EDWARDSVILLE - An Edwardsville High School freshman is gaining recognition for placing first in a recent dairy judging competition. Jemma Dorsey’s first competition proved successful when she walked away with the highest score in a pool of over 100 competitors from local high schools. Dorsey explained that she is interested in livestock judging, so she decided to take the leap and compete in a dairy judging competition. She is pleased with her results. “I did my best,”
Rain makes the world smell better—and that scent can change your mood in minutes. The “fresh” smell after a shower isn’t just clean air. It’s a mix of plant oils, ozone, and a compound from soil bacteria called geosmin. Your nose is unusually good at detecting it, even in tiny amounts. That one sensory detail hints at a bigger truth: rain doesn’t just fall on us. It pushes buttons in the brain that link safety, memory, comfort, and attention. More than water:
On March 13, 1996, a mass shooting at Dunblane Primary School in Scotland killed 16 children and a teacher and injured others. It was one of the deadliest attacks on a school in modern British history. At the time, the event shocked communities far beyond the United Kingdom because it struck a place widely seen as safe and ordinary: an elementary school gym. It still matters today because it reshaped public debate about firearm access, prompted major changes to gun laws in Great Britain, and
FAIRVIEW HEIGHTS - Fairview Heights Police are warning residents and businesses about fraudulent letters being emailed in the community that claim to come from a city planning commission and seek payments for various fees. The Fairview Heights Police Department said it “has been made aware of fraudulent letters being emailed to residents and businesses claiming to be from the ‘City of Fairview Heights Planning Commission.’” Fairview Heights Police said th
ELSAH - Principia College students and community members recently had the opportunity to engage with the co-founder of the running shoe company HOKA. On March 5, 2026, HOKA co-founder Jean-Luc Diard sat down for a fireside chat with Stuart Jenkins, Principia alum and founder of the company Blumaka. Over 600 students and community members came together to listen to this conversation. Lucia de Paz, Director of Principia’s Center for Business and Computer Science, explained that the event
ALTON - Lillian Fazio of Alton High School, Jeremiah Harrison of Alton High School, and Noah Menke of Marquette Catholic High School were honored as Students of the month for March 2026 at a regular meeting of the Rotary Club of Alton-Godfrey at the Gentelin’s on Broadway Restaurant. Lillian Fazio , a senior at Alton High School, was recognized as the March Student of the Month by the Alton-Godfrey Rotary Club. During the recognition, Fazio expressed gratitude to her teachers,
– U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV) and Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH)—co-chairs of the Girl Scouts’ Honorary Troop Capitol Hill—and U.S. Senators Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NM), John Barrasso (R-WY), Angus King (I-ME) and Maggie Hassan (D-NH) today introduced a bipartisan resolution to recognize the 114th birthday of the Girl Scouts of America and celebrate its historic legacy of empowering girls and building powerful female leaders across the
SPRINGFIELD, IL — State Senator Erica Harriss (56th-Glen Carbon) has introduced legislation to strengthen transparency and accountability in the Illinois legislative process by ensuring lawmakers have access to fiscal impact information before voting on legislation. Senate Bill 2094 amends the Illinois Fiscal Note Act to guarantee that when a member of the General Assembly requests a fiscal note on legislation, the request must be honored and cannot be dismissed by chamber vote.
