Silence can feel louder when there’s less to distract you. That’s one reason winter often pulls people inward. The same life that feels busy and outward-facing for much of the year can suddenly feel quieter. Social plans thin out. Days can feel shorter. Even your body seems to ask for a slower pace. In that space, thoughts you’ve been skipping past have more room to show up. Reflection isn’t forced, exactly—but it becomes harder to avoid. Reflection needs space,
February 17, 1801, brought a leadership change that helped shape modern political systems. Thomas Jefferson was elected President of the United States after a deeply contested process that ended in the House of Representatives. The election exposed weaknesses in the young country’s voting rules and led to reforms, including the Twelfth Amendment, which changed how presidents and vice presidents are elected. The broader significance reaches beyond one nation: it showed how constitutional system
This morning starts off cloudy with temperatures around 55°F. Expect mostly cloudy skies through the early hours with a low breeze coming from the south-southeast at about 12 mph, gusting up to 30 mph. As we move into the afternoon, the breeze picks up, making it feel cooler than the high of 59°F. Clouds will cling to the sky, limiting the sunshine to a brief appearance. By evening, it remains mostly cloudy and windier, with wind speeds increasing toward 17 mph and gusts reaching 32 mph
BETHALTO - Precision Point Armory owner Ben Julian wants to work with people who care about firearm safety. Located in Bethalto, Precision Point Armory offers concealed carry classes, renewal classes, fundamental classes, and more. No matter which class you take, Julian aims to create safe firearm owners who are comfortable handling their guns. He also has a range where you can shoot live ammo, and he likes to help people improve their shooting and build up their fundamentals as much a
EAST ST. LOUIS - The Illinois State Police are investigating a police pursuit in East St. Louis that ended early Feb. 14, 2026, with a driver found dead from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound, after the East St. Louis Police Department requested the state agency’s Division of Criminal Investigation Zone 6 to handle the case. East St. Louis police officers attempted to conduct a traffic stop at about 2:28 a.m. near the intersection of 47th Street and State Street, according t
PAWTUCKET, R.I. — Police responded Monday afternoon, Feb. 16, 2026, to a shooting at Dennis M. Lynch Arena in Pawtucket, Rhode Island, where two people were confirmed dead, and three others were injured in what police described as a targeted attack that may have been related to a family dispute. Pawtucket Police Chief Tina Goncalves said Monday afternoon that the gunman died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound after firing shots. Goncalves said one of those killed was a young girl. The thre
CHICAGO - Rayna Raglin of Alton has picked up right where she left off at the end of the 2025 outdoor track and field season, with a tremendous performance this weekend in Chicago at the Fifth Annual Dr. Conrad Worrill Invitational. Raglin was named the Most Outstanding Athlete of the meet after she recorded first-place finishes in the 60 (7.52) and 200 (24.27). She beat the previous second-place 3A finisher in the 100 meters, Mariyah Robinson of Flossmoor, who recorded a time of 7.62 in the 60
GLEN CARBON – A major road remediation project is moving forward in Glen Carbon after unanimous approval of a $158,900 agreement for the village’s 2026 Street Program. Village Board members approved a professional services agreement last week for the 2026 Street Program after hearing a presentation from Jeff Reis with Thouvenot, Wade & Moerchen (TWM), Inc. Reis gave trustees a report on the current condition of road surfaces around Glen Carbon as of Jan. 1, 2026. The vast majority
WOOD RIVER - Community members and business owners have the opportunity to learn more about security systems at a hands-on security roadshow sponsored by American Digital Security. From 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on Feb. 26, 2026, Rustic Roots in Wood River will host the roadshow. Attendees are encouraged to talk to companies and manufacturers about their security systems, including video surveillance, access control, intrusion detection, AI-powered analytics, and threat detection technologies.
