CHICAGO – Attorney General Kwame Raoul announced an Effingham, Illinois man was sentenced to 38 years in prison for producing child sexual abuse material. The case is part of Raoul’s ongoing work, in collaboration with federal law enforcement agencies and local law enforcement officials throughout Illinois, to apprehend offenders who download and trade child sexual abuse material online. Landin Miller, 24, was sentenced in Effingham County Circuit Court after pleading guilty to tw
ALTON – Members of the Alton Public Works Department are now officially on strike. Business Agent Jay Steinhauer with Teamsters Local 525 said the strike officially went into effect at midnight on Friday, Sept. 25, 2026. Public Works employees began picketing outside the Alton Public Works building at 7 a.m. on Friday morning, Sept. 25, 2026. Steinhauer said the strike will last “as long as it takes” to get city leaders back to the negotiating table. “All they have to
Fifty years ago, a gathering in a Dublin kitchen began a musical partnership that would reach stadiums around the world. On Sept. 25, 1976, the musicians who became U2 assembled at drummer Larry Mullen Jr.’s home. As Sept. 25, 2026, marks that anniversary, the meeting stands out as the day’s defining milestone: an informal response to a school notice that eventually produced a Rock & Roll Hall of Fame band. The date’s earlier history includes a very different route to musical
Why People Enjoy Traditions The cake tastes the same, but something feels wrong if nobody sings before it is cut. A birthday song adds no flavor, costs nothing, and rarely sounds polished. Yet leaving it out can make the celebration feel unfinished. That small moment reveals something important about human nature: we enjoy traditions not just for what they involve, but for what they mean. Traditions turn ordinary actions into signs of belonging, memory, and care. They can be grand public ceremonies
Major Historical Events 1513: Balboa sees the Pacific from the Americas On September 25, 1513, Spanish explorer Vasco Núñez de Balboa reached a height on the Isthmus of Panama and saw the ocean beyond it. He is generally credited as the first European to see the Pacific from the American mainland. Indigenous peoples had, of course, known and traveled its shores for generations. For Europeans, the sighting confirmed that another vast body of water lay beyond the lands they were
ROXANA – State Senator Erica Harriss (56th-Glen Carbon) has secured $50,000 in state funding to support the purchase of new safety equipment for the Roxana Fire Department. “Our firefighters put themselves in harm’s way to protect others, and they deserve to have reliable equipment when they answer the call,” said Senator Harriss . “I’m glad we were able to bring this funding back to Roxana and support the men and women who serve this community.”
ST. LOUIS COUNTY - Four people were charged Thursday, Sept. 24, 2026, after authorities alleged they beat and robbed a driver who stopped to check on the occupants of a vehicle he rear-ended in Jennings five days earlier. The St. Louis County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office charged Tamara Logan, 48; Martinez Logan, 25; Mary Moore, 26; and Davion Alfred, 30, all of St. Louis, with second-degree robbery, third-degree assault involving a special victim and second-degree burglary involving unlawful
GRAFTON - The New Horizons Band has partnered with the Jersey County Arts Council to offer a free concert this weekend. From 2–4 p.m. on Sunday, Sept. 27, 2026, at Grafton Winery the Vineyards, community members can enjoy big band music, polka, movie themes and more by the New Horizons Band. The goal of the band is to provide older adults with musical opportunities, and the Jersey County Arts Council was eager to sponsor a concert and support this work. “We try really hard t
ALTON - The City of Alton has announced a Service Plan ahead of a possible Teamsters strike. The City of Alton has developed a strike contingency plan to maintain essential services and protect public safety. The strike will affect some nonessential services, and the administration will keep the public informed of any changes to those services. Teamster-represented employees in the City’s Public Works and Parks and Recreation departments are scheduled to begin a strike at midnight following
EDWARDSVILLE – A child’s curiosity should never be limited by barriers to access. At Edwardsville Children’s Museum (ECM) , that belief has evolved into a museum-wide commitment to creating a welcoming space where children of all abilities can play, explore, and imagine. Through new inclusive and sensory-friendly accommodations , ECM ensures children on the autism spectrum, those with sensory sensitivities, and visitors who need a little extra support can discover
PONTOON BEACH - Thanks to financial support from Metro East Park and Recreation District (MEPRD), Madison County Transit (MCT) opened the new MCT Ridge Prairie Trail Thursday morning, adding approximately 1.5 miles to the MCT Trails system and creating a new connection between Collinsville and MCT’s expansive trail network. The MCT Ridge Prairie Trail begins near the Collinwood subdivision at Barbara Street in Collinsville and travels northeast to connect with the MCT Goshen Trail at Formos
EDWARDSVILLE - The Edwardsville Rotary Club has chosen to honor Edwardsville High School student Sebastian Reuter with the Student of the Month Award for September. Sebastian was nominated by Edwardsville High School teacher Rebecca Wilkinson. Sebastian is the son of Jeri and Jeremy Reuter. Sebastian was the number one chess player at his middle school and is the recipient of an American Legion award. Outside of school, Sebastian likes to focus on fitness. He also plays the guitar. Sebastian
EDWARDSVILLE - Kindergarten students at Goshen Elementary School in Edwardsville enjoyed a special presentation about nutrition. On Thursday, Sept. 24, 2026, SIUE nursing student Camilla Thomas stopped by Jennifer Desse’s kindergarten class to share information about healthy eating. Thomas was Desse’s former student, which made the experience even more fun. “I’ve seen the difference of how important it is for kids to get all of their nutrients,” Thomas said.
