EDWARDSVILLE – Southern Illinois University Edwardsville continued its annual honors recruitment tradition this February, welcoming high-achieving students to campus for Honors Scholarship Day before traveling to high schools across the region to personally surprise select incoming students with the Meridian Scholarship , the University’s most prestigious award. Honors Scholarship Day took place Friday, Feb. 16, 2026, and invited local area honors students and their families to
EDWARDSVILLE - Edwardsville High School agriculture students will celebrate FFA Week, and they invite the community to join them. On Monday, Feb. 23, 2026, the Future Farmers of America (FFA) organization will host an ice-skating event from 4–5 p.m. at the R.P. Lumber Center. Students will cook a breakfast for EHS staff members on Tuesday, Feb. 24, and offer ag literacy activities in the morning on Wednesday, Feb. 25. On Thursday, Feb. 26, community members can support the FFA by dining
ALTON - Tracy Zerwas has used her passion for art to give back. Zerwas, one of the YWCA’s eleven 2026 Women of Distinction, will be honored at the Y’s annual gala for her commitment to the community. After a 23-year career in the Southwestern Community Unit School District #9 teaching art, she loves to volunteer and has enjoyed working with students across generations. “I just feel like that's so important for children and to give them a place to shine,” Zerwas said
On February 19, 1926, recently retired boxing champion Benny Leonard (born Benjamin Leiner; April 7, 1896 – April 18, 1947) came to Western Military Academy. Leonard held the world lightweight title (under 135 pounds) from 1917 to 1925 and is widely considered to be one of the best lightweight boxers of all time. The son of Russian Jewish immigrants, Leonard learned to fight in the streets of New York. Sportswriter Al Lurie called Leonard, "the most famous Jew in America...beloved by
ALTON - An Alton resident has decided to run the world’s first “Taco Bell 5K” — the 3.7-mile distance between Taco Bell on Landmarks Boulevard and the Taco Bell on Homer Adams Parkway. On March 21, 2026, Ben Herring plans to consume 1,500 calories at one Taco Bell, run to the other, and eat an additional 3,500 calories worth of food for a total of 5,000 calories and a 5K run. In doing so, he is raising money for 5A’s Animal Shelter in Alton through a GoFundMe
CHAMPAIGN – Jonathan Rulo has etched his name in school history as a two-time state champion for Belleville East High School. Last season, Rulo captured the first state wrestling title winning the Class 3A 285-pound championship with a 7-2 decision over William Cole of Round Lake. This year, Rulo left no doubt. He powered through the bracket in dominant fashion, pinning Ajani Williams at the 3:07 mark in the preliminaries before sticking Pierre Nelson in just 17 seconds in the quarterfinals.
CHAMPAIGN — Fighting through illness, Knox Verbais put together an impressive run at the IHSA State Wrestling Finals before coming up just short in the championship match to finish second in the state. Verbais battled through the bracket all weekend. In the preliminary round, he earned a 15-5 major decision over Cooper Chester. He followed that up in the quarterfinals with a 16-10 victory over Dominic Garcia, defeating Garcia for the second straight year at state. In the semifinals, Verbais
ALTON - Kathy Wilson helps people through everything she does. Wilson, one of the YWCA’s eleven 2026 Women of Distinction, will be honored at the Y’s annual gala for her commitment to the community. As the executive director of the Bethalto Boys and Girls Club and a volunteer in various organizations throughout the community, she emphasized the importance of giving back. “Service is something that I was raised with,” Wilson said. “Probably the most meaningful
JERSEYVILLE – Public Works Director Bob Manns gave an update on the ongoing Hollow Avenue Improvement Project at the Feb. 17, 2026 Jerseyville City Council meeting. Manns said Baxmeyer Construction is on site near Waggoner Avenue, where stormwater system repair and construction is expected to begin on Monday, Feb. 23, 2026. “Stormwater structures and pipe will be delivered over the next two days, and then they’ll start physical installation on Monday morning, first thing,”
CHICAGO — Attorney General Kwame Raoul today, as part of a coalition of 13 attorneys general, filed a lawsuit challenging the Trump administration’s unlawful decision to terminate funding for congressionally mandated energy and infrastructure programs created by Congress in laws such as the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) and the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA, also known as the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law). The lawsuit, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Northern
