BROOKLYN, Ill. — A Pontoon Beach man has been charged with first-degree murder in the killing of a 21-year-old St. Louis woman who was struck by gunfire from a passing vehicle while waiting to enter a Brooklyn club Sept. 20, 2026, according to Illinois State Police. Malik D. Day, 26, remains in custody at the St. Louis City Justice Center pending extradition to Illinois. The St. Clair County State’s Attorney’s Office approved the Class M felony charge Sept. 25, 2026, after state
Before hit records could travel by radio or streaming, a piece of sheet music could help carry a regional sound into new homes and dance halls. On Sept. 28, 1912, W.C. Handy’s “The Memphis Blues” went on sale at a Memphis department store, a consequential step in bringing the blues into commercial publishing. Its mixture of blues expression and popular ragtime helped establish Handy as a central figure in the music’s wider recognition. Looking back on Sept. 28, 2026,
On September 28, 1066, William, Duke of Normandy, landed his invasion force on England’s southern coast, beginning a conquest that would reshape the country and its relationships with Europe. England’s succession was disputed, and William claimed that its crown belonged to him rather than the newly crowned Harold II. Within weeks, their armies would meet at the Battle of Hastings. The Norman Conquest changed England’s ruling class, government, landownership, and language. Its
ST. LOUIS — Thirty-two women share their experiences of leadership in “Mujeres Rising: Leading with Heart and Courage,” a new anthology published by Latinas Rising LLC that launched on Amazon in September 2026. The organization will celebrate the book on Oct. 14, 2026, at St. Louis City Hall with a public event highlighting the authors and their stories. Compiled by Latinas Rising co-founders Gabriela Ramírez-Arellano and Esmeralda Aharon, the book examines how women
MADISON COUNTY — An adult and a juvenile were killed and three other people were injured in a two-vehicle crash late Saturday, Sept. 26, 2026, on southbound Interstate 55, according to Illinois State Police. The cause remains under investigation. The crash happened at 11:55 p.m. near milepost 33, between Livingston and Hamel, according to a state police crash report. An adult was pronounced dead at the scene. A juvenile passenger was taken to a local hospital and pronounced dead. Another
This Day in History: September 27, 2026 On September 27, 1940, Germany, Italy, and Japan signed the Tripartite Pact , formally linking three major powers fighting to expand their influence in Europe and Asia. Signed in Berlin during World War II, the agreement promised assistance if a signatory was attacked by a country not already involved in the European war or the conflict between Japan and China. It was intended largely to discourage the United States from entering the fighting. The pact
This Day in Music History: Sept. 27, From Martha and the Vandellas to Brandy Sept. 27, 1962, brought an early step toward an influential sound: Martha and the Vandellas released “I’ll Have to Let Him Go” on Motown’s Gordy label. Written and produced by William “Mickey” Stevenson, the record introduced the act under the name that would become familiar to soul audiences. The group had already contributed backing vocals to Marvin Gaye’s breakthrough recording
CHICAGO – Attorney General Kwame Raoul, as part of a bipartisan coalition of 44 state attorneys general, has secured a settlement with the Laboratory Corporation of America (Labcorp) resolving a multistate investigation into the 2019 data breach at Labcorp’s debt collector, Retrieval-Masters Creditors Bureau, doing business as American Medical Collection Agency (AMCA). The AMCA breach potentially exposed the personal information of over 27.5 million individuals throughout the United
CHICAGO – Illinois State Treasurer Michael Frerichs today hosted a celebration to commemorate Hispanic Heritage Month, honoring the great achievements of Latino community leaders. Treasurer Frerichs honored nine individuals: the Spanish-language play-by-play announcer for the Chicago Cubs, Bulls and Blackhawks; a brother and sister who own several Chicago-area restaurants; a Chicago high school principal; an airport concessions firm founder; a registered nurse and clinical coordinator; th
ALTON – A challenger seeking to unseat an incumbent State Senator in the 56th District of Illinois shared her platform and priorities at a candidate forum held in Alton. YWCA Southwestern Illinois and the Alton Section of the National Council of Negro Women (NCNW) hosted a free Candidate Forum on Tuesday, Sept. 22, 2026 in the YWCA gymnasium in Alton. The event was presented as a community service, as neither organization endorses or supports any candidate for public office. Candidates
