EDWARDSVILLE - Madison County State’s Attorney Tom Haine announced today that an East St. Louis man was found guilty of first-degree murder in what prosecutors described as a murder-for-hire killing of a Collinsville woman. Following a bench trial Monday in Madison County, Associate Judge Neil Schroeder found Gary D. Johnson, 46, guilty of first-degree murder in the fatal shooting of Portia Rowland, Haine said. Prosecutors said Rowland was shot the morning of Jan. 21, 2025, outside her
WASHINGTON, D.C. – This week, Congresswoman Nikki Budzinski (IL-13), Congressman Jack Bergman (MI-01), and Congressman Chris Pappas (NH-01), Co-Chairs of the Congressional Postal Service Caucus, convened a roundtable with leaders from postal unions to discuss how the caucus can support them in protecting postal workers and improving mail delivery for constituents. “I was thrilled to bring together leaders from America’s postal unions for the first roundtable
EAST ST. LOUIS – The Illinois Department of Transportation today announced lane closures on eastbound Interstate 70 between Packers Avenue and the eastbound I-70/northbound I-55 merge beginning, weather permitting, Monday, March 9, for bridge maintenance. Motorists should expect delays and are encouraged to use alternate routes during this closure. Drivers are urged to reduce speed, be alert for changing conditions, obey all construction signage, and refrain from using mobile devices
ALTON – Alton officials are set to consider two special event requests and a new production company for the Alton Amphitheater. Multiple amphitheater-related items are on the Alton Committee of the Whole agenda for Monday, March 9, 2026 , including: A resolution authorizing the engagement of Contemporary Productions for the 2026 Alton Amphitheater season. A resolution approving a request from Alton Main Street to rent the Alton Amphitheater for the Mississippi Earthtones Festival.
SWANSEA - Swansea Police arrested an adult male within minutes on Friday, March 6, 2026, after officers responded to a reported bank robbery at Arsenal Credit Union, authorities said. Officers were called on March 6, 2026, to the credit union at 4384 North Illinois St. in Swansea. Arsenal Credit Union employees provided a detailed description of the suspect and his direction of travel, police said. Swansea officers arrived quickly, located the suspect, and took him into custody within five
ROXANA — The Riverbend East Rotary Club recently recognized Roxana High School seniors Haley Eads and Landon Smith as the February recipients of its Service Above Self awards, honoring their volunteer work and leadership in school and community activities in Roxana. Club President Mark Smith presented Service Above Self certificates to Eads and Smith, according to the Rotary Club. Eads, a senior, has participated in volleyball and track and is a member of the National Honor Society. Sh
St. LOUIS COUNTY, MO. — St. Louis County police have identified a motorcyclist who was killed in a crash last week near the intersection of Kilmory Drive and Shackelford Drive. Police said Nicholas Chaney, 44, whose last known address was in the 2600 block of Derby Place in Florissant, died in a motor vehicle crash in the 1800 block of Kilmory Drive at Shackelford Drive. Officers from the North County Precinct responded at 2:20 p.m. Friday, March 6, 2026, and found a motorcycle and
CASEYVILLE - Illinois State Police Troop 8 units responded Saturday night, March 7, 2026, to a fatal crash on Illinois Route 159 in Caseyville, where a northbound passenger car struck a pedestrian and the person’s canine near an intersection, authorities said. The crash happened at about 8:57 p.m. March 7, 2026, on Illinois Route 159 northbound at Hollywood Heights Road in Saint Clair County, according to a preliminary investigation. Illinois State Police said a passenger car traveling
MADISON – The Illinois Department of Transportation today announced lane closures on westbound Interstate 55/70 in St. Clair County to allow for bridge maintenance. Beginning at 9 a.m. Wednesday, March 11, weather permitting, westbound I-55/70 will be reduced to two lanes between Illinois 203 and Exchange Avenue. All lanes are expected to reopen by 6 a.m. Friday, March 13. Motorists should expect long delays and are encouraged to use alternate routes during this closure.
