ALTON - The Alton Eagle Ice Festival promises plenty of fun this weekend. From 5–10 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 2, and 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 3, 2026, various locations across Alton will host Eagle Ice Fest events and fun. Grace Sakry with Great Rivers and Routes Tourism Bureau encourages people to start at FLOCK Food Truck Park and then visit the National Great Rivers Museum and the Audubon Center at Riverlands. “It’s a full Alton celebration, which is so exciting,”
The purpose of this article is to help you think clearly about when to claim Social Security - whether that’s 62, your Full Retirement Age , or as late as 70. I’ll walk through the key considerations that usually matter most: the opportunity cost of delaying, taxes, survivor protection, work income, longevity, and how portfolio withdrawals can change the math. A practical way to think about the decision Delaying Social Security can be valuable—but only if it improves
ST. LOUIS COUNTY, MO. — Donntay Wallace, 35, of the 1900 block of Craig Road in St. Louis, was charged Monday, Dec. 29, 2025, with escape or attempted escape from custody while under arrest for a felony, unlawful possession of drug paraphernalia, and second-degree trespassing, according to the St. Louis County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office. The charges stem from an incident earlier that day when Wallace allegedly entered a backyard on the 1700 block of Shallowbrook Drive and lingered
ST. LOUIS COUNTY, Mo. — Michael Dade, 34, of the 5700 block of Huntington Valley Court in St. Louis, died following a motorcycle crash on the 6300 block of Lemay Ferry Road near Meramec View Drive on Friday afternoon, Dec. 26, 2025, according to the St. Louis County Police Department. Officers from the South County Precinct responded at 1:28 p.m. Dec. 26, 2025, to reports of a motor vehicle crash involving a motorcycle. St. Louis County Police said preliminary investigation
PEORIA – With the recent resignation of Lisa DeKezel, president of OSF HealthCare St. Mary Medical Center in Galesburg and OSF HealthCare Holy Family Medical Center in Monmouth, OSF HealthCare is implementing an interim leadership plan during the search for her successor. Zach Yoder has been appointed interim president of both OSF St. Mary and OSF Holy Family. He will step away from his current role as president at OSF HealthCare Saint Anthony’s Health Center in Alton for up to
CHICAGO – Governor JB Pritzker and the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) today announced $1 million in funding for the Village of Deer Creek through the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Program. The Village will use this funding to support Heartland Food Solutions LLC in expanding their operations, employing 40 Illinoisans within Deer Creek. “I’m proud to announce this critical funding that supports the hardworking Deer Creek community
SPRIGNFIELD — Illinois Community Colleges are once again working together to address food insecurity on campuses across the state, with a collective effort that has doubled in size in its second year. The 2nd annual Feed the Need Campus Food Drive, which started in 2024 to help combat food insecurity on college campuses and support students in need, collected nearly 180,000 individual non-perishable food items for local campus and community food banks. That number dwarfs last year's tota
CHICAGO – Attorney General Kwame Raoul today highlighted a new law initiated by his office that will go into effect Jan. 1, 2026 and will improve medical care and treatment for sexual assault survivors by making important updates to the Sexual Assault Survivors Emergency Treatment Act (SASETA) and the Illinois Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner (SANE) Program. Raoul introduced Senate Bill (SB) 1602, which was sponsored in the General Assembly by State Sen. Julie Morrison and State Rep. Kelly
GRANITE CITY – A Granite City man recently charged with sexually assaulting and abusing a 5-year-old child is currently in custody. Frank D. Humphreys, 75, of the 1800 block of Bremen Avenue in Granite City, was charged on Dec. 26, 2025 with one count each of predatory criminal sexual assault of a child (a Class X felony) and aggravated criminal sexual abuse (a Class 2 felony). On Dec. 23, 2025, Humphreys allegedly committed an act of sexual contact against a 5-year-old female victim.
