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SPRINGFIELD — Authorities are seeking public assistance in solving a triple homicide that left three people dead, including a 9-year-old boy, at a home on Hoover Avenue in Springfield on Oct. 9, 2025. The victims were identified as 22-year-old Mhy'nesha Day, 21-year-old Devionne Brady, and Cash Russell, 9, who was the juvenile victim in the case. The Sangamon County Sheriff’s Office responded to a shooting report at the residence in the 3000 block of Hoover Avenue and found the thre

ST. LOUIS – This week, City, State and civic partners from the Tornado Recovery Advisory Committee mobilized a new effort to reach out to tornado-impacted residents who may still be living in or by damaged structures to ensure they have a plan to stay safe and warm throughout the winter and connect them with available short-term housing options. “During the brutal cold weather of the past two weeks, we opened shelters for anyone who needed a place to be safe and warm, but we recognize

GRANITE CITY – The Rotary Club of Granite City recognized juniors Audrey Martinez and Emily Sahrhage as Students of the Month for November. Students were nominated by teachers, and were chosen on the basis of academics, as well as scholastic, extracurricular and civic honors and awards, and organization membership and leadership. Each honoree will receive a framed certificate and a gift card, and will be recognized at the Mayor's Prayer Breakfast on March 24, 2026. Audrey Martinez Second

ALTON — Lieutenant Seth Stinnett of the Alton Police Department graduated from the FBI National Academy on Thursday, Dec. 11, 2025, becoming the 13th officer in department history to complete the prestigious program, Chief Jarrett Ford announced. The graduation ceremony for the 296th session took place at the FBI National Academy in Quantico, Virginia, where 254 law enforcement officers from 47 states, the District of Columbia, 24 countries, four military organizations, and two federal civilia

BELLEVILLE - Students from Whiteside Elementary School in Belleville, Illinois, left their marks on the steel beam that will complete the structure of the school’s new 13,550-square-foot addition. Groups of students had messy fun dipping their hands in paint, adding colorful handprints to the eight-foot beam. S. M. Wilson & Co., the project’s construction manager at risk, has placed the beam to complete the building’s framework. The project will then shift to masonry work

SPRINGFIELD, IL, Madison County has been issued a tentative property assessment equalization factor of 1.0793, according to David Harris, director of the Illinois Department of Revenue (IDOR). The property assessment equalization factor, often called the "multiplier," is the method used to achieve uniform property assessments among counties, as required by law. This equalization is particularly important because some of the state's 6,600 local taxing districts overlap into two or more counties

ALTON – An Ameren Illinois representative recently outlined the company’s position after the Alton City Council voted 4-3 to force the relocation of a downtown powerline. Erin Frew, owner of the historic Snyder Block building at 301 Piasa Street, has repeatedly called for the bare overhead powerlines running less than six feet from her building’s facade to be relocated to allow maintenance to be performed on the building and to mitigate what she has consistently described

JERSEY COUNTY — Just after 11 p.m. on Dec. 3, 2025, the Jersey County Sheriff’s Office K9 Deputy Justin Decker stopped a red minivan on South State Street in Jerseyville, leading to an arrest on drug charges. Four individuals were inside the van at the time of the stop, according to the Jersey County Sheriff’s Office. The sheriff and officers from the Jerseyville Police Department assisted with the traffic stop. Albert A. Pace II, 61, was arrested after drug paraphernalia

MITCHELL – The Illinois Department of Transportation today announced that rehabilitation of a crossing by Union Pacific railroad on Illinois 203/East Chain of Rocks Road between Engineers Road and Nameoki Road near the Interstate 270 exit ramp in Madison County will require a full closure, weather permitting, on Monday, Dec. 15. A posted detour will be in place to safely guide motorists around the closure, which is expected to conclude on Tuesday, Dec. 16. Motorists can expect

FAIRVIEW HEIGHTS — Sergeant Tony Flinn of the Fairview Heights Police Department graduated from the National Public Safety Innovation Academy (NIA) in Polk County, Fla., after completing an intensive eight-week executive-level program designed to prepare law enforcement professionals for future command and administrative leadership roles. The program, which brings together public safety leaders from across the country, provided Sgt. Flinn with training from nationally recognized experts

