ST. LOUIS – Three people accused of involvement in a conspiracy that stole $8 million from elderly victims have been federally charged in St. Louis and arrested. Raj Chauhan, 33, Monarch Sachdev, 28, and Elon Harper, 27, were each indicted on Feb. 4, 2026, with one count of wire fraud. Chauhan was the final defendant to appear in U.S. District Court in St. Louis, where he pleaded not guilty Friday. All three were arrested in February outside Missouri: Harper was arrested in Maine, Sachdev
BETHALTO - Civic Memorial High School had an exciting assembly as 18 students and several staff members shaved their heads for childhood cancer awareness. On Friday, March 27, 2026, the school community came together for a St. Baldrick’s fundraiser and head-shaving event organized by the National Honor Society. Students and staff could sign up to shave their heads, with fundraising proceeds going to St. Baldrick’s to fund childhood cancer research. “It just touches th
ALTON - The Alton Museum of History and Art, closed since the COVID-19 Pandemic era in 2020, and Executive Director Brian Combs spoke on "Our Daily Show!" with host C.J. Nasello on Friday, March 27, 2026, about the museum and its future. Combs cited ongoing building problems; the museum is located at Loomis Hall on the Southern Illinois University campus in Alton. While repairs have been made over time, he said much more needs to be done with the building. He also cited what he described as distan
GRANITE CITY - Madison County State’s Attorney Tom Haine announced on Friday, March 27, 2026, that a 19-year-old Collinsville man has been sentenced to 21 years in prison after pleading guilty to armed robbery stemming from the theft of a designer cross-body bag in Granite City. Jalon O. Mathis pleaded guilty Friday in Circuit Court to a charge of armed robbery, a Class X felony, Haine said. Mathis admitted that, while armed, he stole the bag from a victim on June 23, 2025, in Granite
ALTON - Alton High School students hosted a fish fry to thank administrators and community members for their work. On Friday, March 27, 2026, students in the cooperative work training program served meals to teachers, administrators, hospital workers, first responders, partner companies and more. Joe Michalski, the teacher who oversees the program, explained that this community service element is an important part of their work. “It’s a thank-you to the community,” he
O’FALLON, Ill. — HSHS St. Elizabeth’s Hospital honored 27 members of its clinical team with the DAISY Team Award on Wednesday, March 25, for saving the life of Scott Yankey. Scott Yankey, father of two, was cooking dinner with his family when he suddenly started experiencing severe angioedema, a deep swelling under the skin that can restrict breathing. A multidisciplinary team from the emergency department – including physicians, nurses, a physician assistant,
GLEN CARBON – A new gas station and convenience store is coming to Glen Carbon, along with a slight change to an Orchard Town Center site. At their March 24, 2026 meeting, village trustees unanimously approved the site plan for a new gas station and convenience store set to be built on approximately 2.39 acres in Meridian Plaza. The site’s exact location is listed as 82 Magnolia Drive, just off Illinois 157. The site plan developed by Thouvenot, Wade & Moerchen Inc. (TWM) shows
ALTON – Simmons Hanly Conroy , a national leader in the legal representation of mesothelioma patients and their families, is pleased to announce that Juan P. Bauta II , a partner in the firm’s Miami office, has been selected for the Daily Business Review and Law.com’s 2026 Florida Legal Awards. Bauta won in the “Unsung Heroes” category, which recognizes meaningful and often unseen contributions to legal practice. The Florida Legal Awards annually honor
SHILOH - Detective Larry Wise and Sgt. Kyle Bade were recognized Tuesday night, March 24, 2026, at a Village of Shiloh Board meeting, where Wise received the 2025 Officer of the Year award, and Bade was honored for reaching 25 years of service to the Village of Shiloh, according to the Shiloh Police Department. “Tonight we recognized two of our own at the Village of Shiloh Board Meeting,” the department said in a statement. Wise was awarded “the 2025 Officer o
ALTON/GODFREY - A locally-owned contracting company goes above and beyond for customers. Twin-Co, Inc. was established in 1981. They offer bathroom and kitchen remodeling, windows, doors, decks and other home services. Lance Griggs took over the company about three years ago, and he makes a point to adhere to “old-school” business tactics like being available for customers and sticking to what he knows. “All you’ve got to do is be consistent. I think the deal is,
