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ALTON — Alton Police are investigating a shooting that left one person seriously injured Thursday afternoon, Aug. 20, 2026, in the 800 block of East Sixth Street. Officers were dispatched at about 1:52 p.m. Aug. 20, 2026, for a report of shots fired and a person shot, according to the Alton Police Department. Police said officers secured the scene and rendered aid to the victim until Alton Fire Department personnel arrived. The victim was taken to a local hospital and later transferred

EDWARDSVILLE – An East Alton man with a prior theft conviction faces new theft charges after allegedly taking tip jars from a series of Edwardsville restaurants. Sheldon D. Williams, 31, of East Alton, was charged on Aug. 13, 2026 with three counts of theft (each Class 4 felonies) and one count of driving while license is suspended (a Class a misdemeanor). Williams allegedly stole tip jars containing cash from three different restaurants in Edwardsville on July 8, 2026. These included Pok

WOOD RIVER – Wood River officials are exploring ways to encourage development in a mostly vacant section of the city. City Council members approved two items related to the establishment of a new Tax Increment Finance (TIF) district on Aug. 17, 2026. These include a feasibility study for the proposed TIF 4 area and an agreement with PGAV planners to determine whether any or all of the area would be eligible under the TIF Act. The resolutions indicate Wood River city staff will conduct

EDWARDSVILLE — Police and fire crews responded about 8:15 p.m. on Wednesday, Aug. 19, 2026, to Troy Road at Franklin Avenue after a motor vehicle crash in which a green SUV appeared to have been rear-ended by another vehicle that left the scene, City of Edwardsville spokesperson Cathy Hensley said. An adult female passenger in the SUV was taken to a local area hospital for evaluation and treatment of injuries that were not life-threatening, Hensley said. The crash report has not been completed,

EDWARDSVILLE — A woman was taken to an area hospital with non-life-threatening injuries after a two-vehicle crash about 1:45 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 20, 2026, at New Poag Road and North University Drive, according to Cathy Hensley, a spokesperson for the City of Edwardsville. The Edwardsville Police Department and Edwardsville Fire Department responded to the crash, which involved a black Acura SUV and a white Chevrolet passenger car, Hensley said. The woman was transported by an Edwardsville

GRANITE CITY - Madison County Coroner Nicholas P. Novacich on Thursday afternoon, Aug. 20, 2026, identified Linda Ellis, 76, as the Granite City area woman who died early this morning at Gateway Regional Medical Center after she was removed from her Johnson Road residence following a structure fire. The Granite City Fire Department was responding to an unrelated medical call when firefighters observed flames coming from the windows of Ellis’ residence, according to the coroner’s

ALTON - A local financial advisor is offering a free “deep dive” on Social Security. From 6–7 p.m. on Monday, Aug. 24, 2026, community members can gather at Vera Lee Meeting and Event Venue in Alton for the free workshop, hosted by Bill Kinkel. The workshop will cover basic questions about when to claim Social Security and how that decision can affect other financial concerns. Kinkel hopes he can be informative, but his main priority is to build confidence in attendees t

ALTON — Alton Police were investigating an apparent shooting Thursday afternoon, Aug. 20, 2026, in the area of Sixth and Spring streets in Alton, where one person was transported to a local hospital in an emergency. Information on what led to the incident has not been released. The Alton Police Department is also apparently tracking a suspect in the area, according to the available information. The Illinois State Police canine unit has also been called to the scene, and Highland's canine

GRAFTON – A new committee in Grafton will soon look into ways to regulate food trucks within the city. Mayor Mike Morrow and several other appointees were recently named to a to a special committee to recommend legislation on food trucks in Grafton. The appointments were approved at the Aug. 18, 2026 Grafton City Council meeting with Alderman Richard Mosby absent. The committee also includes City Council members Richard Mosby, Mary Jo Cote, and Rus Roy, as well as former alderman David

ALTON - Three Alton High School FCCLA members were recognized during the Alton School District Board of Education’s August meeting for earning Silver Medals at the FCCLA National Leadership Conference. Carter Stahl, Lilly Burns and Trenton Wilson were invited to attend the meeting, where the board recognized their accomplishments at the national level in their competitive events. Stahl, Burns and Wilson are definite Difference Makers in their community. Stahl earned a Silver Medal in

