EDWARDSVILLE - An Alton man described by prosecutors as the “shot-caller” in the 2024 fatal shooting of 13-year-old Ra’Niya Steward was sentenced Monday to 50 years in prison in Madison County Circuit Court in Edwardsville. Keith A. Sanders, 26, was sentenced by Associate Judge Neil Schroeder after a January trial in which he was found guilty of one count of first-degree murder and two counts of contributing to the criminal delinquency of a minor. Before the sentence hearing
FAIRVIEW HEIGHTS/CASEYVILLE - At approximately 1:10 p.m. on Saturday, July 4, 2026, the Fairview Fire Department responded to a report of smoke coming from the attic of a residence in the 9600 block of Ridge Heights Road, where firefighters found flames near the roofline and quickly contained the fire to the roof and attic, according to the Fairview Caseyville Township Fire Protection District. The first emergency unit arrived within four minutes of dispatch and discovered active
ALTON - Alton Mayor David Goins said feedback from the city’s Friday night, July 3, 2026, fireworks display in Alton has described it as “one of the best in many years.” The mayor said the city placed extra emphasis on the event because of America’s 250th anniversary. Mayor Goins said the display was “a spectacular display” and that he received “a lot of compliments” afterward. He said that when he went to the grocery store Saturday, July 4,
CHICAGO — Today, Governor JB Pritzker signed SB 315, the Artificial Intelligence (AI) Safety Measures Act, a landmark legislation establishing the nation's strongest framework for AI safety, transparency, and accountability. The bipartisan law positions Illinois as the national leader by requiring the largest AI developers to identify, disclose, and mitigate risks while providing independent oversight and protections for workers who report safety concerns. The law earned widespread
EDWARDSVILLE – The Edwardsville Police Department is joining the Illinois Department of Transportation, the Illinois State Police, and more than 200 local law enforcement agencies across Illinois in a statewide effort to encourage safer driving and reduce speeding. From July 7 through July 31, 2026, residents and visitors may notice additional traffic patrols throughout Edwardsville. Officers will focus on speeding and other behaviors that can increase the risk of crashes. "Our goal i
CHICAGO – Attorney General Kwame Raoul, as part of a coalition of 24 attorneys general, took action to oppose the U.S. Postal Service’s attempt to aid the president’s efforts to seize control of elections and restrict mail-in voting through a proposed rule. The coalition is calling on the Postal Service to withdraw the proposed rule, which the attorneys general argue would violate a recent court order. “In recent weeks, courts have affirmed that Congress and individual
CHICAGO — Today, Governor JB Pritzker led a coalition of nine state governors in urging the U.S. Postmaster General to unequivocally reject Trump’s proposed amendment to the Mailing Standards of the United States Postal Service (USPS), which would put an end to mail-in and absentee voting methods. In a joint comment issued by the governors of California, Connecticut, Illinois, Minnesota, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Washington, and Wisconsin, Gov. Pritzker denounced this
URBANA, IL – U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today celebrated the naturalization of 60 new citizens from 25 countries at a ceremony presided over by the Honorable Eric I. Long, United States Magistrate Judge for the Central District of Illinois. Durbin was joined by Urbana Mayor DeShawn Williams. “Today, 60 new Americans from 25 countries took an oath that binds us all—not by birth, but by shared belief in our
CHICAGO – Attorney General Kwame Raoul today announced his office reached an approximately $95,000 settlement with GigSmart Inc. (GigSmart), resolving allegations the company misclassified workers who were placed in temporary labor positions via the company’s online platform. “Day and temporary workers are especially vulnerable to illegal labor practices that rob workers of workplace protections and pay,” Raoul said. “Every worker – regardless of the industr
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today joined U.S. Senators Gary Peters (D-MI), Chuck Schumer (D-NY), Patty Murray (D-WA) and Jeff Merkley (D-OR) along with the entire Senate Democratic caucus in demanding Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Director Russell Vought immediately rescind OMB’s proposed regulation on federal financial assistance. The Senators warned the proposal exceeds OMB’s statutory