ALTON – Alton is officially applying for grant funds of over $288,000 to cover the cost of several park improvement projects planned around the city. City Council members unanimously approved a resolution on March 25, 2026 allowing the city to apply for Park Enhancement Program (PEP) grant funds from Madison County. If the city’s application is approved, the full grant amount would fund upgrades at Rock Springs Park, Gordon Moore Park, Hellrung Park, and Riverview Park. $175,000
EAST ALTON - A local nurse practitioner is offering Department of Transportation physicals at an affordable rate. Betsy Dykeman, who owns Airline Care Clinic, is happy to provide $100 DOT physicals. Airline Care Clinic is located inside Rosewood Chiropractic Clinic at 33 East Airline Drive in East Alton. Dykeman noted that DOT physicals can be intensive, but she takes pride in expediting them as much as possible and making sure truck drivers have the paperwork they need to get back on the
A lot of people swear their mood “just lifts” at certain points in the calendar—even when nothing big has changed in their life, their job, or their relationships. Suddenly, plans feel easier. Goals feel possible. The future looks a little brighter. That shift has a name in everyday life: seasonal optimism. Seasonal optimism is the boost in hope and motivation that many people feel during particular times of year. It can be real and helpful. It can also be misleading, pushing
LC to Welcome Employers, Job Seekers to 2026 Spring Career Fair GODFREY – Lewis and Clark Community College invites both students and members of the public to the 2026 Spring Career Fair, Wednesday, April 8. Those seeking full-time, part-time or seasonal employment are encouraged to bring their resumé and take advantage of the opportunity to interact with about 40 area employers that have positions to fill. This year’s Spring Career Fair will be held from 9:30
GLEN CARBON – Glen Carbon officials have several park improvement projects planned pending approval of nearly $150,000 in grant funds. Trustees unanimously approved a resolution on March 24, 2026 to apply for $149,903.62 in grant funding under the annual Park Enhancement Program (PEP) from Madison County. The village plans to use these funds for improvement projects at four key recreational sites, including Miner Park, Schon Park, Green Space North, and Village Hall Park, as well as
WOOD RIVER – Two Wood River residents have been charged with domestic battery in separate felony cases. Terry L. Baine Jr., 42, of Wood River, was charged on March 11, 2026 with one count each of aggravated domestic battery (a Class 2 felony) and domestic battery (a Class A misdemeanor). On March 10, 2026, Baine allegedly knowingly committed an act of domestic battery against a family or household member, causing the victim bodily harm without legal justification. The victim reported
On March 27, 1968, Yuri Gagarin—the first human to travel into space—died in a routine training flight when his MiG-15 jet crashed near Moscow. His death mattered immediately because it shook the Soviet space program and the wider world at a time when spaceflight was closely tied to national pride, scientific ambition, and public imagination. It still matters today because Gagarin’s short life captures a lasting truth about exploration: breakthroughs can arrive quickly, but
EDWARDSVILLE - Liberty Middle School eighth graders had the chance to build mini cars as a physics lesson. Science teacher Anna Harris explained that students used CDs, water bottles, rubber bands, balloons and other “junk” materials to build the cars, which they then tested to see how far the cars could go. While the goal was to learn basic physics, like Newton’s Laws of Motion, the students and Harris had a lot of fun with the unique project. “I definitely think
ST. LOUIS COUNTY - Charges were filed Monday against a 19-year-old St. Louis man in connection with the fatal shooting of Lionel Steed during an attempted robbery in St. Louis County, authorities said. The St. Louis County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office said March 23, 2026, it issued charges against Ta’Rez Roberson, 19, of the 2000 block of Jenner Lane in St. Louis, Missouri, 63138. Roberson is charged with second-degree murder, two counts of armed criminal action, two counts
CHICAGO – On Thursday, March 26, 2026, Governor JB Pritzker denounced President Trump’s threat on Truth Social to deploy the National Guard to America’s airports instead of paying hardworking Transportation Security Administration (TSA) employees. After refusing no-strings-attached funding for TSA workers , President Trump is instead again threatening to federalize National Guard troops against the wishes of Governors and make taxpayers bear the brunt of the costs. “Pullin
stLouIST