SPRINGFIELD – The Illinois Secretary of State’s office has become the first Illinois state agency to ever receive the national Achievement of Excellence in Procurement (AEP) Award from the National Procurement Institute. This marks a milestone for the office’s ongoing efforts to deliver more efficient, transparent and accountable government for Illinois taxpayers. The Secretary of State’s office was also the only Illinois government agency recognized with the award
EDWARDSVILLE — Edwardsville police made five impaired driving arrests and issued 17 citations for other violations during a recent Fourth of July traffic safety campaign, part of a statewide Illinois effort aimed at removing drunk and drugged drivers from the roads and encouraging seat belt use. The Edwardsville Police Department participated in the holiday enforcement campaign alongside more than 200 other state and local law enforcement agencies across Illinois. The effort combined high-visibilit
A cup of coffee made the same way every morning can feel oddly powerful. It is still just coffee. Yet the grinding, pouring, waiting, and first sip can steady the mind before the day begins. That small scene helps explain why humans enjoy rituals. Rituals are repeated actions that carry meaning. Some are formal, like weddings, funerals, and religious services. Others are personal, like touching a lucky charm before a test or taking the same walk after work. We often think of rituals as old o
On July 7, one of the most significant events in world history took place in 1937, when fighting between Chinese and Japanese forces at the Marco Polo Bridge near Beijing helped trigger the full-scale Second Sino-Japanese War. The clash began as a local military incident, but it quickly grew into a much larger conflict between China and Japan. At the time, it mattered because it opened years of devastating war in East Asia, brought immense civilian suffering, and reshaped regional power. It stil
HIGHLAND, Ill. — With property taxes continuing to be one of the biggest concerns for local homeowners, Madison County Board District 1 candidate Jennifer Korte is inviting residents to attend a free educational seminar designed to help them better understand their property taxes and learn about exemptions they may qualify for. The seminar, "Understanding Your Property Assessments & Exemptions," will be held: Tuesday, July 28: 6:00 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. Highland Knights of Columbus Hal
ALTON – Funding for street resurfacing, parks equipment, and more is moving ahead in Alton. Committee of the Whole members on July 6, 2026 unanimously approved a previously postponed resolution allocating $644,428 in Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funding from the Fiscal Year 2026 budget for certain city-wide projects. The resolution originally called for $300,000 for new sidewalks and restrooms at Hellrung Park, $144,428 for derelict structure demolition and tree removal,
ST. LOUIS COUNTY - St. Louis County Police are investigating an officer-involved shooting that injured two juveniles after officers responded to a large teen gathering Sunday night, July 5, 2026, that drew more than 25 emergency calls and later spilled into the area of Bellefontaine Road and Larimore Road, authorities said. The shooting happened about 10:15 p.m. Sunday, July 5, in the 11000 block of Bellefontaine Road, according to the St. Louis County Police Department. Police said officers
O'FALLON, IL. - State Representative Kevin Schmidt (R-Millstadt) recognized Saddleback Chocolates as his Business of the Month for June. Rep. Schmidt presented owners Maureen and Mike Moore with a certificate from the Illinois House of Representatives recognizing their hard work, entrepreneurial spirit, and commitment to the community. “Maureen and Mike Moore work together to create delicious handmade chocolate assortments using their own Belgian-French-style recipes,” Schmidt said.
