EDWARDSVILLE - Bonifest, a two-day Memorial Day weekend tradition in Edwardsville for 40-plus years, has permanently shut down because of rising costs and increasingly complex insurance, security and safety requirements, event co-chair Emily Gates said. The event was held on the St. Boniface Church grounds at North Buchanan and Fillmore streets in Edwardsville. It featured carnival rides by American Banner Amusements, pork steaks, fried fish, bands and a 5K and 3K run/walk that Gates described
ST. LOUIS – A man from Sparta, Illinois has been accused of promoting and facilitating the prostitution of a woman found dead of an overdose in 2025. Jared Anders, 30, was indicted in U.S. District Court in St. Louis on July 22 on three felonies: sex trafficking, use of interstate commerce with intent to distribute prostitution and use of interstate facilities to promote prostitution. He appeared in court Friday and pleaded not guilty. The indictment alleges that Anders benefited
ALTON — Highway of Holiness Church of Deliverance in Christ Inc., Sacred Spaces of CARE and the Alton Police Department hosted a Back to School Resource Event this past Saturday, Aug. 8, 2026, in the Alton Police Department front parking lot to help children prepare for the school year. Organizers said free backpacks with school supplies were distributed, along with wellness resources, treats, and snacks. Highway of Holiness Church of Deliverance in Christ Inc. described the event as
ALTON - A local attorney and financial advisor will team up to educate community members about estate planning and taxes. At 6 p.m. on Thursday, Aug. 13, 2026, community members can attend an educational dinner at The Wedge in Alton for free pizza, giveaways and advice. Elizabeth “Liz” Heller with Goldenberg Heller & Antognoli, P.C., and Curtis Stephens with Stephens Planning will host the seminar, and they encourage attendees to come with questions. “We work well together,”
ALTON - A legal dispute between Mayor David Goins and the Alton City Council over challenged ordinances and appointed positions is scheduled to be heard at 9 a.m. Wednesday, Aug. 12, 2026, in Madison County Court, with Judge Sarah Smith presiding. The temporary restraining order filed by Goins prohibits implementation of the challenged ordinances at issue in the litigation and bars any further action against them. It also requires that those removed from their appointed positions be reinstated
WOOD RIVER - Two people were taken to a hospital after a two-vehicle crash about 5:30 p.m. Friday, Aug. 7, 2026, at the intersection of Illinois Route 143 and Wood River Avenue, Wood River Deputy Police Chief Tim Gegen said. The cause of the crash remains under investigation. Gegen said the two vehicles collided in the intersection and sustained serious damage. Everyone was out of the vehicles when officers arrived, he said. Two people were transported with injuries that were not life-threatening,
ALTON/EDWARDSVILLE/BREESE - St. Peters Hardware and Rental stays busy year-round, and owner Dan St. Peters is proud of the business his family has built. With locations in Alton, Edwardsville and Breese, the store offers tools and equipment as well as a wide selection of rental items, from tents and chairs to dunk tanks. St. Peters noted that while the business has grown a lot over the past few decades, the core of their mission — to serve the community — is always the same.
