ALTON - After years working at the intersection of food, community, and human need, one truth has become unmistakably clear: The greatest challenge in addressing food insecurity in America is not food supply. It is dignity. We live in one of the most resource-rich nations in the world. Nearly 40 percent of the food produced here is wasted, yet entire neighborhoods remain food deserts. Families struggle to access fresh, nutritious food close to home. The math simply does not add up. What’s
GILLESPIE, IL — Today, Congresswoman Nikki Budzinski (IL-13) presented $200,000 in new federal funding to the Gillespie Police Department. The funding will be used for key investments in street cameras and other technological upgrades that the community has needed for many years to increase safety for rural families. “Ensuring the safety and wellbeing of Central and Southern Illinoisans is always my top priority. Rural law enforcement often faces unique challenges and I am proud to
GRANITE CITY – Madison County authorities recently charged a local man with firing an illegally possessed weapon in a Granite City neighborhood. Robert L. Fayne, 44, of East St. Louis, was charged on Feb. 13, 2026 with one count each of felon in possession of a weapon (a Class 2 felony) and reckless discharge of a firearm (a Class 4 felony). Fayne allegedly knowingly discharged a firearm on a residential street in a reckless manner on Jan. 1, 2026, endangering the bodily safety of residents
Congresswoman Mary Miller (R-15th) recently emailed a survey to district residents asking which of five issues mattered most to them and their families. Voters were invited to check boxes on Election Integrity, Mass Deportations & Border Security, Affordability and Eliminating Waste Fraud and Abuse. Miller said in the email, “I want to hear directly from you.” But some constituents noticed that checking a box without a place to comment might lead to misinterpretations about
EDWARDSVILLE – Carrollton Bank announced today that Jeff Patrick has joined the bank as Senior Vice President, Commercial Banking in Edwardsville. “We are very excited Jeff has chosen to join Carrollton Bank,” said Tom Hough, CEO of Carrollton Bank. “Jeff has shown us that doing right by the customer matters to him, and that commitment reflects our approach to serving the Edwardsville community.” Patrick, who has more than 20 years of banking experience in southwest
SPRINGFIELD – It was just last month that a 3.8 magnitude earthquake shook Illinois from its center in Ohlman in central Illinois’ Montgomery County. “Thousands of people across the state felt this last quake in the early morning hours of January 20,” said Illinois Emergency Management Agency and Office of Homeland Security (IEMA-OHS) Acting Director Theodore (Ted) Berger. “It is a cautionary reminder that we sit between two seismic zones and earthquake preparedness
O’FALLON, Ill. – Prairie Cardiovascular and HSHS Medical Group welcome Claire Vargo, APRN, FNP-C, to the cardiology team at 3 St. Elizabeth Blvd., Suite 1800, in O’Fallon. She joins the practice with a patient-centered philosophy focused on clear communication, collaboration and education. She is accepting new patients. As a board-certified family nurse practitioner specializing in cardiology, Vargo brings extensive experience in cardiovascular intensive care and
MILSTADT - After receiving submissions from across the 114th District, State Representative Kevin Schmidt (R-Millstadt) has chosen Hoffen Funeral Home in Millstadt for his “Business of the Month.” With decades of experience, Rep. Schmidt said the team that operates the family-owned funeral home goes above and beyond with their services to help care for families. “When a loved one passes away, trust and compassion is what families need from a funeral home, and Hoffen Funera
O’FALLON, Ill. - Salon Ludic and Extension Lounge, an O’Fallon-based small business, is giving back to the community it calls home through monthly SLAK Campaigns, Salon Ludic Act of Kindness. The recipient for February’s SLAK Campaign is Blossom Play Cafe (BPC), located at 2 Eagle Center, Suite 2 in O’Fallon. Salon Ludic purchased a $200 gift card to BPC, which will be used for its customers until the money runs out. BPC Owner Kim Lloyd said, "I was so excited and honored
SPRINGFIELD – About 10 percent of Illinois voters will see an advisory referendum on their primary election ballots asking them to weigh in on whether they think the state should join a federal school voucher scheme. The Illinois Education Association (IEA) urges Illinoisans to vote “NO” on the question, which is misleadingly worded to make voters think no public money will be used. As it stands now, 80 percent of public schools are underfunded in Illinois. The
