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SPRINGFIELD – More than 285 south suburban residents took part in Illinois Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias’ second virtual Town Hall Tuesday evening to discuss the skyrocketing cost of auto insurance. Between the first two virtual Town Halls, over 500 Illinoisans have participated to learn more about the issue and share their stories. Residents shared their first-hand accounts of auto insurance rates increasing due to a recent move, a poor credit score or advanced age – reasons that have nothing to do with their driving record. This was the second of a series of virtual Town Hall meetings that the Secretary of State’s office is conducting over the next several weeks to gather feedback from Illinoisans to help inform state legislation for members of the General Assembly to consider. “As Secretary of State, I strongly believe that an individual’s driving record should serve as the primary factor that’s analyzed when setting auto insuranc

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VALMEYER, Ill. — The Monroe County Sheriff’s Department has completed its investigation into a fatal single-vehicle crash that occurred early Tuesday, Aug. 26, 2025, near the intersection of Fountain Road and Levee Road, resulting in the death of a Valmeyer man. At approximately 6:18 a.m. Tuesday, deputies responded to reports of a vehicle off the roadway at the base of the levee. Upon arrival, they found a 2012 Jeep Wrangler that had left Levee Road and overturned down the embankment. The sole occupant, 46-year-old Nicholas D. Wittenbrink, was discovered unresponsive nearby. Deputies immediately began CPR and used an automated external defibrillator until Monroe County EMS arrived. Despite these efforts, Wittenbrink was pronounced dead at about 7:53 a.m. by the Monroe County Coroner’s Office. The Monroe Sheriff's Department investigation determined that extreme fog conditions contributed to the crash. According to the report, Wittenbrink’s vehicle left the

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COLUMBIA, IL. — A barricaded subject was taken into custody without injury Wednesday afternoon, Aug. 27, 2025, following an hours-long standoff at a residence on Meadow Court, the Monroe County Sheriff’s Department reported. The incident began around 12:30 a.m. on Wednesday, Aug. 27, 2025, when deputies responded to a report of a stolen firearm from the home in the 1800 block of Meadow Court in Columbia, IL. Upon arrival, law enforcement encountered the suspect in the basement, who refused to comply with commands, barricaded himself inside, and made threats toward officers. After several hours of negotiations, at approximately 12:05 p.m. on Wednesday, the Monroe County Sheriff's Department said the subject was safely apprehended without injury to himself or first responders. Columbia Fire and EMS personnel were on scene and evaluated the individual as a precaution before transferring him to the custody of the Monroe County Sheriff’s Department. The Monroe Count

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EDWARDSVILLE - Edwardsville Community Unit School District #7 will celebrate the 100th anniversary of Lincoln Middle School with a grand opening event on Sunday, Aug. 31, 2025. The event, scheduled from 2 to 4 p.m. at Lincoln Middle School, 145 West Street, Edwardsville, will mark exactly 100 years since the building first opened as Edwardsville High School in 1925. The celebration will include a ribbon-cutting ceremony at 2 p.m. and guided tours led by current and former students. The district will unveil a new 60,000-square-foot addition to the school, which features a competition gym, a storm shelter/annex gym, a library/media center, a commons area, eight classrooms of varying sizes, and a multi-purpose room. This expansion was funded through an April 2023 no-tax-rate-change bond referendum and combines modern learning environments with the restoration of the building’s original 1925 floor. Parking for the event will be available in the lot adjacent to the Lucco Gymnasium.

