SPRINGFIELD, IL. - With demand for physicians rising nationwide, Southern Illinois University School of Medicine added a new cohort of doctors to the health care workforce on Saturday, May 16, as fourth-year medical students received their medical degrees and prepared to begin residency training. The commencement ceremony at the BOS Center in Springfield celebrated the achievements of 72 graduates (70 MDs and 2 PhDs) and featured remarks from faculty members, alumni and honorees. SIU School of
CHICAGO – Attorney General Kwame Raoul applauded the Illinois Senate’s passage of his legislation to support his office’s efforts to combat workplace rights violations. House Bill 4725, sponsored by Sen. Omar Aquino, was approved with bipartisan support and will now go to the governor for approval. “The Workplace Rights Bureau in the Attorney General’s office has recovered millions of dollars on behalf of Illinois workers. This measure will enhance our ability
CHARLESTON - Sophie Shapiro of Edwardsville returned Saturday, May 23, 2026, from the IHSA Class 3A State Girls Track and Field Meet with four medals, including a state title in the 300-meter hurdles. She said sharing the team championship with Homewood-Flossmoor was what made her most proud of the entire weekend. Shapiro finished first in the 300 hurdles in 41.29, took second in the 100 hurdles in 13.79 behind Conant’s Daisha Brunson, who won in 13.67, and ran on Edwardsville’s
ALTON - Rayna Raglin of Alton won state titles in the 100-meter and 200-meter races and placed eighth in the 400 on Saturday, May 23, 2026, at the IHSA Class 3A Girls State Track and Field Meet at Eastern Illinois University’s O’Brien Field in Charleston. Raglin, a senior, finished first in the 100 meters in 11.87 seconds and first in the 200 meters in 23.41. She also took eighth in the 400 in 57.06. “I am happy all the hard work paid off,” Raglin said. Raglin said
CHARLESTON - Edwardsville’s Jayla Gathing won the girls discus state championship Saturday, May 23, 2026, after a tiebreaker decided first place, while teammate Joi Story surged from 10th to third, giving Edwardsville two top-three finishes in the event. Gathing threw 46.17 meters, matching Jaloni Wiley of Homewood-Flossmoor. Gathing won the title because she had the better second-best throw. “We were tied for first,” Jayla said. “Then my last throw of 44 meters was better
CHARLESTON - Edwardsville’s Jayla Gathing won the girls shot put state championship Saturday, May 23, 2026, after a tiebreaker decided first place, while teammate Joi Story surged from 10th to third, giving Edwardsville two top-three finishes in the event. Gathing threw 46.17 meters, matching Jaloni Wiley of Homewood-Flossmoor. Gathing won the title because she had the better second-best throw. “We were tied for first,” Jayla said. “Then my last throw of 44 meters was
CHARLESTON — Edwardsville senior Joi Story won the shot put title Saturday, May 23, 2026, at the 3A IHSA State Track and Field Meet, taking first place with a toss of 13.52 meters, or 44 feet, 4.25 inches, in the championship round. Jaloni Wiley of Homewood-Flossmoor finished second with a toss of 13.45 meters. Story, a previous state discus champion for Edwardsville, said her approach has centered on consistency rather than chasing marks. Story is a Spencer Homes Female Athlete of th
FERGUSON, Mo. — A 4-month-old baby girl who was the subject of an Amber Alert in Ferguson was found safe Saturday morning, May 23, 2026, authorities said, while the suspect identified in the case remained at large. The Missouri State Highway Patrol launched the search after the baby was taken from a home on Perch Drive in Ferguson around 1:20 a.m. Saturday. Authorities issued the Amber Alert early Saturday morning after what they said was an abduction following an assault on the child’s
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Combat Veteran and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) exposed how VA Secretary Doug Collins’ proposed budget is effectively a plan to strongarm the VA toward privatization—a move that would devastate our Veterans’ access to comprehensive, tailored VA care when they return home from war with unique, complex needs. During the U.S. Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee (SVAC) hearing, Duckworth called out Secretary Collins on the Trump Administration’s
On May 23, the most far-reaching event in world history is often linked to 1949, when the Basic Law for the Federal Republic of Germany came into force, creating West Germany in the aftermath of the Second World War. This was more than a legal step. It marked the rebuilding of democratic government in western Germany after the collapse of Nazi rule and the destruction of the war. At the time, it mattered because Europe was trying to recover while tensions between the Soviet Union and the Western
