ALTON- Soulcial Kitchen, the nationally recognized social enterprise known for its innovative Currency of Caring ® and Dignity on Demand initiatives, is proud to announce its first monthly Block Party for Good of 2026. WHAT: Alton Block Party for Good WHEN: January 23 | 2:00–4:00 PM WHERE: Soulcial Square | Market & 5th Street, Alton, IL The January Block Party for Good will once again transform The Alton Soulcial Square into a hub of care, connection, and community support,
ALTON — Sheila Goins, wife of Alton Mayor David Goins, led a tribute Sunday, Jan. 18, 2026, at Tabernacle Baptist Church honoring Jesse Prather Jr. during the NAACP’s Dr. King Salute event. The gathering on Jan. 18, 2026, recognized Prather, a self-taught musician and longtime member of the Riverbend Community Gospel Choir, who died on May 11, 2025. Prather, born Aug. 16, 1978, was remembered for his resilience and musical talent that deeply impacted the local community. “As
EAST ST. LOUIS — A former airman stationed at Scott Air Force Base pleaded guilty Wednesday, Jan. 21, 2026, to federal charges of sexually exploiting minors and distributing child sexual abuse material. Michael E. McCay, 32, admitted to two counts of sexual exploitation of a minor and one count of distribution of child pornography in U.S. District Court. The charges stem from investigations revealing thousands of images and videos of child sexual abuse material on his electronic devices.
GRAFTON – Grafton City Council members unanimously approved the purchase of a ferry at this week’s meeting, taking the first steps needed to launch a daily ferry service which has been years in the making . Once preparations are complete on an estimated “Grand Opening” date of April 10, 2026, the ferry will operate seven days a week, 365 days a year. The currently proposed schedule is from Mondays through Thursdays from 5 a.m. to 9 p.m., Fridays and Saturdays from
ROXANA — Jaylin Roach has been named a 2025-2026 all-state competitive cheer athlete, recognizing her advanced skills and dedication to the sport. The honor highlights her expertise in Level 4 jumps, stunts, and tumbling, and she will be recognized at the IHSA Competitive Cheerleading State Finals. Roach is a Midwest Members Credit Union Female Athlete of the Month for the Shells. She has also demonstrated her athletic versatility as a standout sprinter for the Roxana girls' track and
EDWARDSVILLE - Metro East Lutheran senior Jack Shank delivered a standout performance in the 2025 cross country postseason, highlighted by a personal record at the IHSA 1A State Cross Country Meet. Shank, who is set to graduate following the spring track and field season, placed 65th at the state meet on Nov. 8, 2025, completing the course in 15 minutes, 45.2 seconds. Shank is a BJ's Printables Male Athlete of the Month for MELHS. Shank’s season included a third-place finish at the Oct.
COLLINSVILLE — The Collinsville City Council has adopted a new ordinance regulating door-to-door solicitation within city limits, effective Jan. 1, 2026. The ordinance replaces a previous prohibition on solicitation that was legally challenged, prompting the need for a licensing program with established guidelines. The new Door-to-Door Solicitation Program requires solicitors to complete an application process that includes submitting a valid state-issued ID, a $250 non-refundable
ALTON - Alton Elite Jiu-Jitsu has a special opportunity for martial arts enthusiasts. At 6 p.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 28, 2026, community members can enjoy a seminar with Kyle Watson, a fourth degree Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt and owner of Watson Martial Arts. Hosted by Alton Elite, Watson will share his skills with students and inspire them to commit to their training. “ is basically our fearless leader,” said Jacqueline, general manager at Alton Elite. “His academy
ALTON – Riverbend Head Start & Family Services (RHSFS) is pleased to welcome Illinois Congresswoman Nikki Budzinski to our Essic Robinson location on Tuesday, January 27, 2026, from 2:00 until 2:45 pm. The address is 1802 E. Broadway, Alton, IL 62002. The phone number is (618) 463-5933. Rep. Budzinski launched her “Valentine’s for Veterans” program in January 2023, encouraging families across Central and Southern Illinois to show appreciation for local veterans
O’FALLON, IL. — Prairie Cardiovascular and HSHS Medical Group welcome Rugheed Ghadban, MD, board-certified in internal medicine, cardiology and cardiac electrophysiology, to the Prairie Cardiovascular team at 3 St. Elizabeth’s Blvd., Suite 1800, in O’Fallon. Dr. Ghadban specializes in diagnosing and treating complex heart rhythm disorders, including atrial fibrillation, ventricular tachycardia and other arrhythmias. He is skilled in advanced procedures such as catheter
