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CHICAGO – Governor JB Pritzker and the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) are encouraging eligible families to apply for the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) to support income eligible households with utility costs for natural gas, propane, and electricity. Applications opened today, October 1, and will remain open through August 15, 2026, or until funds are exhausted. For many residents, there is an additional reason to apply for LIHEAP this year. Customers of these four natural gas utilities – Ameren, Nicor, North Shore Gas, and Peoples Gas – will automatically have their monthly gas bill reduced under the Low-Income Discount Rate program as long as they receive an annual LIHEAP benefit. “As temperatures begin to drop, my administration is committed to supporting Illinois families with vital utility support for households across the state,” said Governor JB Pritzker . “With energy costs o

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ALTON – Alton Police have charged three city residents with burglary, including one accused of breaking into an Ameren facility and two others on pretrial release from prior cases. Andrew R. Butler, 56, of Alton, was charged on Sept. 23, 2025 with one count of burglary, a Class 2 felony. Butler allegedly entered a building belonging to Ameren Illinois at the Alton Operating Center on Oakwood Avenue without legal authority and with the intent to commit a theft on Aug. 29, 2025. Rosemarie A. Baker, 56, and Mariah C. Moore, 27, both of Alton, were each charged with Class 2 felony counts of burglary on Sept. 23, 2025. The two allegedly unlawfully entered a building on Wallace Street in Alton, intending to commit theft, on May 30, 2024. Baker and Moore were both charged earlier this year with unlawful possession of an allegedly stolen moped. Both were granted pretrial release from custody in those previous cases. The Alton Police Department presented all three of the cases agains

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ST. CHARLES COUNTY, MO. — A custodian at Francis Howell High School was placed on leave and arrested Wednesday, Sept. 30, 2025, after allegedly writing racist graffiti in the school’s bathrooms last week, authorities said. Tyler Carter was charged by the St. Charles County Police Department with second-degree property damage and harassment motivated by discrimination to frighten or disturb. Carter is being held on a $50,000 bond. Police records indicate that on Sept. 23, 2025, Carter entered several classrooms and bathrooms, writing racially derogatory statements and sexually explicit language, as well as pouring chemicals on items in custodial closets. The graffiti, which included racial slurs and references to sexual violence, was reported by a student and promptly removed by school administrators. Interim Superintendent Mark Delaney condemned the incident in a message and apologized for its impact on the school community. “All students and staff deserve to feel

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MASCOUTAH - State Representative Kevin Schmidt (R-Millstadt) is hosting Mobile Office Hours in Mascoutah on October 7, 2025. This free event gives his constituents the opportunity to discuss state legislature and to talk about changes they would like to see from elected officials in Illinois. “I look forward to meeting my constituents to hear directly from them about what matters most to them and their families,” said Schmidt. “It’s healthy to have open conversations with others and this event is designed to give individuals the time to share their voice with me.” Mobile Office Hours Details: When: October 7th, 2025 Where: Mascoutah Municipal Building Address : 3 W. Main Street, Mascoutah, IL 62258 Time: 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.

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ALTON - Alton’s famous Vintage Voices tours will start this weekend. Planned for Oct. 4, 5, 11 and 12, 2025, these walking tours take attendees through the cemetery to different gravestones, where an actor tells the story of the person buried there. Tours will take off every 15 minutes from 12–2:15 p.m. on those dates. There is also a non-walking performance at 5 p.m. on Oct. 5 at St. Mary’s Middle School. “We have all walks of life who walk again,” said Diana, who helps oversee the Vintage Voices steering committee. “Our mission is to keep history alive.” The Vintage Voices organization has hosted tours for 24 years now. This year, they began preparing for the tours in April by researching Altonians buried in the cemetery. Lacy, who serves on the steering committee and manages the Hayner Genealogy and Local History Library, compiled as much information on these decedents as possible alongside her team at the library. They then

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BETHALTO — Civic Memorial High School will host a Pink Out Night at Hauser Stadium on Friday, Oct. 3, 2025, to support Nicole Parris, a local teacher and football mom currently battling breast cancer. The event aims to raise awareness and funds to assist Parris with medical expenses while honoring all those affected by the disease. Nicole Parris, a special education teacher in the Collinsville School District, was recently diagnosed with breast cancer. She has undergone a double mastectomy and multiple emergency surgeries due to complications. Facing significant physical, emotional, and financial challenges, Parris has received an outpouring of support from the community. The initiative began when three Civic Memorial junior football moms — Stacie Raines, Selina Brawner, and Desiree Potter — mobilized to aid Parris. Potter started collecting donations from the football community, while Raines and Brawner organized the Pink Out Night and an apparel fundraiser. To date,

