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CHICAGO - Governor JB Pritzker, Illinois Office of Firearm Violence Prevention (OFVP) officials, legislators, and community leaders convened today to recognize progress made to reduce gun violence in Chicago and Illinois due in part to the Peacekeeper Program. The State of Illinois adopted this model in 2023 as a strategy of the OFVP. A recent Northwestern University evaluation report found a 41% reduction of gun violence rates in Chicago and Cook County suburban hotspots targeted by the program. “Corner by corner, block by block, and neighborhood by neighborhood – we are freeing our communities from the age-old patterns of crime and violence,” said Governor JB Pritzker. “From Day One, violence intervention and reduction has been a focus of my administration, and I established the Office of Firearm Violence Prevention and worked with the General Assembly to pass the Reimagine Public Safety Act to organize and support efforts such as these exactly because I believe

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ALTON/BETHALTO/EDWARDSVILLE/GODFREY - As the Riverbend community celebrates Easter, Schnucks and Dierbergs encourage you to get everything you need from their stores ahead of time. All Schnucks locations will be closed on Sunday, April 20, 2025. In a statement, Schnucks said they decided to close stores so that their employees could enjoy the holiday. “All Schnucks stores will be closed on Easter Sunday, April 20 so that our teammates can spend time with their families and loved ones,” Schnucks said. “Stores will reopen at their normally scheduled time on Monday, April 21.” For more information about this, visit their official website at Schnucks.com . On their official Facebook page , Edwardsville's Dierbergs Markets location said they will also be closed on Easter Sunday. The store will reopen at 6 a.m. on Monday, April 21, 2025.

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SPRINGFIELD — The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has released updated data revealing that autism spectrum disorder (ASD) now affects approximately 1 in 31 children in the United States—an increase from the previous estimate of 1 in 36. Experts attribute this rise not to a surge in incidence, but to improved diagnostic tools, heightened awareness, and more inclusive screening practices that are helping identify children earlier and across a broader spectrum of communities. “This updated prevalence reflects the strides we’ve made as a society in understanding autism,” said Erica Duijzer, Chief Operating Officer of Hope Clinical Care. “Early and accurate diagnosis is critical—it paves the way for timely interventions that can transform the developmental path for individuals on the spectrum.” The CDC report underscores positive trends in early detection, with more children being diagnosed at younger ages

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ALTON - Due to the threat of heavy rainfall, the Alton Amphitheater Commission is canceling the free concert with NKG Blues Band that had been scheduled for Saturday, April 19, 2025. The Amphitheater Commission looks forward to working with NKG Blues Band to find another opportunity for them to perform at the amphitheater.

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April 18th marks a day rich with historical significance across the globe, spanning groundbreaking scientific achievements, pivotal political moments, and cultural milestones. Our story begins in the early morning hours of April 18, 1906, when a massive earthquake struck the city of San Francisco, California. Measuring an estimated 7.9 on the moment magnitude scale, this seismic event remains one of the most powerful earthquakes in U.S. history. The quake’s epicenter was near the San Andreas Fault, a notorious geological boundary responsible for much of California’s seismic activity. The earthquake’s shaking lasted less than a minute, but the destruction it caused was catastrophic. Buildings crumbled, bridges collapsed, and essential infrastructure was severely damaged. However, the quake alone was not the only source of devastation; the fires that ignited across the city in the quake’s aftermath raged uncontrolled for several days, fueled by broken gas line

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JERSEYVILLE – The City of Jerseyville has several street improvement projects planned over the next few years. At an April 8, 2025 “workshop” meeting of the City Council, several past, present, and future street projects around Jerseyville were discussed between city officials. Hollow Avenue One major project taking place in the near future is the next phase of Hollow Avenue improvements . The narrow, deteriorated road has long had no sidewalk and sight-distance issues for drivers. Phase 2 improvements included repaving and widening the road, installing ADA-compliant sidewalks, and more along Hollow Avenue from Baxter Avenue to North Hickory Street. The continuation of this phase over the next two years will see these improvements extend west towards the city limits near Waggoner Avenue . The Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) will open bids for the next phase of the Hollow Avenue project on April 25, 2025. Highway

