SPRINGFIELD, IL — State Senator Erica Harriss (56th-Glen Carbon) has introduced legislation to strengthen transparency and accountability in the Illinois legislative process by ensuring lawmakers have access to fiscal impact information before voting on legislation. Senate Bill 2094 amends the Illinois Fiscal Note Act to guarantee that when a member of the General Assembly requests a fiscal note on legislation, the request must be honored and cannot be dismissed by chamber vote.
SPRINGFIELD – The 2025-2026 Illinois bobcat season concluded Feb. 15 with 627 bobcats harvested by hunters and trappers. A total of 405 (62%) bobcats were taken by hunting, while trapping accounted for 222 (34%) of the harvest. Twenty-seven (4%) were salvaged by permit holders from circumstances such as roadkill. The Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) issued 2,000 permits for the 2025 season out of 9,700 bobcat lottery applicants. Hunters and trappers in Jefferson County
CHICAGO – If you played Powerball ® yesterday, you might want to check your ticket – that’s because you could be a millionaire! One lucky Illinois Lottery player matched all five white ball numbers in the Wednesday, March 11 Powerball drawing to win the $1 million prize. The winning numbers were: 3-6-55-58-63. The ticket was purchased at BCD Liquors, located at 10S622 Kingery Hwy, in Willowbrook, Illinois. For selling the winning Powerball ticket, the store will
WATERLOO - Are you or someone you care about living with diabetes, or at risk for developing diabetes or other chronic illnesses? University of Illinois Extension invites you to attend an open, supportive session led by Nutrition and Wellness Educator Kris Juelfs. These sessions provide practical tips and real-life advice in a welcoming setting where participants can share experiences and learn from one another while navigating the challenges of living with diabetes. Each month, on the second
SPRINGFIELD – The Illinois Department of Transportation announced today the release of a ? new Illinois Route 66 Map in honor of the iconic road’s 100th birthday this year. The map takes a nostalgic look at America’s most famous highway and sights to see in Illinois, while providing a historical timeline of the route’s evolution and its cultural impact. ? “The new Route 66 map is a must for enthusiasts and road trippers celebrating the 100th anniversary of the
A LTON - Alton Animal Control is experiencing a “Code Red,” meaning four of their dogs are at risk of euthanasia unless they can be adopted by Monday, March 16, 2026. Drew Marquis, an animal control officer, explained that they have four dogs who are past the stray hold period, which means they have been in animal control custody for seven days and now must either be adopted or euthanized. The animal control facility has 14 kennels available, and 12 of them are currently full.
GLEN CARBON – The Illinois Department of Transportation today announced the full closure of the intersection of Illinois 157 and Illinois 162 in Madison County has been rescheduled to begin, weather permitting, at 7 a.m. Monday, March 16. During the closure, traffic will not be permitted on Illinois 157 and Illinois 162 at the intersection. Both eastbound and westbound Illinois 162 will be closed, and neither will have access to Illinois 157. A signed detour will be in place a
ST. LOUIS – U.S. District Judge Matthew T. Schelp on Thursday sentenced a man who participated in a scheme that stole millions of dollars from elderly victims in ten states to four years in prison. Judge Schelp also ordered Sital Singh, 43, to pay $6.6 million in restitution to victims. Singh, Dariona Lambert, 24, Zhamoniq Stevens, 24, Chintankumar Parekh, 52, and Mehulkumar Darji, 42, all pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud. Lambert and Stevens were couriers
O’FALLON, Ill. — Colon cancer screening just got easier. During Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month in March, HSHS St. Elizabeth’s Hospital Radiation Oncology Center is giving away at-home screening tests while highlighting that colorectal cancer is the second most common cause of cancer deaths in the United States when cases for men and women are combined, according to the American Cancer Society (ACS) . Individuals aged 45 or older, or those with an immediate family membe
As spring approaches, more people will head outdoors to take a walk or run. One way to add to the intensity of your workout is by wearing a weighted vest. Adding weight to a walk or run is nothing new. People have been using hand weights or wrists and ankle weights for years. But experts say wearing a vest across your upper body evenly distributes the added weight. “I highly recommend it to most of my patients, because if you think about it, it adds to whatever kind of exercise you're doing,&rdquo