ALTON - The Hayner Public Library District is considering building a new building. Executive Director Mary Cordes gives an update. Earlier this year, the library announced that they were considering a new building to better serve the 46,000 community members living in Alton, Godfrey and Foster Township. In a recent interview on “Our Daily Show!” with CJ Nasello , Cordes added that the library will continue to prioritize transparency throughout this process. “It’s
ALTON - Virginia Woulfe-Beile is a dedicated environmental advocate and community leader whose passion for sustainability and conservation has made a lasting impact in Illinois. Her journey began as a volunteer with the Sierra Club, where she quickly became an influential figure, leading coalitions and inspiring volunteers in efforts to protect natural resources and promote clean energy. In her 14-year role as the Three Rivers Project Co-coordinator, Virginia’s diverse background in horticulture
ALTON - The Hayner Public Library District has a busy January ahead. Executive Director Mary Cordes stopped by “Our Daily Show!” with CJ Nasello to talk through the month’s programs and events. She hopes patrons come to the library to engage with their materials and experience the “community” feel they want to cultivate. “When you're in there, the hope is you’ll take a look,” she explained. “While I’m here, let me browse.
JOHNSTON CITY - An accidental iLottery purchase paid off in a big way for Holly of Johnston City, who won a $250,000 FastPlay jackpot on the Illinois Lottery’s $20 Magnificent Multiplier. Holly revealed she bought the winning ticket by mistake. “I meant to buy the $2 Booming Bucks ,” she said with a laugh. “I was watching a movie and accidentally selected the $20 ticket.” She recalled thinking, “Oh shoot! I didn’t want to spend that much.” The
O’FALLON, Ill. – HSHS Medical Group welcomes Shaelin Heiman, PA-C, to HSHS Medical Group Orthopedic & Sports Medicine at 670 Pierce Blvd. in O’Fallon. Heiman brings a strong background in orthopedics. She holds a Master of Physician Assistant Science from the University of Evansville in Evansville, Indiana, and a Bachelor of Science in biology from the University of Southern Indiana in Evansville. She is skilled in a wide range of orthopedic procedures, including joint
What if the changes we experienced in 2025 were not just moments in time, but markers of a profound shift in how society, technology, and the environment intersect? As we reflect on the milestones of this remarkable year, it becomes clear that 2025 was a pivotal chapter in shaping the future we are now navigating. Breakthroughs in Technology One of the most striking features of 2025 was the accelerated pace of technological innovation, especially in artificial intelligence. AI systems evolved
December 30 has witnessed a remarkable range of events throughout history, shaping the course of human civilization in diverse ways. One of the most transformative events associated with this date happened in 1990, when Tim Berners-Lee, a British scientist, completed the first successful communication between a Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP) client and server via the internet. This achievement effectively marked the birth of the World Wide Web, setting the foundation for the digital age
Illinois Department of Early Childhood Kathleen Carolyn "KC" Stralka will serve as the Assistant Secretary of Project Management & Operational Excellence of the Illinois Department of Early Childhood.* Stralka currently serves as Chief of Staff for the Illinois Department of Early Childhood (IDEC). At IDEC, Stralka has built a project management office and has managed communication and legislative affairs divisions, in addition to stepping in as interim CIO. Previously, Stralka served
SPRINGFIELD – Governor Pritzker has selected Illinois Air National Guard Director of Staff Colonel Steven B. Rice of Morrison, Illinois, as the next Assistant Adjutant General – Air of the Illinois National Guard. With the selection, Colonel Rice will be promoted to Brigadier General and will serve as one of two Governor-appointed deputies to Major General Rodney Boyd, the Adjutant General of Illinois and Commander of the Illinois National Guard. The other deputy is Brigadier General
CHICAGO – Today, Governor JB Pritzker and the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) released data highlighting record-breaking economic development milestones from 2025. Guided by Governor Pritzker’s strategic economic growth plan, Illinois reached a record $13 billion in incentivized investments, delivered record tourism accomplishments, and marked major milestones in key sectors, including quantum, while making continued investments in small businesses
CHICAGO – Attorney General Kwame Raoul joined Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel and Vermont Attorney General Charity Clark in filing an amicus brief challenging the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) final standards on ballast water discharges from large vessels, which can carry harmful organisms from one port to another. In the brief filed with the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit, Raoul and the coalition argue that the standards unlawfully weaken long-standing
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