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ALTON — The Midwest Nationals Formula 1 Powerboat races began Friday afternoon with practice sessions along the Alton Riverfront. The day’s activities started at 1 p.m. with Formula 1 boats conducting test runs, followed by Formula Lights at 2 p.m., and Tri Hull boats at 2:45 p.m. Spectators were able to watch the testing free of charge, and despite the heat, several people turned out to observe the high-speed runs. After the practice sessions, some of the boats were paraded downtown to Mac’s Downtown, where a meet and greet event allowed attendees to get up close with the boats and speak with crews and drivers. Entertainment was provided by Flip the Frog, who played music during the gathering. Families were among those who visited the downtown event. One child described the experience as “awesome” and said it was “neat to see how fast they go” during the practice runs. "F1, Alton, the sponsors and all of Mac’s staff did a fabulous

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GODFREY — Freer Auto Body hosted its annual Christmas in July fundraiser on Friday, July 18, 2025, raising $74,000 to support community initiatives in the holiday season in December. Once again, Christmas in July was an enormous success and will help many who need it in the holiday season. While the total fell slightly short of last year’s haul, Margaret Freer, one of the owners of Freer Auto Body, rated the event highly successful. The fundraiser featured a variety of prizes awarded to winners from across the region. Winners $3,500 - Nick Howell Fort Morgan Trip - Matt Lewis Pigeon Forge - Joli Downer Ballton - Diana Copley Green Seats - Hannah Tonsor Side of Beef - Annie Eads $1,000 - Pamela Ditterline Top Ticket Sellers Tina Bennett - 247 - Dinner for 6 Gentelins Shannon Fraley - 189 - Dinner for 8 Bella Milano Doc Halliday - 179 - VanHoy’s Cardinal Tickets Margaret Freer, who organized the event, expressed gratitude to the community for thei

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BELLEVILLE — On July 17, 2025, Belleville Police Department detectives presented the case to the St. Clair County State’s Attorney’s office, which filed charges against both - Kathy M. Bledsoe and Tynika R. McKinzie - after a recent dispute at McDonald's in Belleville. Belleville Police said Bledsoe faces one count of aggravated unlawful use of a weapon, a Class 4 felony. McKinzie was charged with one count of aggravated battery, a Class 3 felony, and one count of mob action, a Class 4 felony. Bledsoe remains in the custody of the Belleville Police Department and will be transferred to the St. Clair County Jail pending a detention hearing and further court proceedings. A dispute at a McDonald’s restaurant escalated into a shooting Wednesday afternoon, July 16, 2025, resulting in charges against both a manager and a customer, according to Belleville Police Department officials. At approximately 4:45 p.m. on July 16, 2025, officers responded to a disturbance

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CARLINVILLE – Today, Congresswoman Nikki Budzinski convened local farmers, food banks, and leaders in the food and agriculture sectors to discuss growing threats to food access in Central and Southern Illinois. The conversation focused on recent actions by the Trump administration, including the cancellation of the Local Food Purchasing Assistance (LFPA) and Local Food for Schools (LFS) contracts, as well as newly signed cuts to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). “Right now, Central and Southern Illinoisans are at risk of going hungry – not because of a bad harvest, but because of cruel, unnecessary cuts. Today, I heard from local farmers and food banks about the challenges they’re facing keeping our community fed,” said Congresswoman Budzinski. “These leaders shared their concerns that the Trump Administration’s elimination of programs like LFPA and LFS will jeopardize the future of IL-EATS and the ability of foodbanks

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JERSEYVILLE - Sinclair Foods in Jerseyville will celebrate their 85th anniversary with a party. From 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday, July 19, 2025, community members can come by Sinclair Foods to enjoy free hotdogs, visits with Santa and The Princess from the Tower, a storytime with local author Elaine Lavey, music by Ava Tonsor and Haylie Jones, archery with Big Ed’s Hooked On Fishing, and photo ops with the Monster Truck Bigfoot, Bluey, and Clifford the Big Red Dog. “All of the stuff we’re having here, all of the things, they have a local connection to Jerseyville or Jersey County,” said Dawn, an employee with Sinclair Foods who helped organize the event. “We have really appreciated the support that the entire Riverbend area has given the store.” As the store marks its 85th year in Jerseyville, Dawn and store owner Stan hope to see many people come out to enjoy the celebrations. Stan’s father opened the original Sinclair Foods on

