GODFREY — Native plants beautify landscapes and help support songbirds and other cherished wildlife. A wide variety of native wildflowers, grasses, sedges, vines, shrubs, trees and other native plant products supplied by four Grow Native! professional members will be available for purchase at a Grow Native! native plant sale held in partnership with The Nature Institute at 2213 S. Levis Ln., Godfrey, IL 62035 on Saturday, May 16, 2026 from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Vendors at this event
ST. LOUIS COUNTY - Three people were killed in a three-vehicle crash on Friday night, May 1, 2026, on Lewis and Clark Boulevard in St. Louis, according to a fatality crash report investigated by MCIU #2 MSGT. J. Cox and CPL. A. Smith. The crash was reported at 8:32 p.m. on May 1, 2026, on southbound Lewis and Clark Boulevard north of Haviland Drive in St. Louis County. Investigators said Vehicle 1, a 2013 Cadillac SRX traveling southbound, sideswiped Vehicle 2, a 2020 Lexus RX350 traveling southbound
O'FALLON - On Friday morning, May 1, 2026, Illinois State Police said a man was struck and killed. Illinois State Police said troopers received information around 6:30 a.m. Friday, a pedestrian was walking in and out of westbound traffic near milepost 14 when a semi-truck struck the pedestrian. The pedestrian was pronounced dead at the scene by the St. Clair County Coroner's Office. The St. Clair County Coroner’s Office identified the man as Ethan D. Wood, 35, with a last known address
ALTON – A St. Louis man accused of using a stolen box truck to break into an Alton building after robbing a Phillips 66 employee at gunpoint has been detained on multiple felony charges. Jesse J. Williams, 35, of St. Louis, was charged with the following offenses on April 27, 2026: Armed robbery (a Class X felony) Unlawful possession of a stolen motor vehicle (a Class 2 felony) Attempted burglary (a Class 3 felony) Aggravated unlawful possession of weapons (a Class 4 felony)
EDWARDSVILLE – A Jerseyville man who allegedly believed he was soliciting a 12-year-old “girl” via Facebook faces felony charges after the fake account was operated by an Edwardsville detective. Kyle Kniffen, 30, of the 400 block of Fairview Avenue in Jerseyville, was charged on April 23, 2026 with one count each of indecent solicitation of a child (a Class 1 felony), solicitation to meet a child, and grooming (both Class 4 felonies). The charges against him were sealed unti
ALTON – Get your kicks on Route 66 in southwest Illinois this summer. Communities and residents all along the Last 100 Miles of Route 66 in Illinois will celebrate with a variety of festivals, events and even newly created Mother Road themed products. The official kick off to the centennial is Thursday, April 30, 2026 and there are plans for a wide range of community events, activities and even newly created Route 66 craft beer and craft beverages. Locals makers in southwest Illinois
ALTON/GODFREY - Alton High School seniors spent their last day of school together at the park. On Friday, May 1, 2026, the Class of 2026 held a field day at Glazebrook Park, where they enjoyed soccer and basketball games, bounce houses, music, a cookout and more. They also did a “walkout” where they visited their old elementary schools. AHS Principal Stacie Franke noted that the day was a fun way to celebrate their hard work before graduation. “It’s just really a
GODFREY - Resurrection Lutheran Church will host their annual spring flea market this weekend. From 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday, May 2, 2026, community members can stop by Resurrection Lutheran Church at 1211 W. Homer Adams Parkway in Godfrey for the market. You can expect tools, antiques, clothing, toys and plenty more items. Dan Garner, one of the organizers, is looking forward to sharing the church’s work with those who stop by. “We try to have something at least quarterly
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, U.S. Senator Alex Padilla (D-CA), Ranking Member of the Senate Rules Committee, U.S. Senator Gary Peters (D-MI), Ranking Member of the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, and Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) led a group of 24 Senate Democrats in pushing back on President Trump’s executive order attacking vote-by-mail. The March 31 Executive
A new study is challenging long-held assumptions about coffee’s effects on digestive health, suggesting the popular beverage could offer benefits for both the gut and the brain. The research, published in Nature Communications , examined 62 participants, half of whom were regular coffee drinkers, to explore how coffee consumption influences the gut microbiome and mental well-being. Using psychological assessments alongside dietary tracking and biological samples, researchers foun
