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ST. LOUIS – Today, Mayor Cara Spencer signed Executive Order 90, removing barriers that can slow down the process of rebuilding and repairing property. The scope of this order includes neighborhoods impacted by the May 16 tornado; the City is also beginning work on a major overhaul of its Zoning Code in a thorough effort to remove barriers across the city. “While all of St. Louis needs and deserves zoning reform to remove burdensome regulations, the need to move even more urgently in the neighborhoods damaged by the tornado is obvious,” said Mayor Spencer. “This executive order brings quick, localized reform to remove barriers for those who have lost so much, effective today.” Executive Order 90 relieves regulatory barriers by: Giving the Cultural Resources Office staff flexibility when reviewing and approving permits with the applicable standards of the impacted local historic districts (such as roof materials or windows) in cases of verified hardship

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SPRINGFIELD – Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias’ office recently discovered that U.S. Customs and Border Protection gained access to Illinois license plate camera data – a violation of state law his office initiated. During a recent audit, Giannoulias’ office found that Flock Safety, which operates the largest automated license plate reader (ALPR) system in the nation, allowed U.S. Customs and Border Protection to access Illinois license plate cameras on Illinois roads and surveil drivers. As a result, Giannoulias immediately ordered the company to shut off access to U.S. Customs and Border Protection. “This sharing of license plate data of motorists who drive on Illinois roads is a clear violation of the state law. This law, passed two years ago, aimed to strengthen how data is shared and prevent this exact thing from happening,” Giannoulias said. “I take my responsibility as Secretary of State seriously. It’s why we spearheaded this

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ST. LOUIS COUNTY, Mo. — Investigators are examining a house explosion and subsequent fires that injured five people and damaged more than two dozen homes Monday morning, Aug. 25, 2025, in the 13800 block of Evan Aire Drive. The incident occurred at approximately 9:13 a.m. on Aug. 25 when the Black Jack Fire Protection District and North County Precinct officers responded to reports of an explosion. Upon arrival, first responders found five homes engulfed in flames and about 20 additional residences in the surrounding area with damage. Five victims were located at the scene. An 18-year-old male was transported to a local hospital with life-threatening injuries. An adult female was also hospitalized for non-life-threatening injuries and later released. An adult male and female remain hospitalized for minor health complications related to the explosion. Another adult male was treated at the scene and declined transport. No first responders were injured. Vera Clay, Acting Public

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WESTMONT, IL – Illinois Federation of Teachers President Dan Montgomery issued the following statement in response to news reports that the Trump administration is deploying the National Guard to Chicago. “The Illinois Federation of Teachers strongly condemns the decision by the Trump administration to send the National Guard into Chicago. There is no basis for sending soldiers here or to any other city. There is no emergency. “This deployment will inevitably lead to more racial profiling and the terrorizing of Latino and immigrant communities, especially undocumented families who already live with the constant fear of deportation. If the goal were truly safety, Trump and his administration would not have frozen $158 million in funding for violence prevention programs in cities like Chicago, dismantled the Office of Gun Violence Prevention (OGVP), or terminated more than $800 million in anti-violence grants nationwide. “Every dollar spent on militarization

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EDWARDSVILLE - During their regular meeting on Aug. 25, 2025, the Edwardsville Community Unit School District #7 Board of Education approved several design and construction changes to the track and field and varsity softball field project. The project now includes partial area track stabilization at $33,900, F&I Storm outlet control structures at $19,150 and up to $58,855 for soil stabilization. The project will no longer include a new perimeter fence, returning $55,125 back to the budget. A Pro Style Panel Wall Backstop will also be installed for $64,945, the majority of which will be funded by the EHS Softball Boosters. During the Board’s discussion, representatives from Oates Associates, a civil engineering firm, provided recommendations to the Board. Tom Cissell and Nate Clarey with Oates Associates talked about their findings and reiterated that their firm was not involved in the signing of the contract between the district and Byrne & Jones Construction. Several

