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SPRINGFIELD – Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias today announced a comprehensive, statewide initiative to protect pedestrians, riders and drivers by addressing the dangerous rise of high-speed e-bikes and other powerful electric transportation devices on Illinois streets and sidewalks. The multi-pronged campaign – “Ride Safe, Ride Smart, Ride Ready” – combines public education, updated driver training and a push for modernized safety laws to keep pace with

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, questioned witnesses during a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing entitled “Review and Reform: The Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act and Executive Accountability.” In less than three months, Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) will expire. Durbin began his remarks by commenting on the lawlessness of the Department of Homeland Security’s

ALTON – Felony charges were recently filed against a St. Louis woman accused of breaking into an Alton residence while armed with a knife. Shania B. Cook, 21, of St. Louis, was charged on Jan. 26, 2026 with one count each of home invasion (a Class X felony), residential burglary (a Class 1 felony), criminal damage to property, and electronic harassment (both Class 4 felonies). Cook allegedly knowingly entered another person’s Alton residence without authority on Jan. 19, 2026 while

WOOD RIVER - Mayor Tom Stalcup and City Manager Steve Palen shared more about their plans for Wood River in the coming year. In a recent appearance on “Our Daily Show!” with CJ Nasello , Stalcup and Palen said there is “a lot going on” in Wood River, including downtown development, new major projects, and infrastructure upgrades. They thanked the community for their patience through these projects and expressed their excitement to see them come to fruition. &ldquo

EDWARDSVILLE - For the third consecutive term, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville has posted an enrollment increase. SIUE’s overall enrollment for spring 2026 increased by 6.5% to 11,932 when including continuing, first-time, transfer and early college students. This is SIUE’s highest overall enrollment for spring since the Spring 2022 semester. Through intentional dual enrollment/dual credit partnerships, SIUE has strengthened the pathway to college, resulting in more

ALTON — Alton High School’s Family, Career and Community Leaders of America (FCCLA) chapter is preparing for its annual Trivia Night Fundraiser on March 6, 2026, at Godfrey First United Methodist Church, 1100 Airport Road, Godfrey. The event, which begins at 6 p.m., aims to raise funds to support FCCLA activities and cover expenses for the remainder of the school year. FCCLA, formerly known as Future Homemakers of America, focuses on addressing youth concerns such as parenting,

FAIRVIEW HEIGHTS - The French Village Fire Department has issued a safety advisory addressing the risks posed by extreme cold temperatures in the region, specifically regarding furnace exhaust vents. The department warned that vents can freeze or become blocked by ice or snow, potentially causing dangerous carbon monoxide buildup inside homes. To prevent such hazards, residents are advised to check furnace exhaust and intake pipes daily during periods of extreme cold. The department

SPRINGFIELD – National Unclaimed Property Day is this weekend, and Illinois State Treasurer Michael Frerichs is encouraging people to visit the ICash missing money website to see if they have money or other unclaimed property waiting for them. “This Sunday, February 1, is National Unclaimed Property Day, and I hope people will celebrate by checking our ICash website to see if they or any loved ones have missing money to claim,” Treasurer Frerichs said. “If you want

SPRINGFIELD – Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Acting Director James Jennings today announced an extension to the current Electric Vehicle (EV) Rebate Program application cycle from January 31, 2026 to May 31, 2026. Illinois EPA will process all applications received through January 31, 2026, including non-low income, given those individuals applied with the expectation that rebates would be processed at the end of the initial application cycle. After January 31, 2026, Illinois

ALTON - Alton High School’s mid-winter commencement exercises were held at the school the evening of Friday, January 29, 1926. Two students received special recognition. Valedictorian Caroline Haberer had attained high honors rank for every semester of her four years at Alton High. She also studied pipe organ and was so skilled that she played the accompaniment for the Sunday School orchestra of the First Presbyterian Church. She also served as class vice-president, sang in the chorus,