ALTON – An Alton alderwoman and incumbent state representative running to represent their district in the Illinois House of Representatives shared their views and priorities at a recent candidate forum. YWCA Southwestern Illinois and the Alton Section of the National Council of Negro Women (NCNW) hosted a free Candidate Forum on Tuesday, Sept. 22, 2026 in the YWCA gymnasium in Alton. The event was presented as a community service, as neither organization endorses or supports any candidate
SPRINGFIELD – The Center for Digital Government announced the results of its 2026 Digital States Survey, a biennial evaluation of the technology practices of state government in all fifty states, on Thursday and raised Illinois’ overall grade to an A-, in addition to recognizing Illinois with an Outstanding Achievement Award for Constituent Digital Experience. “Illinois is showing what’s possible when we invest in modernization and put residents at the center of every digita
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and John Boozman (R-AR), members of the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee (SVAC), introduced bipartisan legislation to strengthen oversight of women Veterans’ health care and improve access to the services and resources they need. The Veterans’ Outcomes, Inclusion, Care, and Experience (VOICE) for Women Veterans Act would modernize an annual report from the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) so legislators,
MONEE – Today, Governor JB Pritzker joined the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) and Voortman Steel Machinery leadership to commemorate the grand opening of the company’s $51 million expansion project. Illinois is home to Voortman Steel Machinery’s U.S. headquarters, and Governor Pritzker broke ground on the project in October 2024 when it was first announced. Voortman’s expansion is another example of Illinois' position as a growing hub
ALTON – Madison County voters heard directly from two candidates competing for the office of County Clerk in the Nov. 3, 2026 elections. YWCA Southwestern Illinois and the Alton Section of the National Council of Negro Women (NCNW) hosted a free Candidate Forum on Tuesday, Sept. 22, 2026 in the YWCA gymnasium in Alton. The event was presented as a community service, as neither organization endorses or supports any candidate for public office. Candidates competing in three different
ALTON — Runners, walkers and mesothelioma advocates helped raise more than $20,000 at the 18th annual Alton Miles for Meso 5K Race and 3K Fun Run/Walk on Sept. 19, 2026, to support efforts to prevent asbestos exposure and eliminate asbestos-caused diseases. Simmons Hanly Conroy hosted the event alongside Metro Tri Club of Edwardsville, Illinois. Proceeds benefited the Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization, an independent nonprofit focused on asbestos awareness, prevention and advocacy.
ALTON - Alton High School is preparing to celebrate its Homecoming, and the community is invited to join in the fun. Next week is Spirit Week at the high school, with the Homecoming Parade planned for Wednesday, Sept. 30, 2026. This will be followed by the football game on Friday, Oct. 2, and the dance on Saturday, Oct. 3, 2026. Student Council leaders Eden Warford and Aiden Russell are eager to come together as a school and connect with the larger Alton community. “I feel like homecomin
SPRINGFIELD – The Illinois Department of Natural Resources is reminding deer hunters that free chronic wasting disease (CWD) testing is available at participating sampling locations throughout the state. CWD is a fatal disease of the central nervous system that affects deer and elk. First detected in Illinois in 2002 in a deer from Boone County, CWD has since been identified in 28 counties across northern and central Illinois. Since 2002, 199,136 wild deer have been sampled statewide,
GRANITE CITY — Edwardsville senior striker Brandon Morris scored an impressive hat trick Sept. 17, 2026, in a 4-0 win over Granite City at Gene Baker Field, contributing to a team he hopes can advance far in the state playoffs this season. Morris has emerged as a key player and one of the leading goal scorers for the Tigers. “It was obviously good to get a win there, and to get the hat trick," Morris said. Morris is an Edison's Entertainment Complex Male Athlete Of The Month for
EDWARDSVILLE - Kennedy Gieseking is a senior running back and receiver for the girls flag football team at Edwardsville High School, and on Sept. 24, 2026, she might have made her biggest catch o the season. Gieseking made an off-balance catch of an Ella Wallace conversion pass after Wallace hit Stella Worman in the end zone for a game-tying touchdown in Edwardsville's stunning 13-12 win over Belleville East at Tiger Stadium to keep the Tigers undefeated, and clinch the Southwestern Conference
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