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EAST ST. LOUIS - Growing up in East St. Louis and graduating from Assumption Catholic High School, I never imagined that one day I’d be named president of Ameren Illinois. But as I prepare to step into this role on January 1, 2026, I find myself reflecting on the journey that brought me here — a path paved with hard work, mentorship, and a deep connection to the community that raised me. I still remember the moment that sparked my interest in the utility industry. I was a kid, standing

CHICAGO – Attorney General Kwame Raoul today announced that since President Donald J. Trump took office on January 20, 2025, lawsuits filed by Raoul’s office have protected approximately $6.6 billion in federal funding for the state of Illinois and critical programs and services that support individuals, families and organizations across the state. In the past year, Raoul’s office has filed more than 50 lawsuits defending the rule of law and the civil rights of all Illinoisans,

ST. LOUIS, MO. — The American Red Cross is facing a severe blood shortage as requests from hospitals exceed the available supply of blood, leading to about a 35% drawdown of blood products in the past month. Individuals are urged to give now so patients don’t face delays in lifesaving care. The shortage is especially serious for platelets and types O, A negative and B negative blood. High flu activity in nearly every state may be sidelining donors, slowing efforts to rebuild the

ST. LOUIS - Tyler “Tai” Davis, a multifaceted artist and chef known for his contributions to the St. Louis arts and culinary scenes, died suddenly on Jan. 9, 2026, at age 41. Davis was widely recognized for his diverse talents as a chef, painter, photographer, cellist, fashion designer, and mentor, as well as for his philanthropic work and advocacy for mental health. Davis was the featured celebrity artist at Mooneyham Art, which announced that his entire collection is currently

OHLMAN, IL. — A magnitude 3.8 earthquake struck near Ohlman, Illinois, in central Illinois early Tuesday morning, Jan. 20, 2026, according to the U.S. Geological Survey. The quake occurred at 1:27 a.m. Central Time about 3 miles north-northeast of Ohlman at a shallow depth of approximately 8.8 kilometers (5.5 miles), making it more noticeable despite its moderate size. The tremor was felt across parts of Christian and Sangamon counties, including areas as far as the Metro East region

“New year, new me” sounds like an ancient proverb—but it’s closer to a catchy slogan than a timeless saying. That surprise matters because the phrase feels bigger than it is. People use it to announce a fresh start, to post a gym selfie, or to joke about quitting a habit for 48 hours. It has become a shorthand for self-improvement, reinvention, and hope. But where did it actually come from, and why did it spread so fast? A phrase that feels old, but isn’t Unlike

A On January 20, 1942, senior officials of Nazi Germany met in a lakeside villa in Berlin for what became known as the Wannsee Conference. The meeting did not start the Holocaust, which was already underway, but it helped organize it. Participants discussed how to coordinate the deportation of Jewish people across Europe and how different government agencies would cooperate in carrying out mass murder. It mattered at the time because it turned genocide into a managed state project with shared

This morning starts cold with cloudy skies and a temperature near 29 degrees. As the day progresses, expect the clouds to break, making way for partly sunny skies. The high will reach around 38 degrees, with a noticeable breeze kicking in from the south at about 12 mph, gusting up to nearly 29 mph by the afternoon. The wind will lend a chill, making it feel colder than the thermometer. Evening brings mostly cloudy skies with temperatures dropping but remaining above freezing. Overnight, clouds stic

GRANITE CITY - Granite City Community School District #9's Preston Brown is a School Resource Officer at the district’s elementary schools and a S.A.B.R.E. instructor serving eight schools in the Granite City community. Brown, a graduate of Madison High School and Southwestern Illinois College, where he earned an associate degree, began his career by serving in the U.S. Navy. His daily responsibilities as a school resource officer include ensuring building safety, conducting perimeter checks,

DeKALB - Northern Illinois University announces its fall 2025 Dean's List students. To earn this distinction, students must meet a minimum semester grade point average of 3.5 on a 4.0 scale in the College of Engineering and Engineering Technology or a minimum of 3.75 on a 4.0 scale in the colleges of Business, Education, Health and Human Sciences, Liberal Arts and Sciences, and Visual and Performing Arts. HOMETOWN, STATE; NAME, MAJOR(S), HIGH SCHOOL (if listed) Edwardsville, IL Drew Bagby,

ALTON – The Metro East Auto Theft Task Force has charged five local residents with felony possession of stolen vehicles and other offenses. Shawn R. Murphey, 43, and Trina G. Skelton, 45, both of Alton, were each charged on Jan. 14, 2026 with Class 2 felony counts of offenses related to motor vehicles and Class 4 felony counts of possession of a controlled substance. The two are accused of knowingly possessing a stolen 2017 Chevrolet Trax bearing an Illinois registration number on Nov.