ROLLA, Mo. - Missouri University of Science and Technology announces the names of students who made the dean's list for the Fall 2025 semester. The dean's list can also be found online at studenthonors.mst.edu. To be included on the dean's list, students must carry a minimum of 12 hours and have a grade point average (GPA) of 3.2 or above out of a possible 4.0. The area students on the Dean's List are listed below. About Missouri University of Science and Technology Missouri University

EDWARDSVILLE — The Edwardsville Fire Department responded to a warehouse fire in the 100 block of First Avenue Saturday evening, officials said. The call came in just after 6 p.m. on Saturday, reporting a single-story warehouse on fire. Upon arrival, firefighters encountered heavy smoke and flames coming through the roof. A box alarm was requested, bringing additional support from Wood River, Glen Carbon, and Troy fire departments. Madison County Emergency Management also arrived on

GODFREY — The Godfrey Fire Department responded to a structure fire Saturday morning, Jan. 31, 2026, in the 5000 block of Staten Drive that trapped an elderly woman inside the home, officials said. The department received a 911 call at 9:41 a.m. Saturday, reporting the fire and the woman trapped inside. Three other residents inside the house managed to rescue the woman and move her across the street. During the rescue, a man suffered serious burns and was transported to a hospital in St

GODFREY — Firefighters from the Godfrey Fire Protection District and several other departments responded to a serious fire Saturday morning in the 5000 block of Staten in Godfrey. The incident occurred on Saturday, Jan. 31, 2026, amid challenging weather conditions, with temperatures around 8 degrees. The Godfrey Fire Protection District deployed its ladder truck to assist in firefighting efforts. Godfrey Fire Chief Eric Cranmer said an elderly woman was inside the house at the time o

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), a member of the Senate Agriculture Committee, released the following statement after the Committee advanced cryptocurrency market structure legislation along party lines. Republicans also voted to reject two amendments that Durbin offered in order to strengthen the bill. Durbin’s amendments attempted to crack down on crypto ATM fraud and ban some crypto intermediaries from receiving a federal bailout. “The 2008 financial

SPRINGFIELD – The Illinois Department of Agriculture (IDOA) announced plans to distribute $3.6 million in fiscal year 2026 at the Everything Local conference in Springfield on Wednesday. The funds, which were appropriated in the FY26 state budget, will be used to support local food processing, aggregation, and distribution. Grants will be available for collaborative projects from $1,000 to $250,000 and for individual projects from $1,000 to $75,000. “Strong agriculture depends on

QUINCY - Quincy University released its Dean's List for the Fall 2025 semester. Honorees must earn a semester grade point average of at least 3.5 (on a 4.0 scale) to be included in the biannual Dean's List. In total, 379 students received the honor during the Fall 2025 semester. Carrollton, Glen Carbon, and Jerseyville students were named to the list. The students are listed below. HOMETOWN, STATE; NAME Carrollton, IL Hannah Uhles Glen Carbon, IL Patrick Chism Jerseyville, IL

EAU CLAIRE, Wis. - The University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire is proud to recognize the outstanding academic achievements of the Blugolds who have earned a place on the Dean’s List. Their commitment to excellence exemplifies the highest standards of scholarship at UW-Eau Claire. Congratulations on this remarkable accomplishment. Edwardsville's Sam Wittek was named to the Dean's List at UW-Eau Claire. He is enrolled in the College of Business. To be eligible, a student must: - be in good

ST. LOUIS - St. Louis Downtown Airport (KCPS), a premier general aviation airport located just minutes from the Gateway Arch in St. Clair County, Illinois, grew in its role as a regional economic engine in 2025. Throughout the year, KCPS experienced significant tenant investments and improvements in airport infrastructure, while continuing to be an active regional player in workforce development and industry attraction. In 2025, the airport welcomed investments by tenants that augmented

WOOD RIVER - As Wood River prepares for the year ahead, Mayor Tom Stalcup and City Manager Steve Palen promise a few updates regarding Hollywood River Studios. In June 2025, Wood River received a $500,000 bid from Wood River Farm Investments LLC to purchase and develop a 105-acre site, formerly known as the EnviroTech Business Park or the Wood River Business Park, into Hollywood River Studios. The City Council approved a final $1 million offer from Wood River Farm Investments LLC