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GRAFTON - The City of Grafton will soon have a ferry that runs seven days a week, 16 hours a day. Mayor Mike Morrow explained that the city recently won a $1.48 million grant from the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) to operate the ferry, connecting Grafton with the St. Charles, Missouri, area. Morrow believes the new ferry will boost tourism and also allow people to find jobs in the St. Louis region with an easier commute. “This is exceptional news, not just for Grafton, but for the entire region. As far as transportation, tying people together and so forth — it’s just exceptional,” Morrow said. “We’re just very blessed here in this little city.” Morrow noted that one of his 2021 campaign goals was to get a ferry operating seven days a week. In 2023, Grafton won a $250,000 IDOT grant to study the ferry system, including the Calhoun ferry and other regional ferries in the area. After this study, Grafton established a Ferry

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SPRINGFIELD – U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) released the following statement on the release of the remaining 20 living hostages held by Hamas: “Congratulations to President Trump for the historic Gaza agreement. We know there are still critical elements to be negotiated and settled but the release of the Israeli hostages and the Palestinian prisoners is a good faith start. “Now let’s negotiate a political ceasefire on Capitol Hill.”

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GRAFTON - Award-winning author, speaker, and editor Jacqueline “Jackie” Duty is honoring Hispanic Heritage Month with the release of two books that celebrate language, culture, and empowerment. Following the success of her beloved children’s book Dash the Dachshund , Duty has now launched a Spanish edition, Dash el Perro Salchicha , available on Amazon just in time for Hispanic Heritage Month. This charming story follows a curious dachshund on heartwarming adventures that teach courage, kindness, and friendship—now accessible to Spanish-speaking families and classrooms. Jackie has distributed over 500 copies of the original Dash the Dachshund to local students thanks to many local incredible sponsors including: Simmons Hanly Conroy Law Firm, Tania Interian – State Farm, Wilton Cattle Company, Fountain Hill Steak and Seafood, Grafton Music in the Park, Grafton Fudge and Ice Cream Shop, Grafton Limestone, Grafton Art Gallery, Box Mercantile, Fancy Nancy

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GODFREY — The Heck Family lost nearly everything they owned in a fire that destroyed their home Tuesday evening, Oct. 14, 2025, in the 1200 block of Seasons Drive, according to a community organizer. April Marburger, who is helping coordinate relief efforts, said the family and their dog escaped the fire unharmed. “While they lost nearly everything they owned, we are deeply grateful that everyone, including their family dog, miraculously made it out alive,” Marburger wrote. The Heck Family now faces rebuilding their lives after the devastating loss. Neighbors have launched a GoFundMe campaign to provide financial support to the family. “Our hope is that we can ease their burden a bit by coming together to support them,” Marburger said. The fundraiser page is being managed with the family’s blessing and will provide updates as they become available. Click here for the GoFundMe.

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CHICAGO – U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), along with U.S. Representatives Mike Quigley (D-IL-05), Robin Kelly (D-IL-02), and Danny Davis (D-IL-07), sent a letter to U.S. Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy to demand answers about the Trump Administration’s decision to “put on hold” $2.1 billion in federal funding for Chicago’s infrastructure projects, including the Chicago Transit Authority’s (CTA) Red Line Extension Project and CTA’s Red and Purple Modernization (RPM) Program. “On October 3, 2025, the OMB Director posted a social media announcement and the Federal Transit Administration subsequently sent letters to the CTA notifying the transit agency that the Administration was withholding disbursements of previously approved federal funding for these projects, totaling $2.1 billion dollars. The stated reason for this

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BELLEVILLE – Residents of Belleville and Granite City face felony domestic battery charges after allegedly strangling family or household members in separate cases. Marquis B. Orr, 34, of Belleville, was charged with aggravated domestic battery (a Class 2 felony), his second or subsequent offense of domestic battery (a Class 4 felony), and domestic battery (a Class A misdemeanor) on Oct. 9, 2025. Orr allegedly intentionally strangled a household or family member on Sept. 6, 2025. He had previously been convicted of domestic battery in a prior case from 2011 out of St. Clair County. The Maryville Police Department presented the latest case against Orr, who was ordered remanded to jail for his initial appearance in court. A Granite City man also faces charges of Class 2 felony aggravated domestic battery and Class A misdemeanor domestic battery in a separate case. 27-year-old Jacob A. Williams was charged on Oct. 7, 2025 after allegedly strangling a household or family member

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EDWARDSVILLE — Madison County employees are wrapping up a spirit week with a flavor-filled Friday celebration — and the public is invited to join the fun. The County will host a food truck event from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the back parking lot off Second Street, behind the Sheriff’s Department, featuring a lineup of local favorites including Mahalo Shaved Ice, Heaterz, Rollin’ Dogs, Pig on a Wing and Taqueria y Antojitos Cobix. “This is the first time we’ve done anything like this,” Chairman Chris Slusser said. “We wanted to do something that brings our employees together and also welcomes the public to share in the experience.” The idea for a food truck day came from employees who missed having on-site dining options after the Administration Building cafeteria closed. A few staff members took the lead, planning the event and choosing a fall date — which coincidentally lined up with both Edwardsville’s Homecoming Wee

