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EDWARDSVILLE - Hope Animal Rescues will host their first annual Plant Sale to benefit the 109 dogs in their care. From 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, May 3, 2025, community members can stop by SoCal Soul in Edwardsville to purchase a variety of plants. SoCal Soul will also donate 10% of their profits that day to the rescue. Jackie Spiker, who oversees Hope Animal Rescues, explained the Plant Sale will go a long way toward helping the animals. “Community is very important to our success, and we have a very good and loyal animal-loving community here,” she said. “It’s important for all of us to work together to help the animals and better their lives, which in turn enriches human life.” Spiker said volunteers have gathered seedlings and other plants, which were all donated for the sale. They have a wide variety, from ferns to geraniums. She believes you can find “everything for your garden to get you ready for spring and summer.” She

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EAST ALTON – Several felonies have been filed against an East Alton woman found with the personal and financial information of 14 different people. Jessica A. Wyatt, 44, of East Alton, was charged on April 21, 2025 with four Class 2 felony counts of aggravated identity theft, 10 Class 3 felony counts of identity theft, and a Class 4 felony count of deceptive practices. On Oct. 18, 2024, Wyatt allegedly stole personal identifying information from 14 different people, four of whom were 60 years of age or older. Among the information stolen were bank account numbers, social security numbers, financial account login information, driver’s license numbers, and more. Wyatt also reportedly possessed fraudulent checks which she intended to use to access the funds of another person. The East Alton Police Department presented the case against Wyatt, who was granted pretrial release from custody. All individuals charged are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of

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O'FALLON - The O’Fallon Township High School District 203 Board of Education expressed its gratitude to Steve Dirnbeck for more than 30 years of dedicated service to the district this week. Dirnbeck has contributed to the community in multiple roles, including teacher, administrator, coach, and board member. The recognition took place during the board’s most recent meeting, where current board members gathered to honor Dirnbeck’s extensive commitment to OTHS. The district acknowledged his impact on students and staff throughout his tenure. The Board of Education’s statement highlighted their appreciation: “Thank you for your service to the OTHS Community Mr. Dirnbeck!”

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WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, Congresswoman Nikki Budzinski (IL-13) released the following statement in response to the devastating car crash in Chatham, which claimed the lives of two 7-year-olds, an 8-year-old, and an 18-year-old. Six other children were hospitalized, one of whom remains in critical condition as of this morning. “The loss of these young lives is something no parent, no family, and no community should ever have to bear. To the families of these four victims and those injured, my heart aches for you. You and all those touched by this nightmare are in my constant thoughts and prayers. “I am grateful to the first responders who acted with remarkable bravery and urgency, as well as to the school staff, faith leaders, Red Cross, and volunteers who have offered their support to our community. "As the days and weeks unfold, I hope our community continues to support and uplift one another through this challenging time.”

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EDWARDSVILLE/EAST ST. LOUIS - Metro East residents received valuable information, participated in health screenings, enjoyed free haircuts, beauty services, clothing, lunch, and major door prizes during the Spring Forward Health and Wellness Fair, co-hosted by the Southern Illinois University Edwardsville School of Nursing’s (SON) WE CARE Clinic in East St. Louis. The WE CARE Clinic partnered with the East St. Louis (IL) Alumni Chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc. to host their second annual health fair on Saturday, April 26, at the Wyvetter H. Younge Higher Education Campus in East St. Louis. SIUE Chancellor James T. Minor, PhD, a member of Kappa Alpha Psi, attended the event and helped present the WE Care clinic with a $7,000 donation from the fraternity. A total of 40 vendors from the Greater St. Louis and Metro East areas participated in the event. Organizations included Writers, Planners, & Trainers (WPT), the University of Illinois, East Side Health District,

