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GRANITE CITY - DOUBLE00 Vodka is set to make its official debut at 7 p.m. in Granite City on Saturday, July 11, 2026, when founder Darryl Gill introduces the brand at Nick’s Bar & Grill in what he described as the product’s first official pour. The launch event is scheduled for 7 p.m. at Nick’s Bar & Grill, 3900 Nameoki Road, Granite City, Illinois. The event will introduce DOUBLE00 Vodka to the region. DOUBLE00 Vodka is served ice cold as a premium shot experience. Gill,

CHICAGO — Today, Governor JB Pritzker signed HB 4438 into law, designating the black and gold bumblebee as the official Illinois State Bee. The black and gold bumblebee serves as a critical prairieland pollinator – boosting Illinois’ natural ecosystem, supporting agriculture, and even helping to sustain life on earth. This action follows a year of advocacy by students from Naperville's Lincoln Junior High School. Last year, the students in educator Barbara Bell’s

JERSEYVILLE – A building in downtown Jerseyville is set to get a new roof as it prepares to welcome a relocating business and upper-floor apartments. Jerseyville City Council members unanimously approved a commercial roof grant application from Nate and Tiffany Blasa regarding 108 S. State St. at their July 7, 2026 meeting. With an estimated project cost of $99,807, the two requested the maximum grant amount of $25,000. The project includes the removal of the building’s existing roo

CHICAGO – Governor JB Pritzker and the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) announced today the X-Labs Fast Fund to encourage U.S. National Science Foundation X-Labs ( NSF X-Labs initiative ) teams to choose Illinois as the place to pursue technical breakthroughs in the quantum technology sector. The Illinois X-Labs Fast Fund reinforces Illinois’ leadership as the nation’s leading hub for quantum innovation. “There’s no better place

DUPO - State Representative Kevin Schmidt (R-Millstadt) continues to donate the legislative pay raise he voted against to local organizations throughout the 114th District to help families in need. This month, he donated a variety of essential food items to the TWIGS Program, which provides free summer lunches to children ages 18 and under in Dupo, East Carondelet, and Cahokia Heights. “I take pride in donating my legislative pay raise to help people in our communities who are less

Wednesday starts partly sunny and quiet, with temperatures in the upper 60s early and very light wind. It will feel a little warmer than the thermometer right away, with feels like temperatures in the low to mid-70s as humidity stays high. By afternoon, the day turns hotter and stickier, reaching a high near 87. Sunshine will mix with building clouds, and there is a 55% chance of rain with a spotty thunderstorm possible later in the day. Winds stay light out of the southeast around 6 mph, with

BETHALTO – A domestic battery suspect accused of threatening to kill a Bethalto Police officer has been ordered released from custody pending trial in Madison County. Timothy L. McCann, 58, of Bethalto, was charged on June 29, 2026, with one count each of threatening a public official (a Class 3 felony), domestic battery, and resisting a peace officer (both Class A misdemeanors). Two days prior on June 27, McCann allegedly knowingly made verbal statements threatening to take the life

JERSEYVILLE - Jersey Community Unit School District No. 100 said Jersey Community High School recently concluded its Theater Camp with a packed house for the campers’ performance, bringing together 75 campers and 50 high school students for a week of activities centered on theater. According to the district, participants learned a song and dance, toured backstage areas, learned about different stage crew jobs, played acting games, enjoyed snacks and received a surprise visit from

ALTON - The City of Alton and the Great Rivers and Routes Tourism Bureau will once again host the Alton Powerboat Nationals. From July 17–19, 2026, community members and visitors can enjoy the Alton Riverfront and several thrilling races on the Mississippi River. There will also be a free meet-and-greet street party on July 17 at Mac’s Downtown. Grace Sakry, a spokesperson with Great Rivers and Routes, noted the excitement of preparing for the races and bringing people together

GODFREY - Village of Godfrey officials have approved a renovation project for the vortex chamber at the Great Godfrey Corn Maze, a popular feature of the village’s haunted maze attraction in Glazebrook Park, Mayor Mike McCormick said. Trustees approved at the Tuesday night, July 7, 2026, board meeting a proposal from Stutz Excavating Inc. for structural work on the vortex chamber, which is located near the corn maze and gazebo in Godfrey. McCormick said the work involves reconstruction