SPRINGFIELD - Educators and state workers with the Illinois Federation of Teachers rallied and lobbied Tuesday, Feb. 17, 2026, at the state Capitol in Springfield, urging Gov. JB Pritzker and the Illinois General Assembly to fully fund public schools and higher education and to counter federal cuts they attributed to the Trump administration by changing Illinois’ tax code to increase taxes on the ultra-wealthy. The action, held on the eve of Pritzker’s statewide address, brought members
SCOTT AIR FORCE BASE, IL. – The US Air Force Band of Mid-America's Shades of Blue Jazz Ensemble will present a series of concerts around Scott Air Force Base: Wednesday, February 25, 1:00 p.m.: Farrington Grade School, 20941 E. Divide Rd., Bluford, IL 628141 Thursday, February 26, 7:00 p.m. – Kirkwood Performing Arts Center (KPAC), 210 E Monroe Ave, Kirkwood, MO 63122 Friday, February 27, 7:00 p.m. – Panther Dome Gym, O'Fallon Township High School, 600 S Smiley St, O'Fallon,
– Combat Veteran and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL)—member of the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee (SVAC)—and U.S. Senators Patty Murray (D-WA), Mazie K. Hirono (D-HI) and Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) today led 29 other Senate Democrats in calling on U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Secretary Doug Collins to immediately rescind the VA’s extreme, cruel new policy that bans the VA from providing abortion counseling and care to Veterans , even in cases
SPRINGFIELD - U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin of Illinois, Democratic Party of Illinois Chair Lisa Hernandez, the Illinois AFL-CIO and Illinois Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias issued statements from Illinois reacting to the passing of the Rev. Jesse Jackson Sr., remembering the civil rights leader’s decades of work on social justice, politics and labor issues. Durbin, the Senate Democratic whip and ranking member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, said Jackson “committed his life to
BETHALTO - Civic Memorial High School senior Jude Breyer is closing out his high school career with a series of academic, leadership, and athletic accomplishments, highlighted by earning the Jesse W. Fell Scholarship at Illinois State University. Breyer, a Civic Memorial student, received the scholarship from Illinois State University, where he has also been admitted into the university’s Honors Program. At Illinois State, he plans to major in English, continuing a passion he developed
EDWARDSVILLE - After 27 years working in nearly every division of the Madison County Sheriff’s Office, Capt. William “Bill” Marconi is retiring. The Madison County Sheriff’s Office said in a statement posted on Friday, Feb. 13, 2026, that Marconi, who began his career in 1999 as a jail deputy, is retiring after “27 years of dedicated service to the citizens of Madison County.” The office said Marconi earned promotions “through the ranks”
ALTON – Two Alton residents face felony charges in their latest Madison County cases of domestic battery. Antonio L. Carter, 37, of Alton, was charged on Feb. 13, 2026 with a Class 2 felony count of aggravated domestic battery and a Class 4 felony count of his second or subsequent offense of domestic battery. Carter allegedly knowingly caused great bodily harm to a household or family member without legal justification on Jan. 24, 2026, resulting in significant injury to the victim. Chargin
EDWARDSVILLE - Woodland Elementary School students commemorated Black History Month by creating a wall of important words. Every morning, the school comes together to recite their “Bobcats on the Prowl” motto and start the day on a positive note. Last week, Principal Andy Williams and Assistant Principal Alicia Hiller read “Martin’s Big Words” to the students to teach about Martin Luther King Jr.’s work and speeches. The students put together a display
EDWARDSVILLE - Woodland Elementary School fourth graders celebrated Lunar New Year with giant dragon puppets. On Tuesday, Feb. 17, 2026, the entire Woodland student body gathered in the gym for a special presentation by Page Lee’s fourth grade class. Lee explained that her class has been learning about winter traditions and holidays around the world, and they wanted to do something special for Lunar New Year. Students created two dragon puppets and walked across the stage to demonstrate
ALTON - Barbara Erwin has gone above and beyond for local kids. Erwin, one of the YWCA’s eleven 2026 Women of Distinction, will be honored at the Y’s annual gala for her commitment to the community. She shared that she spent 15 years teaching in the Alton Community Unit School District #11, where she initiated a program to provide extra food to students during long weekends and breaks. “I knew that there was a need,” Erwin remembered. “I had students who were
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