ALTON/GODFREY — An 18-year-old Alton man charged with attempted first-degree murder was arrested Sept. 24, 2026, in connection with an August shooting that left a victim seriously injured, according to the Alton Police Department. Alton Police, assisted by the U.S. Marshals Service Fugitive Task Force, arrested Tylon L. Lunsford in the 1200 block of Laurel Avenue in Godfrey. The charges stem from a shooting at approximately 1:52 p.m. Aug. 20, 2026, in the 800 block of East Sixth Street
ST. LOUIS - The final defendant to be arrested, David Sims, appeared in U.S. District Court in St. Louis Thursday for a detention hearing. The indictment says that from as early as November 2024 through January 2026, Stewart and Finger received Treasury checks that had been stolen in Florida, Minnesota, California and Tennessee. They then created fraudulent driver’s licenses, U.S. passports and other identification documents so the checks could be cashed, the indictment says. The pair
ALTON - The community can celebrate Marquette Catholic High School’s homecoming and potentially win $50,000 at the Mega Raffle Homecoming Block Party. From 6–10:30 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 26, 2026, Marquette Catholic High School will host their annual Block Party outside the school while students enjoy the homecoming dance inside. Community members, families and alumni are invited to come by and join in the fun. The Mega Raffle winners will also be announced that night; you can
ALTON — What began as an annual celebration has grown into an evening that brings together community, philanthropy, entertainment and hometown pride. Friends for David Goins will host the Fourth Annual Mayor’s Ball, “Boots & Bling: Where Midwestern Charm Meets Elegance for a Cause,” on Saturday, October 3, 2026, at the Lewis and Clark Community College Commons in Godfrey, Illinois. More than 300 guests are expected to attend this year’s sold-out event,
CHICAGO – Faculty and professional staff at the City Colleges of Chicago have voted to authorize a strike. With nearly 1,300 members casting ballots, 96% voted yes to authorize a strike. CCCTU President Tony Johnston said, “This vote sends a strong message that our members reject what the City Colleges is offering at the table. We don’t want to strike, but our members have made it clear that they will take the steps necessary to ensure our community colleges continue to offer
SWANSEA — Soulcial Kitchen will host its monthly Block Party for Good in both Swansea and Alton on Friday, September 25. Neighbors can receive free groceries courtesy of the St. Louis Area Foodbank, access free health care resources, and enjoy freshly prepared food truck meals at no cost. Swansea: The gathering begins at 1:30 p.m. CT at Soulcial Park, 127 Northbelt East, with food from It’s a Wra p food truck. Alton: The gathering begins at 2:30 p.m. CT at Soulcial Square,
SPRINGFIELD – Governor JB Pritzker has proclaimed September 21-27, 2026, as Rail Safety Week in Illinois. In recognition, the Illinois Commerce Commission (ICC) and Operation Lifesaver, a national rail safety non-profit, are raising awareness with drivers, pedestrians, and cyclists on how to stay safe around railroad tracks and trains. “Rail Safety Week reminds us of the dangers associated with highway-rail crossings, and the importance of looking and listening near railways,”
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