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JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. — Missouri Governor Mike Kehoe announced Tuesday, Sept. 29, 2025, that members of the Missouri National Guard will assist Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) processing facilities in the state starting Oct. 1, 2025. Kehoe said the National Guard will provide administrative, clerical, and logistical support to help federal immigration enforcement efforts. He added the National Guard's mission to assist ICE will continue until Sept. 30, 2026. “Public safety, keeping Missourians safe, and upholding the rule of law is our administration’s top priority,” Kehoe said in a statement. “The Missouri National Guard is uniquely equipped to provide this essential administrative support, and we are confident their contributions will be invaluable to immigration enforcement efforts.” The Guard’s duties will include data entry, case management, and logistical support, allowing ICE personnel to concentrate on core enforcement

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SPRINGFIELD – The Vandalia Statehouse State Historic Site in Fayette County will host a culinary historian exploring the diverse and changing history of pies in the United States on Saturday, Oct. 4. Catherine Lambrecht will present her program, “History of American Pies,” at 2 p.m. inside the historic site. The event, which is free and open to the public, is made possible by the Old Capital Foundation and Illinois Department of Natural Resources. Lambrecht is a veteran of culinary competitions at the Lake County and Illinois State fairs; a former University of Illinois Extension volunteer whose specialties were Master Food Preserver and Master Gardner; and a founder of the Greater Midwest Foodways Alliance; Chicago Foodways Roundtable; and LTHforum.com , a Chicago culinary chat site. The editor of “Family Heirloom Recipes from the Illinois State Fair,” she is also program director for the Highland Park Historical Society and the Illinois Mycological

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ST. LOUIS — BJC Health System today welcomed Nick Barto as its new president and CEO. Barto, who previously served as president of the Health System and BJC’s East Region, succeeds Rich Liekweg, who announced his retirement earlier this year. As one of the largest nonprofit health care organizations in the U.S. and the largest private employer in the state of Missouri, Barto leads BJC’s 24 hospital campuses, hundreds of care locations, including clinics and service organizations, and its 48,000 employees. “Since joining BJC, I’ve seen the unwavering dedication of our caregivers across our hospitals, clinics, and behind the scenes each and every day,” Barto said. “I’m honored to lead BJC Health System as we continue working together to provide extraordinary care with patients at the center of all we do and strengthen our legacy as a mission-oriented academic health care leader for generations to come.” Barto joined BJC in

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ALTON - Alton Main Street presents First Fridays, a late night art and shopping experience which spans 19 locations across the Downtown Alton district. This series is held on the First Friday of October, November and December, providing shoppers with an opportunity to check out new shops and galleries and visit familiar favorites to experience art and great specials at each business. Participants are offering a variety of discounts, refreshments, and giveaways. Every time you make a purchase you’ll have your passport stamped for a chance to win a $100 gift certificate to any participating business. Park once and jump on the free shuttle bus which will be provided from 5:00-8:00 p.m., running a continuous loop between all locations. On Friday, October 3rd, start your evening by picking up your First Friday passport at any participating shop or gallery, then hop on the shuttle or walk your way around the downtown district, gathering stamps on your passport along your journey!

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CHICAGO – Governor JB Pritzker and the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) are encouraging eligible families to apply for the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) to support income eligible households with utility costs for natural gas, propane, and electricity. Applications opened today, October 1, and will remain open through August 15, 2026, or until funds are exhausted. For many residents, there is an additional reason to apply for LIHEAP this year. Customers of these four natural gas utilities – Ameren, Nicor, North Shore Gas, and Peoples Gas – will automatically have their monthly gas bill reduced under the Low-Income Discount Rate program as long as they receive an annual LIHEAP benefit. “As temperatures begin to drop, my administration is committed to supporting Illinois families with vital utility support for households across the state,” said Governor JB Pritzker. “With energy costs on the rise, we’r

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GODFREY – The National Great Rivers Research and Education Center (NGRREC?) held the 23rd Annual Water Festival Sept. 26 on Lewis and Clark Community College’s Godfrey campus. This year’s festival was the largest to date, with 975 fifth graders from 11 area schools participating in the event. Pictured, a group of students from St. Norbert School in Hardin learn about boating safety from the Illinois Department of Natural Resources and the National Safe Boating Council’s Wear It campaign. To learn more about Water Festival and other educational programs offered by NGRREC, contact Environmental Educator Erica Doerr at edoerr@lc.edu . National Great Rivers Research and Education Center (NGRREC) Founded in 2002 as a collaborative partnership between the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and Lewis and Clark Community College, NGRREC is dedicated to the study of great river systems and the communities that use them. The center

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CHICAGO - Governor JB Pritzker and the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) joined state and local leaders, labor and transportation stakeholders today to announce the largest multi-year program to build and repair infrastructure in state history: $50.6 billion over six years, continuing an unprecedented investment in safety, mobility and quality of life made possible by the Governor’s Rebuild Illinois capital program. The new program, spread across all modes of transportation and touching every Illinois county, also includes $400 million to support 223 local projects. These projects, ranging from street and transit upgrades to bike and pedestrian improvements, are based on priorities submitted by counties, cities, townships, transit districts and other local agencies. ? “Today, I’m proud to launch the latest roadmap – the largest in the history of the Illinois Department of Transportation,” said Governor JB Pritzker. “Over the next six years

