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Letter To The Editor: The governor's budget proposal (you reported on) was a good start, but he failed to address one of the affordability issues I experienced as a person with disability. I spent years in a nursing home I didn't want or need to be in. The barrier was lack of affordable and accessible housing in the community. Home and community-based alternatives to institutions provide better care, better working conditions, at less cost to the state. Fortunately, some legislators, like

CARLYLE - The Major Case Squad of Greater St. Louis is asking the public for help as it investigates the death of 41-year-old Carlyle resident Sadie L. Tull, who was found dead at her home in the 2100 block of Fairfax Street in Carlyle, Illinois. Tull was discovered with a single gunshot wound to the head, according to information released by the Major Case Squad. The case is being investigated in Carlyle, in Clinton County. Since the investigation began, detectives have followed up on more

ST. CLAIR COUNTY - The St. Clair County Sheriff’s Department said it is investigating a fatal shooting after a 911 caller reported a weapon had been fired at a residence early Wednesday, March 4, 2026, in unincorporated Belleville, Illinois. The department said its emergency communications center received the call at 12:24 a.m. reporting shots fired at a home in the 200 block of Sheffield Drive. Deputies who arrived at the scene found a 36-year-old male victim who was already dea

GRANITE CITY – Granite City Community Unit School District #9 has announced the District Young Authors winners for the 2025-26 school year. The Young Author competition is open to all student’s kindergarten through 8th grade. After receiving student submissions, each building selects a number of winners based on their school population. From the individual building winners, entries advanced to the district-level judging. Maryville Elementary School Principal Dr. Liz Niepert

EAST ST. LOUIS — As the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) announces that Illinois ranks among the top five states nationally for Advanced Placement (AP) participation and performance, East St. Louis Senior High School is contributing to that statewide momentum with continued growth and student achievement. According to ISBE, 31.4% of Illinois public-school graduates in the Class of 2025 earned a score of 3 or higher on at least one AP exam — the benchmark at which most colleges

ALTON - A local young author gave a special presentation at West Elementary School in Alton. Ten-year-old Amoriah Gray is no stranger to book signings and music video shoots. But she got a special opportunity to engage with her peers on Friday, Feb. 27, 2026, when she presented her book “Amoriah’s Magic Afro Puffs” to the girls’ group at West Elementary. Amoriah’s brand is all about self-love, and it was a powerful message for the kids — and a chance for

WOOD RIVER - LeBron Reed is entering his senior season with the East Alton-Wood River Oilers for track and field and plans to continue his running career in college, building on what he described as a breakthrough year in cross country. Reed said the success of his first full cross-country season this past fall helped lead to the Alton Road Runners Club EAWR Runner of the Year honor and now the Midwest Members Credit Union Male Athlete Of The Month recognition. “I believe that the success

ST. LOUIS COUNTY - The St. Louis County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office has filed felony charges against Tyresse Ware, 25, of St. Louis, accusing him of assault and weapons offenses stemming from a March 2 incident in St. Louis County, authorities said. Charges were issued Tuesday, March 3, 2026, against Ware, who lives in the 6100 block of Behle Avenue in St. Louis, Mo., 63135, according to a statement dated Wednesday, March 4, 2026. He is charged with first-degree assault, armed criminal

EDWARDSVILLE - Edwardsville High School orchestra students spent Feb. 27, 2026, working with Illinois State University music faculty during a day of rehearsals and sectionals that ended with a performance at the Center for the Performing Arts, according to Edwardsville High School Orchestra Director and Fine Arts Department Chair Victoria Voumard. Voumard said the sessions were led by Sam Chen, orchestra director at Illinois State University, along with other ISU string faculty

GODFREY – A Godfrey man faces major felony charges after allegedly sexually abusing and assaulting the same victim for four years from ages 8 to 12. 56-year-old Ernest L. Smith, of the 4700 block of Village Drive in Godfrey, faces three Class X felony counts of predatory criminal sexual assault of a child and three Class 1 felony counts of aggravated criminal sexual abuse in a case filed on Feb. 26, 2026. Smith is accused of committing various acts of sexual assault and abuse against

