On April 26, 1986, an explosion and fire tore through Reactor No. 4 at the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant in what was then the Soviet Union (now Ukraine). The accident sent radioactive material into the air for days, forcing hurried evacuations, exposing workers and nearby residents to dangerous doses, and spreading contamination across parts of Europe. It mattered immediately because it overwhelmed local emergency systems and challenged the Soviet government’s ability to manage a fast-moving
A lot of the games kids play outside are older than the countries they live in. That sounds exaggerated until you realize how often the “new” games on a playground are really remixes of ancient ideas: chase, throw, hide, race, and test strength. Outdoor games have always been a simple way to turn open space into a challenge, a story, or a social ritual. Their history is not just about fun. It’s also about training, community rules, and the way cultures pass time-tested habits
On April 27, 1961, Sierra Leone became an independent country, ending more than 150 years of British colonial rule. The change mattered immediately because it shifted political power from a distant imperial government to leaders chosen at home, and it gave Sierra Leone a new voice in international affairs at a moment when many African and Asian societies were also reshaping their futures. It still matters today because independence set the framework for national institutions, citizenship, and
EAST ALTON – Multiple cases of property damage across Madison County have resulted in felony charges filed against residents from around the Riverbend. Ian M. Lindsay, 44, with no listed address, was charged on April 20, 2026 with a Class 4 felony count of criminal damage to property. Lindsay allegedly knowingly caused over $500 worth of damage to a gaming machine on Feb. 27, 2026. The machine, which is listed as property of J&J Gaming, was located at 13 S. Stanley Road in East Alton.
MARINE, Ill. – Felony charges have been filed against an Alton woman accused of invading a residence in Marine while armed with a BB gun before kicking and spitting on a responding officer and EMT. Kelsey L. Graham, 35, of Alton, was charged on April 20, 2026 with a Class X felony count of home invasion, two Class 2 felony counts of aggravated battery, and a Class 4 felony count of criminal trespass to a residence. Graham allegedly knowingly entered an occupied Madison residence without
ST. CLAIR COUNTY - Motorists in St. Clair County should expect weekend lane closures on eastbound Interstate 64 between Illinois 157 and Illinois 159 as the Illinois Department of Transportation conducts pavement work. IDOT said eastbound traffic will be reduced to one lane starting at 9 p.m. Friday, April 24, with two lanes reopening by 7 a.m. Monday, April 27. A second weekend closure is scheduled to begin at 9 p.m. Friday, May 1, with two lanes reopening by 7 a.m. Monday, May 4. The
SPRINGFIELD – Illinois Treasurer Michael Frerichs today announced he has returned over $2.5 billion in missing money on his watch, breaking all records in an I-Cash program that has been around since the 1960s. More than 2.5 million people, nonprofits, and businesses have been reunited with their missing money since Frerichs took office in 2015. Frerichs modernized I-Cash, allowing people to file electronic claims, taking on powerful insurance companies to return money to beneficiaries,
CHICAGO — Today, the Illinois Law Enforcement Training and Standards Board (ILETSB), in partnership with the Cook County Sheriff’s Office (CCSO), marked a historic milestone with the graduation of the inaugural cohort of the nation’s first Crisis Response Therapy Canine Certification Program. The inaugural class features 11 certified therapy canine teams representing seven agencies across Illinois. The program, launched to better equip law enforcement agencies with tools
CHICAGO – Attorney General Kwame Raoul and the State Employee Retirement System (SERS) cautioned state of Illinois employees and retirees about attempted investment scams directed at them . “State employees and retirees in Illinois should be on the lookout for unsolicited emails claiming to provide assistance with retirement planning,” Raoul said. “These entities often try to imply they are associated with the State Employees’ Retirement System, but they
