JERSEYVILLE – A Jerseyville man is the latest Riverbend resident to be charged with grooming, child solicitation, and more after authorities uncovered Grindr messages between himself and an adult posing as a 14-year-old child. Matthew H. Edens, 31, of Jerseyville, was charged on Nov. 24, 2025 with one count each of indecent solicitation of a child, traveling to meet a minor (both Class 3 felonies), solicitation to meet a child, and grooming (both Class 4 felonies). From Nov. 21-22,
ALTON - Mac’s Downtown Alton is partnering with Olga’s Kitchen to bring the restaurant’s fan-favorite dishes to the local community in the coming weeks. The collaboration was announced recently, with plans to launch the new offerings by late December when Olga's closes its location at Alton Square Mall. Rob Lenhardt, one of the owners of Mac’s, shared details about the partnership and the history of Olga’s Kitchen. He noted that Olga’s has been a staple for
ALTON - Community members have the opportunity to celebrate Christmas and give back at an upcoming party. From 6–11 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 20, 2025, you can come out to Bowl Haven in Alton for the 19th annual Christmas party organized by the nonprofit Something Bigger Than Yourself. The party benefits Alton Catholic Children’s Home, Beverly Farms, and the Alton Boys and Girls Club. Everyone in the community is invited to come, have fun, and give back. “When you come to
WOOD RIVER — Madison County residents are now able to send a text message directly to 911 when calling isn’t safe or possible. The Madison County Emergency Telephone System Board (ETSB) launched Text-to-911, a new communication option that allows residents to contact emergency dispatchers via text message during life-threatening situations. “Sometimes, calling just isn’t an option,” 911 Director Arron Weber said. “If you’re hiding during a domestic
SPRINGFIELD – A comprehensive new report released today by the University of Illinois’ Project for Middle Class Renewal (PMCR) finds that while Illinois has made meaningful progress toward gender pay equity since implementing pay data reporting requirements under a 2021 amendment to the Equal Pay Act of 2003 (EPA), significant occupational disparities in pay persist—particularly for Black and Hispanic workers in low-wage sectors. The analysis, conducted by Dr. Tingting Zhang
SPRINGFIELD – Illinois State Police (ISP) Director Brendan F. Kelly gathered today with ISP staff and their families, local law enforcement officers, and distinguished members of the public for the annual ISP Awards Ceremony. The ceremony was held to recognize individuals for their significant contributions and dedication to public safety in 2024. Director Kelly presented individuals with the following awards: Director’s Award of Distinction, Medal of Valor, Medal for Honor, Achievement
SPRINGFIELD – Youth between the ages of 10 and 17 who would like to participate in the annual Central Illinois Youth Goose Hunt sponsored by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources can register now for the event, which is scheduled for Jan. 19, 2026, in Fulton County. Registration is open through Dec. 31. To participate, youth hunters must go online for additional information and to register . The hunt will be hosted at private waterfowl hunting clubs near Canton in Fulton County,
GRANITE CITY – State Senator Erica Harriss (56th-Glen Carbon) has released the below statement following the officer-involved shooting Friday afternoon in Granite City: “The attack on a Granite City police officer Friday afternoon is a stark reminder of the danger our officers face every single day. I am grateful the officer is currently stable after surgery, and my thoughts are with him, his family, and the entire department as they work through this traumatic event. “This
GRANITE CITY – The suspect in the recent shooting of a Granite City police officer is now in custody, the Illinois State Police has announced. The suspect, 26-year-old DJ Marshall of Granite City, IL, who is believed to have shot a Granite City Police Department officer has been taken into custody. This case remains under investigation. Individuals with information are encouraged to send it to ISP.CRIMETIPS@illinois.gov or call (618) 346-3990. On Dec. 5, 2025, at approximately 2:19
Did you know that the average American spends over 20 hours shopping during the holiday season, often feeling overwhelmed and rushed? The pressure to find the perfect gifts, manage budgets, and coordinate with busy schedules can turn what should be an enjoyable experience into a source of significant stress. But what if the key to a calm and successful holiday shopping season lies not just in what you buy, but in how you plan your shopping schedule? Understand Your Priorities and Budget Early