EDWARDSVILLE – St. Patrick’s Day is traditionally celebrated with parades, parties, green beer and more in communities throughout the state. To remind motorists of the dangers of impaired driving and to help keep our streets safe, Edwardsville Police officers will be teaming up with the Illinois State Police and Illinois Department of Transportation for a stepped-up traffic safety campaign running Friday, March 13, through early Monday, March 23, 2026. “With festivities spanning
GRAFTON - Grafton has a new veterinarian in town. Grafton Veterinary Services officially opened in January and has quickly grown into a hotspot for local veterinary care. Melissa Walsh, lead veterinary technician, explained that she, Dr. Jacob Maag, and a few other community members came together to start the practice in Grafton because they wanted to leave corporate medicine and focus on providing top-notch care for animals and their owners. “We love it. We’re tremendously
SWANSEA - A Swansea, Illinois, man - Deondre E. Jones - is accused of robbing a credit union and claiming he had a firearm. He was taken into custody within minutes and appeared in federal court on Wednesday, March 11, 2026, to face a bank robbery charge. Jones, 55, is charged with one count of bank robbery, according to federal authorities. He appeared in federal court in East St. Louis. According to the complaint, Jones is accused of robbing a credit union on North Illinois Street in Swansea
Letter To The Editor: Conservative Republican State Representative Charlie Meier has been endorsed by an impressive list of elected officials in Madison County. The endorsements come from county-wide, county board, and county party officials who back Charlie Meier for re-election to the Illinois House of Representatives. The Madison County leaders who endorse Charlie include: -County Board Chairman Chris Slusser -Sheriff Jeff Connor -Auditor David Michael -State’s Attorney Tom Haine
GLEN CARBON – An employee of the Illinois Secretary of State’s Office from Glen Carbon faces felony charges for vehicle registration-related offenses. Eddie L. Cummings, 63, of Glen Carbon, was charged on March 3, 2026 with one count each of offenses related to title and registration (a Class 2 felony), official misconduct (a Class 3 felony), and theft (a Class 4 felony). While acting in his official capacity as a Secretary of State employee, Cummings allegedly produced a duplicate
ALTON - OSF St. Anthony’s Health Center will introduce a new support group for parents. Starting in May 2026, psychotherapist Sara Bennett will offer a group that allows parents to connect. This group is targeted toward the parents of teenagers and will meet at 5:30 p.m. on Wednesdays at OSF St. Anthony’s. As a mom and a therapist who works primarily with teens and young adults, Bennett hopes the group provides a productive space for parents to develop their skills. “Not
GRAFTON — A brief tornado with peak winds of 98 mph struck Grafton early Wednesday, March 11, 2026, damaging two businesses and nearby homes but causing no injuries or deaths, according to the National Weather Service in St. Louis. National Weather Service surveyors determined the tornado was an EF-1. The tornado’s path length was 0.13 miles with a maximum width of 100 yards, the agency said. An EF-1 (Enhanced Fujita Scale) tornado has winds varying from 86 mph to 110 mph. Wind
ALTON – An attorney for the City of Alton is asking a Madison County court to prohibit the City Council from requiring the disclosure of certain billing information. Rodney Caffey, who operates the Caffey Law Firm LLC and provides legal services to the City of Alton, filed an Emergency Motion for Temporary Restraining Order and Preliminary Injunction against the Alton City Council on March 6, 2026. In his emergency motion, Caffey asks the court to prohibit the City Council from implementing
ALTON - Sleep in Heavenly Peace has grown into an international organization with an Alton chapter, and its founder is focused on what they can do next. Luke Mickelson founded Sleep in Heavenly Peace over a decade ago to solve child bedlessness. The organization builds beds and delivers them to children in the community. Alton’s local chapter is expanding, and with over 440 chapters in 48 states and four countries, Mickelson is proud of how they’ve grown and more determined
ALTON - The Alton City Council will consider a change to the city’s liquor code that would allow liquor sales beginning at 8 a.m. on Sundays, an hour earlier than the current 9 a.m. start, following discussions with local businesses. The proposal stems from a request by a local golf course, which said the earlier start time would allow it to book both an 8 a.m. and 1 p.m. tee off time for tournaments on Sundays. If approved, the change would apply to all existing liquor license holders
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