BELLEVILLE — Woodland Elementary School in Edwarsville Assistant Principal Ali Hiller has been named the Illinois Principals Association Southwest Region Assistant Principal of the Year. The recognition was presented Thursday evening, Jan. 15, 2026, at the IPA Southwestern Region Awards held at Cooper Fire in Belleville. Hiller, who is in her second year at Woodland Elementary, expressed both surprise and gratitude upon receiving the award. “I

SPRINGFIELD – In celebration of the founding of the United States 250 years ago, Governor JB Pritzker is inviting Illinoisans to unite in service by volunteering with organizations of their choice to foster community connection and build a legacy of giving back throughout 2026. “Illinoisans throughout history have always come together to help their neighbors, and it’s this deep sense of community that makes our state the best in the nation,” said Governor JB Pritzker.

WASHINGTON, D.C. – One year after Donald Trump fired 17 Inspectors General (IGs) just days into his second term, U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) introduced legislation to help restore public trust in IGs as Trump has worked to replace them with loyalists tied to his Administration. The Inspectors General Independence Act would prevent Donald Trump and future Presidents from appointing their own political allies to serve in the Administration’s “independent” watchdog

EDWARDSVILLE/GRANITE CITY – Madison County authorities have charged residents of Edwardsville, Granite City, and Litchfield, Ill. for their roles in two separate mob action incidents. 22-year-olds Desintee E. Herzing and Madison M. Tartt, both of Granite City, were charged with one count each of mob action, both Class 4 felonies, on Jan. 15, 2026. The two are accused of knowingly acting together without legal authority to physically attack the same victim and disturb the public peace

SOUTHERN ILLINOIS - A local nonprofit is doing everything they can to keep pets in their homes. The Infinity Project is based out of Marion but serves all of Southern Illinois. As a new nonprofit, they offer low-cost microchipping, a pet food bank, emergency veterinary support and more so people can keep their pets in situations where they might otherwise have to surrender the animals. Founder Ashley DeBoer shared that the path to The Infinity Project was not always clear, but supporters

MARYVILLE - The Village of Maryville has an exciting year ahead, according to Mayor Wayne White. White recently stopped by “Our Daily Show!” with C.J. Nasello to detail Maryville’s upcoming infrastructure projects, appreciation programs and more. He is proud of the town and eager to share their efforts with the larger Riverbend region. “In smaller communities like ours, we have a lot going on despite the fact that we don’t have the population that some

ALTON - Corbin Barnard of Marquette Catholic secured the individual regional crown Saturday, Jan. 17, 2026, in Alton with a top score of 1,339. Barnard qualified first overall in the competition for the upcoming sectional. Joining Barnard in advancing were teammates Logan Sherman, a junior who finished fifth overall with 1,136 points, and senior Gavin Tinsley, who placed seventh with 1,080 points. The Marquette Catholic team collectively scored 5,188 points, earning fifth place in the regional

GRAFTON – A public hearing was held last Friday, Jan. 16, 2026 at Grafton City Hall to answer questions from the public about the purchase and future operation of a ferry service connecting Grafton and Missouri . “We’re moving forward with the purchase of the ferry … we’re very excited about this,” Mayor Mike Morrow said. “We’re looking at operating the ferry seven days a week, 365 days a year – and so that’s going to be a big boo

MADISON COUNTY - As local communities consider data center projects, Madison County Board Chairman Chris Slusser answers a few questions about what a data center could mean for the community. Troy and Granite City have both made headlines as city officials weigh the pros and cons of data centers. On Dec. 10, 2025, Granite City Mayor Mike Parkinson and Troy City Manager Jay Keeven joined Slusser on a tour of a Nebraskan Google hyperscale data center. Slusser is supportive of the current