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CHICAGO – October is Infant Safe Sleep Awareness Month, and the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS), the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) and Safe Kids Illinois are partnering with public transit agencies across the state to share a simple, lifesaving message with parents and caregivers when it’s time for an infant to sleep – give them room to breathe. New safe sleep placards will be displayed on approximately 1,000 buses across Illinois, bringing

GODFREY - Madison County Sheriff's Deputy Brad Woelfel kissed a baby pig during Alton High’s homecoming pep rally on Wednesday, Sept. 30, 2026, after students voted him among the top three staff members in a fundraiser for the school’s environmental sustainability club. The Alton High Revive Club hosted the fundraiser, asking several school staff members to volunteer to kiss a pig. Students paid $2 per vote to choose their favorite staff member for the task. Woelfel, a school resource

JERSEYVILLE – A Jerseyville version of Oktoberfest returns this weekend, bringing German food, music and more to the American Legion Post #492. Strassenfest 2026 will be held this Friday, Oct. 2 and Saturday, Oct. 3, 2026 at the Jerseyville American Legion grounds at 300 Veterans Parkway. Commander Duane Montgomery with American Legion Post #492 said there was a strong turnout for last year’s Strassenfest, which marked the festival’s resurrection after long being discontinued.

GODFREY - You can have fun and help save dogs’ lives at an upcoming music bingo fundraiser. On Saturday, Oct. 3, 2026, Hope Animal Rescues will host their first-ever music bingo night at the Alton-Wood River Sportsman’s Club in Godfrey. Doors open at 6 p.m. and the bingo starts at 7 p.m. Tickets cost $25. All proceeds go toward the rescue’s mission to save dogs from shelters and animal control facilities on the day they are to be euthanized. “We try to always help

JERSEYVILLE – A woman from Jerseyville charged with setting a fire inside an occupied apartment complex was recently brought into custody. Stephanie D. Monroe, 52, of Jerseyville, was charged in Jersey County court on Sept. 25, 2026 with a Class 1 felony count of attempted aggravated arson. Monroe is accused of committing arson by burning a section of carpet within an occupied apartment complex on Sept. 18, 2026. At the time of the offense, charging documents state multiple occupied apartment

WEST ALTON, MO. - A 40-year-old Fairview Heights, Illinois, man died on Thursday, Oct. 1, 2026, after his SUV overturned and he was ejected on southbound U.S. 67 in St. Charles County, according to a crash report. The crash occurred at 4:20 a.m. on Thursday, Oct. 1, 2026, north of Riverlands Way, the Missouri State Highway Patrol said in the report. The Missouri Highway Patrol said in the report that the driver overcorrected, causing his 2013 Ford Explorer to slide across all lanes of traffic

ALTON - Heaterz Hot Chicken, a local favorite restaurant, will relocate to the current Flock Food Truck Park property in spring 2027, bringing a new vision to the riverfront. Owner Dan King recently announced that Heaterz will move from its current spot to the new flagship location in downtown Alton, called Heaterz at the Riverfront. In addition to a permanent kitchen, Heaterz at the Riverfront will include artificial turf, a playground, drive-thru and jumbo televisions. King jokes that customers

ALTON - A St. Francis statue stolen from the Episcopal Parish of Alton was scrapped in St. Louis less than 48 hours after the theft for roughly $100, according to Fr. Garron C. Daniels. The hammered copper St. Francis statue that had stood for decades in the St. Paul's Garden at the Episcopal Parish of Alton was stolen sometime between Saturday evening, Sept. 12, 2026, and Sunday morning, Sept. 13, 2026. The statue was made by Hillis Arnold, a well-known St. Louis artist, and had been, as Daniel

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, combat Veteran and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL)—a member of the U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC) and U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee (SFRC) who served in the Iraq War—issued the following statement after the Trump Administration announced that the United States has officially withdrawn our military forces from Iraq: “For an entire generation of combat Veterans, the weight of this moment as our nation withdraws U.S.

