SPRINGFIELD – It was just last month that a 3.8 magnitude earthquake shook Illinois from its center in Ohlman in central Illinois’ Montgomery County. “Thousands of people across the state felt this last quake in the early morning hours of January 20,” said Illinois Emergency Management Agency and Office of Homeland Security (IEMA-OHS) Acting Director Theodore (Ted) Berger. “It is a cautionary reminder that we sit between two seismic zones and earthquake preparedness
O’FALLON, Ill. – Prairie Cardiovascular and HSHS Medical Group welcome Claire Vargo, APRN, FNP-C, to the cardiology team at 3 St. Elizabeth Blvd., Suite 1800, in O’Fallon. She joins the practice with a patient-centered philosophy focused on clear communication, collaboration and education. She is accepting new patients. As a board-certified family nurse practitioner specializing in cardiology, Vargo brings extensive experience in cardiovascular intensive care and
MILSTADT - After receiving submissions from across the 114th District, State Representative Kevin Schmidt (R-Millstadt) has chosen Hoffen Funeral Home in Millstadt for his “Business of the Month.” With decades of experience, Rep. Schmidt said the team that operates the family-owned funeral home goes above and beyond with their services to help care for families. “When a loved one passes away, trust and compassion is what families need from a funeral home, and Hoffen Funera
O’FALLON, Ill. - Salon Ludic and Extension Lounge, an O’Fallon-based small business, is giving back to the community it calls home through monthly SLAK Campaigns, Salon Ludic Act of Kindness. The recipient for February’s SLAK Campaign is Blossom Play Cafe (BPC), located at 2 Eagle Center, Suite 2 in O’Fallon. Salon Ludic purchased a $200 gift card to BPC, which will be used for its customers until the money runs out. BPC Owner Kim Lloyd said, "I was so excited and honored
SPRINGFIELD – About 10 percent of Illinois voters will see an advisory referendum on their primary election ballots asking them to weigh in on whether they think the state should join a federal school voucher scheme. The Illinois Education Association (IEA) urges Illinoisans to vote “NO” on the question, which is misleadingly worded to make voters think no public money will be used. As it stands now, 80 percent of public schools are underfunded in Illinois. The
SPRINGFIELD - Educators and state workers with the Illinois Federation of Teachers rallied and lobbied Tuesday, Feb. 17, 2026, at the state Capitol in Springfield, urging Gov. JB Pritzker and the Illinois General Assembly to fully fund public schools and higher education and to counter federal cuts they attributed to the Trump administration by changing Illinois’ tax code to increase taxes on the ultra-wealthy. The action, held on the eve of Pritzker’s statewide address, brought members
SCOTT AIR FORCE BASE, IL. – The US Air Force Band of Mid-America's Shades of Blue Jazz Ensemble will present a series of concerts around Scott Air Force Base: Wednesday, February 25, 1:00 p.m.: Farrington Grade School, 20941 E. Divide Rd., Bluford, IL 628141 Thursday, February 26, 7:00 p.m. – Kirkwood Performing Arts Center (KPAC), 210 E Monroe Ave, Kirkwood, MO 63122 Friday, February 27, 7:00 p.m. – Panther Dome Gym, O'Fallon Township High School, 600 S Smiley St, O'Fallon,
– Combat Veteran and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL)—member of the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee (SVAC)—and U.S. Senators Patty Murray (D-WA), Mazie K. Hirono (D-HI) and Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) today led 29 other Senate Democrats in calling on U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Secretary Doug Collins to immediately rescind the VA’s extreme, cruel new policy that bans the VA from providing abortion counseling and care to Veterans , even in cases
SPRINGFIELD - U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin of Illinois, Democratic Party of Illinois Chair Lisa Hernandez, the Illinois AFL-CIO and Illinois Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias issued statements from Illinois reacting to the passing of the Rev. Jesse Jackson Sr., remembering the civil rights leader’s decades of work on social justice, politics and labor issues. Durbin, the Senate Democratic whip and ranking member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, said Jackson “committed his life to
BETHALTO - Civic Memorial High School senior Jude Breyer is closing out his high school career with a series of academic, leadership, and athletic accomplishments, highlighted by earning the Jesse W. Fell Scholarship at Illinois State University. Breyer, a Civic Memorial student, received the scholarship from Illinois State University, where he has also been admitted into the university’s Honors Program. At Illinois State, he plans to major in English, continuing a passion he developed
