CHICAGO – Get Covered Illinois kicked off 2026 open enrollment and launched its “Here to Help” campaign across the state. Open enrollment, which began on November 1 and runs through January 15, is the annual opportunity for Illinoisans to enroll in, renew, or change their health insurance plans. Nearly 466,000 Illinoisans purchased health coverage through Get Covered Illinois during open enrollment last year, a 17% increase from the previous year. This year, Illinoisans
SPRINGFIELD - Illinois Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias led a legislative effort to change the library Equalization Aid Grant formula, increasing the eligibility from 17 serving 77,000 residents to 108 public libraries serving more than 700,000 residents across the state while freeing up additional funds. “While the federal government seeks to scrap programs and slash critical funding for libraries nationwide, Illinois is investing in our residents and communities,” Giannoulias
SPRINGFIELD – In anticipation of the 100th anniversary of legendary Route 66 in 2026, the Illinois State Museum (ISM) has launched an online database of 100 oral histories about the Mother Road. ISM’s Route 66 Oral History Project database includes video-recorded interviews, as well as world-searchable written transcriptions. Contributors include people who lived, worked and traveled along Route 66 during its pre-interstate heyday, as well as people who currently promote, preserve
MADISON – The Illinois Department of Transportation today announced lane closures on eastbound Interstate 55/70 between Illinois 203 and Exchange Avenue in St. Clair County. Beginning, weather permitting, at 6 a.m. Friday, Nov. 7, eastbound I-55/70 will be reduced to one lane and reopen to two lanes at 3 p.m. Friday. Lane restrictions will resume at 5 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 8, and are scheduled to return to two lanes at 3 p.m. Saturday. The westbound I-64 ramp to eastbound I-55/70 will clos
ALTON – OSF HealthCare Rehabilitation Services in Alton will be holding its monthly lymphedema education meeting on Thursday, November 6, featuring special guest speaker Kren Harmon, psychotherapist, OSF Saint Anthony’s Psychological Services. Riverbend region residents are invited to join the OSF Lymphedema Therapy Team for this free educational session about Lymphedema and meet other people with lymphedema. The November lymphedema education meeting will be held: Thursday,
CHICAGO — Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul today secured a permanent injunction from the U.S. District Court for the District of Rhode Island blocking the Trump administration’s effort to unlawfully impose immigration enforcement requirements on billions of dollars in annual U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) grants. The final ruling follows multi-state litigation and a preliminary injunction. “The billions of dollars appropriated by Congress are essential to states’
BELLEVILLE — More than $110,000 has been awarded this year to 112 Illinois fire departments and districts through Illinois American Water’s Firefighter Grant Program. Since the initiative began in 2010, nearly 1,200 grants totaling over $1 million dollars have been granted to fire and emergency organizations serving customers in Illinois American Water’s service area. "We extend our sincere thanks to Illinois American Water for their continued support of fire departments
EDWARDSVILLE — Madison County State’s Attorney Tom Haine announced Wednesday that a Granite City man has been sentenced to 18 years in prison after pleading guilty to stealing a car while two young girls were inside the vehicle. George Garcia-Flores, 22, received the sentence after pleading guilty Wednesday to Aggravated Vehicular Hijacking, a class X felony. The carjacking happened on July 17, 2025, outside a retail business in Granite City. The owner of the vehicle, an Infiniti
ALTON - MustacheMarch4PD will host their annual food drive to commemorate Police Officer Blake Snyder’s birthday. From 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 8, 2025, community members can stop by Alton Physical Therapy to drop off food donations, toiletries, gift cards and cash. The donations will be distributed to local organizations. Tina Bennett with MM4PD explained that their goal is to honor Snyder, who was killed in the line of duty, and remember his selflessness. “If it’s
VENICE – State Senator Christopher Belt joined Governor JB Pritzker, the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity and leaders from across the Metro East region to break ground on a new grocery store in Venice as part of the Illinois Grocery Initiative — marking an important milestone in expanding access to fresh, affordable food for local residents. The groundbreaking represents a critical joint effort to revitalize the city, which was made possible through a $2.4