ST. LOUIS - Titan CEO and headline sponsor Wipfli are pleased to announce Crystal Officer, CEO of Beverly Farm Foundation as a 2026 St. Louis Titan 100 recipient. The Titan 100 recognizes St. Louis’ Top 100 CEOs and C-level executives, the region’s most accomplished leaders who have not only built extraordinary companies but have redefined what it means to lead. These Titans exemplify excellence through their vision, passion, and integrity, creating lasting impact across industries
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Combat Veteran and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL)—member of the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee (SVAC)—today released the following statement after the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) shamefully circumvented the normal rulemaking process and implemented without public comment a new interim final rule that puts millions of Veterans’ disability ratings and care at risk, shockingly disincentivizing our nation’s heroes from bot
EDWARDSVILLE - Edwardsville girls basketball freshman guard Journey Anderson proved to be the biggest hero on Monday, Feb. 16, 2026, when she hit the first of two free throws that gave the Tigers a come-from-behind 50-49 win over Quincy in the first semifinal of the IHSA Class 4A regional tournament at Edwardsville's Lucco-Jackson Gym. The free throw climaxed a final 15-0 run, after the Tigers were trailing the Blue Devils 49-35 with about two minutes to go. It was a remarkable comeback for
ALTON - Liberty Bank, A United Community Bank, is pleased to announce the promotion of Jared Siebert to Market President. Jared has been with Liberty Bank for five years, most recently serving as Vice President of Commercial Lending. In his new role, Jared leads and supports the Liberty Bank team while overseeing market strategy and growth. His emphasis is on strengthening client relationships and expanding Liberty Bank’s presence as a trusted provider of personal, business, and wealth managemen
EDWARDSVILLE - Small business owners are urging community members to vote yes on a non-binding referendum that would allow video gambling in Edwardsville. The General Primary Election, scheduled for March 17, 2026, will ask Edwardsville voters the following question: “Shall the city of Edwardsville allow video gambling, subject to regulations, in existing establishments with on-premises consumption of alcohol/liquor?” For small business owners like Corey McMahan, Steve Seibert,
President Donald Trump on Friday criticized Supreme Court justices who ruled against his tariff policy and said he will sign an executive order to implement a 10 percent global tariff, after the court issued a 6-3 decision finding his levies were not authorized under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act. Lawmakers in Illinois and the governor praised the Supreme Court decision with statements below. During a press conference on Friday, Feb. 20, 2026, Trump called the justices who ruled
ALTON — Delaney Ortmann, a 5-foot-10 sophomore for Marquette Catholic’s regional champion girls basketball team, has emerged as one of the catalysts in the Explorers’ success during the 2025-2026 season, according to coach Whitney Sykes. Ortmann’s development this season has positioned her as a key contributor for Marquette Catholic, with Sykes pointing to her impact on both ends of the floor. “Delaney is a very solid offensive player,” Sykes said. “She
ALTON - The Alton Expo will not be held in 2026 or 2027 "because of a scheduling conflict with the carnival company," the City of Alton announced on Friday, Feb. 20, 2026. City officials also stated that they plan to bring the event back in September 2028. “The City of Alton enjoys working with Luehrs’ Ideal Rides, and we look forward to getting back on track with the Alton Expo in September 2028,” said Beth C. Bear, the city’s council coordinator. In place of the Expo
ST. LOUIS COUNTY - St. Louis County Police detectives are investigating the death of an adult man after an officer-involved shooting early Friday, Feb. 20, 2026, when officers responding to a reported assault encountered an armed man at a home in Overland, Mo. Detectives from the St. Louis County Police Department Bureau of Crimes Against Persons are handling what authorities described as an “officer-involved shooting and death investigation” in the 9400 block of Cote Brilliante Avenue.
ALTON - Dr. Tracy Webster-Cooley is dedicated to helping people manage their mental health. Webster-Cooley, one of the YWCA’s eleven 2026 Women of Distinction, will be honored at the Y’s annual gala for her commitment to the community. She works as an assistant professor at SIUE’s School of Nursing in their psychiatric nurse practitioner program, as well as for a St. Louis-based nonprofit that assists people with employment and workforce development. “I'm an educator,
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