EAST ST. LOUIS - The Illinois State Board of Education has named Lashaunda Ross, a counselor at Annette Officer Elementary School in East St. Louis School District 189, as a recipient of the Award of Excellence in the Those Who Excel 2026 program, the district announced. The Award of Excellence honors educators who demonstrate “an unwavering commitment to equity and the success of all students,” according to the district’s statement. The recognition is given to recipients
ALTON – Since the heart is one of the most important muscles in the human body, OSF HealthCare Saint Anthony’s Health Center continues to be “heart healthy” after bulking up even more by flexing its cardiology services specialty program “muscle” in 2025. Just as a physician recommends patients to develop a plan to maintain a strong and vibrant heart (proper nutrition, exercise, plenty of sleep, reduce stress, etc.), OSF Saint Anthony’s, for the second
ALTON - Alton resident Greg Snyder, a U.S. Navy veteran and longtime community volunteer, is seeking financial help through a GoFundMe organized by Jacinda Dunlap to cover mounting medical expenses and major vehicle repairs needed for transportation to the John Cochran VA Hospital in St. Louis. The online fundraiser says Snyder underwent surgery last year to remove lung cancer from his right lung and is now facing new concerns after “a mass in his left lung has doubled in size in recent
EDWARDSVILLE - Taliyah Sykes is a senior guard for the girls basketball team at Granite City High School who played an important role in a historic season for the Warriors, as the team reached the 20-win circle for only the fourth time in the program's history, and the first time in 15 years. Sykes averaged 8.4 points and 1.8 rebounds-per-game for Granite in helping the team go 20-9 in the regular season, which ended with a 56-33 loss to Edwardsville Feb. 12 at Lucco-Jackson Gym. In her postgame
EDWARDSVILLE - Mia Semith played her final regular-season home game on Feb. 12, 2026, and went out with a flourish, as the Edwardsville girls basketball senior guard scored 19 points to lead the Tigers to a 56-33 win over a vastly improved Granite City side at Lucco-Jackson Gym. It's been a banner year for Semith, who led the team in scoring with 10.6 points-per-game, and in rebounding with a 4.9 rebounds-per game average. She also contributed 39 assists and 77 steals to the Tigers, who finished
EDWARDSVILLE - Illinois State Police investigators are reviewing a Southern Illinois University Edwardsville Police pursuit that ended with a driver’s death after a crash into a business building late Sunday night, Feb. 15, 2026, in Edwardsville. The Southern Illinois University Edwardsville Police Department requested the Illinois State Police Division of Criminal Investigation Zone 6 to investigate the pursuit, which ended in a fatal crash, according to information issued on Monday, Feb.
LOUISVILLE, IL. – Illinois gubernatorial candidate and former State Senator Darren Bailey and his running mate Aaron Del Mar are launching a second statewide tour beginning on Monday, Feb. 16 th and running through Saturday, Feb. 21. “One of the things I enjoy most about campaigning is traveling this state and meeting the great men and women who make Illinois a special place to live and raise a family,” Bailey said. “I look forward to seeing old friends and meeting
ALTON - Community members have the chance to experience a powerful musical performance to start the Lenten season at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church. At 3 p.m. on Saturday, March 14, 2026, St. Paul’s will host a performance of Pergolesi’s “Stabat Mater,” a musical rendition of the Passion of Christ through Mary’s eyes. The performance by Baroque Orchestra from Early Music Missouri promises to be an emotional reflection on the Lenten season. “Lent i
GRANITE CITY - Granite City High School’s speech team has qualified for the Illinois High School Association State Tournament, scheduled for Feb. 20-21, 2026, in Peoria, according to the Granite City School District #9. The district congratulated the team on its state qualification and highlighted individual and group results from the qualifying round. Bug Wise was listed as a state qualifier in extemporaneous speaking, placing second, and in impromptu speaking, placing third.
ALTON - Heaven Everage, a senior at Alton High School, has been named one of two Alton–Godfrey Rotary Club’s February Students of the Month, an honor recognizing her academic work, leadership, and community service in the Alton area. Everage and Jessica Eales, a Marquette Catholic senior, are the February Alton-Godfrey students who were selected. Everage said she is “truly honored and grateful” for the recognition. First and foremost, she gives thanks to "God, who is
ALTON – A sex offender from Alton faces new felony charges after allegedly fleeing from police in a high-speed vehicle chase and on foot among other offenses. Dallas M. Cook, 47, of the 3000 block of Glenwood Avenue in Alton, was charged on Feb. 9, 2026 with his second subsequent offense of unlawful failure to register as a sex offender, a Class 2 felony. Cook was also charged with two counts of aggravated fleeing or attempting to elude a peace officer (both Class 4 felonies), unlawful
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