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ALTON - Alton Main Street’s quarterly information exchange, called “What’s Up Downtown”, will be held on Tuesday, February 10th at 5:30 p.m. at The Wedge, located at 620 E. Broadway in Alton, Illinois. The public is invited to learn the latest news regarding developments in Alton’s historic downtown district, including updates from new & existing businesses, news on real estate transactions and details of upcoming events and projects. You’ll be in the

JACKSONVILLE - Civic Memorial High School’s girls wrestling team came up one point short of a regional title over the weekend in Jacksonville, finishing second at the IHSA girls wrestling Illinois School for the Deaf Regional and advancing seven wrestlers to next week’s sectional. Springfield won the team crown with 126.5 points, edging Civic Memorial 126.5-125.5. Chatham Glenwood was third with 101 points, Jacksonville High was fourth with 83.5 points, and Roxana rounded out th

EAST ST. LOUIS — Paul Laurence Dunbar Elementary School in the East St. Louis School District 189 recently recognized counselor Sydnie Blackmon-Harris, citing her daily support of students and her role as a trusted adult for many on campus. The school said it was celebrating Blackmon-Harris for being “driven, compassionate, dedicated, and truly student-centered,” and for showing a “love for our students” through her interactions with students. Blackmon-Harris is

The internet has made communication faster, easier, and more personal than ever. It has also created new ways for criminals to target people, especially teenagers and young adults. One of the fastest-growing and most dangerous online crimes today is sextortion. Many people have heard the word but do not fully understand what it means, how it works, or how common it has become. Sextortion is not rare. It is happening every day in small towns, big cities, and everywhere in between. Anyone who uses

COLLINSVILLE – During Winter Storm Fern, Ameren Illinois’ natural gas storage system served as an important buffer between customers and extraordinary wholesale market price spikes – shielding families and businesses from the extreme cost increases that hit other regions. “Natural gas plays a critical role in keeping homes warm, factories running, and communities safe during severe winter weather,” said Patrick Smith Sr., chairman and president for Ameren Illinois.

ELDRED - Randall and Sheryll Suhr, a couple from Eldred, say their relationship has been rooted in friendship since they met on May 23, 1991, and that bond has continued through their marriage, which took place on Dec. 22, 2022. The Suhrs said they have remained “Best Friends since the day we met." The couple said, “When we look at each other, we still see each other as young as the day we met.” They pointed to their wedding as a standout memory, recalling “Our Wedding

WOOD RIVER – Midwest Members Credit Union is proud to sponsor the “Eagles of the Month” program at Civic Memorial High School. Senior students are selected each month by members of the Civic Memorial faculty to represent each department. All students are awarded a certificate and a Subway gift card. Two Seniors (1 female student and 1 male student) that were selected each month will have the opportunity to compete for a $500 “Eagles of the Year” scholarship each

GODFREY - Alexis Gilchrese and Ronald Gilchrese of Godfrey say their relationship spans years, from early dating in middle school and high school to reconnecting later and marrying on Sept. 30, 2023. The couple first met or started dating on July 24, 2021. Alexis Gilchrese described what makes their relationship special: “We started dating originally in middle school and high school, stayed friends, and got back together after some hard-learned lessons in life.” In sharing a memory,

The familiar heart symbol doesn’t look much like a real human heart—and that mismatch is the whole mystery. If the shape is supposed to stand for love, why is it a pair of rounded bumps meeting at a point, like a leaf or a peach? The answer isn’t one neat origin story. It’s a long chain of art, belief, and habit that turned a rough idea of “the heart” into one of the most recognizable icons on Earth. Why the heart became the home of feelings Long before anyon

A text message can cross the world in seconds, yet it can still feel oddly weightless. A handwritten letter, by contrast, can make your chest tighten before you even open the envelope. Same basic goal—sharing words—yet one lands like a notification and the other lands like a keepsake. Handwritten letters feel more personal because they carry more of the sender with them. Not just their ideas, but their time, their choices, their habits, and even their imperfections. The letter becomes