CHARLESTON - The Jersey Community High School girls' track and field team competed May 22, 2026, at the IHSA State 2A Meet, where the Panthers’ 4x200-meter relay team placed 20th overall with a time of 1:46.09. The Panthers' high jump standout, Morgan Allen, also advanced to the state finals on Saturday with an outstanding performance. The Jersey girls are Sparklight Female Athletes of the Month for their state track performances. The Panthers' 4 x 200 relay team —
SPRINGFIELD - Memorial Day weekend marks the unofficial start of summer and is one of the busiest times of year for outdoor cooking, campfires, and recreational travel. With increased activity comes increased risk, particularly involving grilling equipment, open flames, and portable heat sources. “First responders are prepared for increased calls during holiday weekends, but prevention is always the best response. It’s important to inspect and clean your grills before using them
SPRINGFIELD – For many Americans, Memorial Day weekend marks the unofficial start of summer. It is the first nationally celebrated warm-weather holiday of the year, and many Illinoisians will participate in such activities as grilling, boating, swimming, and drinking. The Illinois Liquor Control Commission (ILCC) encourages everyone that plans on consuming alcohol to be responsible and know your limits. If you plan on drinking, the following tips are provided to help you plan to celebrate
GODFREY – Director of Financial Aid Angela Weaver is the 2025-2026 recipient of Lewis and Clark Community College’s highest honor, the Pantone 286 Award. The award, named for the Pantone Color System identifier for Lewis and Clark’s “Trailblazer blue,” is given annually to team members who go above and beyond to serve the Trailblazer community. “I am really surprised,” Weaver said. “I’m very humbled to even be recognized or be talked
Prisoner Review Board Corinne Briscoe will serve as a Member of the Prisoner Review Board.* Briscoe currently serves as Director of Probation and Court Services with Macoupin/Greene/Scott Probation District, where she is responsible for financial and strategic planning decisions for adult and juvenile probation. Previously, Briscoe served as Chief Probation Officer for Greene County. Briscoe earned her Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and her Master of Business Administration from University
SPRINGFIELD – Legislation spearheaded by Illinois Comptroller Susana A. Mendoza to strengthen regulatory oversight of crematories passed the Illinois Senate today, following its passage by the House in April. HB 4695 , sponsored by Representative Anthony DeLuca (D-Chicago Heights) and chief co-sponsor Representative Diane Blair-Sherlock (D-Villa Park) in the House and Senator Patrick Joyce (D-Essex) in the Senate, increases the Comptroller’s regulatory powers, codifies and clarifies
SPRINGFIELD - Governor JB Pritzker released the following statement following the passage of legislation that will ban junks fees (HB228), a legislative initiative laid out in the Governor's 2026 State of the State Address: “Illinois consumers have been nickel-and-dimed out of thousands of dollars per year by unnecessary and deceptive junk fees. I am proud that the Illinois General Assembly has passed the Junk Fee Ban Act to put money back in the pockets of families and establish fair,
GODFREY – Plans for a new business offering liquor, tobacco, and video gaming in Godfrey are on hold as trustees await more detailed information, including its exact distance from a nearby school. Village Board members considered a business plan, liquor license, and gaming license for Sita Raman Inc. at their May 19, 2026, meeting. Still, they ultimately voted to table the items until their next meeting. Trustee Mike Fisher said the Village Board received no copy of the business’s
SPRINGFIELD – Illinois Environmental Protection Agency’s (Illinois EPA) Director James Jennings issued a statement following the U.S. EPA’s announcement to roll back protective national drinking water standards for Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in community water supplies (CWS). “Illinois EPA has been working to address PFAS contamination in Illinois community water supplies since 2020,” said Director Jennings. “These efforts have included comprehensive
EDWARDSVILLE, Ill. – For everyone looking for free summer fun for all ages, there’s a packed lineup of concerts and events happening in City Park in downtown Edwardsville this spring and summer. On tap are ongoing performances by the Edwardsville Symphony and the Edwardsville Municipal Band, an evening with Opera Edwardsville, a fun mix of rock, pop, Motown and other sounds for the Friday night concerts, movies, children’s crafts and more. And it all kicks off this Memorial
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