WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today questioned witnesses at a Judiciary Subcommittee hearing entitled “Arctic Frost Accountability: Oversight of Telecommunications Carriers’ Responses to Jack Smith’s Witch Hunt.” Instead of allowing Jack Smith to testify, Senate Judiciary Republicans are proceeding with a wasteful series of eight subcommittee hearings to relitigate the 2020 presidential
CHICAGO – Attorney General Kwame Raoul announced a Mt. Vernon, Illinois man was sentenced to 48 years in prison for disseminating child sexual abuse material. The case is part of Raoul’s ongoing work, in collaboration with federal law enforcement agencies and local law enforcement officials throughout Illinois, to apprehend offenders who download and trade child sexual abuse material online. Dustin Phillips, 34, was sentenced today by Jefferson County Circuit Court Judge Jerry E
CHICAGO — Attorney General Kwame Raoul co-led a coalition of attorneys general in filing a comment letter opposing a U.S. Department of Education proposal to remove certain reporting requirements that help the department uncover significant disproportionality in the identification and placement of children in special education programming and in the discipline of children, based on race and ethnicity. “Data and research have shown for decades that students are disproportionately
WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), U.S. Senator Jack Reed (D-RI), and U.S. Representative Rosa DeLauro (D-CT-03) today reintroduced the bicameral American Business for American Companies Act, legislation that would extend the year-to-year government wide ban on federal contracts for inverted corporations by moving it out of the annual appropriations process and into permanent law. Corporate inversions allow U.S. companies to shift their corporate citizenship
CHICAGO – In recognition of Safer Internet Day on Feb. 10, Attorney General Kwame Raoul encouraged families, educators and other professionals working with children to talk to children about ways to protect themselves from exploitation online and what to do if they end up in an unsafe online situation. “On Safer Internet Day and every day, families and educators can help children learn how to use technology responsibly,” Raoul said. “New technology, such as artificial
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Congresswoman Mary Miller said she met with Secretary Linda McMahon on Wednesday, Feb. 11, 2026, to talk about “the future of education in America,” framing the discussion around shifting education authority away from Washington and toward parents and states. “It was a pleasure welcoming Secretary Linda McMahon to my office today to discuss the future of education in America,” Miller wrote in a social media post. Miller, a former teacher,
ALTON – OSF HealthCare Saint Anthony’s Health Center is now offering a CT cardiac calcium scoring test. This non-invasive test, conducted through OSF Saint Anthony’s Imaging Services helps doctors gain a clearer picture of a patient’s overall heart health. Patients with one or more risk factors are encouraged to undergo this test every three to five years if the initial score is zero or very low. Risk factors include diabetes, high blood pressure (hypertension),
O'FALLON, IL. - The O’Fallon Police Department recently held its 2025 awards banquet to recognize the dedication, service, and professionalism of its team, honoring employees for career milestones and presenting commendations for work ranging from DUI enforcement to investigations. At the banquet, the department recognized retirement and service milestones, issued letters of appreciation, and presented major awards, including Officer of the Year and Civilians of the Year. Major
ALTON - Local entrepreneurs and project leaders had the chance to share more about their work in downtown Alton. On Tuesday, Feb. 10, 2026, community members gathered at The Wedge Innovation Center for Alton Main Street’s quarterly “What’s Up Downtown” meeting. Business owners and stakeholders shared information about their organizations and projects. Scot Heathman, CEO of The Wedge , shared information about Entrepreneurship Week, planned for Feb. 17–20,
A kiss at an airport isn’t just a private moment that happened to be public—it’s a message. Even if no one says a word, the couple is quietly telling the world, “This person matters to me.” Public affection can look small: holding hands in a grocery store aisle, a quick hug outside a school, a partner brushing lint off someone’s jacket. Yet people do it across ages, cultures, and settings. The reasons are not only romantic. Public affection helps humans signal
