MILLINGTON, Tenn. – Chief Petty Officer Verlin Boda, a native of Cuba, Missouri, assigned to the U.S. Navy amphibious transport dock warship USS Richard McCool Jr., traveled to the late Capt. Richard McCool Jr.’s hometown of Tishomingo and Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, from July 2-7, to honor the legacy of the ship’s namesake. The skills and values needed to succeed in the Navy are similar to those found in Cuba. “My mother raised me to work for the job you want to have,
On July 13, 1930, the first FIFA World Cup began in Uruguay, marking a turning point in the history of sport and global culture. Organized at a time when international travel was slow, expensive, and difficult, the tournament brought together national teams for a new kind of worldwide competition. It mattered then because it gave countries a peaceful stage on which to compete and build national pride. It still matters today because the World Cup became one of the most widely followed events o
A later sunset can make the same day feel richer, freer, and strangely more hopeful. That reaction is so common that it can be easy to miss how powerful it is. When daylight stretches into the evening, parks stay busy, sidewalks fill up, and people often act as if they have been given extra time. Nothing about the clock has changed. The number of hours in the day is the same. Yet late sunsets often feel like a gift. That feeling comes from a mix of biology, culture, memory, and the way modern
ST. LOUIS - An East St. Louis woman believed to be 43 years old was shot and killed early Sunday, July 12, 2026, in the Greater Ville neighborhood of St. Louis, where officers found her inside a vehicle that had struck a streetlight, according to St. Louis Metropolitan Police. District 6 officers responded around 1:30 a.m. Sunday, July 12, to a shooting call in the 2900 block of North Newstead. When officers arrived, they found an adult female who had been shot inside the vehicle. The woman
EAST ST. LOUIS — Illinois State Police are investigating shootings in East St. Louis that left five people dead, authorities said at a 5 p.m. press conference on Sunday, July 12, 2026, with two juvenile suspects in custody and charges being sought. ISP said at a press conference that a family was targeted in multiple shootings across East St. Louis, resulting in the deaths of five people. The Illinois State Police have joined with East St. Louis Police and local law enforcement to investigate
SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Christopher Belt spearheaded a new law that will ban the use of AI tools in teacher evaluations. “I believe that our teachers should be judged based on actual observations and professional judgement, not by AI software,” said Belt (D-Swansea). “Our educators deserve a transparent and fair evaluation process that demonstrates their actual work in the classroom and protects their privacy.” Senate Bill 2909 will prevent school administrators
GRANITE CITY – Granite City Police recently charged a local resident with driving an uninsured vehicle while under the influence. Shakeela A. Miller, 33, of Granite City, was charged on July 7, 2026 with one count of aggravated driving under the influence, a Class 4 felony. Miller allegedly drove a motor vehicle on West 20th Street in Granite City while under the influence of alcohol on the same day, July 7, 2026. At the time of the offense, charging documents state Miller allegedly
JERSEYVILLE - Jersey Community Unit School District No. 100 is recognizing maintenance worker Vince Wittman on his retirement after years of service, the district announced this week. Jersey Community School District 100 officials thanked Wittman for his dedicated service and invited the community to join in congratulating him as he enters retirement. “Happy retirement, Vince Wittman,” the district officials said in a statement. “After years of dedicated service, Jerse
BENTON – A federal district judge sentenced a Carbondale store owner to 46 months’ imprisonment after he admitted to fraudulently acquiring Supplemental Nutrition Assistant Program (“SNAP”) benefits he and his store were not entitled to receive. Dean A. Amley, 61, pleaded guilty in March 2025 to one count for Conspiracy to Commit Food Stamp Fraud, one count of Unauthorized Acquisition of SNAP Benefits, and seven counts of Money Laundering. Following imprisonment,
Summer camp began, in part, because of adults worried that modern life was making children weak. That idea may sound dramatic, but it helps explain why camps first appeared and why they spread so quickly. What started as a small effort to get boys out of crowded towns and into fresh air grew into a major tradition. Over time, summer camps became places for hiking, crafts, songs, sports, friendship, and independence. They also became a mirror of what each generation thought children needed most.
