GRANITE CITY – Granite City Elks Lodge #1063 recognized Granite City High School seniors Kwinton Chism and Sophie Davison as Students of the Month for February. The Elks Student of the Month Program is designed to recognize outstanding young men and women for achievements in school and community life-fine arts, hobbies, athletics, church, school, club and community service, industry and farming. Nominees are judged on multiple achievements including leadership skills, good
ST. LOUIS - Patrick Smith, president of Ameren Illinois, makes a contribution to support the 26 th annual Hardee's Rise and Shine for Heat biscuit fundraiser held in several locations in Illinois and Missouri. Smith gives his donation to an Ameren volunteer, Gemma Flores-Olivas. Ameren made a $200,000 contribution to Heat Up St. Louis at the event, Feb. 13, in addition to the $250,000 contribution it made in December 2025 to help even more customers in both states. Heat Up St. Louis is
ALTON - Tomieka Carter trusts God to help her help others. Carter, 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 explained that she regularly hosts meals and giveaways for kids and families across Alton, and her goal is to help the community however she can. “It means everything to me, and I wouldn't be able to do it without God. You have to put God first in any and everything you do,”
A holiday famous for hearts and romance may have started with a lottery where young men drew women’s names from a box. That story isn’t the whole truth, but it points to something real: Valentine’s Day traditions have never been fixed. They’ve shifted from ancient festivals to church legends to handwritten notes, and then to candy aisles and social media posts. The result is a day that feels timeless, even though many of its “classic” customs are surprisingly
SPRINGFIELD – Today, Congresswoman Nikki Budzinski (IL-13) led 12 members of the Illinois Delegation in a letter to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) opposing their proposed rule to rescind the existing disparate impact regulation under the Fair Housing Act without replacing it. “For more than a decade, state and local governments, housing providers, and advocates have structured compliance, enforcement, and programmatic decisions around HUD’s disparate
MARYVILLE, Ill. – HSHS Medical Group Family & Internal Medicine Maryville, 2401 S. Center St., Maryville, is pleased to announce Emma Clardy, DO, a board-certified family medicine physician, is accepting new patients. Dr. Clardy brings a commitment to high-quality, accessible care for individuals and families in the Maryville area. Dr. Clardy provides patient-centered care for all ages, focusing on preventive health, women’s wellness and continuity of care. She believes i
When watching a basketball game on television, you may hear coaches and announcers say the star player is missing time with a hernia. A sports hernia is different than a hernia suffered in everyday life, says Raman Kumar, MD, a colorectal surgeon and general surgeon at OSF HealthCare. But each should be taken seriously. Hernia Dr. Kumar says a hernia is when an internal organ or piece of fat goes through a hole in the abdominal wall. The most common type – around 80% – is an inguin
ST. LOUIS - Five individuals were federally indicted this week for their roles in an alleged $220 million nationwide fraud scheme involving purported cattle purchase contracts, announced United States Attorney for the Northern District of Texas Ryan Raybould. Those indicted by a Fort Worth federal grand jury on February 11, 2026, were: Jed Wood of Fort Worth, Texas, charged with three counts of wire fraud, one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, and one count
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Combat Veteran and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today secured support from senior enlisted leaders of the Department of Defense (DoD) that in-vitro fertilization (IVF) coverage for servicemembers and their families, which is currently available only in very limited circumstances, would strengthen our military and benefit our troops. This comes after Donald Trump—who promised to make IVF free for all Americans—did nothing to stop Speaker Mike Johnson
ALTON — Chapel and Keller Dentistry has announced that Dr. Nick Berkenbile, D.M.D., is joining their practice in February 2026. Dr. Berkenbile was born in Alton, and raised in Edwardsville. He is a 2016 graduate of Marquette Catholic High School. He completed his undergraduate studies at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, where he majored in biology and minored in chemistry. He earned his Doctor of Dental Medicine degree from the Southern Illinois University School of Dental Medicin
