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EDWARDSVILLE — A Madison County jury on Wednesday, Aug. 20, 2025, found Stanford Stokes, 44, of St. Louis, guilty of first-degree murder in the fatal shooting of Jarred Hayes, 32, at a residence on Seventh Street in Alton on Nov. 7, 2023. The jury also convicted Stokes of home invasion and possession of a stolen firearm. The verdict followed a trial that began Monday and was presided over by Associate Judge Neil Schroeder. Prosecutors presented evidence and testimony showing that Stokes forced his way into the Alton home after hearing his former girlfriend inside with Hayes. According to Assistant State’s Attorneys Audrey Paulda and Luke Yager, Stokes became angry and targeted Hayes. In her opening statement, Paulda told jurors, “Stokes became angry, and he took that anger out on Jarred Hayes.” Stokes testified that he fired in self-defense after seeing a gun in Hayes’ possession, claiming he grabbed a firearm from his former girlfriend’s purse.

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EDWARDSVILLE — After approximately five hours of deliberation, a jury found Stanford Stokes guilty on all charges related to the shooting death of Jarred O. Hayes. The incident occurred at 9:16 p.m. on Nov. 7, 2023, in the 900 block of East 7th Street in Alton. Stokes was convicted of first-degree murder, home invasion, and unlawful possession of a firearm. First-degree murder is punishable by 20 to 60 years in prison. The jury made a finding that Stokes personally discharged a firearm during the commission of first-degree murder, meaning he is eligible for an enhanced sentence: an additional 25 years to life in prison. Sentencing for Stokes has not yet been scheduled.

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CARROLLTON - Mitigation projects and activities that can reduce injuries and fatalities while maintaining vital services for Greene County residents will be the main topic of discussion at the Greene County Hazard Mitigation Planning Committee meeting at the Greene County Health Department, 310 5th Street in Carrollton, at 1:30 p.m. on Wednesday, September 3. The Committee began work last year to update the County’s Natural Hazards Mitigation Plan. This Plan details the past severe weather events that have impacted the County and identifies mitigation projects and activities that can be taken before a severe weather event occurs to protect residents and critical services and infrastructure. “Obtaining FEMA’s approval of our updated Plan will make all of the participants eligible to receive federal grant money for mitigation projects and activities,” explained Greene County Emergency Services and Disaster Agency Coordinator, Cale Hoesman. Projects identified

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HIGHLAND - Leaps of Love, a Highland-based nonprofit, supports families impacted by childhood brain tumors and the long-term effects of childhood cancer, offering hope, strength, and encouragement. Their mission is to connect and encourage families impacted by childhood cancer through retreats, support for bereaved parents, and survivor programs for ages 18+. Leaps of Love celebrated their 15th year in 2025, and as they continue to grow, the concern of funding is always a challenge. In 2022, a group of young men created the 24-Hour Laps for Leaps endurance race at Highland Speedway to support Leaps of Love. Although founder Traci Riechmann initially thought it would be a long and tedious event, it became the most fun and emotional fundraiser she experienced. Participants worked together in the pits, helping each other keep cars running, while competing fiercely on the track to see who could complete the most laps in 24 hours. The camaraderie and competitive spirit were all for raising

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SPRINGFIELD, IL – In an effort to forge relationships and increase export sales of agricultural products, the Illinois Department of Agriculture (IDOA) will host 21 international buyers from six different countries as part of a four-day tour. Buyers from Peru, Colombia, Nicaragua, El Salvador, Mexico, and Dominican Republic will visit Illinois facilities August 25-28. “The Illinois Grain Tour offers a unique opportunity for visitors from around the world to meet Illinois farmers, producers, and retailers face-to-face,” said IDOA Director Jerry Costello II . “Illinois is the top producer of soybeans and second in corn. Nearly half of that production – billions of dollars annually – is sold internationally. At a time when global tensions are high and the impact of tariffs remains to be seen, building these mutually beneficial relationships is more important than ever.” The 2024 Illinois Grain Tour had projected sales of $159 million. Representativ