Note: The Edwardsville Art Fair is an annual three-day outdoor juried arts celebration presenting the work of approximately 100 talented local, regional, national, and international artists, and local performing arts. The fair is Sept. 25, 26, and 27, 2026, in Edwardsville City Park. Artist: Rosaria Wilson Medium: Emerging Artist Location: Edwardsville, IL Artist Statement: " My hand-knitted animal characters are three-dimensional storytelling objects. Each figure is individually
SPRINGFIELD – The Illinois Department of Transportation announced today that the application period for the Illinois Transportation Enhancement Program is now open. With $157 million available, the program’s latest funding cycle is the largest ever thanks to Gov. JB Pritzker’s Rebuild Illinois and again dedicates resources to communities with the greatest needs. Projects eligible for funding through ITEP include biking and walking paths, trails, streetscape beautification
SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Christopher Belt’s measure to reduce unfair barriers to employment for people living with disabilities was signed into law. “Everyone in our state deserves the opportunity to earn a living and support their family,” said Belt (D-Swansea). “Too many people are being shut out of good jobs because of requirements that have nothing to do with the work, and this measure will help change that.” The legislation will prohibit employers an
ST. LOUIS — The American Red Cross continues to urge donors of all blood types to act now and make an appointment to give blood or platelets amid the ongoing national blood crisis. Just three additional donors at every blood drive could help further stabilize the blood supply and ensure patients continue receiving lifesaving care. Since issuing only the second blood crisis in Red Cross history in late July, thousands of generous donors have stepped up to help save lives. At the same time,
EDWARDSVILLE — Josie Proctor, a graduate of Edwardsville Senior High School, has been awarded a Stamps Scholarship at the University of Mississippi, earning one of the nation’s most prestigious merit scholarships for undergraduate students through a competitive process recognizing academic achievement, leadership, initiative and service. The Stamps Scholars Program recently announced its 21st class of Scholars and will welcome 393 students from 34 partner institutions across the Unite
SOUTH ROXANA — A reported domestic-related incident ended peacefully Sunday morning, Aug. 9, 2026, after South Roxana police said officers rescued a woman trapped inside a residence while a man barricaded himself inside. Officers with the South Roxana Police Department responded at approximately 7:36 a.m. Sunday, Aug. 9, 2026, to a residence in the 1000 block of Park regarding the reported incident. During the investigation, officers attempted to make contact with Dustin Link, 43, of Sout
ST. LOUIS - A 24-year-old North County man died Sunday morning, Aug. 9, 2026, after a two-vehicle crash on the 8200 block of Hall Street, where investigators said his Honda Accord struck a Ford Edge after entering the southbound lane. District 6 officers were called to the crash around 8:40 a.m. Sunday. St. Louis Metropolitan Police Accident Reconstruction officers will investigate. St. Louis Metropolitan Police said a preliminary investigation found that the Honda Accord, driven by Xavier
SHIRLEY – Governor JB Pritzker has made investing in and supporting Illinois farmers a top priority, expanding markets for Illinois farmers, securing deals with partners worldwide, and advocating for them in the face of global chaos. Under Gov. Pritzker, agriculture in Illinois is a $51 billion industry , one of the largest in the state. Illinois is the fifth-largest exporter of agricultural goods in the nation, exporting more than $10.6 billion worth of goods to other countries.
ALTON - Men from across the Riverbend community can come together for a weekend of faith and fellowship. Calvary Baptist Church will host their men’s retreat on Friday, Aug. 21 and Saturday, Aug. 22, 2026. This free weekend experience invites men to an evening dinner at 6:30 p.m. on Friday, then a day-long experience starting at 8 a.m. on Saturday. Participants can enjoy hunting displays, an archery station, a speech from traveling evangelist Bill Britt, plus plenty more. “Hopefully,
SPRINGFIELD – The efforts of the Illinois Office of Comptroller (IOC) to preserve the dignity and sanctity of care of the deceased continues with an investigation into the crematory authority license at Bohemian National Cemetery Association in Chicago, Illinois. The IOC was alerted about possible violations at the crematory located on Bohemian cemetery grounds late afternoon July 21, 2026. Office staff visited the site first thing in the morning on July 22, 2026, and found multiple
ALTON — The Alton Amphitheater Commission invites the community to the Alton Food Truck Festival: Route 66 Centennial Celebration on Saturday, August 22, from 4–8 p.m. at the Alton Amphitheater. The event features regional food trucks, local food vendors, live music, family activities, and Route 66-inspired fun. Admission and all activities are free, with food and beverages available for purchase. Celebrating the 100th anniversary of the Mother Road, this year's festival transforms
CHICAGO – AttorneyGeneral Kwame Raoul and a coalition of 12 attorneys general today secured a court order granting their motion, finding that Nexstar Media Group Inc. (Nexstar) violated the court’s order requiring it and Tegna Inc. (Tegna) to remain separate. The U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of California found that Nexstar is violating the preliminary injunction by putting current or former Nexstar executives on Tegna’s board of directors. The court also
CHICAGO — Today, Governor JB Pritzker signed into law a landmark package of reforms strengthening patient protections by establishing for licensed health care professionals, hospitals, and hospital affiliates a duty to report accusations of inappropriate sexual conduct and unjustified intimate conduct to State regulators. With this change, the State will have the ability to swiftly open an investigation into the matter and suspend or take other appropriate action against a license, thereby
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