GLEN CARBON - Illinois State Police responded to a two-vehicle crash involving an SUV and a truck tractor semi-trailer on Interstate 270 westbound near South Glen Carbon in Madison County at about 6:27 a.m. July 8, 2026, according to Troop 8. A preliminary investigation indicates the crash occurred at Milepost 11 on I-270 westbound, Illinois State Police said in information provided by Trooper Genelle Jones of the agency’s Public Information Office. Unknown injuries were reported at the

EDWARDSVILLE - Main Street Community Center hosted a lively and well-attended USA 250 Celebration BBQ, bringing together over 120 community members, volunteers, staff, and Board members for an afternoon filled with food, music, and patriotic celebration. The event honored America’s upcoming 250th anniversary in 2026 with a red, white, and blue themed gathering focused on community connection, engagement, and shared enjoyment. Guests enjoyed a classic summer barbecue spread featuring hot

CHICAGO – Attorney General Kwame Raoul, as part of a coalition of 20 attorneys general and two state governors, today filed a lawsuit against the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) in response to HUD’s renewed attempt to unlawfully cap funding for permanent housing projects to address homelessness in states. In their lawsuit – filed today in federal court – Raoul and the coalition argue that HUD’s decision would result in tens of thousands o

ST. LOUIS – Today, Mayor Cara Spencer announced five new City of St. Louis Strategic Priorities and 25 underlying initiatives, outlining a clear direction for the City for the coming years. “By developing and sharing strategic priorities for the years ahead, we set clear expectations for where my administration and the City overall will focus our time, energy and resources,” said Mayor Cara Spencer. “These priorities are not meant to encompass all the important work don

SPRINGFIELD, IL — Congresswoman Nikki Budzinski’s (IL-13) office helped an Illinois resident recover $394,000 in long-delayed Social Security benefits after years of navigating a complex and frustrating process with the Social Security Administration. To listen to the full story, click HERE . After Lisa Ash lost her sister, she stepped up to become the legal guardian of her nephew. While her sister was terminally ill, Lisa was notified by the Social Security Administration (SSA)

July 8 has brought together moments of power, discovery, creativity, and change across many parts of the world. In 1497, Vasco da Gama set sail from Lisbon on the voyage that would eventually carry him around the Cape of Good Hope to India. This journey opened a direct sea route between Europe and South Asia. For Portugal, it was a major commercial and strategic success, helping it build a far-reaching maritime empire. The voyage also changed world trade by linking regions more directly by sea,

A hot room can turn a minor annoyance into a full-blown argument. That idea sounds dramatic, but many people have felt it. A long wait in traffic feels longer. Small mistakes seem harder to ignore. Patience runs thin. Heat does not change personality overnight, but it can push behavior in noticeable ways. It affects mood, attention, sleep, energy, and even the way people treat each other. Understanding that link helps explain everyday friction, from family tension at home to sharper tempers

ALTON - The Alton Police Department announced the results of its Fourth of July traffic safety enforcement campaign in Alton, Illinois, saying officers issued dozens of citations and apprehended two fugitives as part of a statewide effort tied to impaired driving and seat belt enforcement. “The Alton Police Department today announced the results of its Fourth of July Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over and Click It or Ticket safety campaigns,” Alton Police Sgt. Mike Roderfeld

ST. LOUIS COUNTY - St. Louis County prosecutors have charged a Florissant, Mo., man in connection with a July 4, 2026, shooting at a gas station on Lusher Road in which authorities say gunfire was exchanged between people in a vehicle and an off-duty Riverview Gardens police officer working secondary security. The St. Louis County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office said Sunday, July 5, 2026, that Brandon Green, 40, of the 5300 block of Delcastle Drive in Florissant, was charged with two

ALTON — Alton Police and firefighters responded at 7:41 a.m. on Tuesday, July 7, 2026, to reports of a pedestrian struck on Landmarks Boulevard, and the injured person was taken to a St. Louis-area hospital with non-life-threatening injuries, Alton Police Chief Jarrett Ford said. The Alton Police Department said it received 911 calls about the crash and dispatched several officers along with the Alton Fire Department. Alton firefighters transported the pedestrian directly to the hospital,