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ALTON — Officers from the Alton Police Department visited St. Mary’s Catholic School this week as part of the school’s First Responder Week celebration. The event, held at St. Mary’s Catholic Church and School, provided students with opportunities to engage directly with local law enforcement. During the visit, students explored a patrol squad car, toured the department’s tactical armored vehicle known as The BEAR, and observed a K9 demonstration. The activities aimed to educate young attendees about the roles and responsibilities of first responders in their community. The Alton Police Department expressed appreciation for the warm reception from the students and staff, emphasizing the importance of fostering community awareness about the work performed by first responders on a daily basis.

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BELLEVILLE - The 25th Annual Metro Construction Career Expo will be held October 21–23, 2025, at the Belle-Clair Fairgrounds, 200 South Belt East, Belleville, Illinois. This year’s event will welcome a record number of students, more than 1,200 from 37 area high schools, to explore hands-on activities and demonstrations that highlight rewarding career opportunities in the skilled construction trades. Media are invited to attend the Expo to see firsthand how unions and industry leaders are addressing the growing demand for skilled workers across Southern Illinois. Apprenticeship programs offer paid, debt-free pathways into the construction industry, complete with wages, benefits, and pension, providing a strong alternative to traditional college routes. “We are thrilled to see record participation this year,” said Donna Richter, CEO of the Southern Illinois Builders Association (SIBA). “The Metro Construction Career Expo continues to open students’

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ROXANA — The Roxana High School girls' volleyball team raised $10,000 for cancer awareness during their recent annual fundraising game held this year in partnership with Jerseyville High School. The event, which took place recently at Roxana, included the sale of more than 500 T-shirts and sponsorships from over 50 local businesses. All proceeds from the sales and sponsorships were donated to the Riverbend Relay for Life, an organization dedicated to cancer research and support. Andrea Keller, coach of the Roxana girls volleyball team, said the game honors cancer survivors and provides players an opportunity to share stories about people they know who have been affected by the disease. This year’s event was dedicated to Rory Guss, a preschooler at Roxana diagnosed with leukemia in December 2023. “Rory has undergone treatments and continues to fight to overcome this disease. She is a true hero and an inspiration to all of us. So brave and so positive,” Keller

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ALTON - A local neighborhood recently came together to honor their mail carrier. On Oct. 4, 2025, 15th Street in Alton hosted their annual block party. They invited mail carrier Jerri Howard to express their appreciation for her work delivering their mail for the past 18 years. “She’s seen our kids grow up,” said Ruby Blair, who helped organize the recognition. “We wanted to let her know we appreciated her. It was just that simple.” Blair pointed out that Howard has gone above and beyond to serve the community, truly honoring the United States Postal Service creed. “Ours is one of the more difficult neighborhoods to deliver because we have porches and steps. It’s work, in all kinds of weather,” Blair explained. During the block party, the community took a group photo, which Blair printed out and delivered to Howard. Blair believes that the experience was meaningful for both the neighbors and Howard. “I think it was

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COLLINSVILLE - Collinsville Community Unit School District #10 announced that the 2025 Collinsville High School Homecoming Parade will take place on Thursday, October 16, exclusively along Main Street in Collinsville. The parade is scheduled to begin at 4:30 p.m. at the corner of Hesperia and Main streets and will proceed to the intersection of Main and North Center Street in Collinsville. Organizers emphasized that the parade route will not include West Clay Street, a change from previous years. Officials advised attendees to line up only on Main Street in preparation for the event and encouraged the public to share this updated information with others planning to attend. The Collinsville High School marching band, shown above, will once again be one of the highlights of the homecoming parade.

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ALTON - OSF St. Anthony’s Health Center will host an open house to celebrate their 100th anniversary in the community. From 2–6 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 23, 2025, community members and previous employees are invited to stop by the hospital to learn more about their services and engage with staff members. Sister M. Beata Ziegler, F.S.G.M., Vice President of Operations and Special Projects, shared that the hospital has spent this anniversary year thinking about their past and future. “As we look over the past 100 years, we spent the first part of the year reflecting on the past, God’s providence through all these years. We also wanted to focus on moving forward,” Ziegler said. “On Thursday, Oct. 23, our open house event, we will be really looking at what services we provide at St. Anthony’s. We’ll have a lot of fun activities. It’s really highlighting what our services are and being able to thank the community.” During