NEW ATHENS — State Rep. Kevin Schmidt, R-Millstadt, is hosting a free shred event and canned food drive from 9 to 11 a.m. Saturday, July 11, at the Bullpen Parking Lot, 101 N. Van Buren St. in New Athens, and is encouraging constituents to bring nonperishable food items for a local pantry. Schmidt said the event will offer on-site paper shredding and collection of nonperishable food donations. “Shredding documents that contain personal information gives people peace of mind and
GRANITE CITY – Revity Credit Union employees came together to raise $1,450 for the National Children's Cancer Society (NCCS) through their ongoing Jeans for Generations program. Revity Credit Union’s Jeans for Generations program reflects the credit union philosophy of People Helping People, empowering employees to support organizations that make a meaningful impact in the lives of others. Each month, Revity employees contribute donations to a selected charity and, in return, enjoy
When you think about peanuts, it’s easy to look back to your childhood when so many grew up eating peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. Or when we devoured a sleeve of peanut butter cookies after school. But there were also kids who couldn’t partake because they had a peanut allergy. “Having a peanut allergy, or really any food allergies, can be difficult for school-aged children,” says Alissa Bartel, APRN, a nurse practitioner with OSF HealthCare. “Sometimes you
EDWARDSVILLE - The Edwardsville Municipal Band continues its summer season with a free concert on Thursday, July 9 at 7:30 p.m. at the Cleaon Etzkorn Bandstand in City Park. This week’s performance, titled “A Musical Potpourri,” features a program selected entirely by the band members themselves. From personal favorites to longtime staples, this mix directly reflects the unique range, diverse tastes, and musical interests of the band. The program features a blend of concert
TROY - The Troy/Maryville/St. Jacob/Marine Chamber of Commerce, the City of Troy, Jarvis Township and Ramert Insurance will host the second annual National Night Out from 6 to 8 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 4, at Tri-Township Park in Troy, organizers announced. The event is intended to honor local first responders and bring the community together for what organizers described as a fun, family-friendly evening. Attendees will be able to meet local first responders, tour emergency vehicles and other specialty
TAIPEI, TAIWAN – Today, U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL)—a member of the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee (SFRC)—traveled to Taiwan, the first Senator to do so after the disastrous Trump-Xi summit. After Donald Trump kowtowed to President of the People’s Republic of China (PRC) Xi Jinping and waffled on delivering a critical bipartisan arms package to Taiwan, the Senator plans to meet with Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te, Vice President Hsiao Bi-khim and
ALTON - The Alton Municipal Band has reached the halfway point of its summer season, after concluding a successful run of patriotic concerts celebrating the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence. The band, which performs every Thursday and Sunday in June and July, will perform three more weeks of concerts in the parks this summer. On Thursday, July 9th and Sunday, July 12th, Riverbend favorites The Warehouse Project will perform alongside the municipal band at Riverview
BETHALTO - The Bethalto Floor Store has received the RiverBend Growth Association’s Small Business Excellence Award for July. Owned by Kaylee Weber, The Bethalto Floor Store offers a variety of hardwood, tile, luxury vinyl, carpet and laminate products and installation services. Weber never anticipated that she would one day own the store, but she loves working with her community and giving back to the people who raised her. “I’m a born-and-raised Bethalto girl. I love being
SHILOH - The Shiloh Police Department is asking for the public’s help identifying a person shown in surveillance photos who detectives believe may have information about a burglary reported Thursday, July 2, 2026, in the 1300 block of Hartman Lane in Shiloh. In a public notice, the department said the burglary occurred at about 5:30 a.m. on July 2. Detectives are seeking information from anyone who recognizes the individual or who was in the area between 4 a.m. and 6 a.m. and saw
ST. LOUIS - A modified overnight curfew for juveniles in St. Louis’ Downtown and Downtown West neighborhoods was in effect this past weekend, with 40 juveniles detained for violations, according to the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department. City officials said the measure is intended to address unsafe late-night gatherings during the July 4 weekend and the rest of the summer. The curfew applies nightly from 9 p.m. to 6 a.m. to people 17 and younger. It began the evening of July 3 and
ST. LOUIS - A 17-year-old St. Louis boy was killed and two 16-year-old boys were wounded in a shooting just after midnight on Sunday, July 5, 2026, near North 21st Street and East Linton Avenue in the College Hill neighborhood, according to police. St. Louis Metropolitan Police District 6 officers were called to the intersection shortly after midnight for a reported shooting. When officers arrived, they found a 17-year-old male who had been shot and was unconscious and not breathing, police said
ST. LOUIS COUNTY - Two men were killed and two other people were injured after a robbery led to a fight and gunfire late Sunday, July 5, 2026, in the 4300 block of North Hanley Road in St. Louis County, police said. Officers from the St. Louis County Police Department Bureau of Transit Police responded at 11:55 p.m. Sunday, July 5, to a call for a shooting and found three adult males with apparent gunshot injuries, according to a Monday, July 6, 2026, update from the St. Louis County Police
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