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
Letter To The Editor: Conservative Republican State Representative Charlie Meier has been endorsed by an impressive list of elected officials in Madison County. The endorsements come from county-wide, county board, and county party officials who back Charlie Meier for re-election to the Illinois House of Representatives. The Madison County leaders who endorse Charlie include: -County Board Chairman Chris Slusser -Sheriff Jeff Connor -Auditor David Michael -State’s Attorney Tom Haine
GLEN CARBON – An employee of the Illinois Secretary of State’s Office from Glen Carbon faces felony charges for vehicle registration-related offenses. Eddie L. Cummings, 63, of Glen Carbon, was charged on March 3, 2026 with one count each of offenses related to title and registration (a Class 2 felony), official misconduct (a Class 3 felony), and theft (a Class 4 felony). While acting in his official capacity as a Secretary of State employee, Cummings allegedly produced a duplicate
ALTON - OSF St. Anthony’s Health Center will introduce a new support group for parents. Starting in May 2026, psychotherapist Sara Bennett will offer a group that allows parents to connect. This group is targeted toward the parents of teenagers and will meet at 5:30 p.m. on Wednesdays at OSF St. Anthony’s. As a mom and a therapist who works primarily with teens and young adults, Bennett hopes the group provides a productive space for parents to develop their skills. “Not
GRAFTON — A brief tornado with peak winds of 98 mph struck Grafton early Wednesday, March 11, 2026, damaging two businesses and nearby homes but causing no injuries or deaths, according to the National Weather Service in St. Louis. National Weather Service surveyors determined the tornado was an EF-1. The tornado’s path length was 0.13 miles with a maximum width of 100 yards, the agency said. An EF-1 (Enhanced Fujita Scale) tornado has winds varying from 86 mph to 110 mph. Wind
ALTON – An attorney for the City of Alton is asking a Madison County court to prohibit the City Council from requiring the disclosure of certain billing information. Rodney Caffey, who operates the Caffey Law Firm LLC and provides legal services to the City of Alton, filed an Emergency Motion for Temporary Restraining Order and Preliminary Injunction against the Alton City Council on March 6, 2026. In his emergency motion, Caffey asks the court to prohibit the City Council from implementing
ALTON - Sleep in Heavenly Peace has grown into an international organization with an Alton chapter, and its founder is focused on what they can do next. Luke Mickelson founded Sleep in Heavenly Peace over a decade ago to solve child bedlessness. The organization builds beds and delivers them to children in the community. Alton’s local chapter is expanding, and with over 440 chapters in 48 states and four countries, Mickelson is proud of how they’ve grown and more determined
ALTON - The Alton City Council will consider a change to the city’s liquor code that would allow liquor sales beginning at 8 a.m. on Sundays, an hour earlier than the current 9 a.m. start, following discussions with local businesses. The proposal stems from a request by a local golf course, which said the earlier start time would allow it to book both an 8 a.m. and 1 p.m. tee off time for tournaments on Sundays. If approved, the change would apply to all existing liquor license holders
If you’ve ever shown up early to a meeting because your phone changed the clock overnight but the car dashboard didn’t, you’ve met daylight saving time in its most familiar form: a small shift that can throw off an entire morning. Daylight saving time (often shortened to DST) is the practice of moving clocks forward—usually by one hour—so that more daylight falls in the evening. Supporters say it saves energy and encourages outdoor activity. Critics point to sleep
On March 12, 1938, German troops crossed into Austria, beginning the Anschluss—the annexation of Austria into Nazi Germany. The takeover happened quickly and with little military resistance, but its impact was lasting. At the time, it expanded Adolf Hitler’s control in Central Europe, strengthened Germany’s position ahead of a wider war, and sent a clear signal that post–World War I agreements were being openly challenged. It still matters today because it shows how fast
ALTON – The Alton Amphitheater is heading into the 2026 season with a new production partner as the venue plans to welcome back multiple mainstay events. Alton City Council members unanimously approved a series of amphitheater-related resolutions at their March 11, 2026 meeting. These include two event requests for the Mississippi Earthtones Festival and the Porch Café Music Festival in Honor of Bud Summers, as well as the engagement of Contemporary Productions for the 2026
ALTON - Charges have been filed against an Alton resident after a man was fatally shot in the early morning of March 10, 2026, in the 700 block of Oakwood Estates, Alton Police said on Wednesday, March 11, 2026. The Alton Police Department said the victim was identified as John T. Anthony, 42, of Alton. Police said the case was presented to the Madison County State’s Attorney’s Office, led by State’s Attorney Tom Haine, and that charges were issued in connection with the shooting.
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Combat Veteran and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Tim Kaine (D-VA), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) and Brian Schatz (D-HI) were joined by Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) and 39 of their Senate colleagues today in pressing the Department of Defense for answers on the airstrikes on a school in Minab, Iran, that reportedly killed at least 168 people and the civilian casualties
ST. CLAIR COUNTY - A brief tornado with peak winds of 94 mph moved through rural parts of southern St. Clair County early March 11, 2026, damaging mainly trees and outbuildings, the National Weather Service survey crews in St. Louis have determined. The EF-1 tornado hit rural areas near Marissa, Lenzburg, and St. Libory in St. Clair County. Survey crews said the tornado’s path length was 2.6 miles and its maximum width was 300 yards. No injuries or fatalities were reported in the St.
WASHINGTON – In a speech on the Senate floor, U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee and a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, slammed Senate Republicans for blocking a bill that would fund every agency within the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS)—except U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Customs and Border Patrol (CBP), and the Office of the Secretary—while negotiations continue to rein
SPRINGFIELD — State Senator Erica Harriss (56th–Glen Carbon) has introduced legislation aimed at strengthening research efforts to help fight childhood cancer and improve outcomes for young patients across Illinois. Senate Bill 3954 would create the Illinois Pediatric Cancer Fund, a special fund within the State Treasury Department dedicated to supporting research, prevention, and treatment efforts related to pediatric cancer. The fund would provide grants to physicians, hospitals,
CHICAGO – Today, Governor JB Pritzker joined a coalition of 19 governors from across the country urging congressional leaders to take action following the U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling which found that the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) does not authorize the President to impose tariffs. In a joint letter to Congressional leadership, the Governors warned that sweeping tariffs imposed by the Trump Administration over the past year have caused significant economic
ST. LOUIS — A former Florissant, Mo., police officer who illegally searched the phones of 20 women for nude photos during traffic stops was sentenced Wednesday, March 11, 2026, to 24 months in prison and ordered to pay $2,681 in restitution, according to information from the U.S. District Court. The U.S. District Court reported that Julian Alcala, 31, pulled the women over while on duty, in uniform, and in a marked police vehicle between Feb. 6, 2024, and May 18, 2024. Alcala took mobile
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Combat Veteran and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) joined U.S. Senators Tim Sheehy (R-MT), Elissa Slotkin (D-MI) and Kevin Cramer (R-ND) in leading a bipartisan push to increase access to Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits for Veterans pursuing apprenticeships. The Senators’ Reducing Arbitrary Barriers to Apprenticeship Act would allow Post-9/11 GI Bill beneficiaries pursuing On-the-Job Training (OJT) or Apprenticeship (APP) programs to have access to the full
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) spoke on the Senate floor today criticizing the Trump Administration for disregarding Americans’ concerns with the rising costs of food, power, housing, health care, and more. President Trump has previously dismissed the affordability crisis we are facing in the U.S. as a “hoax.” “Our job as elected officials is to give Americans a helping hand to afford these necessities. Sadly, the Administration has
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