On February 11, 1979, crowds in Tehran celebrated the collapse of Iran’s monarchy and the victory of a revolution that quickly reshaped the country’s government, laws, and foreign relationships. The Iranian Revolution mattered immediately because it ended a centuries-old royal system and replaced it with a new political order led by religious authorities, changing how power was organized inside Iran. It also mattered beyond Iran’s borders, because it altered the balance of influence
This morning starts off clear and chilly with temperatures around 30 degrees. The air feels cold as north-northwest winds gently breeze at about 7 mph with gusts up to 15 mph. By afternoon, expect mostly sunny skies with a high near 49 degrees. Evening turns partly cloudy with mild winds shifting to the east at around 5 mph. Overnight lows will dip back to about 30 degrees under partly cloudy skies. Tomorrow's forecast calls for intermittent clouds with some sun breaking through. Temperatures
ROSEWOOD HEIGHTS - Tuesday in Rosewood Heights, firefighters working a grass fire on West Woodland reported that a driver refused to turn around at a road shutdown and instead drove through residents’ yards to get around the scene. The Rosewood Heights Fire Department described the incident in a reminder posted to its Facebook page, alongside video from the department. “Emergency workers shut down roads so we can safely operate at the scene, hoping not to have to worry about being
PIASA - Mikayla Means, a wrestler for Southwestern, placed third at the regional on Saturday, Feb. 7, 2026, and will advance to sectionals. The regional this past Saturday was held at Jacksonville ISD. Means finished third at 235 pounds, winning her final bout over Sophia Brown of Shelbyville by medical forfeit. Southwestern's wrestling coaching staff and head coach Shain Bates said Means’ performance came while she was “the only girl in the lineup,” adding that “being
WOOD RIVER - Ethan Barrett, a senior at East Alton-Wood River, is being recognized for bowling after four years in the sport that culminated in his highest high school game, a 244. Barrett said his progress came through “practice and more practice,” adding that “with hard work, I got to a point where I felt that I was at the best point in my high school career, it took me to my senior year, but I got it.” He credited coaches Garry Herron and Gary Quigley, saying, “With
WOOD RIVER - Aubrey Cathey, a senior at East Alton-Wood River High School, is being recognized for cheer after a decade in the sport and a senior season that included learning and performing advanced stunts in new roles. Cathey said her “strong passion and love for cheer” helped lead to the recognition. “I was never able to do anything, and cheer wasn't how I expected it, but I was able to start as a base and then my senior year I was a backspot and with both positions I wa
JERSEYVILLE — Jude Jones, a senior multi-sport athlete at Jersey Community Unit School District No. 100, has committed to Greenville University to continue his education and play baseball and join the Panthers baseball program, according to a district announcement. Jones is a Sparklight Male Athlete of the Month. “Committed! We’re excited to announce that Jude Jones has committed to Greenville University to continue his education and join the Panthers Baseball program.
ALTON - The Alton-Godfrey Rotary Club donated materials to local Alton elementary schools to encourage letter-writing and literacy. On Tuesday, Feb. 10, 2026, Rotary Club members and Alton Community Unit School District #11 administrators gathered at West Elementary School to introduce the students to letter-writing. Students were encouraged to write a letter to their favorite person, with the goal to eventually expand this project so students write letters to veterans, domestic violence
GRANITE CITY - Granite City Wrestling’s Lady Warriors hosted a girls regional tournament over the weekend, facing large brackets in a 29-team field and finishing seventh as a team while advancing three wrestlers to next weekend’s sectional competition in Virden at North Mac. The team said the regional gave the Lady Warriors “the opportunity to host girls regionals this weekend,” adding that “every girl fought extremely hard.” Granite City's coaching staff
JACKSONVILLE — It is a rare feat for a freshman to advance high in the ranks of the Illinois High School Association postseason wrestling. However, Jersey Community High School's freshman standout Skylee Howell has done just that. Skylee is also a Sparklight Female Athlete of the Month for the Panthers. Jersey Community Unit School District No. 100 recognized Howell after she placed third in the 155-pound category of the IHSA girls wrestling regional at Jacksonville ISD o
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