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SPRINGFIELD – The 2025 Illinois fall trout fishing season will open Saturday, Oct. 18 at 60 ponds, lakes, and streams throughout the state. Early fall catch-and-release trout fishing will open at select sites on Oct. 4. No trout may be taken from any of the stocked sites until the season opens at 5 a.m. Oct. 18. The daily catch limit is five trout. All anglers must have an Illinois fishing license and inland trout stamp which are available at IDNR license and permit locations, including many bait shops, sporting goods stores, and other retail outlets. Check the IDNR agent locator website for locations. The public can purchase fishing licenses and trout stamps online. The Illinois Catchable Trout Program is funded by those who use the program through the sale of inland trout stamps. The Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) stocks more than 80,000 rainbow trout each year in bodies of water where trout fishing is permitted during the fall season. An additional

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EAST ST. LOUIS – The Illinois Department of Transportation today announced that lane closures on eastbound Interstate 64 between 15th and 25th streets in St. Clair County will begin, weather permitting, at 9 p.m. Friday, Oct. 3, for bridge deck patching. Traffic will be reduced to one lane. All lanes are scheduled to reopen by 6 a.m. Monday, Oct. 6. 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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CHICAGO – Attorney General Kwame Raoul and the Illinois Department of Labor (IDOL) today urged the Illinois Supreme Court to reject Amazon’s request to limit the Illinois Minimum Wage Law in a lawsuit filed against the company by its Illinois warehouse workers. Raoul and IDOL filed an amicus brief in Johnson v. Amazon.com Services LLC in support of the workers, who say Amazon failed to pay them for time they spent undergoing mandatory public-health screenings at the warehouses before their work shifts. “Illinois law goes further than federal law when it comes to protecting the rights of our workers,” Raoul said. “In Illinois, when a worker is required to spend their valuable time at a workplace for pre-shift tasks, they’re entitled to be paid for that time. I will continue advocating for Illinois workers and ensuring our wage-and-hour standards are respected and enforced.” “Illinois law is clear that workers must be paid for the time

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SPRINGFIELD – October is Cybersecurity Awareness Month, and Illinois Comptroller Susana A. Mendoza is reminding the public to be wary of potentially fraudulent emails, texts and phone calls. The Illinois Office of Comptroller sends out more than 11,000 checks a day, so cybersecurity is a vital component of daily operations. The public also needs to make sure they are constantly on the lookout for attempts to steal their personal data. “These scams used to be easier to spot because of poor grammar and obviously bogus looking messages,” said Comptroller Mendoza. “But with the explosion of AI technology, it’s getting harder and harder to discern what’s legit and what’s fake.” There are several ways con artists are trying to lure people into giving up their personal information and ultimately their hard-earned money: Phishing: Phishing occurs when cybercriminals use emails to try and get people to divulge information that could lead to

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ALTON - Crystal L. Freytag, 39, of Alton, was arrested and charged with one count of aggravated battery/use of deadly weapon and one count of domestic battery with bodily harm following an incident on September 25, 2025. According to charging documents, Freytag allegedly struck the victim with a vehicle, causing injury. It also states that Freytag knowingly caused bodily harm to a man from a prior relationship. The incident occurred in Macoupin County, and the Macoupin County Sheriff's Department is handling the case. All individuals charged are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

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SPRINGFIELD – Governor JB Pritzker has proclaimed October as Cybersecurity Awareness Month in Illinois, and the Illinois Department of Innovation & Technology (DoIT) is encouraging residents to take advantage of free tools and resources to protect themselves online. “As Governor, my top priority is to protect the people of Illinois — and that includes keeping Illinoisans safe from new and emerging cyber threats,” said Governor JB Pritzker. “I am proud to once again designate October as Cybersecurity Awareness Month, bringing attention to the importance of online safety and further protecting our state. Whether it’s the evolving threats in our rapidly changing digital landscape or everyday safety measures, this month is about equipping Illinoisans with the knowledge, tools, and safeguards they need to safely navigate digital spaces.” Recognizing the critical importance of cybersecurity, state officials are committed to providing the necessary

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CHICAGO – Attorney General Kwame Raoul today, as part of a coalition of 16 attorneys general, submitted comments opposing the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) proposal to limit international students to a fixed four-year visa period and restrict their ability to transfer schools or change academic programs. “Welcoming international students to our colleges and universities creates a more enriching educational environment for all students,” Raoul said. “The Trump administration’s proposal would harm our institutions of higher education and our economy. I join my fellow attorneys general in opposing these overly restrictive requirements that would unnecessarily burden international students and ultimately make our country less competitive on the global stage.” Nationally, only 34% of all college students complete their undergraduate degrees within four years. Graduate and doctoral programs often require seven or more years to complet

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