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On March 25, 1957, six European countries signed the Treaty of Rome, creating the European Economic Community (EEC) and laying the foundation for what would later become the European Union. At the time, the agreement mattered because it aimed to make another major European war less likely by tying economies together through shared rules, freer trade, and common institutions. It also promised practical benefits—jobs, investment, and stability—by lowering barriers between neighbors

GLEN CARBON – Senior Avery Grenzebach has been a highlight player for the Father McGivney Catholic High School softball team for a few seasons now. In her final season, she’s bringing the heat. In a 5-2 win over Collinsville on March 18, she pitched a complete game, striking out eight batters with no walks. She also went 2-for-3 in the batter’s box with a two-run homerun that literally dented the newly installed scoreboard at FMCHS. For her excellent performance, Grenzebach

GLEN CARBON – The Glen Carbon Police Department is welcoming two new officers amid two likely departures and a newly promoted police sergeant. Gerard Spratt was promoted to the rank of sergeant and new Officers Aaron Brooks and Megan Dotzert were officially sworn in at the March 24, 2026 Village Board meeting. Police Chief Todd Link said Spratt is originally from Staten Island, N.Y., and has 19 years of law enforcement experience between multiple agencies, including the Caseyville Police

GODFREY – One Lewis and Clark Community College student is bringing local college vocalists together for a night filled with music this spring. The event is a non-competitive performance opportunity for college students to share their musical talents on stage. It also looks to encourage students in the area to visit downtown Edwardsville and experience Wildey Theatre. LC student Vivi Elson created the upcoming showcase as part of an honors project for her speech class. The showcase

ALTON - With an impressive record and a second-place tournament win this past weekend, the Alton Middle School chess team is anything but checkered. On Saturday, March 21, 2026, five middle school students competed in the Alton Deanery Chess League tournament and brought home second place. Ilyas Kantar, a teacher at Alton Middle School who advises the team, expressed his pride and excitement to see the students succeed. “I’m very happy to give this opportunity to the kids and

ALTON – Alton Police have charged a local sex offender with failing to register for over six months. Nathan A. Walker, 26, listed as homeless out of Alton, was charged on March 19, 2026 with a Class 3 felony count of unlawful failure to register as a sex offender. Walker has allegedly failed to register on a weekly basis with the Alton Police Department as required under the Sex Offender Registration Act, having last registered on Sept. 15, 2025. The Illinois State Police Sex Offender

EDWARDSVILLE - The Madison County Sheriff’s Office announced this past Friday, March 20, 2026, that it has added three new employees and approved two internal transfers, bringing new faces to its patrol and jail divisions. The sheriff’s office said Jose Morales-Cuevas is transferring from jail deputy to patrol deputy, and Tanner Miles is transferring from support staff clerk III to jail deputy. The office also announced three new hires: Dylan Darity, who is joining the patrol

EAST ALTON — Firefighters from East Alton and neighboring departments responded Saturday afternoon to a fire in the 300 block of Church Street after debris being burned in a yard appeared to spread to the eaves of a garage, according to East Alton Fire Chief Jeremy Dively. Dively said the homeowner called quickly, allowing crews to stop the fire before it spread through the entire garage. “It apears someone was burning debris in the yard and the fire made it to the eaves of the garage,&rdquo

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Senator Chuck Grassley (R-IA), Co-Chairs of the Senate Baltic Freedom Caucus, introduced the Baltic Security Assessment Act of 2026 , legislation that requires the Secretary of State, in coordination with the Secretary of Defense, to submit a report to the House and Senate Committees on Armed Services, Foreign Relations and Affairs, and Appropriations on emerging threats posed to the Baltic countries—Estonia,

WOOD RIVER – Midwest Members Credit Union is proud to sponsor the “Oiler of the Month” program at East Alton-Wood River High School. A senior student is selected each month by members of EAWR faculty. Each student is awarded a certificate and a Subway gift card. The seniors selected each month will have the opportunity to compete for a $1,000. “Oiler of the Year” scholarship at the end of the school year. February's winner is KayLynn Buttry. KayLynn is a Senior a

BELLEVILLE - Detectives investigating a death near a busy Belleville roadway have led to felony charges against a local man. Joe Davis, 60, of Belleville, was charged March 19, 2026, in connection with the March 18, 2026, death of Shawn Overmiller in the area of Illinois Route 161 and Sullivan Drive, according to the Belleville Police Department. The St. Clair County State’s Attorney’s Office issued the charges after detectives presented information and evidence was reviewed.

