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Multi-Department Response to Large Vehicle Fire at Cahokia Heights Tow Lot

2 weeks 1 day ago
CAHOKIA HEIGHTS — Multiple fire departments responded to a large vehicle fire at a tow yard in Cahokia Heights, Illinois, on Saturday afternoon, according to the St. Clair County Emergency Management Agency. Crews arrived to find several vehicles on fire at Patterson Towing, prompting a massive mutual aid response. Assisting departments included Midway Fire Department, along with Camp Jackson, Cahokia Heights, East St. Louis, Prairie Du Pont, Church Road, Hollywood Heights, Millstadt,

Madison County Deputies Respond to Barricaded Subject, Suspect Taken Into Custody Safely

2 weeks 1 day ago
EDWARDSVILLE - Madison County Sheriff’s Office deputies and other area law enforcement responded on Friday, April 10, 2026, to a report of a barricaded subject in the 200 block of 3rd St. in unincorporated Collinsville. This incident affected traffic in the surrounding neighborhood and on Pleasant Ridge Road, authorities said. In an update released at 3:25 p.m. on Friday, April 10, 2026, the Madison County Sheriff’s Office said the barricaded subject “was taken

Senator Erica Harriss Announces 2026 Mother's Day Diaper Drive to Support Local Families

2 weeks 1 day ago
EDWARDSVILLE — State Senator Erica Harriss is proud to announce the launch of her annual Mother’s Day Diaper Drive , taking place from April 13 through May 8, 2026 , to support families in need across the Metro East region. “Mother’s Day is a time to celebrate the strength and love of moms, but it’s also a reminder that many families are quietly struggling to afford everyday essentials,” said Senator Harriss. “This drive is about neighbors helping

Illinois Department of Revenue Reminds Taxpayers of Postal Service Changes That May Affect Tax Filing Deadlines

2 weeks 1 day ago
SPRINGFIELD – The Illinois Department of Revenue (IDOR) is reminding taxpayers about changes announced by the United States Postal Service (USPS) regarding postmarks that could affect tax filing deadlines in 2026. Under the updated USPS procedures, postmarks will continue to reflect the date of the first automated processing operation, however, they may no longer indicate the date a piece of mail was dropped off at a local post office. This distinction may impact time-sensitive materials,

"One Day, One SIUE" Celebrates Community Connection and Donations with Fun Event

2 weeks 1 day ago
EDWARDSVILLE - Southern Illinois University Edwardsville (SIUE) will host their annual “One Day, One SIUE” celebration and fundraising campaign. On Thursday, April 23, 2026, community members are invited to SIUE’s new Health Sciences Complex for the fifth annual event. Starting at 6 p.m., attendees can enjoy food, drinks, hot air balloons, and live music by the Charles Glenn Band. Julie Babington, Senior Director of Annual Giving, explained that the event is a fun way to

Temporary Closure Of Lebanon Avenue At West Boulevard In St. Clair County

2 weeks 1 day ago
BELLEVILLE – The Illinois Department of Transportation today announced that rehabilitation of a crossing by Norfolk Southern railroad on Lebanon Avenue between West Boulevard and Grove Avenue in St. Clair County will require a full closure beginning Tuesday, April 14, weather permitting. A posted detour will be in place to safely guide motorists around the closure, which is expected to conclude Friday, April 17. Motorists can expect delays and should allow extra time for trips through

Illinois State Police Announces Troop 8 Enforcement Activity Planned for April 2026

2 weeks 1 day ago
MADISON/ST. CLAIR COUNTIES - Illinois State Police will conduct Alcohol Countermeasure Enforcement patrols in Madison and St. Clair counties during April, a stepped-up effort aimed at preventing and detecting impaired driving and other vehicle code violations, Troop 8 Commander Capt. Casey Faro said in a statement from Collinsville. The patrols, known as ACE, allow state police to “focus on preventing, detecting, and taking enforcement action in response to violations associated with impaired

Sierra Club Speaker Series to Spotlight Risks of Microplastics in Alton

2 weeks 1 day ago
ALTON - The Sierra Club will bring wildlife ecologist Dana Ripper to Alton, on Tuesday, April 14, 2026, to discuss “The Risks of Microplastics” during a speaker series event at Old Bakery Beer, 400 Landmarks Blvd. The program is scheduled to begin at 6:30 p.m. Ripper focuses on conservation through ecosystem health. She has a master’s degree in ecology from Arkansas State University and worked on wildlife research projects across the United States before making Missouri

Homefield Energy Will Continue to Serve As Electricity Supplier for Municipal Electric Aggregation Program in Village of Glen Carbon ย 

2 weeks 1 day ago
GLEN CARBON - The Village of Glen Carbon is continuing a municipal electricity aggregation program with Homefield Energy. This program was previously approved by referendum by the voters in each of the 27 participating communities. The Village’s primary goal is to protect residents from the continued rise in electric supply rates and spikes in the energy market. Residents and businesses are able to opt-out of the program if desired. The new rate for the Village of Glen Carbon

Annual Spring Native American Market Returns To Cahokia Mounds State Historic Site April 24-26

2 weeks 1 day ago
COLLINSVILLE – Cahokia Mounds State Historic Site will host its annual Spring Native American Market April 24-26, 2026, bringing together some of the nation’s most talented Native American artists. The market will take place in the gallery space at the site’s interpretive center. Although the interpretive center museum remains closed to the public for renovations, the gallery will be open for the event. No artifacts will be on display during the market. Artists representing

Republic Services Paying $200,000 To Settle Federal Lawsuit Alleging Sex Discrimination

2 weeks 1 day ago
ST. LOUIS – Republic Services is set to pay $200,000 to settle a federal lawsuit alleging sex discrimination in the company’s hiring practices. The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) announced the lawsuit settlement on Friday, April 10, 2026 against Allied Services, LLC, doing business as Allied Waste Services of the Ozarks / Republic Services of the Ozarks. The EEOC states in a news release the company “provides waste management services nationwide.”

