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Did you know that nearly 40 million Americans go camping each year? While this statistic highlights the popularity of the great outdoors, it also underscores a crucial point: many of those campers head into the wilderness unprepared. The difference between a memorable camping experience and a frustrating one often lies in how well you prepare ahead of time. As the warmer months approach, spring offers the perfect opportunity to lay the groundwork for a successful summer camping trip. Understand Your Destination Before you pack your bags, take time to research your chosen camping location. National parks, state parks, and local campgrounds all have unique attributes that can greatly impact your camping experience. Investigate the following aspects: Terrain and Weather : Understanding the terrain helps you choose the right gear. For instance, if your destination is mountainous, sturdy hiking boots are essential. Check average temperatures and possible weather patterns to ensure yo

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April 10 is a day that has witnessed a remarkable array of events throughout history, marking significant advancements, revolutionary changes, and cultural milestones across the globe. One of the most notable events that took place on April 10 was the launch of the world’s first practical jet engine in 1939 by German engineer Hans von Ohain. This groundbreaking development revolutionized aviation and paved the way for the jet age, fundamentally changing how people travel and reshaping the dynamics of global transportation. The invention of the jet engine not only contributed to faster air travel but also had profound implications for military aviation, influencing air combat strategies in World War II and beyond. In 1963, another significant event unfolded when the USS Thresher, a nuclear-powered submarine of the United States Navy, tragically sank during deep-diving tests off the coast of Cape Cod. The loss of the Thresher, which resulted in the deaths of all 129 crew

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SPRINGFIELD - State Senator Erica Harriss and the Illinois Office of the State Fire Marshal (OSFM) are pleased to announce that more than a dozen Small Equipment Grants have been awarded to fire departments across Madison and St. Clair counties, which make up all or part of the 56th Senate District. “These departments are the backbone of emergency response in our communities,” said Senator Harriss. “This funding will help ensure they have the tools and equipment they need to respond quickly and safely. I'm proud to support the brave men and women who protect us every day.” 2025 Small Equipment Grant Recipients Include: Madison County: Long Lake Fire Protection District – $25,965 Mitchell Fire Protection District – $26,000 Fosterburg Fire Protection District – $8,684 Roxana Fire Department – $25,149 Alton Fire Department – $26,000 Worden Fire Protection District – $26,000 Hartford Fire Department – $26,000

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ALTON/MARION - Centerstone is a local leader in mental health and substance use disorder treatment, but they go a step further to provider services for children with Autism Spectrum Disorder. Centerstone’s CASTLE program is focused on supporting families and kids with ASD. They work with children up to age 16 to develop complex language and social skills, daily living skills and academic skills. The clinic, located in Marion, specializes in Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) therapy. “We’re really excited about being able to expand the services we provide and the resources that we have for the families that we serve,” said Marty, Behavior Analytic Program Manager. “I want it to be a place where we can be a resource for those families and provide those answers and those moments of comfort of knowing that you have a team that supports you. You have a team that understands what you’re going through and what you may need as well as what your child

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ALTON – Alton will officially apply for over $200,000 worth of grant funds for upgrades at Gordon Moore and Riverfront Parks. City Council members on Wednesday unanimously passed a resolution authorizing the mayor to apply for Park Enhancement Program (PEP) grant funds from the Madison County Park and Recreation Grant Commission after the Committee of the Whole passed the same item earlier this week . The total estimated cost for all associated park improvement projects is $202,840, which is also the amount of grant funding the city plans to apply for. If approved, these grants will help cover the cost of several projects at Gordon Moore Park. These include a new roof for pavilion #2, a small playground for pavilions #4, 5, and 6, resurfacing for two tennis courts, as well as a new small pavilion with a concrete pad, sidewalks, and three picnic tables for the all-inclusive playground at the park. In addition to the Gordon Moore Park upgrades, the city is also applying