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EDWARDSVILLE - Sophomore infielder Sophie Antonini came through in a big way on Apr. 15, delivering a game-winning single that scored pinch-runner Lily Stone with the winning run in a thrilling 8-7 win for Edwardsville over Belleville East in a Southwestern Conference softball game played at the Edwardsville District 7 Sports Complex. It was a clutch hit in many ways for Antonini, who's currently hitting .447, with no homers and seven RBIs in helping the Tigers to a 12-4 record after a 22-0 Edwardsville win over East St. Louis on Apr. 17. Sophie is a Spencer Homes Female Athlete of the Month for the Tigers. To coin a phrase from Yogi Berra himself, it was deja vu all over again for Antonini, who found herself in the same situation a year ago against the Lancers. "I feel great," Antonini said in a post-game interview following her big hit. "I did this similar to last year, in our conference game against them. It's got a sense of deja vu, but it feels great." The pitch that she

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GODFREY – Lewis and Clark Community College held its annual Trebuchet Competition April 4, 2025 in River Bend Arena. This year’s event drew 19 teams and 93 students from six area high schools. Competition organizer and LC Mathematics Professor Kevin Bodden saw this year’s event improve in several areas. “I’m thrilled to share that this year’s high school Trebuchet Contest was a resounding success,” he said. “With a 12 percent increase in attendance compared to last year and a significant boost in scoring across the board, the event was more exciting and competitive than ever!” The event is comprised of two areas of competition: reporting and trebuchet. Taking first place in the trebuchet was Team Angels Raining Down Destruction from St. Joseph’s Academy in St. Louis. Members included Emily Rybak, Elizabeth Kirsch, Kate Hulsen and Ava Muehlemann. Second place in the trebuchet category went to Team Mitchell and Wings from

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WOOD RIVER - Midwest Members Credit Union is proud to sponsor the “Oiler of the Month” program at EAWR High School. A Senior student is selected each month by members of EAWR faculty. Each student is awarded a certificate and a Subway gift card. The Seniors selected each month will have the opportunity to compete for a $1,000 “Oiler of the Year” scholarship at the end of the school year. April's winner is Chase Butler. Chase is a Senior at EAWR and is involved in EAWR Drama Club, Student Council, Saturday Scholars, Senior Mentor and Spirit Club. Chase has received honors with the Silver Medallion, National Honor Society and Dual Credit college courses. In Chase's free time, she enjoys volunteering at Hartford Elementary, helping Lewis & Clark Junior High Drama Club, working the Soap Box Derby at EA Rec Center and volunteering at her church. After graduation, Chase is planning on attending University of Illinois and majoring in Elementary Education. Congratulations

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EDWARDSVILLE – Award-winning author and journalist Elizabeth Donald is proud to announce her latest book, Blackfire Rising , released April 3, 2025 from Falstaff Books. A long-time resident of Edwardsville, Ill., Elizabeth Donald is a writer fond of things that go chomp in the night. She is the author of the Blackfire urban fantasy series and Nocturne vampire mystery series, as well as other novels, novellas and short stories in the horror, science fiction and fantasy genres. She is a three-time winner of the Darrell Award for speculative fiction and recipient of the Mimi Zanger Literary Award. More recently Donald was runner-up in the Imadjinn film festival in the screenplay division, and a finalist for the Knost Award. Among Donald’s previous fiction publications are Nocturne Infernum (Seventh Star Press), Moonlight Sonata (Dark Oak Press), Dreadmire (Spellbinder Publishing), Yanaguana (Crone Girls Press), Setting Suns (New Babel Books), Abaddon (Cerridwen