JERSEYVILLE – Several Jerseyville residents made their opinions known at a packed-house hearing on Jan. 20, 2026 as the city considers entering into an exclusive contract for curbside trash pickup . The prevailing sentiment was clear: Jerseyville residents would rather continue choosing their own trash hauling companies than be forced into a one-company contract, even if it means a sharp spike in dump sticker fees. Of more than 40 speakers who made comments for over 90 minutes, none
EDWARDSVILLE - The American Legion Edwardsville Post #199 recently donated school supplies to the Edwardsville Community Unit School District #7. The Post donated $1,000 worth of school supplies to support students and teachers. Doug Thompson, Post Commander, explained that legion leaders learned of the district’s needs and decided to come together to give back. “We just want to make sure that all of our citizens and our schools here in Edwardsville are supported by our veterans
ST. LOUIS COUNTY - St. Louis County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office charged Michael Cole Jr., 21, of the 5300 block of Wells Avenue in St. Louis, Mo., with first-degree robbery and armed criminal action on Tuesday, Jan. 20, 2026. Cole is being held on a $200,000 cash-only bond with no 10% option. The charges stem from an incident on Jan. 19, 2026, involving a Lyft driver who picked up four passengers in St. Louis City and was driven to the 2100 block of Hecht Avenue. According to the probable
CHICAGO – Attorney General Kwame Raoul, as part of a coalition of 21 attorneys general, filed an amicus brief urging the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 1st Circuit to affirm the preliminary injunction granted by the district court, blocking President Trump’s proclamation that banned international students from entering the United States if they planned to attend Harvard. President Trump issued this proclamation after the district court previously blocked his effort to terminate Harvard’s
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Combat Veteran and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) joined U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Ranking Member of the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee, along with her colleagues in demanding answers on the Department of Defense’s (DOD) efforts to politicize Stars and Stripes, the military newspaper that has long maintained editorial independence. The letter follows recent reporting on how Stars and Stripes job applicants have been asked to explain
SPRINGFIELD — The State of Illinois is again calling on the United States Congress and the Trump administration to require year-round sales of E15 fuel. Earlier this year, Governor JB Pritzker sent a letter to Congressional leadership on November 4, 2025, urging nationwide, year-round E15. “Agriculture is the number one industry in Illinois. Our farmers feed the world, and they have the potential to fuel it as well. As Trump’s tariffs hurt farmers nationwide and rising costs
BELLEVILLE — An 18-year-old man died Monday evening, Jan. 19, 2026, after being shot outside a residence on the 600 block of State Street in Belleville, Belleville Police said on Wednesday, Jan. 21, 2026. The Belleville Police Department responded around 8:19 p.m. Monday to reports of a shooting. Officers found Tayden Dixon, of Washington Park, with a gunshot wound near the entrance of a home. Despite medical efforts by officers and emergency personnel, Dixon died from his injuries. According
CHICAGO – The Illinois Department of Revenue (IDOR) today announced that it will begin accepting 2026 individual income tax returns on Monday, January 26, the same day the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) opens the federal filing season. The deadline to file Illinois returns is Wednesday, April 15, 2026. IDOR encourages taxpayers to file their returns electronically and choose direct deposit to receive refunds as quickly and securely as possible. “We want the tax filing process to
DeKalb, Ill. – More than 1,200 students received their bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degrees from Northern Illinois University in December. Included among the graduates are the following students from the Riverbend area: Carrollton, IL Alexander Rahe, Master of Science, Physics - Professional Physics Jerseyville, IL Hunter Egelhoff, Bachelor of Science, Management - Human Resource Management About Northern Illinois University Northern Illinois University is
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