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EDWARDSVILLE – Water bills for Edwardsville customers will increase later this year as the city faces its own rising costs related to water infrastructure improvements. Edwardsville City Council members approved an ordinance updating water service rates and billing procedures at their July 7, 2026 meeting with Alderman Chris Farrar absent. In addition to moving the city from bimonthly to monthly billing, the ordinance also raises the water rates for customers in and out of the city. Unde

MONROE COUNTY - Two Oklahoma residents, a 48-year-old pilot and his 22-year-old son, were found dead Friday, July 10, 2026, after their aircraft crashed in rural Monroe County, Ill., south of Waterloo, according to a joint statement from the Monroe County Sheriff’s Department, Waterloo Fire Department and Monroe County Coroner’s Office. Authorities said emergency agencies were dispatched at about 2:34 a.m. Friday, July 10, 2026, after reports of a possible aircraft crash. The search,

EAST ALTON - The East Alton Parks and Recreation Department held its Annual Touch A Truck event at Van Preter Park on Friday, July 10, 2026, drawing families to see emergency, utility, and service vehicles, according to Mayor Darren Carlton. Carlton described the Touch A Truck event as a “big hit.” He said a Survival Flight helicopter flew in and landed, and the event also featured an Ameren Illinois Power boom truck, fire trucks, a police car, an MCT bus, and a Trickey Towing

MONROE COUNTY — A missing private aircraft was found south of Waterloo on Friday, July 10, 2026, after reports of a possible crash came in around 2:30 a.m., and authorities confirmed multiple fatalities as the response shifted from search and rescue to recovery. The Monroe County Sheriff’s Office said the aircraft was located by 1 p.m. Friday, July 10, 2026. Authorities identified it as a Beechcraft Baron 55 private plane. The National Transportation Safety Board said it has opened

CARROLLTON — Intern Billy Springman, 20, of Carrollton, is working to increase public awareness of Greene County’s new official website after the County Board approved and launched it earlier this year. Springman was tasked by the Greene County Board in early 2025 with overseeing the creation of a modern, centralized county website. After months of development and collaboration with county officials, staff, and RiverBender.com, he formally presented the website to the board in March

SPRINGFIELD, IL – The Illinois State Fair is turning up the volume for 2026 with the announcement of an impressive lineup of supporting acts set to join this year's Grandstand Concert Series. From country and rock to hip-hop and reggae, concertgoers can look forward to ten nights of memorable performances featuring some of today's most exciting artists. The 2026 Illinois State Fair Grandstand Concert Series includes: August 14 – Bailey Zimmerman with Jake Worthington August 15 &ndash

ROXANA - Community members can enjoy a local production of “Annie” later this month. Curtain’s Up Theater Company will perform “Annie” July 24–26 and July 31–Aug. 2, 2026, at The Roxana Community Theater. Directed by Christy Luster, the production promises to be a fun piece of community theater that brings people together and shares a larger message of hope and family with audiences. “It’s just the best feeling in the world,” Luste

BRIGHTON — The Village of Brighton said Friday, July 10, 2026, that some customers may not receive their water bills before the payment deadline and urged those who have not received a bill to contact the village office for their current balances. In a statement, the village said customers who have not received their bill should call the office at (618) 372-8484. Payment is due Wednesday, July 15, 2026. “If you have not received your bill, please contact our office at (618) 372-8484

ALTON – Alton City Council members approved changes to residency requirements for city employees this week, but not without making major changes in the absence of Mayor David Goins. At the council’s July 8, 2026 meeting, an ordinance amending a section of the Alton City Code regarding residency requirements for non-union city employees was given a second reading. Before the final vote was called, Alderman Michael Velloff made a series of amendments expanding the ordinance far

EDWARDSVILLE - Lucy Doyle’s sophomore girls track and field season was marked by a runner-up finish at the IHSA Class 1A Girls Track and Field Sectional in Carlinville on May 13, 2026, and a personal-best performance a week later at the state championships in Charleston. Doyle of Metro East Lutheran placed second in the 3,200 meters at the sectional with a time of 13:05.38 to advance to the IHSA 1A State Track and Field Championships at Eastern Illinois University. At state, she ran a