SPRINGFIELD – The 2025-2026 Illinois bobcat season concluded Feb. 15 with 627 bobcats harvested by hunters and trappers. A total of 405 (62%) bobcats were taken by hunting, while trapping accounted for 222 (34%) of the harvest. Twenty-seven (4%) were salvaged by permit holders from circumstances such as roadkill. The Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) issued 2,000 permits for the 2025 season out of 9,700 bobcat lottery applicants. Hunters and trappers in Jefferson County
CHICAGO – If you played Powerball ® yesterday, you might want to check your ticket – that’s because you could be a millionaire! One lucky Illinois Lottery player matched all five white ball numbers in the Wednesday, March 11 Powerball drawing to win the $1 million prize. The winning numbers were: 3-6-55-58-63. The ticket was purchased at BCD Liquors, located at 10S622 Kingery Hwy, in Willowbrook, Illinois. For selling the winning Powerball ticket, the store will
WATERLOO - Are you or someone you care about living with diabetes, or at risk for developing diabetes or other chronic illnesses? University of Illinois Extension invites you to attend an open, supportive session led by Nutrition and Wellness Educator Kris Juelfs. These sessions provide practical tips and real-life advice in a welcoming setting where participants can share experiences and learn from one another while navigating the challenges of living with diabetes. Each month, on the second
SPRINGFIELD – The Illinois Department of Transportation announced today the release of a ? new Illinois Route 66 Map in honor of the iconic road’s 100th birthday this year. The map takes a nostalgic look at America’s most famous highway and sights to see in Illinois, while providing a historical timeline of the route’s evolution and its cultural impact. ? “The new Route 66 map is a must for enthusiasts and road trippers celebrating the 100th anniversary of the
A LTON - Alton Animal Control is experiencing a “Code Red,” meaning four of their dogs are at risk of euthanasia unless they can be adopted by Monday, March 16, 2026. Drew Marquis, an animal control officer, explained that they have four dogs who are past the stray hold period, which means they have been in animal control custody for seven days and now must either be adopted or euthanized. The animal control facility has 14 kennels available, and 12 of them are currently full.
GLEN CARBON – The Illinois Department of Transportation today announced the full closure of the intersection of Illinois 157 and Illinois 162 in Madison County has been rescheduled to begin, weather permitting, at 7 a.m. Monday, March 16. During the closure, traffic will not be permitted on Illinois 157 and Illinois 162 at the intersection. Both eastbound and westbound Illinois 162 will be closed, and neither will have access to Illinois 157. A signed detour will be in place a
ST. LOUIS – U.S. District Judge Matthew T. Schelp on Thursday sentenced a man who participated in a scheme that stole millions of dollars from elderly victims in ten states to four years in prison. Judge Schelp also ordered Sital Singh, 43, to pay $6.6 million in restitution to victims. Singh, Dariona Lambert, 24, Zhamoniq Stevens, 24, Chintankumar Parekh, 52, and Mehulkumar Darji, 42, all pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud. Lambert and Stevens were couriers
O’FALLON, Ill. — Colon cancer screening just got easier. During Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month in March, HSHS St. Elizabeth’s Hospital Radiation Oncology Center is giving away at-home screening tests while highlighting that colorectal cancer is the second most common cause of cancer deaths in the United States when cases for men and women are combined, according to the American Cancer Society (ACS) . Individuals aged 45 or older, or those with an immediate family membe
As spring approaches, more people will head outdoors to take a walk or run. One way to add to the intensity of your workout is by wearing a weighted vest. Adding weight to a walk or run is nothing new. People have been using hand weights or wrists and ankle weights for years. But experts say wearing a vest across your upper body evenly distributes the added weight. “I highly recommend it to most of my patients, because if you think about it, it adds to whatever kind of exercise you're doing,&rdquo
EDWARDSVILLE – St. Patrick’s Day is traditionally celebrated with parades, parties, green beer and more in communities throughout the state. To remind motorists of the dangers of impaired driving and to help keep our streets safe, Edwardsville Police officers will be teaming up with the Illinois State Police and Illinois Department of Transportation for a stepped-up traffic safety campaign running Friday, March 13, through early Monday, March 23, 2026. “With festivities spanning
GRAFTON - Grafton has a new veterinarian in town. Grafton Veterinary Services officially opened in January and has quickly grown into a hotspot for local veterinary care. Melissa Walsh, lead veterinary technician, explained that she, Dr. Jacob Maag, and a few other community members came together to start the practice in Grafton because they wanted to leave corporate medicine and focus on providing top-notch care for animals and their owners. “We love it. We’re tremendously
SWANSEA - A Swansea, Illinois, man - Deondre E. Jones - is accused of robbing a credit union and claiming he had a firearm. He was taken into custody within minutes and appeared in federal court on Wednesday, March 11, 2026, to face a bank robbery charge. Jones, 55, is charged with one count of bank robbery, according to federal authorities. He appeared in federal court in East St. Louis. According to the complaint, Jones is accused of robbing a credit union on North Illinois Street in Swansea
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