On May 18, 1980, Mount St. Helens erupted in the U.S. state of Washington in one of the most destructive volcanic events in modern American history. A massive landslide triggered a sideways blast that flattened forests, sent ash across several states, and killed 57 people. At the time, the eruption changed how communities in the Pacific Northwest thought about natural hazards, emergency planning, and land use near active volcanoes. It still matters today because it reshaped modern volcano monitoring
COLLINSVILLE - The Collinsville Police Department announced it has added a new K-9 to its ranks, introducing K9 Cyna and her handler, Officer Connor Diecker. The department said K9 Cyna is the newest member of the “Collinsville Police Department family,” and noted that her name is pronounced, “just like John Cena (actor/professional wrestler).” “Cyna and her handler, Officer Connor Diecker, have already completed training and are ready to bring their
EDWARDSVILLE - The Madison County Sheriff’s Office announced the graduation of three recruits from the Southwestern Illinois College Correctional Officer Academy, Session 136, marking their transition from classroom instruction to field training in jail operations. The sheriff’s office said Zachary Haas, Jackson McRae, and Tanner Miles graduated from the academy and will now begin field training as they move into hands-on work. “The Madison County Sheriff’s
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Senator Roger Wicker (R-MS) today reintroduced the bipartisan, bicameral Senator Paul Simon Study Abroad Program Act, which renames a competitive grant program run by the Department of State to the Senator Paul Simon Study Abroad Program. The grant encourages institutions of higher education to sustainably expand study abroad opportunities to nontraditional locations for underserved American undergraduate students.
SPRINGFIELD – The Illinois Education Association (IEA) is working to pass Senate Bill 2914 this session, a bill that would put an end to a long-time practice of school administrators keeping accusations that have been proven false in an educator’s employment record. IEA seeks safe public schools for every student and every school employee and supports accountability for misconduct. This bill includes a right to challenge issuance of the warning, or allegations in the warning, to
SPRINGFIELD – Illinois Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias’ legislation aimed at combating unfair auto insurance practices passed the Illinois Senate. Senate Bill 714 builds on the Secretary of State’s statewide Driving Change initiative, which was launched to address rising and increasingly unaffordable insurance costs and spotlight unfair and discriminatory ratemaking practices impacting Illinois drivers. Meanwhile, Illinois remains one of only two states without a process
EAST ALTON – Felony charges have been filed against an East Alton man accused of stealing thousands of dollars from victims who hired him to build various pool projects at their homes across the Riverbend. Chad A. Phillips, 30, of East Alton, was charged on May 11, 2026 with three Class 4 felony counts of home repair fraud, two Class 2 felony counts of theft over, and a Class 3 felony count of theft over $500. From July 23, 2022 to Oct. 1, 2024, Phillips allegedly entered into an agreement
ALTON - Alton Community Unit School District #11 families will register their children in person this year as an opportunity to connect families with school resources. In late July, parents and caregivers will stop by the Alton High School gymnasium for in-person registration. Families must bring certain documents and information to registration to ensure their children are ready to go for the school year. Director of Student Services Angela Kuchnicki explained that the goal is to connect
May is Women’s Health Month — a time to highlight the important role nutrition plays in supporting women at every stage of life. From the teenage years through menopause and beyond, nutrient needs shift, but one thing remains consistent: building and maintaining strong bones, muscles and overall health require a steady foundation of key nutrients. “Dairy foods such as milk, yogurt and cheese provide a unique package of calcium, vitamin D, high-quality protein and other essential
SPRINGFIELD – Illinois State Treasurer Michael Frerichs today hosted a celebration to highlight the achievements of community leaders during Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Month. The event, which was held at the state government building at 555 W. Monroe St. in Chicago, honored eight people for their contributions to their communities: a CEO, a strategy and innovation officer, a school principal, a leader of an education and advocacy group, a state lawmaker, a labor leader,
A front-page article on the Alton Evening Telegraph in May 1926 announced that well-known Alton attorney William P. Boynton “may perhaps enjoy the distinction of being the first Altonian who tried to make a trip from Alton to California in a motor bus.” By this time, many locals had made the trip by automobile, but Boynton was set to become “the pioneer Altonian in making the round trip riding all the way in commercial motor busses.” Boynton took a bus from St.