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LITCHFIELD, Ill. — Brandon C. Malloy, 20, of Litchfield, was arrested and charged with Aggravated Fleeing following an incident on August 18, 2025, authorities said. According to the Illinois State Police, Malloy allegedly fled from a state trooper while riding a 2003 Honda motorcycle and disobeyed two traffic signals during the pursuit. The arrest and formal charges were made the following day, August 19. The investigation remains ongoing, and no further details have been released at this time. All individuals charged are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

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DWARDSVILLE — Edwardsville firefighters responded to a residential fire Tuesday evening, Aug. 26, 2025, in the 500 block of Chapman Street, where an adult female occupant was home when the blaze was discovered. The call came in at 6:23 p.m. on Aug. 26, 2025. The woman evacuated the small wood-frame residence and had a neighbor call 911, Edwardsville Fire Chief Brendan McKee said. Upon arrival, Edwardsville crews found moderate to heavy smoke coming from the second floor of the home. Fire personnel stretched a 1 3/4-inch attack line to the second floor and began fire suppression efforts, McKee said. The fire caused extensive damage to the second floor. The cause remains under investigation. Mutual aid was provided by the Wood River and Glen Carbon fire departments. Troy and Collinsville fire departments were unavailable to assist as they were responding to an EMS call at the same time.

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EDWARDSVILLE – The law firm of Mathis, Marifian & Richter, Ltd., is proud to announce that shareholders Chad J. Richter and Allyson T. Schwab have been recognized in the 2026 edition of Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch in America. Chad J. Richter has been ranked in the practice areas of Commercial Litigation and Trust and Estates Litigation. Allyson T. Schwab has been recognized in the practice area of Business Organizations (including LLCs and Partnerships). Established in 1983, Best Lawyers® publishes annual rankings of attorneys across a wide range of legal practice areas. Its recognitions are based on a peer review process, in which eligible lawyers evaluate the professional abilities of their colleagues. Lawyers who have been in private practice for five to nine years and demonstrated outstanding professional excellence are honored as Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch in America, while attorneys with over nine years of experience are designated as Best Lawyers. About Chad

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GILLESPIE — Anita S. Grizzle, 49, of Gillespie, was charged Aug. 22, 2025, with aggravated battery to a police officer following an incident the previous day in Gillespie. Authorities reported that on Aug. 21, Grizzle knowingly made physical contact by kicking a Gillespie police officer in the back. The circumstances leading to Grizzle’s detention have not been disclosed. In addition to the aggravated battery charge, Grizzle has several other open cases in Macoupin County. According to court records, she is awaiting trial for possession of a controlled substance, criminal trespass to a residence, and resisting a police officer. The case remains pending. All individuals charged are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

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EDWARDSVILLE — Edwardsville High School kicked off its girls flag football season with a 40-0 victory over Mascoutah on Tuesday, Aug. 26, 2025, drawing a large and enthusiastic crowd to the stands for the program’s inaugural game. The event featured spirited support from Edwardsville cheerleaders and the marching band, as well as food trucks that contributed to the festive atmosphere. Sophie Shapiro’s touchdown catches played a key role in energizing the crowd and setting a positive tone for the team’s season. Serena Shapiro, Sophie's younger sister, also had a score that ignited the fan support. Sophie Shapiro expressed her appreciation for the significant turnout, highlighting the strong support from the Edwardsville student body. “It was a great opener,” she said. “We had a great student section, a great turnout, and we really showed up and played our best.” The Edwardsville cheerleaders also engaged the crowd throughout and sparked

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ALTON – A local 19-year-old has been charged with robbery after taking packages by force from an Alton resident, pushing them and a witness who attempted to intervene to the ground. Ashton M. Britt-Dwyer, 19, listed as homeless out of Alton, was charged on Aug. 21, 2025 with a Class 2 felony count of robbery. Britt-Dwyer allegedly took packages addressed to the victim by use of force on May 12, 2025. According to the state’s petition to deny Britt-Dwyer’s pretrial release, the victim reported that her ex-boyfriend, Britt-Dwyer, had packages delivered to her house in her name. When the victim saw Britt-Dwyer approaching the residence, she reportedly tried bringing the packages inside to confirm their contents and notify the police when Britt-Dwyer “pushed his way into the residence behind her, pushing her to the ground and taking the packages.” “A neighbor witnessed this and tried to intervene and she was pushed to the ground as well, as