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BELLEVILLE - Area residents are encouraged to get out and explore the MetroBikeLink System this summer through St. Clair County Transit District’s “GO TRAILing” program, being held in partnership with Citizens for Modern Transit. Program participants can earn a selection of prizes by tracking miles spent biking, walking, wheeling, running, skating or skipping along the more than 39 miles of interconnecting trails and bike paths extending from the Fairview Heights Transit Center to the Shiloh-Scott Transit Center in St. Clair County, Ill. The summerlong initiative runs from May 10 through Aug. 9 and is free and open to the public. Registration can be completed at www.scctd.org . Prizes are awarded to those who track 10, 25, 50, 75 and 100 miles and include a MetroBikeLink water bottle, “GO TRAILing” brand t-shirt or hat, monthly transit pass, bike helmet and bike light. Those who track 100 miles or more over the summer months will also be entered into

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GODFREY – Lewis and Clark Community College’s Community Education division is helping to keep kids busy this summer with various multi-day College for Kids (C4K) classes. College for Kids is an academic enrichment program designed to keep young minds active as they engage, connect and learn. C4K celebrates their 36th year of enriching youth programs. Community Education Division Assistant Becky Moore said she is overjoyed to present this year’s classes to the community.“We’re thrilled to offer another summer of engaging, hands-on classes where kids can explore new interests, make friends and learn from instructors who truly love what they do,” Moore said. The 2025 Summer Camps list includes: Camp Waterschool Crayola Wild World Creative Gardener Camp Thinking Outside the Hat Balloonatics Lewis and Clark Jr. Explorer Camp Robotics 101 with LEGO WeDo Education Arithme-tricks Let’s Create an Amusement Park in LEGO Bricks Style Kids

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EAST ALTON – The National Great Rivers Research and Education Center (NGRREC) is excited to welcome Andrya Whitten Harris, Large River Fisheries Ecologist for the Illinois Natural History Survey, as the featured guest speaker for the upcoming SEED Series event from 10 a.m. – noon, Tuesday, May 20, at the Jerry F. Costello Confluence Field Station in East Alton. This free public event offers a fascinating look into the fish communities of the Illinois River, which joins the Mississippi River just upstream from the Field Station. “We’re thrilled to host Andrya and share her work with our community,” said Environmental Educator Erica Doerr. “This event offers a rare opportunity to blend science, art, and conservation in a meaningful and memorable way.” Harris, based at the Illinois River Biological Station in Havana, Illinois, brings a wealth of expertise through her work on the Long-term Survey and Assessment of Large-River Fishes in Illinois

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JERSEY COUNTY - It’s Got Faith? weekend in Jersey County, and you have the opportunity to save big and give back. From Thursday, May 1, through Sunday, May 4, 2025, community members can wear a Got Faith? t-shirt to any participating business for deals, gifts and more. There are 98 participating businesses throughout Jerseyville, Grafton and surrounding Jersey County communities. Got Faith? founder Steve Pegram explained that the goal is to support the businesses while spreading the word about the organization’s mission. “It’s our way of giving back to the businesses,” he said. “It’s like a walking coupon with your t-shirt.” As an organization, Got Faith? provides a variety of services to community members. They have a clothes closet and a food pantry. They also sponsor 12-step support groups. For a full list of their services, visit their official website . Pegram emphasized that they want to help people in the community.

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COLLINSVILLE — Collinsville Police Officer Jeremy Moore graduated from Session 155 of the Southwestern Illinois College Police Academy this past week, marking a significant milestone in his law enforcement career. The 16-week program Moore attended included intensive instruction on Illinois law, defensive tactics, firearms training, and de-escalation techniques. Following his graduation, Officer Moore will begin a 14-week Field Training Program with the Collinsville Police Department. The department expressed enthusiasm about his progress and future contributions. “Welcome to the team, Jeremy. We are extremely excited to watch you develop and hope you have a long and successful career at CPD,” the Collinsville Police Department said in a statement.