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GRAFTON - This weekend, Raging Rivers WaterPark will host their fifth annual Great Mushroom Hunt. From 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday, April 12, 2025, community members are invited to Raging Rivers in Grafton for a vendor fair, mushroom hunt, Easter egg hunt, scavenger hunt and more. Located at 100 Palisades Parkway in Grafton, Raging Rivers looks forward to hosting another fun festival for the community. “It’s our way of giving a little bit back to the community and letting people come out and see the park and the Mother Nature and spring and just what Raging Rivers has to offer,” explained General Manager Jeremy Hayes. “It’s another way of keeping Raging Rivers in people’s minds.” The Great Mushroom Hunt will take place in the woods surrounding the park. Hayes encourages people to dress accordingly and bring bug spray. There will be prizes awarded for the hunters who collect the most mushrooms, the smallest mushroom and the biggest

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EAST ST. LOUIS – Andrew P. Blassie, the former Executive Vice President of the Bank of O’Fallon, has been indicted by a federal grand jury on charges of bank fraud and interstate transportation of funds obtained by fraud, totaling more than $2 million. The indictment alleges that Blassie, 69, engaged in a check kiting scheme during his tenure at the bank, which lasted from September 2023 to September 2024. According to the charges, Blassie is accused of inflating the balance of his personal checking account by depositing checks from accounts with insufficient funds at other banks and a credit union. This fraudulent activity reportedly allowed him to misappropriate nearly $2.7 million for personal expenses, using funds that belonged to the Bank of O’Fallon. U.S. Attorney Steven D. Weinhoeft emphasized the importance of fiduciary responsibility among bank officials, and said, “Senior bank officials must act as fiduciaries, not felons — they must serve th

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CHICAGO – Attorney General Kwame Raoul today, as part of a coalition of 19 attorneys general, filed an amicus brief in the United States Supreme Court to defend the discretion of public schools in Montgomery County, Maryland, to incorporate LGBTQ-inclusive books into their curricula without offering parents an option to opt out. The brief was filed in support of the respondents in Mahmoud v. Taylor and argues that the use of curricula with LGBTQ-inclusive books without an opt-out option falls within public schools’ longstanding authority to foster safe learning environments. Although the case specifically focuses on policies of the Montgomery Country Board of Education, the Supreme Court’s decision in the case could be consequential for public schools nationwide. “Inclusive classroom environments help all students feel valued and respected and allow everyone to thrive,” Raoul said. “I will continue to work with my fellow attorneys general

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PONTOON BEACH/GRANITE CITY – The Illinois Department of Transportation today announced that westbound Interstate 270 will be reduced to one lane between Interstate 255 and Illinois 203 in Madison County starting, weather permitting, at 9 p.m. Friday, April 11, for road widening. One lane will remain open. All lanes will reopen by 5 a.m. Monday, April 14. Motorists should expect delays and are encouraged to use alternate routes during this closure. Drivers are urged to reduce speed, be alert for changing conditions, obey all construction signage, and refrain from using mobile devices while approaching and traveling through the work zone. For IDOT District 8 updates, follow us on the social media platform X at @IDOTDistrict8 or view area construction details on IDOT’s traveler information map on GettingAroundIllinois.com.

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GRANITE CITY – Two students from Granite City Community Unit School District #9 have been honored for their creativity and commitment to environmental awareness in the Madison County Green Schools Programs' 2025 Clean Air Bookmark Contest. First-grader Jace Boyer from Wilson 1-2 Education Center and seventh-grader Lauren Wilson from Coolidge Junior High School both secured first-place awards in their respective categories. The contest, which received a total of 424 entries from multiple schools, aimed to engage students in environmental advocacy. For grades K-2, participants were encouraged to design bookmarks that expressed their care for clean air. Boyer’s design stood out among 246 entries from 11 schools, earning him first place. In the grades 6-8 category, which focused on solutions to air pollution, Lauren Wilson’s entry was selected from 178 submissions across seven schools. As winners, Boyer and Wilson will each receive a certificate, a Kindle

