EAST ST. LOUIS – The Illinois Department of Transportation announced today that lane closures will be in place on northbound Interstate 55 between St. Clair Avenue and Exchange Avenue in East St. Louis from 5:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. daily beginning Monday, June 15, through Wednesday, June 17, weather permitting, for bridge maintenance. 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,
PONTOON BEACH – The Illinois Department of Transportation today announced that intermittent daytime lane closures will take place on Interstate 270 between Illinois 111 and Interstate 55 in Madison County on Monday, June 15, and Tuesday, June 16, weather permitting. The lane closures are necessary for the evaluation of pavement conditions. Motorists should expect delays and are encouraged to use alternate routes during this closure. Drivers are urged to reduce speed, be alert for changing
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — The Illinois General Assembly has passed Senate Bill 3707, a measure backed by the Illinois Optometric Association that seeks to increase transparency, strengthen consumer protections and add accountability requirements in the vision benefits market. The legislation, approved by both chambers on May 31, updates Illinois’ Vision Care Plan Regulation Act and now heads to Gov. JB Pritzker for consideration. If signed into law, it would take effect Jan. 1, 2027. Supporte
EDWARDSVILLE/ALTON - A 19-year-old Alton man has been convicted and sentenced to 10 years in prison after pleading guilty to aggravated discharge of a firearm in connection with a shooting toward an Alton school bus, Madison County State’s Attorney Tom Haine announced Friday, June 12, 2026, in Edwardsville. Daniel G. Coalan of Alton entered a guilty plea Friday afternoon, June 12, 2026, in Circuit Court, according to Haine. The case stems from the evening of Feb. 26, 2025, when Alton polic
CHICAGO – Attorney General Kwame Raoul today led a coalition of 22 attorneys general in defending a district court’s dismissal of the Trump administration’s lawsuit challenging the Protect Our Courts Act (POCA), a New York law that prohibits civil arrests in state courthouses unless backed by a judicial order, as well as two executive orders that promote public safety in state government buildings. The amicus brief , which Raoul and the coalition filed in the U.S. Court
MATTOON – Today, Governor JB Pritzker and the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) announced that Rural King will invest $75 million to construct a new Store Support Center Campus in Mattoon, where the company's leadership and support departments will be based, including merchandising, IT, finance, operations, marketing, human resources, legal, and other key business functions. The company broke ground on the project today, which will create 100 new full-time
ALTON – A Missouri resident accused of traveling to an Alton Walgreens to meet who he believed was a 13-year-old girl is currently in custody. James K. Nelson, 37, of St. Peters, Mo., was charged on June 9, 2026 with one count each of indecent solicitation of a child, traveling to meet a minor (both Class 3 felonies), solicitation to meet a child, and grooming (both Class 4 felonies). Nelson allegedly knowingly solicited a person he believed to be a 13-year-old girl on June 7, 2026 with
ALTON - The Alton Police Department has named Officer Lane Lawson its Officer of the Month for March 2026, citing his proactive police work, assistance in a multistate suspect apprehension, and recognition for community service in Alton. The department announced the recognition for Lawson’s work throughout March 2026, saying his selection reflected more than a single incident and instead was based on “exceptional initiative, dedication, and professionalism while serving the citizens
TROY - The Troy-Edwardsville Shrine Club will host their annual Smoke N for the Kids Barbecue Festival to raise money for Shriners Children’s Hospital. On Aug. 15 and 16, 2026, community members can come out to Tri-Township Park in Troy for the event. While barbecue masters grill and compete, the public can enjoy food vendors, a bags tournament, live music, a car show and more. All proceeds from the event go toward the Shrine Club’s activities, including their sponsorship of Shriners
BRIGHTON - A giant church founders’ family tree is now featured on a wall at the new St. John’s Church Museum and Family Heritage Center in Brighton. The church was founded in 1870 by German immigrants living in the Brighton area. The public is invited to visit the museum and heritage center on Sunday, June 14, from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m. Some of the surnames included in the new wall display for the church family founders’ tree are Bohn, Bott, Brummer, Geisler, Heidemann, Lauck, Oertel