SPRINGFIELD – The Illinois State Fair is thrilled to announce its first Grandstand act for the 2026 lineup: Country Music Powerhouse Lainey Wilson , who will perform on the Grandstand Stage on Saturday, August 15, 2026 . Wilson, one of country music’s most celebrated and respected stars, continues to take the world by storm. Adding to her monumental rise, Wilson will host the 2025 CMA Awards, where she is also tied as the most-nominated artist with six nods: Entertainer of the
ALTON - Community leaders came together in Alton to celebrate the grand opening of a new affordable housing development. On Wednesday, Nov. 5, 2025, elected officials and community members gathered at the Alton Sunnybrook Affordable Housing Development at 767 Washington Avenue in Alton for speeches and a ribbon-cutting. Spearheaded by Dr. Ed Hightower, the development will provide 40 apartments for families earning at or below 60% of the Area Median Income, or $60,180 for a household of
ST. LOUIS COUNTY, Mo. — Thomas Bailey, 53, of the 100 block of Upton Street in St. Louis, was identified as the pedestrian who died after being struck by a vehicle on the 7400 block of South Lindbergh Boulevard on Oct. 30, 2025. The St. Louis County Police Department responded to the crash at approximately 7:44 p.m. near Lemay Ferry Road. Officers found Bailey injured and transported him to a nearby hospital, where he later died from his injuries. The driver involved remained at the scene
ST. CLAIR COUNTY - The St. Clair County Transit District (SCCTD), in collaboration with Citizens for Modern Transit, AARP Missouri, and Metro, has unveiled benches six and seven with plans to install two more by the end of the year. The initiative aims to place five benches in the first year at bus stops that currently lack amenities, improving the transit experience for riders. The benches, branded with the slogan “Enjoy the Ride,” include a QR code and web address linking
JERSEYVILLE - Students from Jersey Community Unit School District No. 100 participated in the Illinois Music Education Association (ILMEA) District IV Festival, showcasing their musical talents at the event held recently. Jersey 100 had strong representation across multiple ensembles. In the Junior Choir, Karliah McDonald, Peyton Eich, Lainey Williams, Emmy Rothe and Joe Heitzman performed. Harmony Jantzen and Lana West took part in the Junior Band. High school students also contributed
ST. CLAIR COUNTY — Emergency crews responded Wednesday afternoon, Nov. 5, 2025, to a reported pedestrian crash near the MetroLink’s Emerson Park station in St. Clair County. First responders from the St. Clair County Sheriff’s Office and other agencies arrived at the scene to assist. Details about the cause of the crash and the individuals involved have not been released. As a result of the investigation, MetroLink announced trains are not operating between the Emerson Park
WOOD RIVER - Taylor Minner, a senior at East Alton-Wood River High School, is being recognized for her dedication and leadership in cheerleading. Having been a member of the varsity cheer team all four years, Minner has demonstrated resilience and encouragement, qualities that have contributed to her receiving this honor. Minner is a Midwest Members Credit Union Female Athlete of the Month for East Alton-Wood River. Minner has been cheering since she was 4 years old and credits the sport with
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) led U.S. Senators Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Elissa Slotkin (D-MI) and Mazie Hirono (D-HI) in calling on Boeing to bring the ongoing strike to an end with a proposal that provides fair compensation for its workers. In a letter to Boeing President and Chief Executive Officer Kelly Ortberg, the Senators—all members of the U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee—urged Boeing to make good faith efforts
EDWARDSVILLE — Edwardsville Police have wrapped up their Halloween enforcement campaign, resulting in three impaired driving arrests, one traffic arrest, and seven citations for other violations. The campaign ran from Oct. 24 through Nov. 3 as part of a statewide effort to improve road safety during the holiday period. Law enforcement agencies across Illinois participated in the fall crackdown, which aimed to remove impaired drivers from the roadways and increase the use of seat belts
VENICE — Governor JB Pritzker joined the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) and regional leaders Thursday to break ground on a new grocery store in Venice, part of the Illinois Grocery Initiative aimed at expanding access to fresh and affordable food in underserved communities. The project, supported by a $2.4 million state grant and private funding, marks a significant step toward revitalizing Venice, a city currently classified as a food desert. “Every
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