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ST. LOUIS – The City of St. Louis is about to begin a significant upgrade to the zoning regulations that guide how the city will develop and grow in the decades ahead. The Zoning Upgrade - a modern code to meet the moment - will be the first major rewrite and map update to the city’s zoning code since the 1950s. More information can be found on the project website . Ahead of this effort’s official launch event on Sept. 3 , the City is welcoming residents to apply to join the Zoning Upgrade Community Advisory Committee , a 12-member group that will play a vital role in shaping the new zoning code by providing community insights, reviewing materials for usability and supporting engagement efforts throughout the process. “Our zoning code should reflect who we are and where we want to go as a city,” said Mayor Cara Spencer. “This is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to design a zoning framework that supports growth, equity, sustainability and high-quality

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EDWARDSVILLE – A Troy resident faces felony charges of battery and mob action after he and an unidentified accomplice allegedly attacked someone riding their bike in Edwardsville. Hughes W. Crumbley, 18, of Troy, was charged on Aug. 15, 2025 with a Class 3 felony count of aggravated battery and a Class 4 felony count of mob action. On Aug. 13, 2025, Crumbley allegedly acted together with an unidentified male in striking the same victim without legal authority about the head and neck, causing the victim to sustain facial fractures. According to the state’s petition to deny Crumbley’s pretrial release from custody, at the time of this incident, he was on probation for similar behavior in another mob action case filed in Madison County earlier this year. “Victim and witnesses report that victim was riding a bicycle near Watershed Park and was pursued by multiple suspects in a truck,” the petition states. “The truck got ahead of the victim and two

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ST. LOUIS - The Department of Public Safety confirms the separation of Sarah Russell with the City of St. Louis as the Commissioner of the City Emergency Management Agency (CEMA), effective Tuesday, Aug. 19, 2025. The City of St. Louis said: "In adherence to City Codes 4.15.010 and 4.15.020, which governs the confidentiality of personnel matters, no further details regarding the separation will be provided at this time. "We remain committed to ensuring continued service and leadership within the department during this transition." Russell’s separation follows an audit of the city’s emergency response to an EF3 tornado that struck north St. Louis on May 16, 2025. The tornado killed five people and caused extensive damage to homes and businesses.

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Early Saturday morning, August 23, at 1:06 a.m. CDT, the moon will slip into its new moon phase. That happens about once every month, but this one comes with a rare nickname: the black moon . Here’s the funny part — you won’t actually see it. During a new moon, the moon is tucked between Earth and the sun, so the side we normally see is completely dark. It’s basically a no-show in the sky. So why the “black” label? Astronomers use it for two unusual situations. One is when two new moons land in the same month, which only happens every couple of years. The other is when a season somehow squeezes in four new moons instead of the usual three. That’s what’s happening this summer, making this weekend’s new moon a seasonal black moon. Summer started with the solstice in late June and will end with the equinox in late September. Within that window, we’ll rack up new moons on June 25, July 24, August 23, and September 21. Since

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EDWARDSVILLE – Edwardsville City Council members moved one step closer to improving parking downtown at Tuesday’s meeting. Aldermen unanimously approved a Professional Services Agreement with Thouvenot, Wade & Moerchen, Inc. (TWM) for the preliminary engineering of the Edwardsville Downtown Parking Lot near City Hall. “ We have a TIF that specifically asked us to address the age-old question of parking downtown,” Alderwoman Elizabeth Grant said. “ This is going to allow this engineering firm to do a rendering that’s just conceptual. It’s not going to be any buildings, it’s just going to be a restructuring of the space that we have.” Grant added the concept would include bike parking and green space with the overall goal of improving traffic flow downtown. Chris Farrar asked if vehicle charging stations would be included, which was confirmed. While Grant reiterated these preliminary plans will