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EDWARDSVILLE - Ivy Hall Dispensary invites the community to its grand opening ribbon-cutting ceremony. At 9 a.m. on Friday, April 11, 2025, Ivy Hall and the Ed-Glen Chamber of Commerce will mark the dispensary’s opening with a ribbon-cutting. Attendees can expect plenty of “canna-gifts,” specials, and free coffee from Goshen Coffee. Starting at 4 p.m., every shopper will receive free tacos from Takozz Food Truck. Director of Marketing Jonny Boucher expressed the dispensary’s excitement to share their work with the City of Edwardsville. “Anybody that wants to start their Friday off right, come down and celebrate with us,” Boucher said. “It’s really, really important to us at Ivy Hall that people see us being a part of the community and not just being another dispensary or cannabis retailer. That’s why we partnered with the Ed-Glen Chamber, because we want to be an active business partner in the community as well as just being

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JERSEYVILLE – Major renovations to three of Jerseyville’s municipal buildings were highlighted in a recent “workshop” meeting of Jerseyville city officials on Tuesday, April 8, 2025. Building and Zoning Director Jeff Soer said upgrades were urgently needed at City Hall, which is attached to the Police and Fire Department buildings at 115 E. Prairie St. “We hadn’t done anything to City Hall since 1998,” Soer said. “It was not energy efficient, needed a lot of work.” City Hall previously lacked insulation, making it cold in the winter months; Soer said a new exterior “skin” of the building now contains insulation. In addition to a new HVAC system, new roofs were also installed on City Hall and the Police and Fire buildings, all of which received upgrades to their facades. “It’s done very well this year through the winter,” he added. “It was always freezing in City Hall, drafty … this year

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MARINE - Madison County Sheriff's Office detectives have been actively investigating a series of business and residential burglaries over the past couple of months. Wednesday morning, April 9, 2025, they executed a search warrant in the 10000 block of Lower Marine Road, where they interviewed several individuals and seized multiple items of evidence, some of which were returned to their rightful owners. During the course of the search, an explosive device was discovered, prompting authorities to secure the scene. Agents from the SOS Bomb Squad, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) were called to assist. As of now, officials have said that there is no safety risk to residents in the area. The Madison County Sheriff's Office continues to work in collaboration with federal agencies as the investigation remains ongoing.

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MACOUPIN COUNTY — A tractor driver was rescued after a bridge collapsed in Macoupin County on Sunday afternoon, April 6, 2025, sending the vehicle into a creek. The incident occurred at approximately 3:42 p.m. Sunday when the Macoupin County Sheriff’s Office received an emergency call regarding the collapse. Sheriff Shawn Kahl reported that the tractor was crossing a bridge when it gave way, plunging the vehicle into water estimated to be 14 to 15 feet deep. The bridge, located at the corner of Valley Road and Ridge Road in rural Carlinville, is a well-traveled route for local residents. The driver, who was trapped inside the cab, managed to keep his head above water, allowing him to breathe, the sheriff said. “This is the first time in my 26 years of service that I’ve encountered such an incident,” Kahl said. “The ordeal involved a fairly long bridge over Macoupin Creek, and it was fortunate that the cab did not fill with water.” Kahl said

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SPRINGFIELD – With cases of measles being reported in more than 20 jurisdictions around the United States, the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) has unveiled a new data dashboard to help school officials and members of the public assess the potential severity of any outbreaks of measles, should one occur in Illinois. The new Measles Outbreak Simulator Dashboard makes it easy for the public to find out the measles vaccination rate in any school in Illinois, public or private, and to determine the risk of a child being exposed to measles if a case is introduced in their school. Illinois has had no reported cases of measles since an outbreak in Chicago in early 2024 and there are currently no active measles outbreak investigations in Illinois. However, IDPH officials are closely monitoring an outbreak in Texas and New Mexico that has resulted in more than 530 confirmed cases, including three deaths, two of them children. “IDPH continues to work closely wit