BELLEVILLE - As the weather shifts once again, a lot of people are experiencing allergies. One local physician has advice on how to handle these symptoms — and when to seek treatment. Dr. Angie Harris, a BJC Medical Group family medicine physician at Belleville Memorial Hospital, explained that seasonal allergies can be treated proactively. She encourages patients who know they have spring allergies to stock up on over-the-counter allergy medication and begin taking these meds before
CASEYVILLE - Multiple cameras captured an incident of illegal dumping on April 29, 2026, on Forest Boulevard in Caseyville, and the Caseyville Police Department said the footage led officers to identify a vehicle and issue a criminal citation. Caseyville Police said officers used the video to obtain the vehicle’s registration information. The vehicle was later located and impounded at a residence in Fairview Heights, Caseyville Police said. The person was issued a citation for
ALTON - The Three Rivers Project of Sierra Club Illinois is calling for volunteers to support the two Workdays at the Wadlow Creek Restoration Area, formerly the Robert P. Wadlow Municipal Golf Course in front of the Alton Regional Multimodal Transportation Center that houses Amtrak. Volunteers of all ages are welcome, but parental supervision is needed for youth 16 year olds and younger. The activity will be the same each day: the Wadlow Workdays will give local community members the opportunity
EDWARDSVILLE - Edwardsville High School (EHS) has been recognized with multiple nominations for the prestigious Ken Page Awards, celebrating excellence in high school musical theatre across the region. EHS received nominations for its production of 9 to 5: The Musical , directed by Ashley Melton. The nominations highlight both individual and group achievements across several categories: Outstanding Leading Actress — Gracie Cook Outstanding Leading Actress — Ella Carter Outstanding
BELLEVILLE - Dr. Amanda “Mandy” Bagley, the principal of Belle Valley School in Belleville, Illinois, died after a two-vehicle crash on April 21, 2026, in Madison County, according to an Illinois State Police preliminary report. Bagley, described as a beloved educator and principal, was involved in a collision at about 6:14 p.m. April 21, 2026, at Horseshoe Lake Road and the Interstate 255 southbound on-ramp in Collinsville. The community is mourning her sudden loss. This information
ALTON - The Alton VFW Post 1308 invites the community to join them for a special cleanup effort. On Saturday, May 9, 2026, VFW members and the public will come together to pick up litter along Highway 255. Called the Russell E. Dunham Memorial Highway, this portion of 255 is named after a Medal of Honor recipient. Post 1308, also known as the Russell E. Dunham Memorial Post 1308, is eager to give back. “In the VFW, you serve no matter what,” said Post Commander Chris Miller. “th
ALTON – Two men from Alton were charged on the same day in separate domestic battery cases, marking their latest felony charges in Madison County Court. James F. Carleton, 42, of Alton, was charged on April 24, 2026, with his second or subsequent offense of domestic battery, a Class 4 felony. The day before April 23, 2026, Carleton allegedly knowingly caused bodily harm to a household or family member. Charging documents state he had previously been convicted of unlawfully violating a
CHICAGO – Attorney General Kwame Raoul today announced a federal court has stated it will approve a $700 million settlement in a multistate antitrust lawsuit against Google following allegations the tech giant dominated Android app distribution and in-app payments related to the Google Play Store. Raoul joined a bipartisan group of 53 attorneys general in 2021 who sued Google for illegally dominating Android app distribution and for charging consumers up to 30% per transaction. The
CHICAGO — Attorney General Kwame Raoul, as part of a bipartisan coalition of 41 attorneys general, urged federal regulators to reaffirm that jurisdiction over sports-related “event contracts” belongs to states. The attorneys general filed a comment letter with the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC), arguing that prediction markets, platforms where users trade contracts on the outcome of future events, effectively allow unregulated sports betting. “On so-called
CASEYVILLE – The Illinois Department of Transportation today announced that eastbound Interstate 64 will be reduced to one lane between Illinois 157 and Illinois 159 in St. Clair County for pavement work. The lane closures will occur on the following weekends, weather permitting: May 1-4 Beginning at 9 p.m. Friday, May 1, eastbound traffic will be reduced to one lane. All lanes are expected to reopen by 7 a.m. Monday, May 4. May 8-11 Beginning at 9 p.m. Friday, May 8, eastbound
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