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ALTON – Riverbend Christian Leadership Academy (RCLA) invites the Riverbend community to a powerful evening of fellowship, worship, and prayer in observance of the National Day of Prayer on Thursday, May 1, 2025, from 5:00 to 8:00 p.m. at the RCLA Gymnasium, 2009 Seminary Street in Alton, IL. This year’s event will begin with a Fellowship Reception from 5:00 to 6:00 p.m., oMering attendees the opportunity to enjoy light refreshments and connect with local missions making an impact across the Riverbend. Guests can meet ministry leaders, hear their stories, and discover how God is moving through His people to bring hope and healing to our community. Participating missions include: Tigerlili Resources CEIFA International Missions Riverbend Christian Leadership Academy Salvation Army Thrive Restore Network Oasis Women's Center Following the reception, the evening will transition into a time of worship and guided prayer, led by pastors and

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GLEN CARBON — A fire broke out overnight at an apartment building under construction off Meridian Road in Glen Carbon on Tuesday, April 29, 2025, prompting multiple fire departments to respond to the scene. The blaze caused heavy fire damage to the apartments under construction. The Glen Carbon Fire Protection District believes a lightning strike may have started the fire. Fire crews remained on site Monday morning, continuing to manage the aftermath. Glen Carbon Police were rerouting traffic in the area to ensure safety and facilitate emergency response. When firefighters arrived, the flames were heavy at the scene. Authorities have not yet released further details on the investigation into the cause. Thankfully, there were no injuries in the incident.

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GRANITE CITY – Granite City Community Unit School District #9 announced a Special Meeting of the Board of Education on Tuesday, May 6, 2025 at 6 p.m. at the James J. Greenwald Administration Building at 3200 Maryville Road in Granite City, Ill. The purpose of this meeting is to conclude current Board of Education business and organization of the new GCSD9 School Board of Education. Roll Call and Declaration of Quorum Pledge of Allegiance Invocation Public Comment Minutes Executive Session Minutes Old Business Motion to Adjourn Sine Die Declaration of Quorum Call to Order and Roll Call Setting of the Agenda Adjournment To view the online agenda, please click HERE . For more information about Granite City School District #9, visit www.gcsd9.net .

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WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) joined U.S. Senators Patty Murray (D-WA), Bernie Sanders (I-VT), and Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) in sending a letter to Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. calling out the Trump administration’s direct attacks on Head Start, reminding him of his legal obligation to administer the program, and demanding the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) immediately release Head Start funding and reverse the mass firing of Head Start staff and gutting of the offices that help ensure high-quality services are available for thousands of children and families across the country. “We write to express our strong opposition to the actions you have taken to directly attack and undermine the federal Head Start program. Since day one, this Administration has taken unacceptable actions to withhold and delay funding, fire Head Start staff,

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SPRINGFIELD – Celebrating the Secretary of State’s 75th annual Vehicle Show this fall, Illinois Secretary Alexi Giannoulias is highlighting the 70th anniversary of the iconic Chrysler 300. Giannoulias also announced that the Vehicle Show will take place on Saturday, September 6, 2025, from 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. in downtown Springfield. A limited number of commemorative license plates featuring the Chrysler 300 and promoting the Vehicle Show are now available for $35 per pair until June 10. Illinois vehicle owners who purchase the plates may display them on their vehicles for up to 60 days before the show from July 8 to September 6, 2025. “The Secretary of State’s Vehicle Show is a treasured tradition that brings families and enthusiasts together from across the Midwest,” Giannoulias said. “This year’s show celebrates 75 years of classic cars and family fun. We look forward to hosting the event in downtown Springfield so people can tak

