connecting Illinoisans to high-quality, affordable health coverage. "Whether enrolling for the first time or insured for years, people deserve to understand

EDWARDSVILLE — A St. Louis woman was sentenced Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2026, to 35 years in prison after pleading guilty to first-degree murder in the April 2025 shooting death of an acquaintance in Granite City, Madison County State’s Attorney Tom Haine announced. Brittany D. Howard, 39, pleaded guilty in the death of Kenneth Whitehorn, 58, of St. Louis. Investigators determined the shooting involved drugs and money. Whitehorn’s body was found April 24, 2025, at the end of a tree

BELLEVILLE - CASA of Southwestern Illinois needs your help to support over 800 kids in the foster care system. CASAs, or Court-Appointed Special Advocates, act as the “eyes and ears of the court.” These volunteers are paired with a child who has experienced abuse or neglect. They help judges make decisions in the best interest of the children. CASA of Southwestern Illinois, based in Belleville, serves over 800 kids in Madison, St. Clair, Monroe, Bond and Randolph counties. CASA

GRANITE CITY – The Rotary Club of Granite City recognized juniors Melissa Limon Rosas and Kiera Ruby as Students of the Month for October. Students were nominated by teachers, and were chosen on the basis of academics, as well as scholastic, extracurricular and civic honors and awards, and organization membership and leadership. Each honoree received a framed certificate and a gift card, and will be recognized at the Mayors’ Prayer Breakfast on March 16, 2027. MELISSA LIMON

ALTON - The Hayner Public Library District is as busy as ever, with plenty of free activities and programs for patrons to enjoy. Executive Director Mary Cordes noted that there are plenty of musical performances, reading opportunities, and chances to engage with fellow library patrons. She pointed out that the library is growing into a kind of “community center,” and the team is eager to welcome community members for their programs and events. “We try to hit all different

CAHOKIA - State Representative Kevin Schmidt (R-Millstadt) has pledged to donate the legislative pay raise he voted against to local organizations across the 114th District to help families in need. For the month of October, he donated essential food items to the Cahokia Community Basket Food Pantry. “I’m proud to support our local food pantries and help them stock up on food to feed families in need throughout our community,” said Schmidt. “Working together to

ALTON - Amber Harrington understands the importance of her role at Lovejoy Elementary School. As the principal at Lovejoy, Harrington is dedicated to supporting students and staff members every day. She collaborates with her colleagues to ensure students are successful, and she loves working together to help kids grow and learn. “Leadership is a privilege. Being able to make a positive impact on students and staff is something I don’t take lightly,” Harrington said. “I

GRANITE CITY - Granite City High School cheerleaders spent two hours recently sorting more than 4,500 pieces of donated cold-weather gear for distribution to schools and a community organization. The items were delivered to all nine GCSD9 schools, along with Madison School District 12, Venice CUSD No. 3 and Coordinated Youth and Human Services. The girls are Stillwater Senior Living Female Athletes of the Month. The Granite City School District 9 thanked the cheerleaders for their massive