EDWARDSVILLE - Edwardsville Community Unit School District #7 students participated in a polar plunge to raise money for Special Olympics. Throughout the week of March 2–6, 2026, known as Respect Week, students enjoyed activities and conversations centered around inclusion. The week culminated in the polar plunges, where students who raised money for Special Olympics then had water dumped over their heads. Special education teacher and Special Olympics advisor Kayla Magruder noted th
EAST ALTON/WOOD RIVER - The East Alton-Wood River High School bowling team has created a great partnership with the Tyler Timmins Memorial Foundation . On March 14, 2026, the foundation will host their annual trivia night fundraiser in Collinsville. Students from the bowling team will be there to help out. In return, the organization has become one of their top sponsors. Assistant Coach Gary Quigley couldn't be more proud of his team and the relationships they’re building in
TOPEKA, KAN. – Bartlett & West was recognized as a Cornerstone Partner at the 2026 Esri Partner Conference (EPC) held March 8-9 in Palm Springs, Calif. This acknowledgment was presented to Bartlett & West for their long-term commitment to Esri and the geographic information system (GIS) community. Cornerstone Partner recognition is given to organizations that have participated in the Esri Partner Network (EPN) for 20 years while demonstrating a consistent focus on helping customers succee
EDWARDSVILLE - Local students have the opportunity to advance their technical skills as Ranken Technical College offers a new satellite program in Edwardsville. Students can now complete Ranken’s 16-month Diesel Technology program at the local Schneider facility in Edwardsville. From 4–6 p.m. on March 31, 2026, prospective students and their families are invited to an open house at Schneider to tour the facility, meet instructors and get a feel for how the program will operate.
JERSEY - Calhoun County Sheriff Zach Hardin traveled Friday, March 6, 2026, to the Jersey County Sheriff’s Office to deliver lunch and certificates of recognition to Jersey County Sheriff's Office. Sheriff Hardin recognized Sgt. Kevin Ayres and 911 telecommunicators Kelly Nichols and Kaitlin Lewis for actions Hardin said helped locate a missing and endangered elderly woman with dementia who was traveling through Calhoun County. “Oftentimes in law enforcement, negative news outweighs
You clean the kitchen, answer emails, and stick to your routine—then suddenly you’re rearranging furniture at midnight, flirting with the idea of a new haircut, and saying yes to plans you’d normally dodge. It can feel like your personality changed overnight. A lot of people call that “spring fever,” but the phrase isn’t just a cute excuse for restlessness. It points to a real mix of biology, mood, and culture that many of us recognize. “Spring fever”
Ever notice how a messy room suddenly feels “fixable,” your to-do list looks less scary, and even big goals seem worth a try—all within a few weeks? That shift isn’t just willpower. It’s a mix of biology, routine changes, and social cues that quietly push your brain toward action. Motivation is not a single switch you flip. It’s more like a system with several dials: energy, mood, focus, reward, and belief that effort will pay off. In spring, many of those
On March 9, 1959, the Barbie doll made its public debut at the American International Toy Fair in New York City. What looked like a simple new toy quickly became a major cultural product with global reach. At the time, most dolls marketed to children were baby dolls, built around caregiving play. Barbie offered something different: a fashion doll with an adult appearance and an expanding set of roles, outfits, and stories. That shift mattered because it changed how the toy industry designed products
ALTON - Around 7:30 a.m. on Sunday, March 8, 2026, emergency services responded to a call about a possible building collapse at 2426 East Broadway, Alton. The incident was initially dispatched by the Alton Police Department following reports of structural concerns. Alton Police arrived on the scene after receiving a call and reported hearing a rumbling sound coming from the building. Officers observed and felt the building shaking on the east side, specifically in the laundromat, at approximately
SPRINGFIELD – The Office of the Illinois State Fire Marshal (OSFM) reminds Illinoisans to test, inspect, and replace broken or expired smoke/CO alarms in their homes with new 10-year sealed battery alarms while they change the clocks this weekend as Daylight Saving Time begins at 2 AM Sunday, March 8. “Working smoke alarms save lives—the key word is working. As you change your clocks this weekend, take a few minutes to test all smoke and carbon monoxide alarms in your home,
On March 7, 1965, several hundred peaceful marchers set out from Selma, Alabama, to walk to the state capital in Montgomery and demand equal voting rights. As they crossed the Edmund Pettus Bridge, state troopers and local law enforcement attacked them with clubs and tear gas in a scene that quickly became known as “Bloody Sunday.” It mattered immediately because it exposed, in plain view, how violent resistance to civil rights could be—and how hard it still was for many Americans
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