FAIRVIEW HEIGHTS — On Friday, Nov. 14, 2025, Congresswoman Nikki Budzinski (IL-13) and Congressman Jesús “Chuy” García (IL-04) convened local immigration nonprofit and advocacy organizations to discuss the recent spike in immigration enforcement activity in Central and Southern Illinois. Groups from across Illinois’ 13th District, from Springfield and Decatur to the Metro East, were present to discuss fears and the chilling effects facing immigrant communities
JERSEY - The JCHS boys' bowling teams and JCMS basketball squads both recorded notable performances on Wednesday and Thursday night in separate contests. At Bowl Haven in Alton, the Jersey Community High School boys varsity and junior varsity bowling teams faced off against the Southwestern Birds, securing decisive victories. The varsity Panthers posted a commanding 2,743 to 1,873 win. Hayden Longley led the team with a high game of 258, followed by Clark Blasa’s 236 and Jacob Hetzel’s
SPRINGFIELD – Starved Rock State Park, including the Starved Rock Lodge and other park amenities, will remain open to visitors during an $18 million trail improvement project that is expected to get underway this winter and continue through 2026. The work will allow the Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) to reopen several closed trails and expand the hiking and recreational opportunities at Starved Rock, which is Illinois’ most visited state park, attracting more tha
ST. LOUIS COUNTY - On Thursday, Nov. 13, 2025, the St. Louis County Prosecuting Attorney's Office issued charges against suspect Christopher Crawford, 27, of the 7400 block of Vermont Avenue in St. Louis, MO. 63111, for Unlawful Possession of a Firearm, Possession of Weapon, Explosive or Hazardous Material on Bus or in Terminal, and Resisting/Interfering with Arrest for a Felony. Crawford is being held on a $500,000 cash-only, no 10% bond. The probable cause statement reads: "On November
Distinguished English poet Alfred Noyes performed a number of his poems at Monticello Seminary on Saturday, November 14, 1925. A pouring rain did not deter a large audience, and many people drove in from Alton to attend. Monticello Seminary principal Harriet Rice Congdon introduced Noyes, who opened with “The Gray Squirrel,” and also read “The Barrel Organ,” “The Wagon,” The Highwayman,” and other selections of his poetry. Alfred Noyes hated free
ALTON - Community members who smoke are encouraged to stop by the OSF Moeller Cancer Center for a low-dose CT lung cancer screening. From 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 18, 2025, community members are invited to OSF Moeller Cancer Center in Alton for lung cancer screenings, door prizes, refreshments and more. You must be between ages 50–80 and a current smoker, or you have quit smoking within the last 15 years, to qualify for the screening, which is covered by most insurances.
GLEN CARBON – The third and final phase of the Glen Carbon Road Shared Use Path project is set to be designed next year. Village trustees this week unanimously approved an agreement totaling $118,620 with Volkert Inc. to perform design engineering services for Phase 3 of the Glen Carbon Road Shared Use Path project. This latest section of the path is set to be designed in 2026, with construction expected to follow in 2027. At this week’s Village Board meeting, Public Works
ALTON/GODFREY — For more than three decades, Community Christmas has been a cornerstone holiday initiative, a local effort aimed at supporting families in need during the holiday season. This year marks the 33rd anniversary of the program, as well as the 18th year of the Freer Auto Body Cookies and Cocoa event and the Christmas in July raffle. Margaret Freer, one of the owners of Freer Auto Body, and an organizer of both events, has dedicated countless hours to organizing and contributing
TROY - Local food pantry Ministries Unlimited hopes to build a new building soon, but in the meantime, they’re serving the Troy community with heart and compassion. Ministries Unlimited started in 1978 as a homebound Bible ministry. They quickly realized the families they were serving needed additional help during the holidays, so they created Christmas baskets to share with these community members. As the need grew, the organization became a full-fledged food pantry located in Tro
EDWARDSVILLE — The City of Edwardsville will hold a lighting ceremony at 6 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 18, 2025, to unveil the newly refurbished Leclaire water tower, a nearly century-old landmark located at Longfellow Avenue and Troy Road in the Leclaire neighborhood. The refurbishment project, completed this fall, included cleaning, painting, essential structural maintenance, and the installation of customizable lighting designed to highlight the historic water tower’s significance within