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CARLINVILLE – Today, Congresswoman Nikki Budzinski convened local farmers, food banks, and leaders in the food and agriculture sectors to discuss growing threats to food access in Central and Southern Illinois. The conversation focused on recent actions by the Trump administration, including the cancellation of the Local Food Purchasing Assistance (LFPA) and Local Food for Schools (LFS) contracts, as well as newly signed cuts to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). “Right now, Central and Southern Illinoisans are at risk of going hungry – not because of a bad harvest, but because of cruel, unnecessary cuts. Today, I heard from local farmers and food banks about the challenges they’re facing keeping our community fed,” said Congresswoman Budzinski. “These leaders shared their concerns that the Trump Administration’s elimination of programs like LFPA and LFS will jeopardize the future of IL-EATS and the ability of foodbanks i

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EAST ST. LOUIS — A Chinese national has been federally charged for allegedly impersonating a federal agent and defrauding a Belleville senior of more than $70,000, according to authorities. Zhigang Lian, 42, a lawful resident of La Puente, Calif., was indicted by a federal grand jury on one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and one count of wire fraud. The charges stem from an impostor scam targeting a 76-year-old Belleville resident. Lian faces up to 20 years in prison and fines up to $250,000 if convicted. The investigation involved cooperation between the U.S. Secret Service, U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Illinois State Police Metropolitan Enforcement Group Special Investigations, and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Zoe Gross. Court documents detail that on June 13, 2025, the victim received a text message claiming to be from Apple, alerting them to a suspicious $258 transaction. When the victim called to dispute the charge, they were drawn into conversations

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ALTON – The owner of an Alton bar at risk of losing its late night liquor license has launched a movement to “ Stand Up ” for the fair treatment of all businesses amid claims the city is unfairly targeting his establishment. A hearing held on Monday, July 14, 2025, concerned the possibility of revoking the late night liquor licenses of two downtown bars, Pour Decisions and Hiram’s Bar. Under the Alton City Code , a “late night liquor license” allows a business to continue selling alcohol from 1 to 2 a.m. on weekdays and 1 to 3 a.m. on weekends. The owners of both bars were called to appear before Mayor David Goins, who also serves as the city’s Liquor Control Commissioner. Brian Trust, co-owner of the Pour Decisions bar in downtown Alton, said he’s launched a new Facebook page called Stand Up Alton . A post from July 17, 2025 addresses the reason behind the page’s creation. “To be clear, this page – Stand Up

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EDWARDSVILLE - The Edwardsville Education Association has reached a tentative agreement with Edwardsville Community Unit School District #7. On July 16, 2025, the EEA released a 25-page document on its website outlining the tentative agreement. According to this agreement, teachers can expect a 4% increase on the base salary for the 2025–2026 school year. “I hope the teachers see this tentative agreement as a new chapter with a new board,” said Bob Paty, Board of Education president. In addition to the salary increase, other points in the contract note that teachers will be reimbursed a maximum of $100 per year for purchases of incidental supplies and they will receive 15 days of sick leave. You can read the entire tentative agreement here . This tentative agreement comes after many days of negotiations between the EEA and ECUSD7. The EEA has also organized several rallies in support of teachers following the Board of Education’s March

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COLLINSVILLE — Dustin Osborn and Kaitlin Hatcher are currently wanted by the Collinsville Police Department on charges of forgery and theft over $500. Authorities allege the two individuals took advantage of older family members, resulting in warrants. The Collinsville Police Department released information about the two in its "Fugitive Friday" feature on its Facebook page on Friday, July 18, 2025. The police department is seeking assistance from the public to locate Osborn and Hatcher. Those with information on their whereabouts are encouraged to contact the Collinsville Police Department at 618-344-2131, extension 5209. Callers may remain anonymous. In a statement, Collinsville Police officials urged Osborn and Hatcher to consider turning themselves in. The charges are based on probable cause, and both defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law.