ST. LOUIS — Homicide detectives are investigating a fatal shooting in the Wells/Goodfellow neighborhood in St. Louis after police said officers responding to a disturbance Thursday night, July 9, 2026, encountered a gunfight and found a 44-year-old man wounded in the street. The shooting happened around 9:30 p.m. Thursday, July 9, in the 2800 block of Union near Maffitt and Union, according to police. District 5 officers responding to a disturbance call detained four people and found th

ALTON - The Gen. George Rogers Clark Chapter of the Sons of the American Revolution held a program Wednesday, July 8, 2026, at Lincoln-Douglas Square in Downtown Alton to mark the first public reading of the Declaration of Independence and reflect on its significance. “While July 4th marks the birth of our independence, July 8th was the day the people first heard the words that would change the world,” said Richard Ruedin, past president of the Gen. George Rogers Clark Chapter of th

CHICAGO – Attorney General Kwame Raoul issued the following statement after the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals issued a decision in Barnett v. Raoul, in which the court upheld the state’s ban on assault weapons and large-capacity magazines. “This is a win that enhances public safety in Illinois. We have seen the damage that assault weapons and large-capacity magazines can inflict, and these weapons of war have no place in our communities. My office has successfully defended th

FAIRVIEW HEIGHTS – The Illinois Department of Transportation today announced weekend lane closures on eastbound and westbound Interstate 64 at Illinois 159 between the Exit 12 entrance and exit ramps in St. Clair County. Beginning at 8 p.m. Friday, July 10, traffic will be reduced to one lane in both directions, weather permitting, for bridge repairs. Two lanes in each direction are expected to reopen by 6 a.m. Monday, July 13. The lane closures are part of ongoing improvements

CHICAGO – Today, Governor JB Pritzker signed two bills (HB 4456 and HB 5524) that strengthen energy affordability and consumer protections by helping lower utility costs for working families across the state and increasing transparency around the charges that appear on monthly electric bills. This set of new laws builds on Gov. Pritzker’s affordability agenda by ensuring Illinoisans have greater access to energy assistance while increasing available data and transparency o

EDWARDSVILLE - Front access has been restored within the construction zone in the 100 block of North Main Street in Edwardsville, the City of Edwardsville announced in a project update, marking a milestone in a major infrastructure project that still has significant work to be done. The City of Edwardsville administration said the restored access allows people to walk the stretch and visit shops, restaurants and service providers in the area. The update said the project involves replacing

7/13/26 UPDATE: Due to inclement weather, the lane closures on Interstate 55/70 between Illinois 203 and Exchange Avenue in St. Clair County have been rescheduled to begin at 9 a.m. TODAY. All lanes are expected to reopen by 6 p.m. Tuesday, July 14. MADISON – The Illinois Department of Transportation today announced weekend lane closures on westbound Interstate 55/70 in St. Clair County to allow for bridge repairs. Beginning at 9 a.m. Monday, July 13, weather permitting, westbound

BETHALTO – A Bethalto man accused of damaging a utility pole with his vehicle during a drunk driving accident faces his fifth charge of driving under the influence. 54-year-old Louis I. Thompson of Bethalto was charged in Madison County court on July 1, 2026 with one count each of aggravated driving while under the influence (a Class 2 felony), driving while license is revoked/suspended (a Class 4 felony), reckless driving (a Class A misdemeanor) and improper lane usage (a petty offense).

JERSEYVILLE – A Brighton resident faces felony and misdemeanor charges in Jersey County after reportedly attacking another individual with a butter knife. Dakota L. Harris, 24, of Brighton, was charged on July 7, 2026 with a Class 3 felony count of aggravated battery and a Class A misdemeanor count of battery. The day prior on July 6, Harris allegedly struck another individual in the face with a closed fist and cut the same victim with a butter knife. The Jersey County State’s

GRANITE CITY – The Illinois Department of Transportation today announced lane closures on westbound Interstate 270 from Illinois 3 to the Mississippi River in Madison County for road construction. Beginning at 6 a.m. Saturday, July 11, westbound I-270 traffic will be reduced to one lane, weather permitting. Two westbound lanes are expected to reopen by 6 p.m. Sunday, July 12. Motorists should expect delays and are encouraged to use alternate routes during this closure. Drivers are urged