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GODFREY - In the late evening of Saturday, April 26, 2025, Madison County Sheriff's Deputies responded to Tony's Ranch House located in the 3300 block of Godfrey Road, Godfrey, in regard to the discovery of a possible human foot near the parking lot. Madison County Chief Deputy Sheriff Marcos Pulido said preliminary investigation by Sheriff's Deputies, as well as the Madison County Coroner's Office and an anthropologist, revealed this item was not a human foot. Pulido said additional investigation will take place, but for now, all guidance and consultation to this point indicate this item was likely from an animal. The discovery was made Saturday evening by an Alton woman who was at the restaurant with a group of friends. “We were just going as a group of friends to get some pizza,” she said. Upon exiting her vehicle, she noticed what she initially thought was dropped food. The woman's friends were in front of her heading into the restaurant, when she had to get their

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SPRINGFIELD – The Illinois Department of Central Management Services (CMS), Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH), and Lincoln Land Community College (LLCC) will host a State of Illinois Career Fair on May 7, 2025. Taking place on LLCC’s campus in Springfield, IL, members of the public can learn about job opportunities at the State and connect with hiring managers. “We are excited to recruit new talent to the State of Illinois and grow our diverse workforce,” said CMS Director Raven DeVaughn. “Hosting career fairs helps us meet people where they are in their communities and in their job search.” Job opportunities are available in a variety of fields at the State, including healthcare, education, finance, engineering, and more. Representatives from multiple different agencies will be in attendance. Available roles range from entry level and seasonal roles to full time and supervisory roles. The event also includes an Early Bird Workshop where

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CHATHAM - Today, Governor JB Pritzker issued the following statement concerning the tragic crash that occurred in Chatham: “I am horrified and deeply saddened by the deaths of children and numerous injuries in Chatham this afternoon. Our community lost a group of bright and innocent young people with their whole lives ahead of them. Parents said goodbye to their kids this morning not knowing it would be the last time. My heart is heavy for these families and the unimaginable grief they’re experiencing – something that no parent should ever have to endure. MK and I extend our prayers and deepest condolences to everyone impacted by this unspeakable tragedy. “Illinois State Police has begun working with the Chatham Police Department to investigate the incident and will provide the public with more information when it becomes available. My office is closely monitoring the situation and is ready to support in any way that we can. We are grateful for all the first

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GREENVILLE – Greenville University has announced the commencement schedule for the Class of 2025 graduation ceremonies, which will take place from May 8 to May 10. The theme, "Rise Up, God's Still Rolling Stones," reflects the spirit of the graduating class and the weekend's events. The master schedule for Greenville University’s Commencement Weekend is as follows: Thursday, May 8, 2025 7:00 p.m. – SENIOR MUGGING | Ruby E. Dare Library steps Friday, May 9, 2025 8:30 – 10:30 a.m. – ALMOST ALUMNI SENIOR BREAKFAST | Tidball Alumni House Seniors receive their first alumni t-shirt 5:00 p.m. – GREENVILLE UNIVERSITY CHOIR CONCERT | Wilson Recital Hall - Whitlock Music Center 6:00 p.m. – CLASS OF 2025 PHOTO | Front steps of the Ruby E. Dare Library 6:30 p.m. – IVY CUTTING (Immediately follows class photo) | Hogue Lawn For traditional students, this silent ceremony symbolizes the end of their university

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SCHAUMBURG, IL – Today, Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi concluded a three-stop “Trump Tariff Tour” across Illinois to highlight the destructive economic impact of President Donald Trump’s blanket tariff policies. From Chicago to Atlanta to Urbana, Congressman Krishnamoorthi heard directly from small business owners, farmers, and workers about how Trump’s tariffs are driving up costs, shrinking margins, and threatening jobs across the state. “Whether it’s a family farm, a neighborhood kombucha brewery, or a local produce distributor, Illinois businesses and working families are footing the bill for Donald Trump’s reckless tariff war,” Congressman Krishnamoorthi said. “These tariffs are a hidden tax on hardworking families and small businesses, and they’re already doing real damage to our economy. Illinoisans shouldn’t have to pay the price for Trump’s self-inflicted economic wounds. It’s time to end these

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