ST. LOUIS – A man from Venice, Illinois, on Friday, April 24, 2026, admitted to helping carjack one man in St. Louis in 2024 and shooting at another. Harry Moore, 21, pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court in St. Louis to one felony count of carjacking and one felony count of possession and brandishing a firearm in furtherance of a violent crime. He admitted driving a Cadillac that had been stolen in Belleville, Illinois to the 2900 block of Minnesota Avenue in St. Louis on Sept. 4, 2024
ALTON – A Precious Organization, in partnership with the Alton Police Department and YWCA Southwestern Illinois, is excited to announce the return of the 9th Annual “Ballin’ With A Cop” event, taking place on Saturday, May 12th, from 12:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. at the YWCA Gymnasium, located at 304 E. Third St. in Alton. This dynamic and uplifting event brings youth teams together with members of the Alton Police Department for friendly basketball games that promote connection,
Actor, ventriloquist, letter carrier, and Panama–California Exposition gatekeeper George Mold died on April 25, 1926. An Alton Evening Telegraph article the next day announced the news. At the time of his death, Mold resided in Coronado Beach, California, but he grew up in Alton and frequently came back to the area to visit family and friends. George Mold moved to Wichita, Kansas, as a young man, and made “quite a success in amateur theatricals” there. In 1893, he played
Auction catalog available here . SPRINGFIELD – Collectible baseball cards of Hall of Famers Ryne Sandberg, Nolan Ryan and Ken Griffey Jr., a gold ingot, and an 1868 French coin bearing the image of Napoleon III are just a few of the notable items available at the online ICash auction April 24-May 3, 2026. “Our online auction offers something unique and memorable for everyone,” said Illinois State Treasurer Michael Frerichs, whose office oversees unclaimed property in
BETHALTO - Five senior students from Civic Memorial High School have been offered an impressive scholarship and job opportunity through Mercy Hospital. These five students — Brock Green, Grace Burton, Mia Suarez, Emma Moore and Ava Fassler — have been “blessed with an opportunity beyond belief,” said teacher Angie Parish. The students will join Mercy’s Win From Within program, where they will work as Patient Care Associates at Mercy Hospital and then attend colleg
EAST ALTON — The East Alton Police Department responded to an domestic disturbance that led to a brief standoff Saturday evening in the 600 block of Valley Drive. Police blocked off Valley Drive as several officers surrounded the home. Officers were heard over a loudspeaker calling for a suspect to exit the residence with his hands up. Authorities were also seen speaking with a woman outside the home before the suspect came out. After the brief standoff, a man exited the house and surrendered
On April 25, 1915, Allied troops landed on the Gallipoli Peninsula in the Ottoman Empire, opening a campaign that quickly became one of World War I’s most costly and influential struggles. The plan was to force a sea route to Russia and knock the Ottoman Empire out of the war, but difficult terrain, strong defenses, and flawed coordination turned the operation into months of trench warfare. It mattered then because it tied down enormous resources and reshaped strategy on several fronts.
WOOD RIVER – Midwest Members Credit Union is proud to sponsor the “Shell of the Month” program at Roxana High School. Students from each grade level are selected each month by members of RHS faculty. Each student is awarded a certificate and a Subway gift card. The Seniors selected each month will have the opportunity to compete for a “Shell of the Year” scholarship at the end of the school year. March's Shell of the Month winners are: Senior- Kylee Slayden
ALTON – A local man accused of firing a weapon towards an occupied vehicle and causing a traffic crash while under the influence of alcohol remains in custody on felony charges. Mylen T. Felton, 23, of Alton, was charged on April 20, 2026 with one count each of aggravated discharge of a firearm, reckless discharge of a firearm, aggravated driving while under the influence, and aggravated unlawful possession of weapons, each Class 4 felonies. The day prior on April 19, Felton allegedly
JERSEYVILLE — Jersey Community Unit School District No. 100 introduced the 2026 Jersey Community High School prom court, naming 14 students to the group, according to a district announcement. Those named to the 2026 JCHS prom court are Grace Russell, Taylor Woodring, Sophia Fraley, Abigail Chin, Madalyn Bodenbach, Adrian Blasa, Meredith Gray, Noah Borkowski, John Greathouse, Brandon Kennedy, Paul Slusser, Brady Maxeiner, Abe Kribs, and Connor Talley. Jersey's prom is from
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