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CHICAGO – Attorney General Kwame Raoul announced a $12 million settlement with Direct Energy Services LLC (Direct Energy) that resolves allegations the alternative retail electric supplier (ARES) engaged in fraudulent, unfair and deceptive business practices to mislead Illinois consumers into paying millions of dollars more for electricity than consumers who stayed with their default public utility. A consent judgment entered by the Cook County Circuit Court will provide restitution to eligible Illinois customers who received residential electricity supply services from Direct Energy between 2013 and April 2025. The restitution amounts will largely be based upon eligible customers’ electricity usage during the period in which they purchased electricity from Direct Energy. “Companies like Direct Energy must be held accountable for taking advantage of consumers with misrepresentations and false promises of lower prices,” Raoul said. “My office is committed

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JERSEYVILLE – Whether you’re a local business owner seeking affordable advertising or a supporter of local theater programs, JCHS Theatre Friends needs your help to make their first-ever Trivia Night a success. While all tables have been sold out for the May 10, 2025 Trivia Night at DJ’s Bar & Grill in Jerseyville, the group is still seeking four more category sponsors for the event. Category sponsors will have their names and/or logos displayed on the official event Facebook page , on-screen for one full round of trivia, as well as beverage coozies, a category sponsor banner, and a table tent display listing all event sponsors – all for $125. By joining the growing coalition of category sponsors, business owners and theater supporters can boost their name recognition in the community while supporting a good cause, ensuring the success of a vital arts program for local students. All sponsorships must be paid for by April 20, 2025 to ensure your name or logo

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EDWARDSVILLE — The Edwardsville High School Tiger Talk Podcast Network visited Springfield recently to meet with Illinois State Representative Katie Stuart and veteran journalist Jak Tichenor, gaining firsthand experience in media production and state government. Sponsored by Dave Lipe and Nicole Pontious, the student podcast network includes two shows: The Jungle, the official EHS sports podcast, and Tiger Spotlight, which highlights the local community. During the trip, students toured the Illinois Capitol’s House Floor and participated in a question-and-answer session with Tichenor, who has covered the state capitol for more than 30 years and hosts the Illinois Lawmakers television program on WSIU-TV. The visit aimed to provide students with professional insights beyond local reporting, allowing them to observe political processes and media production in action. Stuart shared her experiences in politics and engaged with the students before a legislative session. Since

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EDWARDSVILLE - Ivy Hall Dispensary has a major celebration planned to mark 4/20. On Sunday, April 20, 2025, the holiday commonly known as 4/20 will commence at Ivy Hall at their new location in Edwardsville. Director of Marketing Jonny Boucher said this “wacky holiday” will include deals, gifts and more for community members who stop by the store between today and Sunday. “It’s the biggest celebration of our industry, and it’s just so much fun,” he said. “On Sunday, it’s going to be a big ol' party.” Starting at 8 a.m. on April 20, the first 100 customers will receive a golden Easter egg with a prize inside. Prizes range from a $500 Visa gift card to a $250 tattoo voucher, with plenty of other prizes including gift cards to local restaurants and stores. Boucher emphasized the importance of collaborating with local businesses like this. The Edwardsville dispensary is Ivy Hall’s tenth location in the state of Illinois,

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ALTON - Elizabeth Blackmon is a senior attending Alton High School and is the daughter of Yeberzaf Yigzaw and the late Barnard Blackmon. She wants to begin by sincerely thanking the Alton-Godfrey Rotary Club for selecting her as one of April’s Students of the Month—she believes that this is truly an honor. Over the past four years, it’s been her personal goal not only to excel academically but also to make a meaningful impact through service. She walked into Alton High as a freshman with a vision. And thanks to God, her mother, siblings, and teachers, she is proud of what she’s accomplished. She currently has a 4.688 weighted GPA and will graduate as a Platinum Alpha Scholar. She’s received recognition from the College Board as a National African American Scholar and a First-Generation Student, and she’s proud to be an Illinois State Scholar, awarded for her GPA and test scores. She also received the Silver Medallion Medal for being in the top 8% o