Some people can’t hide what they feel even when they try. You see it in their face, hear it in their voice, and catch it in the way they move. We often describe that kind of openness with one vivid phrase: “wear your heart on your sleeve.” It’s a saying people use all the time, but it’s also a surprisingly physical image. Why would anyone put their heart—something private and vulnerable—on the outside of their body? The answer blends old customs, storytelling,

On February 9, 1990, the Soviet Union signaled that it would allow Lithuania to pursue independence, a turning point in the slow collapse of the Cold War order in Europe. The announcement did not instantly make Lithuania free, and it did not end the Soviet Union overnight. What it did do was change the direction of events: it showed that Moscow was no longer willing—or no longer able—to hold the union together by force in the same way it had in earlier decades. At the time, this mattere

This morning starts clear with temperatures around 38 degrees. Expect abundant sunshine throughout the day, with the high reaching 51 degrees by the afternoon. Winds will be mild, coming from the south-southeast at 6 mph with gusts up to 13 mph. Evening brings clear skies and cool conditions as temperatures drop toward 38 degrees. Overnight remains clear with lows around 38 degrees. Tomorrow will be partly sunny with highs near 55 and lows dipping to 28. Winds will pick up slightly from the north-northwest

SPRINGFIELD – Generational hits and pop rock is headed to Springfield as Matchbox Twenty takes over the Illinois Lottery Grandstand Stage on Sunday, August 16, 2026. With a catalog packed with era-defining songs, the band promises a night fairgoers won’t forget. Few bands have woven themselves as seamlessly into the fabric of American popular culture as Matchbox Twenty. With timeless anthems like “ 3AM,” “Push,” “Unwell,” “Bent,”

On Saturday, February 6, 1926, Ruth Draper performed at Monticello Seminary in Godfrey. Draper captivated the audience at Reid Memorial Chapel with her dramatic original monologues. New York critic Kelcey had recently credited Draper with being “the best actress in America…she stands alone in her art,” and the Alton Evening Telegraph author who covered the performance agreed. “Those who heard give her recital of amusing impersonations in monologues at Monticello

ALTON - The Alton Police Department is investigating a shooting that left a victim in critical condition after officers were dispatched Saturday night, Feb. 7, 2026, to a residence in the Alton Acres neighborhood, authorities said. Officers were sent at about 9:08 p.m. Feb. 7, 2026, to a home in the 3100 block of Lawn Street in Alton, after a report that a person had been shot, according to information provided by the Alton Police Department. During the initial investigation, officers identified

On February 7, 1971, Switzerland held a national vote that finally granted women the right to vote in federal elections. The change came late compared with many other democracies, but it reshaped Swiss public life by bringing half the population into national decision-making on equal terms. At the time, it mattered because major policies—taxation, social programs, foreign relations, and the rules of daily civic life—were being decided without women’s ballots. It still matters

EDWARDSVILLE - Tremolos flared brilliantly at the Annual Jazz Alumni Concert performance in Dunham Hall Theater, Feb. 4, 2026. The Southern Illinois University Edwardsville Concert Jazz Band welcomed back star alumni bassist Carlos Henderson (’96), and trombonist Chris Leach (’96), to fill the theater with lively performances of reworked favorites and a touching tribute to former Professor Emeritus Rick Haydon. Garrett Schmidt, conductor of the Concert Jazz Band and Jason Swagler,

EDWARDSVILLE - Edwardsville High School's Colin Dexter is seeking donations to help cover his tuition for the Cavaliers Drum and Bugle Corps, saying he needs financial support to take part in the group’s summer tour with expenses that include travel, housing, equipment, and food. “My name is Colin Dexter, and I am reaching out because I need help covering my tuition for the Cavaliers Drum and Bugle Corps,” he said. “Being a member of The Cavaliers has been a dream

SPRINGFIELD – The State Treasurer’s Office made $1.5 billion in investment earnings from the state investment portfolio during 2025, Illinois Treasurer Michael Frerichs announced today. Treasurer Frerichs is the state’s Chief Investment and Banking Officer. He is responsible for investing state revenue in the state investment portfolio . “We are trying to maximize earnings for our state at a time when President Trump is illegally yanking away federal money from Illinois