MARYVILLE - The Village of Maryville came together to celebrate the upcoming installation of a new entertainment pavilion at Firemen’s Park. On Thursday, Nov. 13, 2025, community members gathered at Firemen’s Park for a groundbreaking ceremony. The entertainment pavilion will encourage the community to come together for events and attract people from across the region to Maryville. “This project represents a major step forward,” said Mayor Wayne White. “It’s
BETHALTO - Community members can receive a free turkey ahead of Thanksgiving. At 10 a.m. on Saturday, Nov. 15, 2025, you can stop by Pruitt Mechanical Services at 8511 Witt Lane in Bethalto for their drive-thru turkey drive. In addition to turkeys, attendees will receive Thanksgiving sides and food donated by the community. “We’re going to have a tremendous amount of turkeys, so no worries,” said Joe Pruitt. “We hope to have a really good turnout. We have a lot o
EDWARDSVILLE – Four men from Missouri face felony charges for unlawful weapon possession and other offenses allegedly committed in Madison County. Micole A. Tankins, 30, of St. Louis, was charged in another separate case from Nov. 6, 2025 with one count each of armed violence (a Class X felony), possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance (a Class 1 felony), posession of fcontraband in a penal institution (a Class 1 felony) and aggravated unlawful possession of weapons (a
EAST ST. LOUIS — A former Belleville attorney has been sentenced to 90 months in federal prison after admitting to embezzling more than $1 million from his clients, including the children of a fallen police officer. Jason R. Caraway, 51, pleaded guilty in February 2025 to six counts of wire fraud related to his misappropriation of client funds while practicing at Caraway, Fisher & Broombaugh, P.C., a personal injury law firm in Belleville. Among those impacted were two children of
ALTON - Local veterans could receive free comprehensive dental care through the SIU School of Dental Medicine as part of their Veterans Day celebration. On Thursday, Nov. 13, 2025, veterans received dental care at the hands of SIU students under faculty supervision. Dr. Katie Kosten, Director of Community Dentistry, explained that the initiative was an opportunity to support veterans while giving students more experience. “We had a really great day,” she said. “It’s
JERSEYVILLE – Jersey Community Middle School students ran to raise thousands in funds for a great cause once again this year. Members of the Jersey Community Middle School Student Council held this year’s Wounded Warrior Run on Thursday, Nov. 13, 2025. The annual event raises funds to support the Jerseyville and Grafton American Legion posts, and has seen thousands raised for both organizations in recent years. This year’s dedicated group of students raised a total o
What if a simple shift in perspective could improve your mental health, deepen your relationships, and even boost your physical well-being? Research shows that gratitude—the act of recognizing and appreciating the positive aspects of life—holds transformative power. Yet, it remains an underutilized practice in many people’s daily routines. Understanding the multifaceted benefits of gratitude can inspire meaningful changes in how we approach each day. The Science Behind Gratitude
November 14th is a day rich with history, marked by events that have shaped the course of nations, ignited scientific progress, and left lasting cultural legacies across the globe. Moving back to 1889, November 14th witnessed a foundational moment in the world of sports with the establishment of the German Football Association (Deutscher Fußball-Bund). This organization laid the groundwork for the development of football (soccer) as a structured sport in Germany, eventually leading to
Friday will bring a bright and sunny day with a high of 78 and a low of 58. Winds will come from the south-southwest at 9 to 18 mph gusts. Morning lows will feel cool at 54 early but warming through the afternoon make it a pleasant day to be outside. There is no rain expected, and skies will be clear to partly cloudy overnight. Saturday will be mostly sunny and very warm with a high near 75 and a low around 40. Winds will pick up a bit, blowing from the west-southwest at about 13 mph with gusts
EDWARDSVILLE — Illinois State Police Troop 8 is responding to a crash at the intersection of Edwardsville Road/Illinois Route 143 and Bender Road. The incident has led to the closure of eastbound Edwardsville Road, with traffic being diverted south onto Wanda Road. Motorists are advised to expect delays and to seek alternate routes if possible. The crash occurred on Thursday, Nov. 13, 2025, and authorities are managing the scene to ensure safety and restore normal traffic flow.
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