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ALTON - Kennedi Taylor has had an illustrious girls' tennis career at Father McGivney Catholic High School, but on Saturday, Aug. 23, 2025, at the Alton Doubles Tournament at Gordon Moore Park in Alton, she secured her 100th win, a landmark accomplishment in high school tennis. Father McGivney Catholic High School secured second place overall as a team at the Alton Invitational tennis tournament held Saturday, Aug. 23, 2025, at Gordon Moore Park. The event highlighted the achievements of doubles team Natalie Beck and Kennedi Taylor, who also won Flight A and received the sportsmanship award. Beck is a Byron, Carlson, Petri & Kalb Female Athlete of the Month. Beck was also recently a recipient of the same honor. Taylor and Beck are both three-time state qualifiers in doubles. Their performance contributed significantly to McGivney’s strong team showing. The Alton Invitational provided a competitive platform for local high school tennis players to showcase their skills and

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What if one day each year held the power to highlight the profound influence dogs have on our lives—beyond just being pets, but as heroes, workers, and sources of unconditional love? National Dog Day is precisely that day, offering an opportunity to honor dogs’ diverse roles in human society and to promote their well-being worldwide. The Origins of National Dog Day National Dog Day was founded in 2004 by Colleen Paige, a pet lifestyle expert and animal advocate. Paige created the day to raise awareness about the number of dogs that need rescuing and to encourage adoption from shelters rather than purchasing from breeders or pet stores. The choice of August 26th was intended to serve as a yearly reminder of the responsibilities that come with dog ownership and the importance of acknowledging dogs’ positive impact on our lives. Since its inception, National Dog Day has grown beyond a simple awareness campaign. It has been recognized by various organizations, media

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August 26 has witnessed numerous pivotal moments throughout history, shaping cultures, politics, and societies around the globe. Looking back in time, August 26 marks the day in 1789 when the French National Assembly adopted the Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen. This seminal document established fundamental human rights and became a cornerstone of the French Revolution. Inspired by Enlightenment ideals, it articulated principles such as liberty, equality, and fraternity, influencing not only France but also the development of human rights worldwide. The declaration’s emphasis on universal rights continues to resonate in modern democratic societies. In the realm of culture and arts, August 26 is notable in the history of music. On this day in 1920, the famous American jazz musician Louis Armstrong made one of his earliest recordings with his Hot Five band. Armstrong’s innovative trumpet playing and charismatic vocals helped transform jazz from a regional

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GILLESPIE – Gillespie will host a Community Blood Drive with ImpactLife, the provider of blood components for local hospitals. The blood drive will be from 1:00 pm to 6:00 pm on Monday, September 8 at 900 Broadway, inside Gillespie Methodist Church Gym What: Gillespie Community Blood Drive When: Monday, September 8, 1:00 pm - 6:00 pm Where: Gillespie Methodist Church Gym, 900 Broadway, Gillespie, IL Appointments: To donate, please contact Brenda Lowe at (217) 710-1336 or visit www.bloodcenter.org and use code 60020 to locate the drive. Appointments are requested. You may also call ImpactLife to schedule at 800-747-5401. 2801 South 10th Street | Springfield, Illinois | (217) 753-1530 Donor Eligibility Criteria: Potential donors must be at least 17 years of age (16 with parental permission form available through www.bloodcenter.org ) and weigh more than 110 pounds. A photo I.D. is required to donate. For questions about eligibility, please call ImpactLife at (800)

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ALTON – Despite facing heavy skepticism from two aldermen, the Alton Committee of the Whole on Monday agreed to pay an SIUE graduate student with ARPA funds to collect and analyze data as part of the city’s effort to become a “Child Friendly City.” Committee members voted 5-2 to allocate $14,616 in American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds to pay a Graduate Research Assistant (GRA) from Southern Illinois University Edwardsville (SIUE). This GRA would be tasked with collecting and analyzing data about Alton’s safety, social services, living environments, and more as part of the city’s ongoing effort to be recognized by UNICEF as a Child Friendly City . This data would be used as guidance to ensure the city’s children and their needs are considered in any future policy decisions. Under the proposal from the Southern Illinois University System Office of Community Engagement, the GRA from SIUE would work for 20 hours per wee