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EDWARDSVILLE - Junior Sophie Shapiro, along with the rest of her teammates, helped to showcase the girls' flag football team in its historic opener on Tuesday, Aug. 26, 2025. Edwardsville recorded a 40-0 win over Mascoutah at Tiger Stadium. Sophie made the most of her first game, scoring twice on two long touchdown passes in helping the Tigers go on to their win over the Indians. In her postgame interview, Shapiro talked about the game, how fun it was for her, and the bond she's already feeling with her teammates. "I'm feeling really great," Shapiro said. "This sport is so much fun. This is all of our first games ever, and I think everyone's having a great time. The team is so much fun to be around." Sophie is a Spencer Homes Female Athlete of the Month. "Our coach (Taylor Hay) is amazing," Shapiro said. "All of our coaches are amazing. We have a great quarterback (Ella Wallace). We have a great team. I'm really excited to be playing with my sister, Serena, who's here. She

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GRAFTON - Grafton’s Music in the Park will conclude their season with a Can Jam to support Got Faith? Ministries. From 6:30–9 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 4, 2025, at West Main Street and Route 3 in Grafton, musicians are invited to jam with Mike Johnson and Friends. Community members can come out to enjoy the music for free. Grafton’s Music in the Park, which organized the event, encourages people to bring canned goods or monetary donations to support Got Faith? Ministries in Jersey County. “My goodness, it’s amazing what a small community can do,” said Peg, who organizes Grafton’s Music in the Park. “We have so many things in Grafton for a little town of 650.” Peg explained that the Can Jam is a “bonus night” for the Music in the Park series, which invites bands to play every Thursday night throughout the summer for a free concert. Unlike other nights, the Can Jam encourages musicians from the community to join

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SPRINGFIELD – The Illinois Department of Transportation, Illinois State Police and law enforcement agencies throughout the state are reminding the public that if you drive under the influence of alcohol, cannabis or any other impairing substance, you’ll get pulled over as part of the national “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over” safety campaign. “Driving impaired is not a game,” said Stephane B. Seck-Birhame, bureau chief of Safety Programs and Engineering at IDOT. “You don’t get a second chance to make it right, so always make sure that anytime you’re behind the wheel, you’re sober, buckled up and following all traffic laws. It might save your life or someone else’s.” During the safety campaign, which runs through Labor Day weekend, ISP, local police and sheriff’s departments are reminding the public that driving under the influence can come with sobering consequences. According to IDOT data, last year

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CHICAGO – Attorney General Kwame Raoul announced an agreement requiring the Trump administration to release, no later than Oct. 3, the full balance of around $219 million in education funds owed to Illinois. The money supports critical programs, including after-school enrichment, workforce development and instruction for students learning English. On July 14, Raoul filed a multistate lawsuit against the Trump administration over its unconstitutional, unlawful and arbitrary decision to freeze funding for six longstanding programs administered by the U.S. Department of Education. Raoul and the coalition filed the lawsuit and motion for a preliminary injunction, arguing the freeze violates federal funding statutes and regulations authorizing these critical programs and appropriating funds for them. Additionally, the coalition argued the freeze violates federal statutes governing the federal budgeting process, the constitutional separation of powers doctrine and the Presentment

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COLUMBIA, Ill. — Law enforcement agencies have responded to a barricaded subject at a residence in the 1800 block of Meadow Court in Columbia, Illinois, early Wednesday morning, Aug. 27, 2025. The Monroe County Sheriff’s Department, along with the Columbia Police Department, the Waterloo Police Department, and the Illinois State Police, arrived at the scene shortly after 12:30 a.m. Wednesday, following a report of a stolen firearm from the residence. Deputies encountered the suspect inside the basement, who refused to comply with commands, barricaded himself, and made threats toward officers. Authorities have secured the area and advise residents to avoid Meadow Court until further notice. Drivers traveling near the scene are encouraged to plan for delays due to the large police presence. Negotiations with the individual remain ongoing. Officials emphasized that there is no immediate threat to the broader community but have taken precautions by maintaining a secure

