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DeKALB – The Illinois State Police (ISP) is partnering with Northern Illinois University (NIU) to advance educational opportunities to build an even stronger law enforcement agency. Through a Credit for Prior Learning Agreement, ISP cadets who graduate from the ISP Academy will receive credit toward an advanced degree. “The Illinois State Police’s partnership with Northern Illinois University represents our ongoing commitment to professional development and lifelong learning

SPRINGFIELD —Governor JB Pritzker today joined local officials and business leaders to celebrate the opening of the new SCHEELS Sports Park complex. This facility is projected to attract 250,000 annual visitors, bring an estimated $25 million in annual economic activity, and boost Springfield’s tourism economy. The new complex will also provide opportunities for youth in Springfield and across the region to access new, state-of-the-art facilities that provide opportunities for the

CHICAGO – Attorney General Kwame Raoul today joined a bipartisan coalition of 24 other attorneys general and the city of New York in urging major credit card companies and payment processors, including American Express, Capital One, Citi Group, Mastercard, Visa, PayPal, Stripe, Sezzle and Block (operator of Square, Cash App and Afterpay) to take stronger action to prevent their payment networks from being used to facilitate sales of illegal vaping products. In letters sent to corporate

ALTON - The Alton Police Department played an active part on Friday, April 24, 2026, at Alton High School, where a school resource officer represented the department at the school’s annual job fair and offered students a hands-on lesson about impairment. School Resource Officer Detective Ashley Clare attended the 3rd Annual AHS Job Fair on Friday, April 24, 2026, in the Auxiliary Gym at Alton High School. Students had the chance to explore “summer job opportunities,”

JERSEYVILLE – After heavy storms carrying hail recently swept across the Riverbend region, Jerseyville city crews are beginning cleanup efforts and offering debris disposal methods. Jerseyville Public Works crews have been cleaning trees, limbs, and other debris from city streets and rights-of-way following heavy storms the previous day, April 27. Street sweeping machines will also be running over the next few days to handle any smaller remaining debris. Public Works Director Bob Manns

ALTON - Vernon Curvey’s path to an administrative role at Alton High School wasn’t linear, but it worked out exactly like it was supposed to. Curvey is preparing to retire from his assistant principal position at AHS in Alton Community Unit School District #11. He shared more of his story and emphasized that he has always worked to help students succeed, which is his top priority as an educator. “I would like for people to know that I always tried to put kids first,”

EDWARDSVILLE - Edwardsville Community Unit School District 7 proudly recognizes a dedicated group of educators who have successfully completed the comprehensive LETRS (Language Essentials for Teachers of Reading and Spelling) professional learning program, made possible through support from the SLD Support Project. This achievement reflects the district’s ongoing commitment to strengthening literacy instruction and ensuring that every student develops the foundational skills necessary

SWANSEA - The Swansea Police Department announced that Chase Carlile graduated from Session 158 of the SWIC Police Academy this past Thursday, April 23, 2026, and will begin a 14-week field training program with the department. “Congratulations to our newest officer, Chase Carlile, on his graduation today from Session 158 of the SWIC Police Academy,” the Swansea Police Department said in a statement. “Officer Carlile will now start a 14-week field training program

BELLEVILLE - As the weather heats up, a doctor at Belleville Memorial Hospital is reminding her patients about the importance of sun protection. Dr. Angie Harris, a BJC Medical Group family medicine physician, encourages community members to prioritize sunscreen and protective clothing to avoid skin damage. She suggests starting with shorter stints in the sun instead of spending hours outside immediately following the dark winter months. “We have long winters here. So when it starts

A “fresh start” can make people feel more hopeful even when nothing has changed yet—not their job, not their relationships, not their habits. The calendar flips, a new notebook opens, a new haircut happens, and suddenly the future feels lighter. That emotional lift is real. It’s also a clue: new beginnings are as much about the mind as they are about the moment. New beginnings matter because they shape what we believe is possible. They can push us to act, help us recover