More East St. Louis High Schoolers Access Dual Enrollment at SWIC

2 weeks 1 day ago
EAST ST. LOUIS - A growing number of East St. Louis Senior High School students will begin attending Southwestern Illinois College full-time while still in high school after qualifying through GPA requirements and ACCUPLACER placement scores, with School District 189 covering all program costs. This summer, eight sophomores and one junior will start at SWIC, the East St. Louis School District said. They will join four current juniors already enrolled in the program, bringing the expected

Jersey's Kadie Benz Highlights Importance Of Kindness In School Leadership Role

2 weeks 1 day ago
JERSEYVILLE — Jersey Community Unit School District No. 100 is marking National Assistant Principals Week by spotlighting Kadie Benz, dean of students at Jersey Community High School. Benz reflected on her school experience, saying she did not have a single favorite subject in high school but did have “favorite teachers — including Mr. Roth.” Benz also shared a detail she said students might find surprising: “I can officially say that I attended Duke University

Stolen Air Conditioners Leave Granite City Church Struggling to Cope

2 weeks 1 day ago
GRANITE CITY - A Granite City church has had a series of unfortunate incidents over the past year, including stolen air-conditioning units, a failing roof, and a vehicle crash that damaged the church building. Shekinah Glory Church is attempting to cover more than $90,000 in repairs and replacements after the incidents. The church’s four air-conditioning units were stolen, resulting in “a loss of approximately $45,000,” the church pastors said. The pastors said the units

April 11 in History: Buchenwald's Liberation and Other Defining Moments

2 weeks 1 day ago
On April 11, 1945, U.S. forces liberated the Buchenwald concentration camp near Weimar, Germany, revealing to the outside world the scale and machinery of Nazi imprisonment and mass death. For the people held there, liberation meant the end of a system built to punish, exploit, and erase human beings. For the wider world, the scenes documented at Buchenwald became some of the clearest evidence of crimes that could not be explained away as rumor or wartime propaganda. The event mattered immediately

Local High School Student Receives New Instrument in Honor of Music Teacher Bud Summers

2 weeks 1 day ago
ALTON - An Alton High School student received a new bass guitar through The Bud Summers Music Foundation. Junior Quinn Halliday has always been a musician, but now she will get the chance to learn and perform on the electric bass thanks to a music scholarship from the band Porch Cafe and The Bud Summers Music Foundation. The band and the organization come together to host the Porch Cafe Music Festival in Honor of Bud Summers every fall, and they were eager to give back to an Alton student throug

Madison Firefighters Battle Battery Fire at a Industrial Business

2 weeks 1 day ago
MADISON - The Madison Fire Department responded to a fire Friday afternoon at 10 Fox Industrial Drive in Madison. The fire broke out at Interco Trading Company, prompting mutual aid from the Granite City Fire Department, Mitchell Fire Department, and Long Lake Fire Department. The Madison County Emergency Management Agency also assisted at the scene. According to scanner traffic, the fire involved batteries inside a storage unit. Firefighters remained on scene for several hours

Alton First Responders Springfest Carnival to Run Through Next Weekend

2 weeks 1 day ago
ALTON - The Alton First Responders Springfest will run throughout the next week. On April 10, 2026, the Springfest carnival opened at 5 p.m. and drew a small crowd for its first night at the Alton Amphitheater. The carnival will continue through April 19, 2026, and community members are encouraged to come by and enjoy the fun. Hosted by Luehrs’ Ideal Rides, the carnival includes rides, games, food and more. The carnival’s hours are as follows: Friday, April 10: Opens a

Summer 2026 High School Healthcare Bootcamps at HSHS Hospitals in Breese, Greenville, Highland and O'Fallon

2 weeks 1 day ago
O’FALLON, Ill. — High school students interested in a career in health care are invited to apply for the Summer 2026 High School Healthcare Bootcamps at HSHS St. Elizabeth’s Hospital in O’Fallon, HSHS St. Joseph’s Hospital in Breese, HSHS Holy Family Hospital in Greenville and HSHS St. Joseph’s Hospital in Highland. The bootcamps are designed for high school juniors and seniors interested in a career in health care to experience a realistic look into

Alton Police Charge Resident With Stealing Fridge During Church Burglary

2 weeks 2 days ago
ALTON – An Alton man accused of stealing a refrigerator while burglarizing a local church last week faces felony charges. Braden E. Phillips, 36, of Alton, was charged on April 6, 2026 with one count each of burglary, a Class 1 felony, and theft, a Class 4 felony. Phillips allegedly knowingly entered Harvest Fellowship Christian Church at 3316 Hillcrest Ave. in Alton without legal authority and with the intent to commit a theft on April 3, 2026. On the same date, Phillips reportedly