ALTON/EDWARDSVILLE — Claire Delap, a Liberty Middle School in Edwardsville seventh-grader, attended the Illinois Summer Youth Music program this summer on the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign campus after receiving a full scholarship last spring through her participation with the Alton Youth Symphony. Delap, the daughter of Amy and Kyle Delap, attended the weeklong band camp as part of the ISYM program. Claire plays multiple instruments and began learning piano under the direction

DU QUOIN – Illinois State Police (ISP) Division of Criminal Investigation Zone 7 Special Agents arrested 28-year-old Amanda Russell and 34-year-old Michael Russell of Du Quoin, IL for Involuntary Manslaughter among other charges after the death of their 1-year-old daughter. On August 17, 2026, the Du Quoin Police Department requested ISP’s assistance with a child death investigation in the 700 block of West Park Street in Du Quoin. The child suffered severe burns over a large

TROY, IL — The Troy/Maryville/St. Jacob/Marine Chamber of Commerce is inviting residents to responsibly recycle unwanted electronics during three Fall 2026 E-Cycle collection events in Troy, Maryville, and St. Jacob. These events provide a safe, convenient way for residents to dispose of unwanted electronics while helping protect the environment by keeping electronic waste out of local landfills. In addition to E-Cycling, select events will offer document shredding and other specialty

CHICAGO — Governor JB Pritzker and the Illinois Department of Revenue (IDOR) announced disaster tax relief for individuals and businesses in 15 counties affected by widespread damage from torrential downpours, flash flooding, straight-line winds and several tornadoes. Illinois currently leads the nation with approximately 204 tornadoes this year as verified by the National Weather Service. “Severe weather has caused significant damage and disruption for families, businesses, and

JERSEYVILLE – The Jerseyville Public Library is getting temporary help from an out-of-town cataloger following a 4-1 vote from City Council members. Jerseyville City Council members approved the employment of a part-time cataloger for the Jerseyville Public Library who resides outside corporate city limits at their Aug. 18, 2026 meeting. Mayor Kevin Stork said under the city’s personnel policy, city employees are required to reside within Jerseyville city limits, and that the council

A growing social media trend is putting vibration plates in the spotlight as a potential tool to shake off lymphedema symptoms, though specialists caution that the devices should complement, not replace, established therapies. Whole-body vibration plates, which create rapid muscle contractions while users stand, sit or exercise on the device, have attracted attention online for claims that they can improve circulation, reduce swelling and support lymphatic health . Many people discover

ROXANA — A driver was killed Thursday morning, Aug. 20, 2026, in a two-unit crash on Illinois 255 northbound at Wagon Wheel Road in Roxana after the vehicle became immobilized in a traffic lane and was struck by another vehicle, Illinois State Police said. Illinois State Police Troop 8 responded to the crash in Madison County at approximately 5:27 a.m. Aug. 20, 2026. A preliminary investigation indicated Unit 1 was traveling northbound and approaching Wagon Wheel Road when it became

(Photos by Mary Ann Mitchell) EDWARDSVILLE - Hallways came back to life Wednesday, Aug. 19, as students across Edwardsville Community Unit School District 7 returned to classrooms for the first day of the 2026-27 school year. The Edwardsville School District began the year with a half-day schedule for students in kindergarten through 12th grade. The shortened day was intended to help students and staff ease back into routines, reconnect, and start the year together. Schools across the

GRANITE CITY — Firefighters rescued a trapped person from a burning private residence in the 2200 block of Johnson Road in Granite City early Thursday morning, Aug. 20, 2026, after a nearby crew saw the fire while responding to assist EMS, Granite City Fire Chief Todd Richey said. The Madison County Coroner's Office said the woman later died at Gateway Medical Center. Chief Richey said one person was found with entrapment, removed from the residence and transported to a hospital. He said

GRANITE CITY - A quick response to an equipment fire at Precoat Metals kept damage to the building and machinery minimal, Granite City Firefighters Local 253 said after crews responded on Tuesday, Aug. 18, 2026, to the facility at 25 Northgate Industrial in Granite City. Firefighters said crews achieved a quick knockdown of the fire. Staff evacuated the facility quickly, according to the Firefighters Local 253 group. Precoat Metals provides coil-coated metal solutions, including options