On April 29, 1945, American forces liberated the Dachau concentration camp near Munich, Germany, exposing the world to clear evidence of the Nazi system of mass imprisonment, forced labor, and murder. For the people held there, liberation meant survival after years of brutality, hunger, and disease. For the wider public, the images and testimonies from Dachau became impossible to dismiss, helping shape postwar justice efforts and the global commitment—imperfect but lasting—to documenting

JERSEYVILLE – A recycling partnership has now been approved by both Jerseyville and Jersey County, clearing the way for a new recycling program amid dump sticker sales and updated recycling guidelines. At their April 28, 2026 meeting, Jerseyville City Council members unanimously approved an intergovernmental agreement between the City of Jerseyville and Jersey County establishing policies and procedures regarding recycling. The same agreement had been approved by Jersey County Board member

EDWARDSVILLE - Junior outfielder Nathan Bukovac had a great day at the plate on April 25, 2026, when he came up with two hits and four RBIs, including a two-run double that helped break open the game in a six-run sixth inning that helped give Edwardsville a 9-3 baseball win over Parkway South of Manchester, Mo., in west St. Louis County, at Tom Pile Field. Bukovac has emerged as a key player and hitter for the Tigers this season, and is currently hitting .333 with no home runs, seven RBIs, an

GRANITE CITY - Charlee Schwaller is one of the key players for the girls' soccer team at Granite City High School, and the junior striker is also the leading scorer for the Warriors as the season is ready to turn into the stretch drive. In a 3-1 loss to Edwardsville on April 23, 2026, at Gene Baker Field, Schwaller had the Warriors' lone goal, but it was a spectacular one, indeed, as her shot deflected off the far post and into the net from distance to give Granite a much-deserved goal, a reward

GODFREY - A local Godfrey resident didn’t think much about it when she discovered a tick bite after sleeping in bed with her dog. Except then she started getting sick. With annual bloodwork coming up and more symptoms appearing every day, the woman, who asked to remain anonymous, called her doctor about testing for tickborne illnesses. It was an “eye roll” moment to even ask, she said, but when the tests came back, both she and her doctor were shocked with the diagnosis:

Press conference can be found here or on the BlueRoom Stream: https://youtu.be/5ofi7zRj6rc Springfield, IL — Senate Deputy Minority Leader Sue Rezin (R-Morris) and State Senator Erica Harriss (R-Glen Carbon) recently unveiled a legislative package aimed at strengthening protections for children online by addressing social media harms, sexual exploitation, and minors’ access to adult content. The legislative package is designed to put stronger safeguards in place for children

ALTON — Two Alton men have been charged in connection with a Wednesday, April 22, 2026, shooting in the 2200 block of Locust Street in Alton, after investigators presented the case to the Madison County State’s Attorney’s Office and arrest warrants were signed, police said. Anthony L. Shanklin, a 34-year-old male from Alton, and Samuel J. Chatman, a 31-year-old male from Alton, have each been charged with the following offenses: • Count I: Attempted First Degree Murder

GRANITE CITY – A Granite City man accused of robbing someone while armed with a knife has been detained on a major felony charge in Madison County. Donald E. Pleasant III, 28, of Granite City, was charged on April 24, 2026 with one count of armed robbery, a Class X felony. Pleasant allegedly knowingly stole a cross body bag containing personal items from another person by threatening the use of force while armed with a knife on April 23, 2026. A petition to deny Pleasant’s pretrial

EAST ALTON - The East Alton Fire Department will host their inaugural spring barbecue and clay shoot fundraiser. On Saturday, May 2, 2026, community members can stop by the East Alton American Legion Post #794 for the event. Eight teams will participate in the clay shoot earlier in the day, and then the general public can join the fun at 3 p.m. at the legion, where you can enjoy the department’s “nearly famous” barbecue and several raffles. Cabin Fever will play from

GRAFTON — A new memorial honoring U.S. veterans is set to open June 6, 2026, along the Mississippi River in Grafton, with a day of events marking the anniversary of D-Day and featuring the unveiling of a life-size bronze installation of Army Rangers scaling a bluff. The National Memorial of Military Ascent will debut with a morning dedication ceremony and ribbon cutting at 9:30 a.m. at 950 E. Main St., followed by an evening D-Day Celebration Dinner & Dance from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. at The