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SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — The Illinois State Police (ISP) intensified efforts to combat vehicle theft, hijacking, and related violent crimes between July and September 2025, utilizing grant funding from the Illinois Secretary of State’s Illinois Vehicle Hijacking and Motor Vehicle Theft Prevention and Insurance Verification Council. ISP received a $10 million grant for the first fiscal year, followed by additional funding of $677,000 in June 2024 and $637,500 in July 2025 to support these initiatives. During the third quarter of 2025, ISP conducted 40 missions targeting stolen and hijacked vehicles and related violent crimes. The operations resulted in the recovery of 280 stolen or hijacked vehicles, 21 arrests related to stolen vehicles, and four arrests for vehicle hijacking. Law enforcement also seized 13 firearms connected to these crimes. The agency deployed 30 K9 units and conducted 34 air operations in support of these efforts. Forensic laboratories handled 1,287 assignments

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CHICAGO – Two Illinois Lottery players are now millionaires after each snagged a $1 million prize in Saturday night’s Powerball® drawing. The winning tickets were purchased at retailers in Rochelle and Colona, where excitement is running high among employees and customers alike. The first $1 million winning ticket was bought at Shell, located at 1350 Cleveland Road in Colona. The second $1 million winning Powerball ticket was purchased at Road Ranger, located at 890 East Highway 38 in Rochelle. Both tickets matched all five of the main numbers — 13, 16, 18, 20, and 27 — in Saturday’s Powerball drawing, missing only the Powerball number, 10, to win the game’s second-highest prize of $1 million. Employees at both locations were thrilled by the news. “Stop it! Are you serious?,” gasped Mellissa, manager at the Colona Shell, when she heard the news. She quickly shared it with a nearby coworker, who shouted, “We did!? No way!

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WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, and U.S. Senator Reverend Raphael Warnock (D-GA) issued the following statement on today’s oral arguments in Louisiana v. Callais : “All Americans should have a fair say in who represents them in Congress. Led by a President who tried stealing an election, Republicans have lost all respect for election integrity. We’re now witnessing a never-before-seen political pressure campaign to rig elections by enabling politicians to choose their voters—not the other way around. “Rather than tit-for-tat political games, the American people deserve stability at the voting booth. The Voting Rights Act has provided that consistency for decades—but faces escalating attacks from Republicans dead-set on politicizing election administration. “By ruling in favor of Black voters in Louisiana, the Supreme Court can protect fair representation

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SPRINGFIELD - Today, Governor JB Pritzker and the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) joined Innovative Rail Technologies (IRT) and Motive Power Resources, Inc. (MPR) to celebrate the commissioning of their latest zero-emission, battery electric locomotive. Bolstered by a Reimagining Energy and Vehicles in Illinois (REV Illinois) agreement , Motive Power Resources, Inc. has been expanding their facilities to increase production of IRT-designed battery electric locomotives and battery configurations to retrofit diesel locomotives for use in the United States and Canada.“I am proud to stand with Innovative Rail Technologies and Motive Power Resources as they unveil the latest in zero-emission, battery electric locomotive technology being made right here in Illinois,” said Governor JB Pritzker . “This advancement will make rail systems nationwide more reliable, more efficient, and more resilient – all while solidifying Illinois leadership

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EDWARDSVILLE - Southern Illinois University Edwardsville’s Chaya Gopalan, PhD, a professor in both SIUE’s School of Education, Health and Human Behavior (SEHHB) and School of Nursing (SON), leads a partnership between STEM faculty of collaborating four-year and two-year institutions awarded $2 million from the National Science Foundation (NSF). The grant, titled "Developing STEM Education Reform Leaders through a Multidisciplinary and Cross-institutional Community Transformation,” supports the development of STEM education by introducing an innovative teaching model known as “Flipped Teaching” to faculty members across Illinois. The amount of $1,228,850 goes directly to SIUE and their partnering two-year institution St. Louis Community College (STLCC). Gopalan will be the lead Principal Investigator (PI) collaborating with Co-Principal Investigator Sharon Locke, PhD, Director of SIUE’s STEM Center. “Our goal is to empower a dedicated

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SAVOY - On Tuesday, Congresswoman Nikki Budzinski (IL-13) met with air traffic controllers at the University of Illinois Willard Airport to hear how they are being impacted by the government shutdown. While air traffic are seldom furloughed during a shutdown because of their essential role, they are not paid. “My visit with air traffic controllers at Willard Airport underscored exactly why we must work to reopen the government as quickly as possible,” said Congresswoman Budzinski . “The workers I spoke with shared deep concerns about their ability to pay their bills and the strain caused by staffing shortages resulting from this shutdown. On top of that, the public safety risks that come with an understaffed and under-supported air traffic control system demand we act quickly. For the sake of our air traffic controllers and the traveling public, I urge my Republican colleagues to come to the table and reach a deal to end this crisis.” The shutdown has

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BETHESDA, MD. — U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth, D-Illinois, underwent a preplanned medical procedure Monday at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center to address residual pain and mobility issues related to her combat wounds, a spokesperson said. The procedure, described as long-awaited, aims to improve Duckworth’s physical condition. According to the statement, the senator expects to return to Capitol Hill later this week. Duckworth has been open about the lasting effects of injuries sustained during her military service. The latest procedure reflects ongoing efforts to manage those challenges while continuing her legislative duties.

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