BRIGHTON – A man from Brighton pleaded guilty on Tuesday, Oct. 6, 2026, to reckless conduct causing great bodily harm in a Jersey County case involving a child victim. Mitch Diestelhorst, 30, of Brighton, pleaded guilty to a Class 4 felony count of reckless conduct/great bodily harm in Jersey County court. As part of his plea deal, a Class 3 felony count of aggravated battery of a child under the age of 13 was dismissed. Diestelhorst was sentenced to 24 months of conditional discharge an
FREEBURG, Ill. – State Representative Kevin Schmidt (R-Millstadt) is hosting a Mobile DMV Event in Freeburg and encourages his constituents to attend. Residents in the 114th District who need basic vehicle services provided by the Illinois Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) can take advantage of the Mobile Services Event. “I’m excited to partner with the Illinois Department of Motor Vehicles to bring essential services directly to the Freeburg community to serve residents,”
CHICAGO – Today, Governor JB Pritzker issued a state disaster proclamation and signed Executive Order 2026-08 to provide relief on diesel fuel costs for the agriculture industry during the fall harvest season as part of his continued efforts to support Illinois farmers. The executive order directs the Illinois Department of Revenue (IDOR) and the Illinois State Police (ISP) to allow on-road use of dyed diesel typically used for agricultural purposes. The Executive Order also directs
Why Costumes Have Meaning A crown made of cardboard can change the way a room treats someone. Put it on a child, and other children may bow, laugh, or challenge the new “ruler.” Nothing about the child’s actual power has changed. Yet one simple object has created a role, a story, and a set of expectations. That is what makes costumes meaningful: they do more than cover the body. They invite people to see — and sometimes behave — differently. Costumes connect appearance
Before the Detroit Tigers and St. Louis Cardinals played Game 5 of the World Series on Oct. 7, 1968, José Feliciano challenged an American musical tradition. His folk-inflected performance of “The Star-Spangled Banner,” accompanied by acoustic guitar, drew an immediate backlash. But it also helped open the way for popular artists to interpret the national anthem in their own voices, turning a familiar pregame ritual into a setting for musical expression. As Oct. 7, 2026, bring
This Day in History: October 7 On October 7, 2023, Hamas-led armed groups attacked southern Israel from the Gaza Strip, killing about 1,200 people, most of them civilians, and taking approximately 250 hostages. The assault included attacks on communities, military positions, and a music festival. Israel responded with a military campaign in Gaza, beginning a war that caused extensive destruction, displacement, and loss of life among Palestinians. The attack and ensuing war became a major turning
EDWARDSVILLE — From jury trials to school safety, residents of a Glen Carbon senior living community got a firsthand look at Madison County government Tuesday during a tour of the courthouse and Administration Building. Residents of Keystone Place at Magnolia Commons met elected officials, explored county offices and asked questions to learn more about the government serving their community. Keystone Place offers independent living, assisted living and memory care. “We want
EDWARDSVILLE — Dakota Perry, who was 16 when 13-year-old Ra’niya Steward was shot outside her Alton home on Feb. 3, 2024, has been sentenced to 35 years in prison for his role in her murder. Perry, described as one of the shooters, was the last of five suspects to be sentenced in the homicide. He will be eligible for parole after serving 20 years. Ra’niya was standing on her porch when she was shot. She died 10 days later at St. Louis Children’s Hospital. “Today
EAST ALTON — A new chapter begins today for the East Alton Police Department as Al Adams takes over as police chief following the retirement of Chief Scott Golike. Golike officially retires today after a long career in law enforcement, including the past five and a half years serving as chief of the East Alton Police Department. Adams, who has served with the East Alton Police Department as major, now assumes leadership of the department. Adams brings nearly three decades of law-enforcement
EAST ALTON — After 35 years in law enforcement, East Alton Police Chief Scott Golike is retiring from a career that included more than three decades of service with the Alton Police Department and the past five and a half years leading the East Alton Police Department. Golike began his career with the Alton Police Department in December 1989. During his 27 years with the department, he rose through the ranks, reaching captain. He spent more than 15 years working in investigations, includin
GODFREY – Voters in Godfrey will be asked next spring whether the village should end its involvement in an electricity aggregation program after 14 years of residents being automatically enrolled. At their Oct. 6, 2026 meeting, Village Board members unanimously approved a resolution to submit a ballot question for the April 6, 2027 elections asking whether the village should terminate the opt-out electricity aggregation program. The resolution gives village trustees the authority to terminat
JERSEYVILLE – Sentencing hearings have been rescheduled for two adults who pleaded guilty in connection to a Jerseyville public battery and mob action incident earlier this year . A substitution of attorney was filed on Sept. 22, 2026 in the case against 18-year-old Hayden Womack, removing attorney Eric Pistorious and assigning attorney Robert Elovitz to represent Womack. Womack’s sentencing hearing, originally scheduled for Sept. 28, 2026, was also rescheduled to 1 p.m. on Nov.
