SPRINGFIELD – The vacant property in downtown Springfield known as the “Y Block” would be transformed into a public park and venue space featuring native landscapes, a natural limestone amphitheater, shade and a play area for children under a joint initiative of the Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) and the City of Springfield. Transfer of the property from the City of Springfield to IDNR appeared on first reading before the Springfield City Council on Tuesday,
CHICAGO – Attorney General Kwame Raoul, in partnership with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and a coalition of five attorneys general, today announced a settlement in their antitrust lawsuit against Deere and Company (Deere), resolving allegations the farm equipment manufacturer used unlawful practices to limit the ability of farmers and independent repair providers to perform repairs on Deere farm equipment. “For years, Deere refused to give farmers the right to repair
ST. CLAIR COUNTY - Investigators with the Desloge, Mo., Police Department discovered remains believed to be those of a small child while executing a search warrant July 8, 2026, in Stookey Township, Ill., authorities said, in a case that began with a parental kidnapping report filed last month. The remains were found in St. Clair County, Ill. Stookey Township is an unincorporated part of Belleville just west of downtown Belleville. The St. Clair County Coroner’s Office has not yet positively
CHICAGO – The Illinois Department of Human Services (IDHS) announced today that Illinois has surpassed 1,000 certified peer professionals, with 1,010 individuals now credentialed as Certified Recovery Support Specialists (CRSS) and/or Certified Peer Recovery Specialists (CPRS). The milestone reflects the State’s continued investment in peer recovery support services and behavioral health workforce development and represents a 335% increase in the certified peer workforce since 2022.
GRANITE CITY – Granite City Community Unit School District No. 9 is partnering with the Madison County Health Department to host a pair of Back to School Physical and Immunization Clinics on Thursday, July 30 and Thursday, August 6 from 1-4:30 p.m. at the Granite City High School Annex Gym. This event will be held to help protect students and others by meeting school and sports physical requirements. All incoming kindergarteners, 6th graders and high school freshmen are required to hav
ALTON - The Alton Woman’s Home Association (AWHA) has been helping women and children in Madison County since the organization was founded in 1897. Their commitment to the community remains ardent; in 2025, more than $213,000 was distributed to 20 area agencies. AWHA was founded to provide women in need with a home where they could live out their final years. The first residence was the former Dolbee Mansion, located on the bluffs where Riverview Park stands today. In 1909, residents move
EDWARDSVILLE — State Senator Jason Plummer (R-Edwardsville) has earned a 100% voting record from the National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB), Illinois' leading small business advocacy organization, for his consistent support of policies that help small businesses grow and succeed. “Small businesses don’t need more red tape, higher costs, and mandates from Springfield. They need government to get out of the way so they can create jobs and keep our local economies
EDWARDSVILLE - The Madison County Sheriff’s Office on Wednesday, July 8, 2026, announced the addition of Deputy Jadden Smith, who was sworn in Tuesday, July 7, 2026, and will begin field training immediately. The sheriff’s office said Smith is its newest deputy and comes to the agency with experience from the Madison Police Department. “The Madison County Sheriff’s Office is excited to welcome our newest member, Deputy Jadden Smith, to the team,” Madison
ALTON – Alton officials have been asked to schedule a public forum before entering a trash hauling contract with Republic Services. Alton is already in the process of negotiating a new city-wide trash hauling contract with Republic Services. But before any final agreement is reached or approved, Denise Sparks of Sparks Junk Removal & Hauling asked city leaders to schedule a public hearing, much like Jerseyville did months ago . “This decision will affect every household in
On July 9, 1816, leaders meeting in Tucumán declared the independence of the United Provinces of South America, a major step in the long struggle that helped break Spanish rule across much of South America. At the time, the declaration mattered because it gave political form to years of fighting and uncertainty in the Río de la Plata region. It was a public statement that local leaders intended to govern themselves rather than return to imperial control. The event still matters