July 12 commemorates one of the most important events in world history in 1690, when William III defeated the deposed King James II at the Battle of the Boyne in Ireland. The battle was part of a larger struggle over who would rule the kingdoms of England, Scotland, and Ireland after the Glorious Revolution. At the time, it confirmed William’s hold on power and weakened James’s attempt to regain his throne. It still matters today because it shaped the political future of the British
EAST ST. LOUIS - Illinois State Police and the East St. Louis Police Department are investigating what authorities described as a targeted mass shooting against a family in East St. Louis that left five people dead and at least two others shot, officials said Sunday, July 12, 2026. The five victims, all from East St. Louis, were identified as 49-year-old Cherie L. May, 24-year-old Devin D. May, 74-year-old Patricia A. May, 21-year-old Quentin L. Thompson and 25-year-old Shania W. Thompson. Accordi
ST. LOUIS - The National Weather Service in St. Louis issued a flood warning Saturday morning, July 11, 2026, for the Meramec River at Pacific in Franklin and Jefferson counties, forecasting minor flooding from Sunday evening, July 12, 2026, to Wednesday afternoon, July 15, 2026, as Southern Missouri continues to respond to widespread flooding that has prompted at least 350 rescues. At 9 a.m. CDT Saturday, the river stage at Pacific was minus 0.8 feet, according to the weather service.
SOUTHERN ILLINOIS/SAINT LOUIS - A national organization will raise money for pregnancy centers with a bike ride through Southern Illinois. Biking for Babies encourages adults ages 18–39 to bike 600 miles across the country every summer. The money raised goes to pro-life pregnancy centers. This year, riders will travel through towns like Virden, Carlinville and Alton on July 17, 2026, before heading to St. Louis for their annual “Celebration of Life” dinner and speaker
SPRINGFIELD – As electric bikes become increasingly popular, Illinois Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias is urging parents to do their homework before purchasing one for their child, warning that many marketed as e-bikes are actually much faster and more powerful devices that pose safety risks. To help families make informed choices, Giannoulias released a new public service video as part of the Secretary of State’s Ride Safe, Ride Smart, Ride Ready campaign and directs parents
EAST ST. LOUIS - Illinois State Police said a two-day violent crime suppression detail in St. Clair and Madison counties resulted in 13 arrests, 18 criminal charges and the seizure of seven firearms as officers focused on East St. Louis and nearby Metro East communities on July 8-9, 2026. The operation targeted known high-crime areas, violent offenders and structured criminal groups, according to Illinois State Police, which said it used intelligence and technology to guide enforcement efforts
BRIGHTON - Brighton Police said officers arrested a 20-year-old man on DUI-related and weapons charges late Saturday, July 4, 2026, after stopping a recklessly driven vehicle near the Prairie Center and finding a firearm inside. The Brighton Police Department said the stop happened at about 11:55 p.m. on July 4 during proactive patrols in the area. After stopping the vehicle, officers found that the truck’s registration was expired and that the driver was intoxicated, according
MILLSTADT – The Illinois Department of Transportation announced today that Illinois 163 will be reduced to one lane 2.4 miles north of Illinois 158 at Prairie DuPont Creek in St. Clair County beginning Monday, July 13, weather permitting, for bridge maintenance. Flaggers will maintain two-way traffic. The work is expected to be completed by the end of July. Motorists should expect delays and are encouraged to use alternate routes during this closure. Drivers are urged to reduce speed,
JERSEYVILLE — Jerseyville Police said officers were dispatched at about 11:22 a.m. Friday, July 10, 2026, to the area of Blue Bird Lane after a report of a deceased individual found in a field, and authorities said there is currently no indication of foul play and no known danger to the public. The Jerseyville Police Department said in information issued on July 10, 2026, that the investigation remains active as officers continue to gather information. Police said no further information
COLLINSVILLE — The Collinsville Police Department said Friday, July 10, 2026, that investigators believe they have identified the parents of an infant abandoned at Cahokia Mounds, but also believe the parents have fled the United States. In a statement issued Friday, July 10, 2026, the department said the infant is healthy, safe and in the care of the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services. Collinsville Police said they could not release additional information
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