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JERSEYVILLE – The Illinois Department of Transportation is hosting 18 workshops throughout the state to help local governments and communities learn about and apply for funding opportunities. The Special Programs Assistance Conferences are designed to help potential grantees take part in the department’s Economic Development Program, Illinois Transportation Enhancement Program and Safe Routes to School Program. “Thanks to Gov. Pritzker’s Rebuild Illinois capital program, there is more opportunity than ever for our local partners to work with us to accomplish projects that improve mobility, safety and quality of life in their communities,” said Acting Illinois Transportation Secretary Gia Biagi. “These workshops are a one-stop shop to learn about some of our more popular programs, as well as to get help tapping into the tools and resources that can make a positive impact in cities, towns and neighborhoods across Illinois." The events are geared

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SPRINGFIELD - Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias is spearheading an effort to recognize the legacy and impact of former Governor and Secretary of State Jim Edgar by designating the Jim Edgar Reading Room at the Illinois State Library. “It’s a privilege to honor the legacy of Governor Jim Edgar – an incredible statesman, advocate and friend – for his career of service to our state and its citizens,” Giannoulias said. “The Jim Edgar Reading Room celebrates the former Governor and Secretary of State’s vital contributions to the state’s library and literacy programs, which continue to have had an indelible impact throughout our state.” Giannoulias drafted House Joint Resolution 0025 , which formally names the Reading Room in Edgar’s honor. The bipartisan resolution passed the Illinois House Tuesday and now heads to the Senate for a vote. Serving as State Librarian during his term as Secretary of State, Edgar oversaw

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WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, and U.S. Senator Josh Hawley (R-MO) today introduced the Protecting Employees and Retirees in Business Bankruptcies Act . The bipartisan legislation would correct abuses of the bankruptcy process that deprive employees and retirees of their hard-earned wages, benefits, and retirement savings. As businesses’ bankruptcy filings have increased, jobs, pensions, and long-promised benefits are at risk. Yet, laws have not adapted to give employees and retirees a fair shake in the bankruptcy process. The Protecting Employees and Retirees in Business Bankruptcies Act would modify Chapter 11 bankruptcy procedures by expanding available claims for employees and retirees and granting them improved priority, while placing restrictions on excessive compensation for executives. “When their company files for bankruptcy, employees should not have to worry that the

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CHICAGO – Attorney General Kwame Raoul, as part of a coalition of 22 attorneys general, today sent a letter to the leadership of the U.S. House of Representatives and the House Financial Services Committee urging the House to vote against a resolution that would overturn the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau’s (CFPB) 2024 rule limiting overdraft fees imposed by the country’s largest banks. The rule prevents big banks from charging excessive overdraft fees that can hurt their customers’ credit and sometimes lead to account closures. “Vulnerable families cannot afford the burden of overdraft fees and resulting damage to their credit as they try to pay for necessities on top of additional debt they may have. That is why I am urging the House to vote against the overturning of CFPB’s 2024 rule limiting excessive overdraft fees,” Raoul said. “I will continue to protect consumers in Illinois and across the nation from excessive fees tha

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WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today led U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Gary Peters (D-MI), Elissa Slotkin (D-MI), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), and Tina Smith (D-MN) in sending a letter to U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr. demanding answers about the closure of five regional Head Start offices across the country, including the Region 5 office in Chicago. The Region 5 office serves Head Start grantees in Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio, and Wisconsin. In their letter, the lawmakers made clear that Secretary Kennedy’s decision will harm children’s access to early education and cut jobs for hardworking Midwesterners dedicated to early childhood development. “We are writing to express concern with your April 1, 2025, announcement that the Department of Health and Human Services’ (HHS) Office of Head Start (OHS) plans to close five regional offices across th

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