Ice cream can hurt your head, numb your tongue, and still feel impossible to resist. That odd mix of pleasure and discomfort says a lot about human cravings. Cold treats are not just about taste. They tap into the body’s need for cooling, the brain’s reward system, and the emotions tied to comfort and fun. A popsicle after a long walk, iced coffee on a busy morning, frozen yogurt during a rough week, gelato on vacation—these foods and drinks often mean more to us than “something
ALTON – Alton officials have allocated over $640,000 in federal grant funding to resurface several streets across the city. City Council members voted unanimously on July 8, 2026 to allocate $644,428 in Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds from the Fiscal Year 2026 budget for street resurfacing projects in each of the city’s seven wards. These include: Ward 1: State Street from West 9th to Bluff Street Ward 2: Big Arch Road from Alby to East Center Drive Ward 3
COLLINSVILLE - The Collinsville Police Department announced that Officer Brian Joy was recognized as its May Officer of the Month, praising his continued work after being named the 2025 Officer of the Year. The Collinsville Police Department said Joy “has continued to proactively work to remove criminals from our streets while going the extra mile for our residents.” The department asked the public to join in congratulating Joy and thanked him for “your outstanding
MARYVILLE, IL — A new ambulance is now serving the residents of Maryville thanks to a $330,000 state investment secured through the advocacy of State Senator Erica Harriss. Senator Harriss joined local officials, first responders, and community members Wednesday for the Maryville Village Fire Department's Ambulance Commissioning and Push-In Ceremony, celebrating the department's newest addition to its emergency response fleet. "Our first responders answer the call every day without
MEADOWBROOK - A group of seven Southwestern Illinois College students in the CEJA (Climate and Equitable Jobs Act) program recently constructed a new front porch at the home of veteran Dave Stout in Meadowbrook, providing hands-on training for the students and a new porch for a longtime member of the local veteran community. Stout is a Marquette Catholic graduate who enlisted in the Air Force in 1965, served as a radio operator during the Vietnam War in 1968 and 1969 and went on to complete
CHICAGO – Attorney General Kwame Raoul, as part of a bipartisan coalition of 49 attorneys general, today called on the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to strengthen rules that would cut off scammers’ access to legitimate telephone numbers to prevent scammers from deceiving Americans through robocalls and text messages. Raoul and the coalition, as part of the Anti-Robocall Multistate Litigation Task Force, asked the FCC to work on this issue in 2021 and are now responding
JERSEYVILLE – A Jerseyville man faces felony and misdemeanor charges after allegedly burglarizing a boat and stealing various fishing supplies from within. Jeffrey D. Flynn, 74, of Jerseyville, was charged on July 1, 2026 with a Class 3 felony count of burglary without causing damage and a Class A misdemeanor count of theft. Flynn is accused of knowingly entering another individual’s boat without authority on June 22, 2026. The boat was located in the Walmart parking lot in Jerseyville
GRANITE CITY - DOUBLE00 Vodka is set to make its official debut at 7 p.m. in Granite City on Saturday, July 11, 2026, when founder Darryl Gill introduces the brand at Nick’s Bar & Grill in what he described as the product’s first official pour. The launch event is scheduled for 7 p.m. at Nick’s Bar & Grill, 3900 Nameoki Road, Granite City, Illinois. The event will introduce DOUBLE00 Vodka to the region. DOUBLE00 Vodka is served ice cold as a premium shot experience. Gill,
CHICAGO — Today, Governor JB Pritzker signed HB 4438 into law, designating the black and gold bumblebee as the official Illinois State Bee. The black and gold bumblebee serves as a critical prairieland pollinator – boosting Illinois’ natural ecosystem, supporting agriculture, and even helping to sustain life on earth. This action follows a year of advocacy by students from Naperville's Lincoln Junior High School. Last year, the students in educator Barbara Bell’s
JERSEYVILLE – A building in downtown Jerseyville is set to get a new roof as it prepares to welcome a relocating business and upper-floor apartments. Jerseyville City Council members unanimously approved a commercial roof grant application from Nate and Tiffany Blasa regarding 108 S. State St. at their July 7, 2026 meeting. With an estimated project cost of $99,807, the two requested the maximum grant amount of $25,000. The project includes the removal of the building’s existing roo
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