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PIKE COUNTY - The Pike County Sheriff’s Department is seeking information about the theft of four off-road vehicles reported over the past two months in Pike County, Illinois. Pike County is adjacent to Calhoun County and the Calhoun Sheriff's Office released this information in its social media. The thefts occurred at various locations between late May and early July 2025. On or about May 31, a red and white Honda 70 dirt bike was taken from a property on the 1000 block of Bainbridge Street in Barry. Approximately nine days later, on June 9, 2025, a gray CF Moto 800 four-wheeler was stolen from a property on the 36000 block of County Highway 2 in Baylis. Two days after that, on June 11, 2025, a green 2020 Polaris was reported stolen from the 500 block of State Highway 106 in Barry. Most recently, on or about July 9, 2025, a green and black Polaris Ranger UTV was taken from a property on the 18000 block of U.S. Highway 54 in Rockport. The sheriff’s department is asking

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GODFREY - Community members are coming together to help each other at the annual Christmas in July fundraiser. From 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. on Friday, July 18, 2025, Freer Auto Body hosted their Christmas in July event to raise money for 17 local organizations through Community Christmas. Attendees could buy raffle tickets and donate to receive a sloppy joe. All of the proceeds will go back to the community to provide toys, clothes, hygiene products and more to families in need at Christmastime. “It’s really cool,” said Lily Freer, who helps organize the event. “I’m very proud of everything our community has done and everything my family has done to set this up, but it really is the community. I’m very proud of the people we’re surrounded by.” Lily and her sister Taylor started the Christmas in July fundraiser 17 years ago at Freer Auto Body to honor the legacy of their uncle David, who loved supporting Community Christmas. Since

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EAST ALTON - Starting September 1st Republic Services will become the new trash and recycling provider for East Alton residents, the village announced. Residents will continue to be billed through the East Alton Water Department, with no changes to the billing process. Republic Services will supply new trash carts and recycling bins to all customers at no additional cost. Before the new service begins, Republic will mail informational packets containing specific trash and recycling pickup days, as well as instructions on where to place carts and bins on collection days. Although route changes are expected, details have not yet been finalized. In the meantime, residents are asked to keep using their current village-provided recycling bins. Once the new bins arrive, customers may keep their old bins for personal use or storage. Village officials said they will provide updates as more information becomes available and expressed appreciation for residents’ patience and cooperation

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MADISON – A man from Madison remains in custody after his latest case of domestic battery resulted in significant injury to an elderly victim. James A. Baine Jr., 44, of Madison, Ill., was charged on July 10, 2025 with a Class 2 felony count of aggravated domestic battery, two counts of aggravated battery (Class 2 and 3 felonies) and his second or subsequent offense of domestic battery (a Class 4 felony). On July 9, 2025, Baine allegedly became angry with the 68-year-old victim and began throwing various household items – including a coffee mug, lamp, and more – at the victim, striking them in the head and body. He then “punched in the face with his hand several times and kicked about her body with his feet,” according to the state’s petition to deny Baine’s pretrial release from custody. The victim was transported by ambulance to Anderson Hospital in Maryville, where she was found to have sustained “a laceration to her head requirin

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CARROLLTON — Greene County Board intern Billy Springman, 20, of Carrollton, is working to increase public awareness of the county’s new official website, following its successful launch earlier this year. Springman was tasked by the Greene County Board in early 2025 with overseeing the creation of a modern, centralized website for the county. After months of development and collaboration with county officials and staff, he formally presented the new website to the County Board in March. The Board approved its launch shortly after. The website, located at greenecountyil.org , was developed to improve public access to county services, increase transparency, and serve as a one-stop hub for local government information. It includes several user-friendly features that make services more accessible and efficient. Residents can pay property taxes, court fines, and traffic tickets online, request vital records such as marriage licenses and death certificates, and view real-time