EDWARDSVILLE - After 27 years working in nearly every division of the Madison County Sheriff’s Office, Capt. William “Bill” Marconi is retiring. The Madison County Sheriff’s Office said in a statement posted on Friday, Feb. 13, 2026, that Marconi, who began his career in 1999 as a jail deputy, is retiring after “27 years of dedicated service to the citizens of Madison County.” The office said Marconi earned promotions “through the ranks”
ALTON – Two Alton residents face felony charges in their latest Madison County cases of domestic battery. Antonio L. Carter, 37, of Alton, was charged on Feb. 13, 2026 with a Class 2 felony count of aggravated domestic battery and a Class 4 felony count of his second or subsequent offense of domestic battery. Carter allegedly knowingly caused great bodily harm to a household or family member without legal justification on Jan. 24, 2026, resulting in significant injury to the victim. Chargin
EDWARDSVILLE - Woodland Elementary School students commemorated Black History Month by creating a wall of important words. Every morning, the school comes together to recite their “Bobcats on the Prowl” motto and start the day on a positive note. Last week, Principal Andy Williams and Assistant Principal Alicia Hiller read “Martin’s Big Words” to the students to teach about Martin Luther King Jr.’s work and speeches. The students put together a display
EDWARDSVILLE - Woodland Elementary School fourth graders celebrated Lunar New Year with giant dragon puppets. On Tuesday, Feb. 17, 2026, the entire Woodland student body gathered in the gym for a special presentation by Page Lee’s fourth grade class. Lee explained that her class has been learning about winter traditions and holidays around the world, and they wanted to do something special for Lunar New Year. Students created two dragon puppets and walked across the stage to demonstrate
ALTON - Barbara Erwin has gone above and beyond for local kids. Erwin, one of the YWCA’s eleven 2026 Women of Distinction, will be honored at the Y’s annual gala for her commitment to the community. She shared that she spent 15 years teaching in the Alton Community Unit School District #11, where she initiated a program to provide extra food to students during long weekends and breaks. “I knew that there was a need,” Erwin remembered. “I had students who were
Silence can feel louder when there’s less to distract you. That’s one reason winter often pulls people inward. The same life that feels busy and outward-facing for much of the year can suddenly feel quieter. Social plans thin out. Days can feel shorter. Even your body seems to ask for a slower pace. In that space, thoughts you’ve been skipping past have more room to show up. Reflection isn’t forced, exactly—but it becomes harder to avoid. Reflection needs space,
February 17, 1801, brought a leadership change that helped shape modern political systems. Thomas Jefferson was elected President of the United States after a deeply contested process that ended in the House of Representatives. The election exposed weaknesses in the young country’s voting rules and led to reforms, including the Twelfth Amendment, which changed how presidents and vice presidents are elected. The broader significance reaches beyond one nation: it showed how constitutional system
This morning starts off cloudy with temperatures around 55°F. Expect mostly cloudy skies through the early hours with a low breeze coming from the south-southeast at about 12 mph, gusting up to 30 mph. As we move into the afternoon, the breeze picks up, making it feel cooler than the high of 59°F. Clouds will cling to the sky, limiting the sunshine to a brief appearance. By evening, it remains mostly cloudy and windier, with wind speeds increasing toward 17 mph and gusts reaching 32 mph
BETHALTO - Precision Point Armory owner Ben Julian wants to work with people who care about firearm safety. Located in Bethalto, Precision Point Armory offers concealed carry classes, renewal classes, fundamental classes, and more. No matter which class you take, Julian aims to create safe firearm owners who are comfortable handling their guns. He also has a range where you can shoot live ammo, and he likes to help people improve their shooting and build up their fundamentals as much a
EAST ST. LOUIS - The Illinois State Police are investigating a police pursuit in East St. Louis that ended early Feb. 14, 2026, with a driver found dead from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound, after the East St. Louis Police Department requested the state agency’s Division of Criminal Investigation Zone 6 to handle the case. East St. Louis police officers attempted to conduct a traffic stop at about 2:28 a.m. near the intersection of 47th Street and State Street, according t
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