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ALTON - The Hayner Public Library District always has a lot of events, activities and resources available for patrons, but people often overlook their databases. Executive Director Mary Cordes noted that there are several databases available to Hayner patrons, accessible with their library cards. She highlighted LearningExpress, A to Z World Food, and Mango Languages as three examples of databases that are helpful for community members. “The databases, to me, are one of the best resources that we have at the library, and they’re the hardest ones to market,” Cordes said. “Everything on these databases has been vetted. It’s been edited. You can trust the information. It’s accurate. It’s timely because it’s updated every single day and new information is added. They’re just really, really helpful.” LearningExpress is great for anyone who is studying for a major exam like the SAT, ACT, U.S. Citizenship Exam, GED,

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O’FALLON, Ill. — At least nine fights and a shots-fired incident disrupted the City Fest in O'Fallon, IL., over the weekend, prompting multiple arrests and the temporary closure of nearby businesses, officials said Monday, Aug. 25, 2025. The disturbances occurred on Friday and Saturday at the annual festival held in O’Fallon, IL. The incidents included a series of fights involving juveniles near the rides and along the U.S. Highway 50 corridor, culminating in shots being fired behind Community Financial on Saturday evening, Aug. 23, 2025. O’Fallon Police, Fire and EMS personnel, with assistance from several regional law enforcement agencies, implemented crowd control measures including closing U.S. Highway 50 at Hilgard and Lincoln, shutting down rides and music, and directing unaccompanied juveniles to leave the festival area. “Due to the fights and disruptive behavior, multiple businesses in the surrounding area closed their doors until the crowd dispersed,&rdquo

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ALTON - The Hayner Public Library District has a wide variety of programs available over the next few weeks. Mary Cordes, executive director at Hayner, noted that the library is consistently planning fun new activities and events for people to enjoy. “We have a lot coming up for the fall,” Cordes said. “We’ve got some really fun programs coming up. We’ve got some really interesting programs coming up. We’ve got some programs that we’ve not done before.” The Cookbook Club meets at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, Aug. 26, 2025, at the Alton Square Mall Hayner location. This month’s theme is centered around involving kids in the cooking process. Families can choose a recipe from either “The Cookbook for Kids,” “BHG New Junior Cook Book,” and “Rachel Ray Yum-O!: The Family Cookbook” to make and then share at the meeting on Aug. 26. On Friday, Aug. 29, 2025, local teens can check out Teen Expressive

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GRANITE CITY - An electric contractor struck a gas line in Granite City on Monday morning, Aug. 25, 2025, leading to a service interruption for one customer but no explosion, Ameren Illinois said. The incident occurred around 9:15 a.m. on Aug. 25 in the 200 block of Ralph Street, according to Brian Bretsch, a spokesperson for Ameren Illinois. A gas crew responded promptly, arriving on the scene at 9:39 a.m. and working to shut off the gas and make repairs. The gas was fully shut off by noon and repaired by 2 p.m. Monday, Bretsch said. Only one customer was affected by the outage. Bretsch clarified that the gas line hit in Granite City did not cause the loud boom. He noted that the sounds heard in Florissant, Mo., and were unrelated to the incident in Granite City.

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BETHALTO - The Bethalto Police Chief Jason Lamb and Deputy Fire Chief Dan Bartels reported that a single driver sustained minor injuries after striking a power box near the QuikTrip in Bethalto early Monday morning, Aug. 25, 2025. The QuikTrip is located at 605 W. Bethalto Drive in Bethalto. The incident occurred around 7 a.m., Monday, when the police chief said a driver coming from Arby's experienced a medical issue and collided with a QuikTrip power box. QuikTrip was closed for a period of time after the incident, but a manager said it was reopened this afternoon. The impact caused a temporary power outage in the area, but power has since been restored. Emergency responders cleared the scene by approximately 9 a.m.