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WOOD RIVER — Authorities arrested John Davis early Friday morning, July 18, 2025, after a standoff at an apartment near the Wood River Police Station, following a tip that he was wanted in connection with a homicide in Cahokia Heights. The Wood River Police Department responded to reports that Davis was inside an apartment in the 500 block of Madison Avenue, directly across from the police station. An alert had been issued indicating that Davis could be armed and dangerous. Police contacted the Illinois Law Enforcement Alarm System (ILEAS) tactical team for assistance, and the Madison County State’s Attorney’s Office was consulted during the operation. Davis eventually surrendered without incident. “We took the necessary precautions and established a perimeter to make sure everyone was safe. It started about 12:30 a.m. and ended by 5:30 a.m.,” Wood River Police Chief Brad Wells said. Davis and another man, Jovon Hamburgh, are wanted in connection wit

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CARLINVILLE — Today, Friday, July 18, 2025, Congresswoman Nikki Budzinski (IL-13) will convene a roundtable with local stakeholders to address growing concerns about food access in Central and Southern Illinois. The discussion comes in response to recent actions by the Trump administration, including the cancellation of the Local Food Purchasing Assistance (LFPA) and Local Food for Schools (LFS) contracts, as well as newly signed cuts to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). The roundtable will bring together farmers, food banks, and leaders in the food and agriculture sectors to discuss current challenges and identify solutions to expand access to locally grown food and strengthen regional food systems. WHAT: Budzinski to Host Roundtable on Threats to Food Access in Central and Southern Illinois WHO: U.S. Congresswoman Budzinski, Illinois’ 13th District Austin Flamm, Owner of Flamm Orchards John Williams, Illinois Farmers Union/Sola Gratia Melanie

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ALTON - Native plant enthusiasts, friends, neighbors, and gardeners of all kinds are invited to attend a variety of free garden tours held across the lower Midwest this summer in honor of Grow Native!’s 25th Anniversary. Alton’s native plant tour will be held Friday, July 18th from 4-7pm. This specific tour is a multi-stop, walkable tour of public garden beds in Alton, Illinois by Grow Native! Professional Member Sierra Club – Piasa Palisades Group , the Hayner Public Library District , and Alton Main Street . The tour route covers a three-block area from 3rd Street between State Street and Piasa Street, the 300 Block of Belle Street, and the sitting area adjacent to the Library’s Belle Street parking lot. The stops, in green on the map below, may be visited in any order. As an extra-special treat, Bossanova will offer tour-goers a Riverbend Bloom Spritz, consisting of house-made native wildflower simple syrup, fresh lemon juice, sparkling water, and your

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GRAFTON – A Grafton ice cream shop’s request for a liquor license remains up for consideration following a lengthy discussion between city officials. Grafton City Council members on Tuesday, July 15, 2025, agreed to keep an ordinance raising the number of Class A liquor licenses in Grafton “on the table.” After the ordinance was first laid over in June , Mayor Mike Morrow said the item must be voted on within the same quarter, setting the stage for a final vote at the council’s August 19, 2025 meeting. On July 11, 2025, the City Council held a “special meeting” to discuss the city’s current rules and regulations on liquor licenses for local businesses. The special meeting followed a heavily discussed request made during the June City Council meeting from a local ice cream shop, Gogo-May’s Sundae Scoop , which is seeking a Class A liquor license to add alcohol-infused items to their menu. Morrow said past administrations have

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ALTON - The Alton Midwest Nationals F1 Powerboat Championship is this weekend from July 18–20, 2025, and racer Dylan Anderson can’t wait. Anderson finished third at last year’s championship. He hopes to get back on the podium this weekend. As he prepares for the race, he shared his tips for staying calm, controlling the boat, and making sure you’re successful on the water. “A lot of it just comes down to keeping your head on straight,” he said. “Being inside of the capsule of a Formula 1 boat can get really aggressive really quick. The biggest thing is just, keep yourself calm. Make sure you’re listening to the boat. Make sure you’re listening to what everything is telling you. Don’t let the boat drive you. Make sure you’re in control and along for the ride in a good way.” Anderson started as a Formula 1 racer in 2016, following in his father’s footsteps. He shared that he made some “pretty

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