BETHALTO — Bethalto Police Chief Jason Lamb has announced that juveniles have been identified in connection with the break-in of Christmas donation boxes at City Park’s Christmas Village . The incident occurred at 5:19 p.m. on Dec. 8, 2025, and was captured on video, which helped police identify the individuals responsible. “The individuals responsible for the damage have come forward and have been identified as juveniles,” Chief Lamb said. He added that the department

BELLEVILLE/EDWARDSVILLE — As some of the coldest temperatures of the season approach this weekend, the St. Clair County Emergency Management Agency is urging residents to take precautions to stay warm and protect vulnerable populations. The agency advised checking on neighbors and elderly individuals and ensuring pets are kept safe from the harsh conditions. Residents in need of a warming center can contact the United Way at 2-1-1 for updated shelter information. The U.S. National Weather

EDWARDSVILLE - Madison County, IL- Governor JB Pritzker recently shared that he is open to considering improvements to the SAFE-T Act. I appreciate his willingness to reexamine the law, and I welcome an honest conversation about what is—and isn’t—working for public safety in Illinois. I am still waiting for the Governor to finally step up and do something about correcting the deficiencies in the SAFE-T ACT. Law enforcement across the state has raised consistent concerns about

GRANITE CITY – A convicted felon from Granite City accused of battering a pregnant woman and pointing a firearm at her faces multiple new felony charges. Son T. Nguyen Jr., 37, of Granite City, was charged on Dec. 1, 2025 with one count each of felon in possession of a weapon, aggravated battery (both Class 3 felonies), his second or subsequent offense of domestic battery (a Class 4 felony), and aggravated assault (a Class A misdemeanor). On Nov. 29, 2025, Nguyen allegedly struck a household

A December 10, 1925 article in the Alton Evening Telegraph announced that a “school traffic force” composed of older students at each city school would be created to handle automobile traffic near school buildings (and attempt to keep the younger students out of the street) under the terms of a resolution adopted the day before by the City Council. Alderman S.L. Moore of the Seventh Ward presented the resolution and stated that many cities have a similar system. For example,

GODFREY - DK Dance Productions will host their annual Holiday Show this weekend. On Saturday, Dec. 13, 2025, dancers will perform at Hatheway Hall at Lewis and Clark Community College. Dancers from the DK Dance Productions Alton location will perform at 11 a.m., followed by a 1 p.m. performance by the Florissant dancers and a 3 p.m. performance by the Jerseyville dancers. The show’s “Cozy Christmas” theme promises a fun holiday vibe. “We are super excited

GRAFTON — Raging Rivers WaterPark plans to expand its attractions starting in May of 2026, introducing new amenities aimed at enhancing the visitor experience. The additions include an RV park with more than 60 spots, of which over 30 will offer full hookups, as well as an 18-hole miniature golf course, axe-throwing, and a bocce ball course. “We will have a lot of fun activities to do here at Raging Rivers. We got to this idea from the get-go when the owner bought the park; they

Did you know that the ancient Mayans were among the first to enjoy a beverage made from cacao beans, but it was nothing like the sweet hot chocolate we savor today? Instead, their drink was bitter, spiced, and served cold. Fast forward thousands of years, and hot chocolate has evolved into a comforting, sweet indulgence enjoyed worldwide. Making hot chocolate at home allows you to control the ingredients, tailor flavors to your preference, and create a truly personalized treat. Whether you prefer

December 11 has been a date marked by significant milestones across the globe. One of the most impactful events occurred on December 11, 1997, when the Kyoto Protocol was adopted in Kyoto, Japan. This international treaty was a landmark step in global environmental diplomacy, aiming to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and combat climate change. The agreement set binding targets for industrialized countries, reflecting a growing global awareness of environmental issues. It marked the first major

Expect a cold day with a high near 35 and a low around 29 degrees. Winds will be light but noticeable, coming from the south at about 7 mph with gusts up to 17 mph. Temperatures will feel a bit colder, dipping into the low 20s in the shade. There is a 65% chance of light snow this afternoon, so keep that in mind if you have outdoor plans. This morning will start mostly clear with temperatures in the upper 20s. As we move into the afternoon, clouds will thicken and intermittent snow showers and