ALTON — A new route and a shift in parade day allowed more students to celebrate their Redbird Pride at Alton School District 11’s annual homecoming parade Wednesday night, Sept. 30, 2026, Superintendent Elaine Kane said. The changes grew out of feedback from community members who participated in the Reimagine Alton Schools initiative, Kane said. She credited community partners with helping make the adjustments possible. “Our new route and parade day are allowing even more

SPRINGFIELD – In recognition of Illinois Literacy Day, Illinois Secretary of State and State Librarian Alexi Giannoulias today joined the Illinois Literacy Foundation and the Illinois State Alliance of YMCAs to celebrate a statewide Day of Service focused on putting more books into the hands of children and families across Illinois. The initiative will distribute more than 8,000 books and bring volunteer readers and family-focused literacy activities to 118 early childhood and afterschool

CHICAGO - The Illinois Department of Insurance (IDOI) announces the return of $9.3 million to consumers this year through its Life Policy Locator service for lost or unclaimed life insurance policies and annuities. “When families lose a loved one, they may not be aware of the life insurance benefits and annuities their deceased family member purchased for financial security,” said IDOI Director Ann Gillespie. “We want to help Illinoisans collect the funds they’re entitled

SPRINGFIELD – Visitors are invited to enjoy this year’s Candlelight Walk at Lincoln’s New Salem State Historic Site, a popular kickoff to the fall festival season, on any of the nine nights it takes place, Oct. 2-4, 9-11 and 16-18. From 5 to 7:30 p.m. each evening, visitors can explore the historic village while more than 200 candle lanterns illuminate pathways throughout the site. Building interiors will be illuminated by candlelight. Site staff and volunteer interpreters

Why Autumn Feels Magical A tree’s most brilliant display can arrive just as it begins to shut down for winter. That reversal helps explain autumn’s strange appeal: what looks like an ending can feel vivid, generous, and full of possibility. A familiar street changes color. An ordinary drink becomes a ritual. Even a walk to the bus stop can feel worth remembering. Autumn’s magic is not a single mystery. It comes from the meeting of biology, memory, cultural traditions, and

ALTON - Three Alton-area public safety officials were recently honored for investigative work that led to a conviction and a 12-year prison sentence in an aggravated arson case stemming from March 27, 2025. The Illinois chapter of the International Association of Arson Investigators recognized Deputy Chief Matt Fischer of the Alton Fire Department, Detective Stedmann Middlebrook of the Alton Police Department and Special Agent Chris Handshy of the Office of the State Fire Marshal. The recognition

SPRINGFIELD – The Illinois Department of Transportation announced today that grant applications will be accepted through Oct. 30 from downstate transit providers for new capital projects. The call for applications will determine the distribution of up to $100 million for projects that expand and improve transit, increase transportation options and enhance quality of life in downstate communities. Awards will be announced by the end of the year. An informational webinar on the program will

ROSEWOOD HEIGHTS — Homemade chicken and noodles, handcrafted gifts, and a fall market will be part of St. Paul United Methodist Church’s Fall Festival on Saturday, Oct. 17, 2026, a fundraiser supporting the church’s community work and more than 20 missions. The festival will run from 10 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. at the church, at the corner of Airline Drive and North Center Street in Rosewood Heights. Meals will be available for dine-in or carryout, with lunch served from 11 a.m.

Music’s digital future reached Japanese store shelves on Oct. 1, 1982, when Sony introduced its CDP-101 compact disc player. Accompanied by 50 CD titles, the launch helped turn digital sound from an engineering project into a consumer product — a change that would reshape how people bought and heard recorded music. That technological turning point is the centerpiece of this Oct. 1, 2026, look back. The date also connects a bandleader’s appointment, an important jazz recording,

On October 1, 1949, Mao Zedong proclaimed the founding of the People’s Republic of China in Beijing. The announcement followed the Chinese Communist Party’s victory over Nationalist forces across most of mainland China after years of civil war, interrupted by the struggle against Japan. It established a new government over the world’s most populous country and changed the balance of power in Asia. The Nationalist government subsequently withdrew to Taiwan, where it continued

EDWARDSVILLE - Lincoln and Liberty Middle Schools celebrated “Dolly Day” on Friday, Sept. 25, raising funds for Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library. Students and staff were encouraged to wear western attire, while Team 72 students helped lead the effort through posters, morning announcements and a donation collection at school entrances. The idea for Dolly Day came from Lincoln teacher Carla Kinsey, who wanted to honor the impact Dolly Parton had on her and her family growing