FAIRVIEW HEIGHTS – The Illinois Department of Transportation today announced lane closures on Illinois 159 at Interstate 64 in St. Clair County as part of ongoing improvements in the corridor. Beginning at 7 a.m. Monday, July 6, 2026, traffic will be reduced to one lane in each direction between Ludwig Drive to Market Place to allow for bridge construction. The lane restrictions will be in place through early fall 2026. For IDOT District 8 updates, follow us on the social media platform
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee; U.S. Senator Alex Padilla (D-CA), Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Rules and Administration; and U.S. Senators Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) led fourteen of their colleagues in urging the Department of Justice (DOJ) to halt any efforts to compensate January 6 rioters and commit to defending taxpayers in any January 6-related lawsuits. In their
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) joined U.S Senator Patty Murray (D-WA) and their colleagues in writing a letter to Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. blasting his recent decision to terminate nearly all Teen Pregnancy Prevention (TPP) Program grants—and calling on him to immediately reinstate the funding for over 50 grantees nationwide. “We write to express our outrage ove
ST. LOUIS — Acculift Foundation Repair has made the first donation through its quarterly “Lifting Our Communities” giveback initiative, contributing $1,500 to Dogs For Our Brave, a nonprofit that provides professionally trained service dogs at no cost to wounded veterans who have honorably served, the company announced. The donation was made in St. Louis, where Dogs For Our Brave is headquartered. According to the announcement, the funds will support the nonprofit’s
On July 6, 1415, the Czech religious reformer Jan Hus was executed at the Council of Constance, a moment that became one of the most important turning points in late medieval Europe. Hus had criticized corruption in the church and argued that religious authority should be held accountable to scripture and moral conduct. His death mattered immediately because it deepened conflict within the Christian world and helped spark the Hussite Wars in Bohemia. It still matters today because it stands as
Red, white, and blue can signal freedom in one place, warning in another, and ordinary brand marketing somewhere else. The same three colors can stir pride, nostalgia, protest, or skepticism depending on where you see them and who is using them. That is what makes “red, white, and blue” more than a simple color combination. For many people, especially in the United States, the phrase points straight to the national flag. But its meaning is not fixed. It comes from history, tradition,
ALTON - A lightning strike hit an abandoned boat at Alton Marina on the afternoon of Saturday, July 4, 2026, causing its mast to fall onto another derelict vessel, marina operator and general manager Rob Honke said. No one was hurt, and officials’ main concern now is salvage, Honke said. Honke described the incident as “very, very rare and very scary.” “The good news is no one was hurt, and the vessel that was struck was an abandoned derelict vessel slated to be
EDWARDSVILLE - Nolan Pichee led the way with three hits and two RBIs, while Auggie Landuyt came up with two hits and two RBIs, with both players being the catalysts as the Alton Post 126 junior American Legion baseball team came from behind with a nine-run seventh to defeat the Extreme Elite under-16 baseball club 10-7 in the Play 9 tournament Sunday morning at Plummer Park in Edwardsville. The come-from-behind win was their fourth in the last eight games, and they are now 13-9-1 on the season.
TOKYO, JAPAN – U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL)—a member of the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee (SFRC)—arrived in Japan on a Congressional delegation (CODEL) she arranged to continue her efforts meeting with high-level business leaders and government officials and promoting Illinois abroad. During her official trip, Duckworth plans to meet with businesses and convened leaders in quantum and technology to shore up previous trade commitments and reassure the international
SPRINGFIELD – At the close of fiscal year 2026 on June 30, Illinois Comptroller Susana A. Mendoza reports another successful year in paying the state’s bills in a timely manner while the state’s Rainy Day Fund balance has again increased to new records. For the fifth consecutive time ending a state fiscal year, the Illinois Office of Comptroller (IOC) released all pending bills from the state’s General Revenue Fund (GRF), while reporting an end-of-year GRF cash balance
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