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GRANITE CITY – Two incidents of domestic battery within days of each other have led to a Granite City man’s arrest and detention. Brandon M. Payne, 24, of Granite City, was charged with a Class 2 felony count of aggravated battery and a Class 4 felony count of unlawful restraint. He was additionally charged with Class A misdemeanor counts of domestic battery and criminal trespass to a residence. On March 28, 2025, Payne allegedly strangled a household or family member and unlawfully prevented them from leaving a Granite City residence. Three days later on March 31, 2025, he reportedly bit the same victim and trespassed at a different Granite City residence. According to a petition to deny Payne’s pretrial release, officers observed bruising on the victim’s neck consistent with their description of the first incident on March 28. When the victim attempted to leave the residence, “the defendant continued to grab her, stopping her from leaving.”

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Over the past four years, Seana Grey, an Alton High School senior, has worked hard to challenge herself academically and grow as a student and a leader. Seana is an Alton-Godfrey Rotary Club Student of the Month for April 2025. She is proud to have been recognized as an Illinois State Scholar, a Silver Medallion recipient, a Platinum Alpha Award winner, and an AP Scholar. She is also honored to be a member of the National Honor Society and to serve as Vice President of Mu Alpha Theta, an honors math club. Beyond academics, Seana has been fortunate to take part in several extracurricular activities at Alton High School that have brought her joy and helped shape who she is. She has loved being part of the Marching 100, Biology Club, and Fellowship of Christian Athletes. She also serves as treasurer of the Alton High School HOSA chapter (Health Occupations Students of America), sergeant-at-arms for the Student Council, and as a senior representative for Alton High School on the RiverBend

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ALTON - Jayden Bierman of Alton High School is truly honored and grateful to receive the Alton-Godfrey Rotary Club Student of the Month Award for April 2025, which means more to him than he can truly express. Jayden's goal has never been to seek awards or recognition for the things he’s done; it has simply been to put a smile on the face of everyone he meets, because he knows how much even a small gesture can change a person’s day. Being recognized as a Rotary Student of the Month reminds him just how powerful kindness can be, and that passing it forward really does make a difference. Academically, Jayden has always pushed himself to do his best. This year, he’s taking two math classes and Physics 2, which have challenged him to manage a heavy workload while diving deep into complex subjects. What Jayden loves most about these classes is how they’ve given him a deeper understanding of the world. That he hopes to use to solve real-world problems in creative, meaningfu

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BENTON – A federal district judge sentenced a Wolf Lake man to 150 months’ imprisonment after he admitted to possessing firearms as a felon. Kyle M. Bond, 41, pleaded guilty to one count of felon in possession of a firearm and one count of receipt or possession of an unregistered firearm. Following imprisonment, Bond will serve three years of supervised release. “In an effort to protect the public and help keep guns out of the hands of dangerous individuals, convicted felons lose their right to legally possess firearms,” said U.S. Attorney Steven D. Weinhoeft. “As this case demonstrates, the U.S. Attorney’s Office will continue to work to remove repeat criminal offenders who threaten the safety of our communities.” According to court documents, on January 5, 2023, deputies with the Union County Sheriff’s Office executed a search warrant at the defendant’s residence in Union County in connection to an investigation and located

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BETHALTO - On April 17, 2025, the Bethalto Police Department presented charges to the Madison County State’s Attorney's Office for Justin S. Banks, 35, of Bethalto. The following charges were filed by the Madison County State’s Attorney's Office: Justin S. Banks: CT I: Child Pornography (Class X Felony) CT II: Child Pornography (Class X Felony) CT III: Child Pornography (Class X Felony) CT IV: Child Pornography (Class X Felony) CT V: Child Pornography (Class X Felony) CT VI: Child Pornography (Class 2 Felony) CT VII: Child Pornography (Class 2 Felony) CT VIII: Child Pornography (Class 2 Felony) CT IX: Child Pornography (Class 2 Felony) CT X: Child Pornography (Class 2 Felony) On Jan. 30, 2025, the Bethalto Police Department Investigations Division received an Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) cybertip from the Illinois Attorney General’s Office. The cybertip showed that Child Pornography was being disseminated. Investigators were able t

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