WASHINGTON, D.C. – On CNN’s The Situation Room with Wolf Blitzer and Pamela Brown yesterday , combat Veteran and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) slammed Donald Trump for waging an illegal war against Iran that is costing troops’ lives, causing costs to skyrocket and making Americans less safe around the world. After Senate Republicans blocked a War Powers Resolution two nights ago to withdraw U.S. forces from this illegal war, Duckworth reiterated that our brave

GODFREY – Lewis and Clark Community College Sophomore Sarah Wieneke has recently been named one of the winners of the 2024-2025 Norton Speaker’s Contest. The contest recognizes exceptional, original nonfiction speeches that are given by undergraduate students in a two or four-year college or university. Wieneke’s winning speech, submitted in June 2025, was titled “Visit Chattanooga Tennessee.” It focused on family-friendly activities in Chattanooga and was inspire

GRANITE CITY – A local man accused of robbing a Facebook Marketplace buyer after arranging to sell them a gaming system faces a felony charge. Ayden R. Freeman, 21, of Roxana, was charged on March 12, 2026 with one count of aggravated robbery, a Class 1 felony. On Feb. 23, 2026, Freeman allegedly knowingly took $450 in U.S. currency from an individual victim and threatened the imminent use of force by indicating he was armed with a firearm. The Madison County State’s Attorney’s

EDWARDSVILLE – A judge on Friday granted Madison County Clerk Linda Andreas’ request for a recount of votes cast in two referenda that were on the ballot for the Primary Election. Andreas made the request for the recount after voters alerted her to apparent inaccuracies for the vote totals for two referenda questions involving Long Lake Fire Protection District. In the Unofficial Results on election night, one of the ballot questions received 383 “yes” votes and

SPRINGFIELD - On Thursday, March 19, 2025, the Illinois Mass for Life in Springfield, Ill., unfolded in a way no one expected — not in a cathedral, church, or event center, but on ice at the Nelson Center Ice Hockey Rink. In a space usually filled with the crack of sticks and the roar of competition, nearly 2,000 people packed the arena to capacity — transforming it into a place of reverence, prayer, and witness for life. The visual contrast was striking. Where hockey players usuall

O'FALON - The O’Fallon Police Department is seeking the public’s help to identify a person after officers responded to a robbery reported on Friday, March 20, 2026, at an FCB Bank in O’Fallon, Illinois. The bank robbery suspect is a man shown in the two photos, one above and below. O'Fallon Police provided an update late Friday: "As of 5:15 p.m. Friday, a suspect in the bank robbery is in custody. "Thank you for the numerous calls and tips," the O'Fallon Police

Author's note: This is part one of a multi-part series on the parent-teenagers relationship. “Teenagers are working toward independence. That’s the good part. The hard part is that means they lean more toward their peer relationships,” says Sara Bennett, a psychotherapist at OSF HealthCare. “It can leave parents feeling like they’re drifting apart. It can make parents feel like they’re not very important. And it can make the teenagers a little moodier.

EAST ALTON – A local woman accused of stealing more than $14,000 from the East Alton Ice Arena as an employee faces felony charges after a “lengthy investigation.” Kathryn R. McKeon, 39, of Alton, was charged on March 18, 2026 with two Class 2 felony counts of theft of property over $10,000. From Aug. 29, 2022 to April 2, 2025, McKeon allegedly committed a series of acts to knowingly obtain $14,213.36 by deception from East Alton Civic Rink Management Inc. A press release

ALTON - As Alton Community Unit School District #11 prepares to say goodbye to long-time educator Mike Bellm, he is looking forward to retirement. But Bellm noted it will be a bittersweet departure, as he has spent his 33-year career in the Alton School District and has loved every minute. From English teacher to high school principal to his current role as Director of Student Services, Bellm has always prioritized student success, and he is thankful for the school district’s continued