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FLORISSANT, Mo. - At least three individuals were rescued and transported to Mercy Hospital’s burn unit, with additional injuries reported, the Black Jack Fire Protection District said on Monday, Aug. 25, 2025. Despite the severity of the explosion, fire officials confirmed that all residents are accounted for. Florissant Police announced that U.S. Route 67 was closed in both directions between New Halls Ferry and Mondoubleau roads due to the emergency response. The nearby Walmart store was also closed as a precaution. Firefighters responded to a devastating house explosion in the 13800 block of Evan Aire Drive around 9:15 a.m. Monday, resulting in multiple homes engulfed in flames and several injuries, authorities said. Black Jack Fire officials found five homes fully involved in fire, with “not much left of them there.” The incident was rapidly escalated to a three-alarm fire, prompting the deployment of an EMS strike team and Urban Search and Rescue Task Force

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CHICAGO – Attorney General Kwame Raoul today co-led a bipartisan coalition of 44 attorneys general warning major artificial intelligence (AI) companies to stop hurting kids. The letter , sent to Anthropic, Apple, Chai AI, Google, Luka Inc., Meta, Microsoft, Nomi AI, Open AI, Perplexity AI, Replika and xAI addresses alarming reports of AI chatbots engaging in sexually inappropriate conversations with kids. Internal Meta documents reveal that the company authorized its AI assistants to “flirt and engage in romantic roleplay with children” as young as 8 years old. Raoul and the coalition’s letter also cites cases where other chatbots have allegedly encouraged harmful behavior in teenagers, including suicide and murder. “American children and teenagers are already in the grip of a devastating mental health crisis in part due to addictive features on social media platforms that contribute to depression, anxiety and thoughts of self-harm,” Raoul said.

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TOKYO, JAPAN – U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) last week led a Congressional Delegation to South Korea and Japan to meet with high-level business leaders and government officials to continue her successful efforts promoting Illinois abroad. Duckworth, along with representatives from Intersect Illinois, met with businesses and convened leaders in quantum, manufacturing and technology to reassure the international leaders Illinois’s economy is still strong, well-positioned and ready for greater investment. “There’s a lot of uncertainty abroad about investing in America’s economy right now, but I’m proud to lead this Congressional Delegation to South Korea and Japan to help provide another perspective,” Duckworth said. “With our existing investments and strong leadership at the state level, Illinois is stronger than ever and primed for more investment and international business expansion from our partners in Asia. I had great meetings

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GRANITE CITY – A sex offender from Granite City remains in custody after allegedly soliciting a 15-year-old via text and falsely registering as homeless earlier this year. Matthew L. Dodd, 45, of the 3000 block of Washington Ave. in Granite City, was charged on Aug. 15, 2025 with a Class 2 felony count of indecent solicitation of a child. On Aug. 1, 2025, Dodd allegedly solicited a 15-year-old child via text to engage in a sex act. The Madison County State’s Attorney’s Office filed a petition to deny Dodd’s pretrial release from custody in this case. According to the petition, Dodd was previously convicted of indecent solicitation of a child in 2021. Dodd was additionally charged with two Class 2 felony counts for his second subsequent offenses of unlawful failure to register as a sex offender. On Jan. 1, 2025, he allegedly failed to register his Granite City address within three days with the Madison County Sheriff’s Office, instead providing

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MADISON COUNTY - The Madison County Employment and Training Department can help both employers and individuals connect. With an office located at 101 E. Edwardsville Road in Wood River, the department offers career training services, job seeker services, business services, youth services and more. The department serves Madison, Bond, Jersey and Calhoun counties. “We’re a federally-funded Department of Labor grant, so basically what that means is we have funding opportunities out there for both individuals and the businesses,” said Kayla with the Madison County Employment and Training Department. “We’re pretty passionate about what we do, because you’re helping people and that’s so important.” There are certain eligibility requirements that employers and individuals must meet to qualify for some of the department’s programs. But Kayla and her colleague Brooke noted that they are happy to help people understand what these requirement

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