ST. LOUIS - A fundraiser organized by Morgan Stewart is seeking financial support for Ashley Gingery, a healthcare worker and mother of four who, according to the fundraiser, is facing mounting medical needs and bills after a work-related injury and an assault by a patient. The fundraiser, titled “Supporting Ashley Gingery During an Unimaginable Time,” says Gingery has worked in health care for 11 years and has faced “more challenges than anyone ever should” over the
PONTOON BEACH – The Illinois Department of Transportation today announced that lane closures are scheduled at the Interstate 270/Illinois 111 interchange in Madison County beginning, weather permitting, at 9 a.m. Monday, Feb. 16, for guardrail repairs. On Illinois 111 , the outside lanes at the new I-270/Illinois 111 interchange will be closed. One lane will remain open to traffic through the work zone. The work on Illinois 111 is expected to be completed by the end of the week, weather
EAST ST. LOUIS - East St. Louis School District 189 recognized a slate of grade-level champions from its District Spelling Bee, praising students for their “dedication, preparation, and courage to take the stage” this week. The district announced the winners in a message that celebrated “academic excellence across our schools” and listed champions in three divisions: 3rd and 4th grade, 5th and 6th grade, and 7th and 8th grade. “We are incredibly proud
COLLINSVILLE - Collinsville Community Unit School District #10 announces Dorris Intermediate School Assistant Principal Leah Davis was honored by the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) through their Those Who Excel/Teacher of the Year program. The recognition was announced by ISBE on Wednesday, February 11, 2026. Davis is being honored with the Award of Meritorious Service in the School Administrator category. The Those Who Excel & Teacher of the Year Awards recognize individuals making
SPRINGFIELD – As Illinois communities prepare to celebrate the nation’s semiquincentennial on July 4, the Illinois America 250 Commission today unveiled the first ever Passport to Illinois, inviting residents and visitors alike to explore the powerful places, people and events in Illinois that have shaped the nation’s history. The limited-edition keepsake Passport to Illinois uplifts undertold stories of people and places that have contributed to making good on the ideals
EDWARDSVILLE - Edwardsville High School junior Grace Capron is taking on a months-long fundraising and advocacy campaign to support Blood Cancer United, a group formerly known as The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, through a student leadership program she joined last April 2025. Capron is participating in Student Visionaries, which she described as “a philanthropic leadership program through Blood Cancer United.” While the official campaign runs seven weeks, she said the work started
BETHALTO - Residents at Villa Rose Senior Living Community in Bethalto enjoyed a Valentine’s Day-themed senior prom. On Friday, Feb. 13, 2026, staff members dressed in suits and prom dresses and residents danced to music by Chuck Cannon. The fourth annual senior prom was a reminder to all that there’s “magic” in the Villa Rose “family,” said Executive Director Cindy Cannon. “We just want to keep them engaged. We want them to act like young kids,”
ALTON – Alton Police recently charged a local resident with using his vehicle to batter a pregnant victim among other offenses. Chance K. Sneddon, 20, of Alton, was charged on Feb. 11, 2026 with two counts of aggravated battery (both Class 3 felonies) and one count each of reckless driving, driving while license is suspended, and aggravated assault (each Class A misdemeanors). On Feb. 9, 2026, Sneddon allegedly caused bodily harm to a victim he knew was seven months pregnant by intentionally
WOOD RIVER - The Riverbend East Rotary Club has recognized East Alton-Wood River High School students Morgan Eberlin and Noah Norton as its January Service Above Self award winners, citing their involvement and leadership in school activities, according to information provided by Rick Hooks. The club recently presented Service Above Self certificates to Eberlin and Norton. A photo provided with the announcement shows Club President Mark Smith presenting the certificates to the students. “Morgan
EDWARDSVILLE - Edwardsville High School Robotics ended its first season in the FIRST Robotics – Decode League with a 10-5-0 record and the Judge’s Choice Award, presented tonight at the Central South Illinois regional tournament, a state qualifier, after the team switched leagues amid declining participation in its former Bot Ball competition. After many years competing in the Bot Ball league, the team moved this year to FIRST Robotics – Decode for its first-ever season in
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