December 8 has long been a date marked by events that have shaped the world in profound ways. On December 8, 1980, the world was stunned by the news that John Lennon, former member of The Beatles and a prominent peace activist, was shot and killed outside his apartment building in New York City. Lennon was just 40 years old when Mark David Chapman fired five shots, ending the life of a man whose music and messages had inspired millions. This tragic event sent shockwaves across the globe, sparking
Expect a cold day with a high near 32 and a low around 27. Morning temperatures start around 20 but will feel quite cold. Winds will be light, ranging from about 3 to 9 mph, mainly from the west-northwest in the afternoon with gusts up to 15 mph. There is no rain expected today, with mostly intermittent clouds through the daylight hours. In detail, the morning will have some cloud cover but still allow patches of sunshine. The afternoon remains partly sunny with intervals of clouds and sunshine,
GRANITE CITY - Evan Brewer, a senior center for Granite City High's boys basketball team, is off to a great 4-2 start. Brewer scored 12 points in a 58-39 win over Metro-East Lutheran at Granite City Memorial Gym on Dec. 4, and is currently the team's leading scorer, averaging 17.3 points-per-game. He's also averaging 9.3 rebounds-per-game, and also has nine assists and eight steals in the Warriors first games. Last season, on a team that finished 9-23, he averaged 15.4 points-per-game to lea
EDWARDSVILLE - Ciara Cunningham, a senior hitter who helped Edwardsville advance to the IHSA Class 4A girls volleyball sectional this season, signed a letter of intent to play for Oral Roberts University in Tulsa, Okla., in a ceremony held in the auditorium of the Jon Davis Wrestling Center. Cunningham, one of two seniors on this year's Tigers team, helped the Tigers go on to a 25-12 record this season, advancing to the O'Fallon sectional, losing to Belleville East 25-17, 25-14 on Nov. 4.
On December 7, 1941, a surprise military strike forever altered the course of American history. Nearly 2,400 lives were lost, and the United States was thrust into World War II. Every year, Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day serves as a solemn tribute to those who perished and a reflection on the resilience that followed. But what are the origins of this day, and how do its traditions continue to honor the past while educating future generations? The Historical Significance of December 7, 1941 The
CHICAGO – Attorney General Kwame Raoul announced that a court dismissed a motion for summary judgment filed by the drugmakers seeking to toss key elements of an ongoing drug price-fixing case. Illinois and a coalition of nearly all states and territories filed three antitrust lawsuits against pharmaceutical companies and executives that allege conspiracies to artificially inflate and manipulate prices, reduce competition and unreasonably restrain the trade of generic drugs, accounting
BUZZ MAGAZINE – Springfield entrepreneur Rafael Joseph is bringing a new level of innovation to residential roofing with the recent launch of SmarT coaT, a system designed to extend the life of aging roofs, improve energy efficiency, and reduce environmental impact. A Navy veteran and founder of Seraphim, Rafael has spent more than two decades improving housing through sustainable technologies. Drawing on his experience as a Trident II missile technician aboard the USS Pennsylvania, Rafae
SPRINGFIELD – The Illinois Department of Public Health today released the following statement from Director Dr. Sameer Vohra in response to the actions of the federal Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP): “Since universal newborn vaccination began in 1991, hepatitis B infection among U.S. children dropped by 99%. Today, the federal Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) voted to remove its long-standing recommendation that all newborns receive the hepatitis
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, combat Veteran and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) announced the U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC) will hold a hearing next Thursday, December 11, to receive sworn testimony directly from the Trump Administration’s Department of Defense (DoD) on Trump’s unlawful and unconstitutional domestic deployments of American military troops to intimidate Americans in their own communities. “Across the United States, Donald Trump has illegally
ALTON - Attorney Keith Short has some practical advice for anyone who is in a car accident. “The number one thing I would tell people to do is, as soon as possible after the accident, make a log of everything you can remember about it,” he said. “The absolute first mistake, absolutely, is not recording everything you can immediately after it occurred. That means going to the doctor and saying, this happened, and telling them the truth. Telling the police officer the
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