EAST ST. LOUIS - A former police chief in Carlyle, Ill., has been indicted on federal charges accusing him of embezzling more than $100,000 in public funds for personal benefit, according to prosecutors. A federal grand jury returned a four-count indictment charging Mark A. Pingsterhaus, 52, of Carlyle, with two counts of wire fraud and two counts of theft of government funds. The case was announced in East St. Louis. According to the indictment, Pingsterhaus is accused of embezzling funds

COLLINSVILLE - Illinois State Police will conduct Occupant Restraint Enforcement Patrols in Madison and St. Clair counties during March to focus on safety belt and child safety seat laws, according to ISP Troop 8 Commander Capt. Casey Faro. The patrols, known as OREPs, are intended to increase compliance with occupant restraint requirements through education, child safety seat inspections, and enforcement. “OREPs allow the ISP to focus on safety belt and child safety seat laws,” Far

EDWARDSVILLE - First graders at Nelson Elementary School in Edwardsville completed their first report on a famous African American for Black History Month. Tamara Johnson has taught first grade for 27 years, and she always assigns a major Black History Month presentation to her students. Not only does the project encourage them to learn about a famous Black American, but it also teaches them the basics of writing and presenting information to their classmates. “They were so excited

ALTON - The Alton Police Department has announced that Officer Mathew Wilson graduated from the Illinois State Police Academy last Friday, Feb. 27, 2026, and will work alongside officers on patrol. “The Alton Police Department is proud to share that Officer Mathew Wilson graduated from the Illinois State Police Academy last Friday,” Alton Police Chief Jarrett Ford said in a statement. Chief Ford said Wilson “will now begin our Field Training Program here in Alton,

BELLEVILLE - Officer Rodney Wilson is retiring from the St. Clair County Sheriff’s Office after 20 years of service that began Feb. 19, 2006, according to the St. Clair County Sheriff’s Department. Wilson started his career with the St. Clair County Sheriff’s Department as a member of the Auxiliary Deputy Program and later served with the Auxiliary Deputy Mounted Patrol. Over the years, he also served as an intelligence officer assigned to the jail, a firearms range master,

BELLEVILLE - Officer Mark Harris is retiring from the St. Clair County Sheriff’s Department after a career that began Aug. 6, 2001, in Belleville, where he served as a correctional officer and later worked in inmate transport and equipment support roles, the department said in a statement. The department announced Harris’ retirement and congratulated him and Officer Rodney Wilson, who is also retiring. See the other story about Wilson's retirement. “For 26 years,

A lucky charm can make people perform better—even when the charm has no real power. In one study, golfers who were told their ball was “lucky” sank more putts than those who weren’t. The ball didn’t change. The mind did. That small twist helps explain why beliefs about luck have lasted so long: they don’t just sit in the background of culture. They shape how people feel, decide, and act. Superstitions about luck show up everywhere. Someone avoids walking unde

On March 4, 1933, Franklin D. Roosevelt took the oath of office as president of the United States in the middle of the Great Depression and used his inaugural address to signal a major shift in how government would respond to national crisis. The economy was collapsing, banks were failing, and unemployment was widespread. Roosevelt’s message—best remembered for the line about having “nothing to fear but fear itself”—mattered because it tried to steady a shaken public

JERSEYVILLE – Jerseyville city officials have laid the groundwork for this year’s Farmers & Artisan Market . At their March 3, 2026 meeting, City Council members unanimously approved a rental agreement with the Jersey County Business Association (JCBA) to use City Center Plaza for the 2026 Farmers and Artisan Market. This year’s market will be held every Tuesday from June 2 to Sept. 1, 2026 from 4 to 7 p.m., excluding July 14, 2026 to accommodate the Jersey County Fair Parade.

ALTON - The Sierra Club will host a speakers series event on Tuesday, March 10, 2026, at Old Bakery Beer Co. in Alton focused on how Illinois’ Clean and Reliable Grid Affordability Act could affect utility bills. The event is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. at Old Bakery Beer Co., 400 Landmarks Blvd., Alton. The theme for the event is “Clean and Reliable Grid Affordability Act (CRGA) Impact on Utility Bills.” The announcement said Gov. J.B. Pritzker signed the Clean and Reliable