A person can be sitting down and still be “standing tall.” You’ve probably said it yourself—about someone who faced a setback, refused to be bullied, or owned up to a mistake. The phrase sounds physical, but its real power is about something you can’t measure with a ruler: dignity. “Standing tall” is one of those expressions that feels simple until you look closer. It can mean confidence, courage, honesty, or self-respect. Sometimes it even means staying
On May 17, 1954, the United States Supreme Court issued its decision in Brown v. Board of Education , ruling that racial segregation in public schools was unconstitutional. At the time, the decision challenged a long-standing legal system that treated separate schools for different races as acceptable, even when those schools were unequal in funding, facilities, and opportunity. It mattered immediately because it gave legal force to the idea that equal citizenship required equal access to education.
EAST ST. LOUIS – Illinois State Police (ISP) conducted a violent crime suppression detail on May 13 and 14, 2026, in St. Clair and Madison counties, focusing its efforts on East St. Louis and neighboring Metro East communities. ? The operation utilized intelligence and technology to focus enforcement efforts on known high crime areas, violent offenders, and structured criminal groups in the communities of the Metro East. Detail Results Arrests 23 Total Criminal Charges 33 Felo
ALTON - The Hayner Public Library District to host Get Outside! A Survey of Alton Area Parks Past and Present book signing on Saturday, May 23, from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at the Jennie D. Hayner Park, corner of State Street and West Fourth Street, Alton, IL 62002. Get Outside! A Survey of Alton Area Parks Past and Present is an 88-page hardcover book offering one, two and 4-page photographic spreads with basic information and a brief history of the parks in active use in 2026 located in Alton,
GODFREY – Lewis and Clark Community College is meeting the changes and challenges in the growing real estate field by offering classes to help individuals enter that career field as brokers. An individual must pass a total of 75 hours of instruction to take the Real Estate Broker’s licensure exam. Lewis and Clark is offering three different classes of Real Estate, all of which are needed for the exam: Real Estate Brokerage (REAL 135-T60) – 7-8:50 p.m., Monday and Wednesday,
COLUMBIA, Mo. – Columbia College recently announced its dean's list for the Spring 2026 Semester (January-May 2026). To be named to the dean's list, a student must have completed 12 undergraduate credit hours in a 16-week period and achieved a minimum GPA of 3.5 on a 4.0-point scale. Students from the area who received this honor include: HOMETOWN; NAME, CAMPUS ATTENDED Alton Cierra Johnson, Online Edwardsville Kimberly Eichelberger, Online Jerseyville Samantha Malley,
WASHINGTON, D.C. - House Republicans are pressing Illinois Democrats to take up a package of proposals they say would lower costs for families before the General Assembly’s session ends, arguing that political disagreements should not delay action on affordability measures. State Reps. Bill Hauter, Mike Coffey and Brad Fritts held a Capitol news conference Thursday to renew what they described as House Republicans’ push for Democrats to consider “affordability plans” tha
ALTON - Church members and leaders from across Alton gathered for the Alton Area Church Women United organization’s May Friendship Day. On Thursday, May 14, 2026, community members met at Main Street Methodist Church in Alton for the program. Church Women United is a national movement that unites women of different churches and faith backgrounds to worship and serve the community together. Diane Foster and Sandra Revels shared information about the organization and its May Friendship
EDWARDSVILLE - The Glen-Ed Pantry will hold a ceremonial groundbreaking on May 20 for a new facility at its site in Edwardsville, as the nonprofit works to expand services for local families facing food insecurity. The event is scheduled for 10 a.m. Wednesday, May 20, 2026, at Glen-Ed Pantry, 125 5th Ave., Edwardsville, IL 62025. Representatives and leadership of the pantry are expected to attend, including Board President Libby Levin, past president Pam Harrison, and Executive Director Jane
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