GLEN CARBON – A plan to renovate and reorganize the Glen Carbon Police Department building is set to enter its next phase as the project gets closer to construction. Village Board members unanimously approved two items related to the Glen Carbon Police Department renovation project on June 9, 2026. These include a Master Service Agreement between the village and FGM Architects, Inc. and a second project authorization resolution to renovate the GCPD building. $2.1 million has been budgete
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) joined U.S. Senators Tim Kaine (D-VA), Patty Murray (D-WA) and Reverend Raphael Warnock (D-GA) in pressing the Trump-Vance Administration on the impacts that foreign aid cuts and the United States’ withdrawal from the World Health Organization (WHO) have had on the United States’ ability to protect Americans from Ebola and hantavirus. In a letter to U.S. Secretary of State
EDWARDSVILLE – State Senator Erica Harriss (56th-Glen Carbon) is announcing that fire departments and fire protection districts throughout the 56th Senate District have been awarded more than $323,000 through the Illinois Office of the State Fire Marshal's (OSFM) 2026 Small Equipment Grant Program. "Our firefighters and first responders work tirelessly to protect our communities, often operating with limited budgets and resources," said Senator Harriss. "These grants help ensure departments
BELLEVILLE — St. Clair County has announced the postponement of its Community Donation Drive supporting deployed Airmen from Scott Air Force Base. Originally scheduled for Thursday, June 11, the event will now take place on Thursday, July 9, 2026, from 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Hosted in partnership with local military supporters, the donation drive aims to collect comfort items and care package essentials to boost morale for Airmen serving overseas. Community members are encouraged to
HARDIN - Illinois American Water has issued an immediate boil water order for about 400 direct water customers in the Village of Hardin because of improvements at the village’s water treatment plant. Customers should bring tap water to a rolling boil for five minutes before using it for drinking or cooking, according to the utility. The order took effect immediately and will remain in place until testing confirms that water samples meet all drinking water regulatory standards. The utility
O'FALLON, Ill. - A 51-year-old O’Fallon, Ill. man pleaded guilty Tuesday, June 9, 2026, in St. Clair County Court to involuntary manslaughter and obstructing justice in connection with the 2023 death of 31-year-old Allison Hartmire of O’Fallon, according to the O’Fallon Police Department. David S. Shovlin entered a guilty plea on June 9, 2026, for his role in Hartmire’s death on Oct. 23, 2023, police said. The charges were involuntary manslaughter, a Class
CHICAGO — If you purchased a Lucky Day Lotto ® ticket in Oswego yesterday, you might want to check your numbers—you could be the state’s newest millionaire. The winning ticket was purchased at a BP gas station, located at 2791 US 34 in Oswego, Illinois. The ticket matched all five numbers in the Thursday, June 11 evening drawing to score the game’s $1,300,000 jackpot. The winning numbers were 1-13-19-27-35. For selling the jackpot-winning ticket, the
ALTON - The Old Bakery Beer Company will offer their fifth annual Pride Market to support LGBTQ+ artisans. From 11:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. on Saturday, June 13, 2026, community members can stop by Old Bakery Beer to shop local artisans and crafters who identify as LGBTQ+ community members or allies. There will be food and drink specials as well as custom merchandise for shoppers to enjoy. All vendor fees will support Alton Pride, and shoppers and diners can also round up at the register for
ALTON - Madison Avenue in Alton is closed to through traffic between Belle Street and Gesche Street through Monday, June 15, 2026, for street repairs by Burns & Gillihan, contractors for the City of Alton, according to a road closure notice. The closure began on June 10, 2026, and affects Madison Avenue from Belle Street to Gesche Street. The work is being done for street repair, the notice said. Detour signs are in place, and signs were posted before traffic pattern changes on side streets,
ALTON — The Alton City Council on Wednesday, June 10, 2026, rescinded the appointment of Human Relations Director Sonya Bailey, and the action took effect immediately. Alton Mayor David Goins confirmed that Bailey’s appointment had been “rescinded” but said he could not provide any other comments on a personnel matter. Mayor Goins said the City Council went into executive session at the conclusion of its regular meeting. He said the council vote regarding Bailey’s
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