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CHICAGO – Governor JB Pritzker has issued two proclamations recognizing August 31 as International Overdose Awareness Day and September as National Recovery Month in Illinois. These observances honor the lives lost to drug overdose, support people in recovery, and promote access to treatment and resources. International Overdose Awareness Day is a time to reflect on the individuals, families, and communities affected by overdoses and to raise awareness about how to reduce drug overdose deaths. National Recovery Month celebrates the strength and resilience of people recovering from substance use and mental health conditions, while providing an opportunity to promote evidence-based treatment and recovery practices. The Illinois Department of Human Services (IDHS) and its community partners will host events throughout August and September, including memorials, educational trainings, speaker panels, and digital campaigns. “Behavioral health challenges affect not only individuals

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SPRINGFIELD – Eleven individuals and organizations have been recognized as 2025 outstanding volunteers of the year for their contributions to conservation on behalf of the Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR). “IDNR is thankful to have so many wonderfully dedicated volunteers and support groups that help maintain and promote state parks, historic sites, the Illinois State Museum, outdoor safety, and conservation projects,” IDNR Director Natalie Phelps Finnie said. “I’m pleased to recognize their extraordinary work and the sacrifices they make for the benefit of the people of Illinois.” The 2025 IDNR outstanding volunteers of the year are: Harl Jones, Highland – Harl Jones has been a dedicated volunteer at Lincoln’s New Salem State Historic Site in Menard County since 2012. He is most often found in the church and schoolhouse, where he brings 1830s church services and education to life for visitors. He also plays a pivotal

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CHICAGO – Attorney General Kwame Raoul today, as part of a bipartisan coalition of 47 state attorneys general, called on major search engines and payment platforms to take stronger action against the growing spread of computer-generated deepfake nonconsensual intimate imagery (NCII), commonly known as “deepfakes.” In a letter to search engines , the coalition outlines the failures of these companies to limit the creation of deepfakes and calls for stronger safeguards – such as warnings and redirecting users away from harmful content – to better protect the public. In a separate letter to payment platforms , the coalition urges these companies to take bolder action to protect the public by identifying and removing payment authorization for deepfake NCII content. “Deepfake nonconsensual intimate imagery causes real harm,” Raoul said. “In particular, AI-generated child pornography is an increasing concern, as it is used by predators t

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O’FALLON – The Illinois Department of Transportation today announced that the ramp from eastbound Interstate 64 to northbound Illinois 158 in St. Clair County will be closed overnight Wednesday, Aug. 27, and Thursday, Aug. 28, weather permitting. The closure will begin at 5:30 p.m. each night to allow for road construction. The ramp will reopen by 6:30 a.m. the following mornings, Thursday, Aug. 28, and Friday, Aug. 29. Motorists should expect delays and are encouraged to use alternate routes during this closure. Drivers are urged to reduce speed, be alert for changing conditions, obey all construction signage, and refrain from using mobile devices while approaching and traveling through the work zone. For IDOT District 8 updates, follow us on the social media platform X at @IDOTDistrict8 or view area construction details on IDOT’s traveler information map on GettingAroundIllinois.com .

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SPRINGFIELD – Governor JB Pritzker signed Senate Bill 328 into law, legislation that will greatly increase frivolous lawsuits, into law. State Representative Kevin Schmidt (R-Millstadt) says the bill is not good for the business climate in Illinois. “Illinois is struggling with population loss and job growth, and this law will impede economic development even more,” Schmidt said. “This bill was passed despite not following the procedures outlined in the House Rules. This bill penalizes businesses, stifles investment, and fuels a legal climate that welcomes frivolous lawsuits. I stand with the job creators in our state who have taken a strong position against this bill.” SB328 is being challenged by House Republicans in the Sangamon County Circuit Court following a lawsuit. They claim the “gut-and-replace” maneuver was used to push the bill forward on the last day of the spring 2025 Legislative Session which violates the Illinois Constitution’s

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