ALTON - Alton’s Landon Mayer secured the final state qualifying spot on Monday, Oct. 5, 2026, after a six-hole playoff at the Lockport Sectional, advancing to the Class 3A IHSA boys golf state finals for the second time. Mayer finished ninth with a 73 and will compete Friday, Oct. 10, 2026, at The Den at Fox Creek Golf Course in Bloomington. His qualification marks the fourth consecutive year an Alton boys golfer has advanced to state. Landon Mayer is an Eardley Agency LLC Male Athlete
CHICAGO – Governor Pritzker has proclaimed October Education Matters Month in Illinois to coincide with the Illinois Student Assistance Commission (ISAC) announcement of the Education Matters Illinois Fall Campaign, formerly the College Changes Everything™ (CCE) Fall Campaign. From Labor Day through Thanksgiving, ISAC partners with schools and community organizations for an intensive schedule of free college admission and financial aid application completion workshops statewide.
SPRINGFIELD - Today, Governor JB Pritzker announced attendance totals for the 2026 State Fairs exceeded 1 million for the second consecutive year . With an average cost of $145 for a family of four, the fairs are also ranked among the most affordable state fairs in the Midwest. This estimate includes parking, tickets, two ride passes, and food. Further, Du Quoin set a new attendance record and Springfield Grandstand ticket sales topped 72,000 reaching an all-time high – topping the record
SPRINGFIELD – Illinois Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias announced today that the office’s Mobile DMV program has surpassed 60,000 transactions, bringing essential driver and vehicle services directly to communities across Illinois. Since January 2023, the Secretary of State’s office has held more than 1,700 Mobile DMV events, completing more than 62,000 transactions. Among those transactions, Mobile DMV operations have issued more than 50,000 REAL IDs, driver’s licenses
QUINCY - Jersey Community High School freshman Adam Robinson is headed to the IHSA State Golf Tournament this weekend after shooting a 73 at the Quincy Notre Dame Sectional on Monday, Oct. 5, 2026. Robinson tied for fourth overall at the sectional, finishing one stroke off the lowest round of the day to qualify for the state tournament Friday and Saturday. Robinson is a Sparklight Male Athlete of the Month. The state berth follows a postseason run in which Robinson won the Cahokia
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), co-chair of the Senate Environmental Justice Caucus, joined U.S. Senators Mark Kelly (D-AZ), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) and other members of the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works, in sending two letters opposing the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) proposal to eliminate the 30-day mandatory public notice period that allows communities to provide input on proposed facilities, like data centers, that may affect the
SPRINGFIELD – The Office of the Illinois State Fire Marshal (OSFM) is teaming up with the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) and fire departments across the state to support Fire Prevention Week that runs October 4-10, 2026. This year’s FPW theme, “Charge into Fire Safety: Safe Charging Is a Superpower,” focuses on the simple steps people can take to recharge safely. Safe charging means making smart choices every time you plug in. Many devices used in our daily
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL)—Ranking Member of the U.S. Senate Commerce Subcommittee on Aviation—U.S. Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) and U.S. Representative Doris Matsui (D-CA-07), Co-Chair of the Congressional Food Allergy Research Caucus, led a group of 20 bipartisan, bicameral lawmakers in calling on the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to guarantee that emergency medical kits (EMK) on every commercial aircraft include epinephrine,
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