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EAST ALTON - In Madison County, Illinois, a 46-year-old man was charged with multiple counts of child pornography following an investigation initiated by a cyber tip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. The Madison County Sheriff’s Office announced that John A. Siner faces eight counts of child pornography, a Class 2 felony. The investigation began in late June 2025 when the Madison County Sheriff’s Office Digital Forensics Division received the CyberTip indicating that a local resident was in possession of sexually explicit images and videos involving children. Detectives from the Madison County Sheriff’s Office conducted a thorough investigation, which they deemed credible, and served several search warrants over the following weeks to obtain records related to the case. On Tuesday, August 19, 2025, detectives from the Madison County Sheriff’s Office and the East Alton Police Department executed a search warrant at a residence

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GRAFTON — At the Monday night, Aug. 18, 2025, Grafton City Council meeting, Chris Spanton, accompanied by family and friends, presented a $15,000 donation to the Grafton Police Department in honor of the late Chief Eric Spanton. The funds were raised during the inaugural Spankyfest, an event organized by Christine Spanton, the chief’s wife, in collaboration with the Grafton Pub. “Everyone there participated in the silent auctions,” Grafton Mayor Mike Morrow said. “It was packed that night, and we are very grateful for the support.” The Spankyfest event aimed to raise money for mandated protection items for the police department. Grafton Police Department Chief Dave Womack, who succeeded Spanton, expressed his appreciation for the donation at the Grafton Council Meeting. “We are constantly shifting budgets, and every donation helps. This helps quite a bit. I was very shocked when I saw the check,” Mayor Morrow said. He also noted tha

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STAUNTON — The Staunton Police Department announced Wednesday, Aug. 20, 2025, the arrest of three men in connection with an alleged battery that occurred early Sunday, Aug. 17, 2025, morning at Skeeter's bar. The Staunton Police Department was contacted on Aug. 18, 2025, by the victim’s sister regarding the incident. After launching an investigation and speaking with the victim, authorities identified three suspects: Logan Hemp, Joshua Revisky, and Jeffery Schoen. The Staunton Police information release states Hemp and Revisky are employees of the Macoupin County Sheriff’s Department, while Schoen serves as a police officer in Bunker Hill. Both Macoupin County Sheriff Shawn Kahl and Bunker Hill Police Chief Zach Girth were notified of the incident. Following the collection of statements and evidence, the suspects were arrested and booked into Montgomery County Jail by the Staunton Police Department and Macoupin County Sheriff’s Department. They face

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ALTON - The Alton Marina will celebrate its 29th anniversary with a party, complete with live music, a food truck, giveaways and dockage deals. From 6–10 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 23, 2025, community members are invited to the marina for an evening of 60s and 70s-themed fun. Rob Honke, who manages the marina, looks forward to sharing the space with the community. “Come on down. Everybody come down. Come one, come all,” Honke said. “We’ve got plenty of parking down there, plenty of space, plenty of booze.” KSHE’s Mark Klose and The Klose Kaurters Band will play from 7–10 p.m. Rollin’ Dogs Food Truck will sell hot dogs, and there will be drink specials available for purchase at the marina’s bar. Coolers are not allowed. Honke promises plenty of “swag” for the giveaways, from shirts and shot glasses to flags and Stanley Cups. He added that the marina is currently running a buy-one, get-one dockage deal.

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State Farm® and the National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC) have teamed up for the second year to support local volunteer fire departments with funding to secure needed equipment to help keep their responders safe and protect their communities. Through this year’s Good Neighbor Firefighter Safety Program, 150 departments in 44 states received a $10,000 grant, including seven departments in Illinois. The announcement was made on August 18, a date many celebrate as Volunteer Firefighters Recognition Day. Volunteer firefighters make up 65% of the U.S. fire service, and communities across the country rely on volunteers to respond to emergencies of all kinds – from structure and wildland fires, to vehicle crashes and medical emergencies, to natural disasters and hazmat incidents. Many of these small-town and rural fire departments operate with limited budgets, making it difficult to meet the rising costs of the equipment and gear they need to best serve their community.

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ALTON — The Catholic Children’s Home will mark its 146th anniversary with a Pancake Breakfast and Open House on Saturday, Sept. 27, 2025, at its current location, 1400 State Street, Alton. The event, which will run from 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., includes a pancake breakfast from 8:30 a.m. to 11 a.m. Attendees can also tour the facility, meet staff members, and learn about the programs and services offered. Refreshments will be served throughout the open house. The Catholic Children’s Home traces its origins to September 1879, when a group of Precious Blood Sisters from Ruma, Illinois, opened the Pio Nono Orphan Asylum in Piopolis, Illinois. In 1884, Bishop Peter J. Baltus of the Alton Diocese requested the sisters relocate the orphanage to Alton to serve more children within the diocese. As the number of children under care grew, Bishop James Ryan initiated plans for a larger residence. Responding to his appeal, the local community contributed generously, leading to the

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EDWARDSVILLE - You can check out a vendor and craft fair while supporting local cancer patients. From 1–4:30 p.m. on Oct. 5, 2025, at the Edwardsville Knights of Columbus Hall, Stridin’ and Survivin’ will host their “Shop the Town Pink” Sip and Shop event. Attendees can enjoy a wide variety of vendors and craft items, specialty cocktails, attendance prizes, and more fun, with proceeds benefiting the Stridin’ and Survivin’ mission to support patients at local cancer centers with gas cards and gifts. “We just need our community to come out and support all these vendors and enjoy the day,” said Alice with Stridin’ and Survivin’. “We do have quite a few, but we could definitely use some more vendors, and I know they’re out there.” The fair will have a wide variety of vendors, including essential oils, wreaths, Mary Kay products, candles, stained glass, hair accessories, permanent jewelry, pet

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SPRINGFIELD — Today, Congresswoman Nikki Budzinski (IL-13) announced that her office was selected as the winner for “Excellence in Congressional Management” by the Congressional Management Foundation (CMF). Each year, CMF chooses just one Republican and one Democratic office between both the House and Senate for this special recognition. The office of Rep. Budzinski was the only office of a Democratic woman selected for the honor. This prestigious award highlights a congressional office that has demonstrated exceptional management skills in creating a supportive, motivated, and high-performing workplace. The winning office sets the standard for leadership, best management and organizational practices, professional staff development, open communication, and collaboration, ensuring a positive experience for staff while achieving the office’s goals. “This award is a reflection of the incredible work my staff does every single day—not only mentoring

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MARYVILLE/MASCOUTAH - The Home Builders and Remodelers Metro East Association is once again planning to raffle off a house to a lucky winner, all while raising money for the Make-A-Wish Foundation. The house, located in Mascoutah and valued at $800,000, is currently under construction. Shannon Stelling with HBRMEA expressed her excitement to raffle off the home and additional prizes, with all proceeds going to Make-A-Wish Illinois and Make-A-Wish Missouri/Kansas. “We have so many people making donations to make this house happen,” Stelling said. “The goal is to have it built by the end of December and finished, and then the program will launch in January.” Construction started four weeks ago, with HBD Homes serving as the general contractor and The Haire Corporation as the builder. Stelling noted that the local unions have “stepped up immensely” to help with the project. IBEW will do all the electrical work on the home, with the plumbers’

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GRANITE CITY – A Granite City man with a history of domestic violence faces felonies in his latest domestic battery case after an argument about social media turned violent. Antonio C. Gambrell Jr., 31, of Granite City, was charged on Aug. 13, 2025, with a Class 2 felony count of domestic battery and his second or subsequent count of domestic battery, a Class 4 felony. Gambrell allegedly intentionally strangled a household or family member on July 30, 2025. He was further accused of grabbing the same victim by the shirt, pushing them against a wall, and slamming their head against the wall. According to the state’s petition to deny Gambrell’s pretrial release from custody, the incident escalated after Gambrell went to the victim’s home after the two had been “arguing about social media all morning.” “Defendant chased victim to her car and she left the residence,” the petition states. “Fearing the defendant would damage her

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